ABOUT US
NICHOLAS KALIKOW
NICHOLAS KALIKOW, a New York City native, divides his time between the dynamic pages of New York and the cinematic frames of Los Angeles. As THE LAB PRESS’ Publisher and CEO, he is dedicated to publishing character-driven books with a strong focus on visual storytelling. Apart from his passion for comic books, Kalikow is a dedicated photographer and collector of photography books. With 15 years of experience as a writer, he brings a wealth of creative expertise to his diverse projects.
DAGEN WALKER
DAGEN WALKER is a seasoned writer turned Editor-in-Chief for THE LAB PRESS. Walker channels his love for storytelling and his commitment to narrative excellence into a collaborative space for audacious creators to do their best work, to bring fresh and captivating stories to readers, and to fuel the company's innovative slate of releases. When not at work dreaming about how to birth wild and subversive stories into the universe, Walker is at home dreaming about how to birth wild and subversive stories into the universe.
DIANE RICHEY
DIANE RICHEY, VP of Business Development, forges strategic partnerships and nurtures connections with both emerging and established creatives. With a keen sense for people and a history focused on developing talent, she spearheads the development of THE LAB PRESS’ original content. As a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion, Diane's contributions have been instrumental in cultivating award-winning creatives over the course of her career.
MIKE ZAGARI
MIKE ZAGARI, Chief Creative Officer, joined THE LAB PRESS after over 20 years of experience at Marvel, Disney, Lucasfilm, Pixar, DC Comics and AMC Networks. A native New Yorker, Mike received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts. He has extensive experience developing print (books, comics, storybooks), digital (VR, AR, interactive apps, eBooks), media (TV, film, animation), and consumer product (toys, apparel, collectibles, RPGs) cooperative ecosystems. Throughout his career, Mike has been deeply involved in every aspect of the comics industry. From spearheading and overseeing an entire publishing division, to producing a vast array of comics for major and independent publishers, he has collaborated closely with acclaimed writers, artists, distributors, retailers, printers, and event organizers. Furthermore, Mike has personally created, written, illustrated, packaged, and successfully sold his own self-published comics.
LINDSAY MUSIL
LINDSAY MUSIL, Editorial Assistant, specializes in managing talent workflow, ensuring smooth coordination between creative teams and contributors. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for organization, she plays a key role in streamlining editorial processes.
OLIVIA NGAI
OLIVIA NGAI is a freelance editor with over a decade of experience in publishing. She was formerly the content manager at Image Comics and then the editor at West Margin Press, where she helped launch a graphic novel program that debuted in its first year with an Eisner nomination and an honorable mention at PW's US Book Show. She spends her time between Los Angeles and Oakland, California.
JOHN J. HILL
JOHN J. HILL is a Portland, Oregon based creative director and all-around jack of all trades working in entertainment and publishing. He has led, developed and designed campaigns, branding, packaging, coffee table books and other creative for Adobe, AMC Networks, Atlantic Records, Blizzard Entertainment, DC Comics, Disney, Frank Miller Presents, GM, Image Comics, Legendary, MTV, NHL and many others.
LILLIAN LASERSON
LILLIAN LASERSON, formerly known as Superman's (and Batman's and Wonder Woman's) lawyer, spent 20 years at DC Comics, where she was General Counsel. Before that, she was Kermit and Miss Piggy's go-to girl for all things legal and business affairs at Jim Henson Productions. Now, in her own practice, Lillian represents producers, writers, artists and companies engaged in creative ventures.