In a realm where graphic novels stand as pillars of creativity and storytelling, a new force is about to emerge, blending the talents of Black Sails star Luke Arnold and Emmy-nominated writer/producer Chris “Doc” Wyatt. Titled ESSENTIALS, this forthcoming graphic novel is not just a debut for Arnold but also marks the inaugural release from THE LAB PRESS, setting the stage for an ambitious narrative odyssey.
ESSENTIALS promises to be a tapestry of artistic brilliance, boasting a lineup of seasoned comic virtuosos. Among these luminaries are DaNi of Sandman The Dreaming fame, the iconic Glenn Fabry known for his work on Preacher, and Vince Locke, celebrated for his contributions to A History of Violence. Joining them are Brendan McCarthy (Spider-Man: Fever), Andrea Mutti (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and M.K. Perker (Air). The cover, a visual spectacle in its own right, is crafted by none other than the legendary artist Bill Sienkiewicz, renowned for his groundbreaking work on New Mutants.
Yet, one name in this constellation of talent shines with particular radiance: Jason Howard, renowned for his transformative work on Transformers. Howard’s contribution to ESSENTIALS adds another layer of anticipation and excitement, as fans eagerly await the unveiling of his artistic interpretation within the narrative tapestry.
ESSENTIALS isn’t just a graphic novel; it’s a convergence of visionaries, each contributing their unique flair to a story that promises to transcend boundaries and captivate audiences. Luke Arnold’s transition from the high seas of Black Sails to the boundless realm of graphic storytelling is a testament to his versatility and creative prowess. Teaming up with Chris “Doc” Wyatt, whose narrative sensibilities have garnered him Emmy nominations, adds another layer of depth to this collaboration.
The narrative landscape of ESSENTIALS remains shrouded in mystery, teasing audiences with the promise of an unforgettable journey. With a diverse array of artistic styles converging under one narrative banner, readers can expect a visual feast that transcends conventional storytelling norms.
As anticipation builds and excitement mounts, one thing is certain: ESSENTIALS isn’t just a graphic novel—it’s an experience. With Luke Arnold at the helm, Chris “Doc” Wyatt guiding the narrative, and a constellation of comic luminaries illuminating its pages, this debut from THE LAB PRESS promises to be nothing short of extraordinary. Brace yourselves for a journey into the unknown, where every page turned unveils a new revelation, and every panel pulses with the heartbeat of creativity. ESSENTIALS is on the horizon, beckoning readers to embark on an adventure unlike any other.
Kickstarter campaign here
Check out some exclusive quotes from co-writers Luke Arnold and Doc Wyatt:
“ESSENTIALS began its life, many years ago, as a screenplay for a low-budget film. It was created to be a single location story: one man in a bunker with some talking toys. When we thought about how it would translate to the pages of a comic, the possibilities became endless. Out of the bunker, it feels like we have a limitless budget to realize what a world untethered from objective reality might look like. But at its heart, it’s still asking the same questions: what makes life worth living? What is the value of this fleeting, mortal existence? Can we only find our worth when in relationship with one another?”– Luke Arnold
“A lot of themes play through the ESSENTIALS, but one of the major throughlines is the idea that each of us exists in our own bubble reality. That each of us have subjective views of what’s going on in the world. Sometimes our personal realities link up with others, sometimes not. This can be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on circumstances.”– Doc Wyatt







BREAKING NEWS: THE LAB PRESS Debuts with ESSENTIALS,
A Graphic Novel from Actor and Novelist Luke Arnold and Emmy-Nominated Writer Chris “Doc” Wyatt
With All-Star Art by DaNi, Glenn Fabry, Jason Howard, Vince Locke, Brendan McCarthy, Andrea Mutti, M.K. Perker, and Bill Sienkiewicz
The Ambitious Sci-Fi Original Graphic Novel is Headed to Kickstarter,
Featuring Exclusive Editions Not Available Anywhere Else
(April 17, 2024) Luke Arnold — the novelist and actor of the Emmy-winning Black Sails — and Emmy-nominated writer Chris “Doc” Wyatt (Rocket and Groot) are co-writing an all-new graphic novel, ESSENTIALS. The ambitious 140-page sci-fi epic is the debut offering from THE LAB PRESS, a new graphic novel publisher helmed by founder and CEO Nicholas Kalikow, who is joined by Editor-in-Chief Dagen Walker, Vice President of Business Development Diane Richey, and Chief Creative Officer and partner Mike Zagari. ESSENTIALS will debut this spring on Kickstarter and fans can follow the pre-launch page now, to get an email when the project launches in the coming weeks.
The original graphic novel features a stunning array of all-star comic artists: DaNi (Sandman The Dreaming), Glenn Fabry (Preacher), Jason Howard (Transformers), Vince Locke (A History of Violence), Brendan McCarthy (Spider-Man: Fever), Andrea Mutti (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), M.K. Perker (Air) and a cover by legendary artist Bill Sienkiewicz (New Mutants). ESSENTIALS features colors by Jordie Bellaire, Brad Simpson and Wesley Wong and lettered by DC Hopkins of AndWorld Design. The book’s design and logo were created by Emma Price (Barnstormers).
“At THE LAB PRESS, we search the world for creators, writers, and artists who are looking for a space to be audacious with their wildest ideas, subversive stories and compelling art,” said THE LAB PRESS Editor-in-Chief Dagen Walker. “We love human moments in unhinged worlds; tales that entertain while illuminating some experiential truth. As our first book to market, ESSENTIALS will capture readers with its wild sci-fi adventure themes and compelling characters.”
In ESSENTIALS, mathematician Harris Pax predicted the end of the world, but failed to prevent it. Now he’s living alone in a bunker and his niece’s favorite toys are starting to talk to him. The good news? He’s not the world’s sole survivor. The bad news? The other survivors are trapped in alternate realities — trapped in imagined worlds full of zombies, pterodactyls, and chaos. And now Harris Pax and an unlikely ally must travel the country on a quest to restore reality, save humanity, and defeat his new interdimensional nemesis: Snuggles.
“ESSENTIALS was born out of impossible questions: what matters most in a well-lived life? Is joy more valuable than truth? Does mortality give meaning to our existence? At what point do our perceptions become our reality?” asks co-writer Luke Arnold, who has played iconic roles including Long John Silver in the Emmy-winning Black Sails and Michael Hutchence in Never Tear Us Apart-. His first novel The Last Smile in Sunder City was released in 2020, launching the popular, ongoing series The Fetch Phillips Archives. He is making his graphic novel debut with ESSENTIALS.
“We’ve managed to assemble a staggeringly talented group of artists to explore these ideas with us, creating a story that traverses a post-apocalyptic reality, multiple subjective projections, an interdimensional collective consciousness, and the kaleidoscopic labyrinth of our own minds,” said Arnold. We wanted to tell a story that could only be fully realized in this medium, and this incredible team has taken it beyond our wildest dreams.”
An all-star roster of artists brings Luke Arnold and Doc Wyatt’s wild, sci-fi adventure to life, with each artist illustrating a different alternate reality. Vince Locke unveils a zombie apocalypse. Andrea Mutti depicts tragedy in outer space. MK Perker illustrates a stunning, aquatic fantasy sequence. Glenn Fabry pulls back the curtain on a creepy collector of classical art And DaNi and Jason Howard play with an ever-changing “objective” reality, which threatens to swallow our hero and everything we have ever known.
“We’re proud to be working with THE LAB PRESS, a company that has given us total creative freedom and total support, even when we say things like – ‘our vision is to switch between seven different artists on this book to do the different realities, and you have to coordinate everything.THE LAB PRESS is all in. They make it happen,’” said co-writer Chris “Doc” Wyatt, who has produced eight indie feature films including the cult hit comedy film Napoleon Dynamite and the multi-festival award-winning drama Coyote. Wyatt shared an Emmy nomination for the animated project Marvel’s Rocket and Groot and has worked on numerous popular series including Lego Ninjago: Dragons Rising.
“I want to create books that surprise at every turn – whether you’re a die-hard comic aficionado or just dipping your toes into this wild world,” said Richey. “Our books are ignited by the raw uncensored perspectives of creators like Cecil Castellucci, Gene Ha, Nihaarika Negi, and José Villarrubia, all of whom will be involved in upcoming original graphic novels.”
In addition to its core staff, which includes THE LAB PRESS Editorial Assistant Lindsay Musil, THE LAB PRESS is working with talented publishing freelancers, including Lillian Laserson, John J. Hill, Ryane Lynn Hill, Olivia Ngai, Emma Price (Barnstormers), and David Hyde and Dustin Holland of Superfan Promotions.
THE LAB PRESS’ Chief Creative Officer Mike Zagari is a twenty year comics veteran, who has worked at Marvel, Disney, and DC Comics and, most recently, as the head of AMC Networks Publishing. “It’s no secret that the comics industry is in a period of tremendous, transformative change,” said Zagari. “THE LAB PRESS is prepared to meet those challenges and opportunities head-on. We’re dedicated to publishing fearless storytelling, with unique styles and perspectives. THE LAB PRESS is focused on creating high end, original graphic novels with stories that challenge, surprise, and engage readers.”
For more updates on THE LAB PRESS and its first Kickstarter, visit them on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and X.

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