THE LAB PRESS Presents ESSENTIALS, An Original Graphic Novel
Created by The Lab Press
By Luke Arnold, Doc Wyatt, DaNi, Glenn Fabry, Jason Howard, Vince Locke, Brendan McCarthy, Andrea Mutti, M.K. Perker & Bill Sienkiewicz
Latest Updates from Our Project:
One week away from the launch of MAD DOG MORGAN, you've been warned!
6 months ago
– Wed, Oct 01, 2025 at 11:37:01 AM
Hello Essentials!
We're one week out from launching our Mad Dog Morgan Kickstarter. On October 7th, tap in for the ultimate wrestling showdown. This campaign is packed with sinister art, brutal story, and an exclusive bonus for early backers!
Check out the Creative Commissioner himself (aka Adam Lawson, writer and creator of Mad Dog Morgan) talking about the NYCC exclusive ashcan!
Back the Kickstarter in the first 48 hours and this limited-run ashcan is all yours!
This is the beginning of a showdown you won't want to miss. If you're ready to step into the ring with Morgan, be sure to sign up so you don't miss the launch day.
Mad Dog Morgan is a 165-page hardcover original graphic novel created by writer Adam Lawson (The Exiled, Kill Journal) and artist Maxi Dall’O (Heavy Metal, Lost Fantasy). It’s indie wrestling meets haunted house horror. Think Do A Powerbomb colliding with The Shining.
This October, we’re bringing Mad Dog Morgan to Kickstarter with rewards you won’t find anywhere else. Everything in this campaign is Kickstarter-exclusive—once it’s over, these editions won’t be available again. Here’s what you can expect:
This is a Kickstarter exclusive campaign, as these items will not be going to retail. We're offering:
Kickstarter-exclusive hardcover with slipcase
Leather-bound edition with slipcase
Foil print available only through this campaign
Chance to snag the NYCC-exclusive ashcan
Note: In 2026, Mad Dog Morgan will be released to comic shops with a standard trade edition and a retailer-exclusive cover, but those will not include the Kickstarter exclusive cover or leather edition. The variants offered in this campaign are only available through Kickstarter.
Thanks as always for your support and don’t forget to pre-save the campaign so you’ll be ready when we launch on October 7, 2025.
Keep your head on swivel, it’s spooky around these parts!
THE LAB’s Sampler PDF + Distribution News + New York Comic Con Recap!
over 1 year ago
– Tue, Oct 22, 2024 at 09:55:10 AM
Hello there everyone!
We hope you’re doing well!
Many of you have already received your copies of Essentials and we’re so thrilled the book is finally in your hands!
Please keep sharing the photos and videos of your rewards with us on social media, it brightens our day to know the book is being enjoyed by so many of you! Keep reading for updates including when you should expect to receive THE LAB PRESS Sampler PDF!
THE LAB PRESS SAMPLER PDF
Essentials is just the start of what we have planned here at THE LAB and you can get your first taste of what’s next in our Sampler PDF which is being sent your way through BackerKit later today! Keep your eyes on your inbox for a message from BackerKit letting you know how to access your download!
We’ve got big plans for 2025, speaking of which...
THE LAB PRESS SIGNS NEW DISTRIBUTION DEALS
We announced last week with Brigid Alverson of ICv2 that THE LAB PRESS has signed exclusive distribution deals with Simon & Schuster and Diamond Comic Distributors to release our upcoming graphic novels in the book & direct market channels beginning in 2025!
We’ve got exciting things coming in the new year and we’re hoping you’ll join us on this journey. We’re building a space for the world’s most talented creators to share their most audacious visions and getting our graphic novels onto store shelves is a major part of that plan. We’ll keep you all up to date on new book announcements as we’re readying to release four original graphic novels in 2025!
THE LAB VISITS NEW YORK COMIC CON
Essentials co-writer Luke Arnold and co-artist DaNi
And our last thing to share for this update: THE LAB was out at this past weekend’s New York Comic Con event!
Our team had a blast visiting so many of the talented creators in Artist’s Alley, taking photos with the Snuggles plush puppet, and hosting everyone for a special post-con soiree on Saturday night. Attendees got a special look at upcoming projects and may have even gone home with some special goodies.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the party and to all of the talented creators that we had the pleasure of visiting in Artist’s Alley!
----
As a reminder, if you haven’t completed the BackerKit survey yet and uploaded your mailing address, please make sure you do so ASAP!
Most of you have already done this but there are a few of you who have yet to complete the surveys and we want to make sure you get your rewards!
Delivery Update
over 1 year ago
– Fri, Sep 20, 2024 at 09:52:15 AM
ESSENTIALS has arrived in the US!
Your copies will be on their way to your mailboxes very soon.
Please keep an eye on your email for any Kickstarter communications with tracking numbers. We can't wait for you to read it!
A quick shout out to our friends at WANDERING PLANET TOYS, who are back with a Kickstarter campaign to fund deluxe, highly-articulated 6-inch collectable, OFFICIALLY LICENSED action figures based on the legendary film comedians LAUREL & HARDY from Hollywood's Golden Age. Check them out HERE.
Printer proof copies of ESSENTIALS have arrived!
over 1 year ago
– Tue, Jul 30, 2024 at 01:36:06 PM
Hello again!
The printer proof copies of ESSENTIALS have arrived and they are stunning! Everything has been approved with the printers and the final editions are being produced right now. We’re excited to share more updates on the shipping soon!
REMINDER: Today is the last day to fill out your survey. Make sure to find it in your inbox and complete it if you haven't already. These surveys are a great opportunity to add another Snuggles to your collection or to pick one up for any friends who missed out on the ESSENTIALS campaign!
