The Lab Press Sweeps Summer Awards Season With Major Book and Design Honors For Their Debut Line.

With four acclaimed titles in its first year of publishing, the independent graphic novel publisher is reaping the rewards across several key awards categories.

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Following its critically acclaimed debut in 2025, The Lab Press is building on that momentum with a new slate of 2026 releases and a remarkable collection of awards recognizing its first year of publishing original graphic novels.

Built around fearless storytelling, human moments in untethered worlds, and beautifully designed books intended to feel like literary artifacts, The Lab Press released four hardcover graphic novels during its inaugural year: Essentials Volume 1 by Luke Arnold, Chris “Doc” Wyatt, and a host of artistic talents; Super Science Volume 1 by N. Alessandro K. and M.K. Perker; Hunger by Nihaarika Negi, Joe Bocardo, and José Villarrubia; and Creatures & Corridors by Brandon Auman and Andrea Mutti.

At the prestigious IPPY Awards, honoring the best independent publishers and creators from around the world, The Lab Press received a Gold Medal recognizing all four of its 2025 releases in the Outstanding Books of the Year category. The honor capped an already exceptional awards season that included numerous wins and finalist placements across publishing, storytelling, and design.

“Going to these awards ceremonies and receiving positive feedback from the book industry has been a validating experience,” says The Lab Press’ Editor-in-Chief, Dagen Walker. “The comics community embraced us from the moment we launched, and seeing an even stronger reception from the broader book industry has been remarkable. The awards themselves are wonderful, and what matters most is that they help more people discover these books and the creators behind them.”

Alongside this major recognition from the IPPY Awards, The Lab Press received honors across a wide range of publishing and design categories, including:

- Best Horror Graphic Novel for Hunger at the Zelda Awards;

- Book Cover Design and Comics & Graphic Novels for Essentials Volume 1, and Best Interior Design forHunger at the National Indie Excellence Awards;

- Science Fiction Gold Medal for Essentials Volume 1, Graphic Novels & Comics Silver Medal for Hunger, and Fantasy Bronze Medal for Creatures & Corridors at the Foreword INDIES Awards;

- Best Overall Design for Hunger at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards;

- Graphic Novel Gold Medal and the Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book for Essentials Volume 1; Fiction: Horror Gold Medal and Graphic Novel Silver Medal for Creatures & Corridors; and Graphic Novel Bronze Medal for Super Science Volume 1 at the Independent Book Publishers Association Awards;

- Cover: Large Format Gold Medal for Creatures & Corridors, and Cover: Large Format Silver Medal and Cover: Graphic Novel/Manga Bronze Medal for Hunger at the IBPA PubWest Book Design Awards.

- Book Cover Design: Fiction and Comics & Graphic Novels winner for Essentials Volume 1, and Book Interior Design: Fiction winner for Hunger at the National Indie Excellence Awards.

- Graphic Novel winner for Essentials Volume 1, and Regional: World Fiction winner for Hunger at the Storytrade Awards.

The recognition also reflects the work of the in-house team responsible for shaping The Lab Press’s distinct editorial and visual identity, including Editor-in-Chief Dagen Walker and designers John J. Hill and Emma Price, alongside the extraordinary creators who brought each of these books to life.

“A first year like this doesn’t happen by accident,” says Diane Richey, President of The Lab Press. “It reflects the ambition of our creators and the extraordinary care our in-house team brings to every book. Our focus has naturally moved toward an exciting new slate of 2026 releases, and it has been especially meaningful to pause and see the awards, accolades, and recognition our first year of books continues to receive.”

Essentials Volume 1, Super Science Volume 1, Hunger, and Creatures & Corridors are all still available from bookstores, comic shops and online retailers; alongside newer titles from The Lab Press, including Essentials Volume 2 by Luke Arnold, Chris ‘Doc’ Wyatt, and a fresh batch of artistic talents, Mad Dog Morgan by Adam Lawson, Brian Christgau, and Maxi Dall’O, and the upcoming Callisto by Steve Niles and Andrea Mutti. You can find out about all of these titles and more at thelabpress.com.

The Lab Press is a publisher of fearless storytelling, styles, perspectives, and creators. Our dedication is to the art of the printed graphic novel and ensuring even audacious visions are realized. For voices yet to be heard and established voices looking to take new risks, we provide space where experimentation is rampant, delicate ideas are guarded and untethered stories can grow, along with the backing needed to get these stories into the hands of fans who will carry them out into the world. You can find out more at thelabpress.com.

Chris Thompson
The Lab Press
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