THE LAB PRESS a new graphic novel publisher, has signed exclusive distribution deals with Diamond Comic Distributors for the direct market and Simon & Schuster for the book channel.  The publisher will debut with Essentials, a sci-fi tale co-written by Chris “Doc” Wyatt and novelist and Black Sails actor Luke Arnold.  The story shifts between different realities, with each setting depicted by a different artist, including Glenn Fabry, Jason Howard, Vince Locke, Brendan McCarthy, Andrea Mutti, M.K. Perker, and DaNi.  The cover artist is Bill Sienkiewicz, and the book will go on sale in February 2025.

Essentials was crowdfunded via a Kickstarter campaign that raised just over $33,000 from 334 backers.  The campaign ended in May and the books were shipped to backers in September, according to the crowdfunding page.  There are currently no plans to crowdfund future releases in 2025.

THE LAB PRESS initially plans to publish four hardcover graphic novels per year. “2025 is gearing up to be a bold year for THE LAB PRESS, with a brand new graphic novel dropping every season,” said Editor-in-Chief Dagen Walker in a statement accompanying the announcement.  “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.”

VP of Business Development Diane Richey pointed to Simon & Schuster’s commitment to graphic novels, saying, “They know how to spotlight diverse creators and this partnership will allow THE LAB's unique stories and fresh voices to reach more readers, fueling the growing passion for graphic novel storytelling in the book market.”  As for Diamond, CCO Mike Zagari said.“  We know our original graphic novels with both established and up-and-coming comic industry writers and artists will be in good hands with Diamond overseeing their presence in comic shops.”

“These books are crafted with an exceptional level of quality and artistry,” said CEO and Publisher Nicholas Kalikow.  “We look forward to collaborating closely with both teams as THE LAB aims to establish its own distinct presence in the comics industry.”

Click Gallery below for artwork!