The Lab Press is going big and coming to your home — or at least, your local bookstore and/or comic book shop — with exclusive distribution deals with Simon & Schuster, and Diamond Comics Distributors. S&S will handle the global book market, while Diamond will tackle North America and the UK.
“We are thrilled to partner with Simon & Schuster and Diamond in bringing our creators’ daring visions to bookshelves and coffee tables across the globe. These books are crafted with an exceptional level of quality and artistry,” says THE LAB’s CEO & Publisher, Nicholas Kalikow via a press release provided to Comic Book Club. “We look forward to collaborating closely with both teams as THE LAB aims to establish its own distinct presence in the comics industry.”
The first release out of the gate for The Lab Press is Essentials, a 140-page graphic novel by Luke Arnold (yes, the actor from Black Sails) and Chris “Doc” Wyatt, with art by an array of talent including Glenn Fabry, Jason Howard, Vince Locke, Brendan McCarthy, Andrew Mutti, M.K. Perker, and DaNi. In addition, it features a cover by Bill Sienkiewicz.
However, that’s just the beginning of what they’re cooking up in the Lab. Along with the creators of Essentials crafting further graphic novel projects, the publisher plans on releasing up to four “high-quality graphic novels” per year — beginning in 2025.
“2025 is gearing up to be a bold year for The Lab Press, with a brand new graphic novel dropping every season,” explains THE LAB’s Editor-in-Chief Dagen Walker. “We believe in delivering, not teasing—when you hear about one of our books, it means it’s almost in your hands. Expect hardcovers that will surprise you with their quality and audacious stories, created for readers who seek human moments in untethered worlds.”
Essentials will hit stores in February of 2025. Check out the cover, and some interior art by Jason Howard, as well as Glenn Fabry with colors by Brad Simpson, below. Click for larger versions.
