At a glance, Essentials might seem like just another graphic novel—but don’t let the format fool you. This isn’t a safe, formulaic comic bound to the superhero conveyor belt. It’s something stranger. Wilder. And, in a way, more honest.
Released by The Lab Press, Essentials Vol. 1 begins after the world has already ended. Literally.
What Happens When You Predict Doomsday… and Still Get It Wrong?
Our protagonist, Harris Pax, is a mathematician who once tried to warn the world. He saw the collapse coming—but he couldn’t stop it. Now he lives alone in a bunker. Or maybe not so alone. His niece’s childhood toys have started speaking to him. Could be madness. Could be the beginning of something worse.
Or better.
Because Pax soon discovers he’s not the last man alive. Other survivors remain—but they’re scattered across twisted alternate realities. Worlds crawling with zombies, haunted by robots, ruled by mythical beasts. To set things right, he must step outside the safety of isolation and take on an interdimensional villain named… Snuggles. Yes, really. And it works.
A Dream Team of Artists
The visual storytelling here is just as unhinged and riveting as the premise. The book features cover art from Bill Sienkiewicz, Glenn Fabry, Jason Howard, and colorist Jordie Bellaire, each bringing their own aesthetic punch to different editions of the book.
Inside, you’ll find an artistic kaleidoscope—Jason Howard, Andrea Mutti, M.K. Perker, DaNi, Vince Locke, and Glenn Fabry deliver pages that shift and bend with each new imagined world Harris encounters. Add in colors from Brad Simpson, Dee Cunniffe, and Wesley Wong, and what you’ve got is a visual experience that never lets you settle in—and that’s the point.
This book is meant to disorient and pull you through the wreckage and weirdness of a fractured multiverse.
A Story That’s as Absurd as It Is Profound
Co-written by actor-turned-writer Luke Arnold and seasoned comic writer Chris "Doc" Wyatt, Essentials somehow manages to walk a tightrope—equal parts meta-humor and emotional weight. It’s chaotic, sure, but grounded by real stakes. Real grief. Real heart.
The dialogue pops. The pacing moves. And it all builds toward something that feels earned rather than engineered.
Premium Editions for Collectors and Fans
This isn’t just a comic you read—it’s a book you keep. Essentials Vol. 1 ships in a gold-foil stamped cloth slipcase, adding a layer of tactile luxury to its high-concept insanity.
It’s available in multiple collectible formats:
- Sienkiewicz Premiere Edition
- Fabry Premiere Edition (Comic Shop Exclusive, limited to 100 copies)
- Howard Premiere Edition
- Fabry Line Art Edition
- Audacious Edition
- Sienkiewicz Virgin Edition
If you’re even remotely into premium hardcover graphic novels, this is a shelf centerpiece.
Where to Get It
You can buy Essentials directly from The Lab Shop, or through major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, BAM, Golden Apple, and Midtown Comics. Comic shop collectors can use the order codes:
- Sienkiewicz Premiere Edition: DEC241873
- Fabry Premiere Edition: FEB251763
Final Thought
It’s rare to find a comic that takes risks in both story and form—and still sticks the landing. But Essentials isn’t just rare. It’s a reminder that graphic novels can be fearless.
So if you’ve been waiting for a Bill Sienkiewicz comic book that doesn’t play it safe, or want to see Luke Arnold’s storytelling voice unfold in a new medium, this is the one.
It’s not just another apocalypse—it’s the best kind of beginning.