Ebook and Audiobook publisher Aethon has acquired a majority stake in Vault Comics, the companies announced.  Vault had a previous relationship with Aethon, under which the companies adapted each other’s properties into new formats (see "Vault Partners with Aethon").

Aethon co-founders Rhett Bruno and Steve Beaulieu will join the Vault board of directors; Vault’s management, led by CEO Damian Wassel and CCO Adrian Wassel will remain in place, as will the Vault staff.

The acquisition will lead to "additional product categories and a significantly expanded marketing budget and resources behind everything we’re bringing to the comic and graphic novel categories," Damian Wassel said of the deal, with new project and license announcements coming soon.

Investors from Vault’s previous, led by Jeff Ubben and with several other backers (see "Vault Comics Investors"), remain invested in the company.

Aethon is a publishing partner of Webtoon (see "Webtoon Inks Deal with Aethon"), a relationship that will be leveraged as part of the new deal.

"Since we met the team at Vault, we have shared a vision of creating a one-stop-shop for the next generation of market-leading fantasy and science fiction authors and their stories, "Aethon CEO Rhett C. Bruno said in a statement accompanying the announcement.  "By joining forces with Vault, we believe we are one step closer to that dream."