Comic industry veterans Mike Kennedy and Wes Harris announced today the formation of Magnetic Press, a new publishing label with a focus on premium graphic novels by talent from around the world. Magnetic’s two founders came together around a shared desire to create a compassionate home for innovative creators and projects that have been underrepresented in the current comic and graphic novel marketplace, including new talent deserving a debut and established talent looking to establish a solid presence in the North American and English language audience.

Publisher Mike Kennedy previously served as Publisher of Archaia Entertainment during the two years the company received back-to-back Eisner Awards for Best Original Graphic Album, as well as numerous other Eisner and industry awards and nominations. Prior to entering the publishing industry, Mike held roles as both Creative Director and Senior Producer in the video game industry, creating original IP and narrative game design for publishers such as Electronic Arts, Namco, and Microsoft.  He has also been an avid writer, with numerous published titles to his name, including well-known properties such as Star Wars, Superman, and Alien Vs Predator.

Kennedy said in a release:

The most exciting aspect of any creative field is the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from amazing talent. There’s an electrifying amount of talent out there, from around the world, all deserving wider attention, and we are thrilled to create a publishing program that’s built from the ground up to support them in their effort to pursue what they are so passionate about doing.

CEO Wes Harris is the former VP of Publishing for BOOM! Studios, and has held senior roles at top entertainment companies such as Viz Media, White Wolf Publishing, and Meteor Entertainment.

I love the idea of books as an expression of who you are – what you choose to read, to display on your coffee table, and what that says about you. From the very start, from the talent we work with to the titles we select to the way the book feels in your hands, our top priority is creating a memorable reading experience and a book that you’re proud to have on your shelf.

Magnetic Press’s debut catalog launches in Spring of 2014 and features works from Award-winning creators from the US, UK, France, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico.  Debut titles include Eisner Award-winner Dave Dorman’s Wasted Lands, JD Morvan and Bengal’s Naja and Meka, F. Ruiz Velasco’s Culebra and Legion of Blood, Caio Oliveira’s Super-Ego, Prophet Hill, and Vivid, Francisco Paronzini’s Hugo Broyler, and Lucas Marangon’s Thinking Out Loud.  Additional titles are also in the works, and details on each title, with previews, will be released soon.