WESTBROOK, ME – Joseph Schmalke has officially announced he is launching his own publishing company—Midnight Factory Press. Midnight Factory Press is joining the direct market via an agreement with Diamond Comic Distributors.
Cult comics writer/artist Joseph Schmalke, creator of Seven Years in Darkness, We Don’t Kill Spiders, One Last Trick, The Infernal Pact, Cherry Blackbird, Phantom Starkiller, The Electric Black, and Murder Hobo, is launching his own imprint to publish his creator-owned properties. Midnight Factory will be dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the medium and feature innovative tales of horror, sci-fi, and the bizarre. With an initial focus on printed comics, Midnight Factory aims to entertain readers with unique storylines and art style.
Schmalke says, “I was co-publisher at Black Caravan (with Rich Woodall) for three years and learned many of the things necessary to launch my own imprint. Since I write and draw many of my books (We Don’t Kill Spiders, Seven Years in Darkness, Cherry Blackbird) it just made sense to put them all under one roof at Midnight Factory while I develop new series with other creators. I love making dark and moody stories, specifically for comics, and hopefully there will be something for everybody.”
Starting in Decemeber 2024, the company will be rolling out several volume 1 graphic novels so readers can get caught up on ongoing series, including:
· We Don’t Kill Spiders, an occult mystery series set during the Viking age.
· Seven Years in Darkness, 72 Children are conscripted to The Academy of Black Magic for 7 years but only 7 will emerge from its halls.
· Murder Hobo, chaotic neutral reprobates go scorched earth in the lands of High Adventure.
The first of its titles, a new limited-edition of We Don’t Kill Spiders, will debut in the September solicitation of Diamond Previews. From writer/artist Joseph Schmalke, We Don’t Kill Spiders is a beautiful hardcover featuring over 130 pages of the popular indie comic, including a bonus cover gallery and behind the scenes material. It tells the tale of Revna, a Necromantic Witch, and Bjorn, a Berserker Detective investigating a string of grisly occult murders which may lead back to an ancient blood god.
Later in 2025, Midnight Factory will release new issues of the series Seven Years in Darkness, We Don’t Kill Spiders, and Murder Hobo (with artist Ryan G. Browne). Finally, a new sci-fi title, One Last Trick, will be debuting later in the year with artist J.K. Woodward.
Up until now, Seven Years in Darkness has been published under CEX Comics. Publisher Andy Schmidt had this to say, “CEX supports independent creators and wishes Joe the best in this great next phase of his career.”
Stay tuned for more from Midnight Factory Press and check out the September Diamond Previews catalog for on-sale dates.
· Twitter (X): x.com/josephschmalke
· Facebook: Midnight Factory
· Instagram: @midnight_factory_press
· Website: midnightfactorypress.com
