COMIC LAB PRESS Location 43 Saint Marks Road, Toronto, Ontario Owner/Publisher: Sean Menard.
Comic Lab Press, through which a group of freelance writers and illustrators created and published the comic book Low Society, was organized and financed by Sean Menard. Earlier he was administratively connected to the Toronto Cartoonists Workshop, helping to organize classes. Shortly after Dragon Lady on Queen Street closed in February 2012 he with Kevin Boyd opened The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery on College Street. It included a store and art gallery which hosted exhibits, a school and a print shop. Whether this operation had any connection other than Sean to the Comic Lab is unclear. The contact address for Comic Lab Press was the residence address given above.
Sean had the idea of taking an iconic Canadian cartoon character and having a number of authors create stories each featuring their version of the character. Apparently, the character chosen first was “Captain Canuck” which at the time was not being published. However, this didn’t happen as “Captain Canuck” was picked up by Chapterhouse Comics and eventually reappeared on the newsstands in 2015. Enter Rob Walton, a graduate of Toronto Cartoonists Workshop who had heard Dave Sim mention on a program that since “Cerebus” was completed he would permit anyone to use his character. Months later in listening to Sean talk about his project Rob mentioned what he had heard. Sean agreed “Cerebus” would be a good character. Rob contacted Dave and an agreement was negotiated. Eleven artists nearly all graduates of Toronto Cartoonists Workshop did six stories and three illustrations. Ron Kasman was given the job of lettering all the stories being paid with the opportunity to draw one of the stories and about a hundred free comics. The cover was drawn by Gerhard while each participating cartoonist and illustrator was assigned the task of inserting his version of “Cerebus”. Dave Sim did the inking. The resulting anthology received good distribution and sold well. There were no further publications.
n May 2015, The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery changed to an online service. Later Kevin now sole owner transitioned it to a consulting business. Meanwhile, Sean Menard emerged as director/producer of the documentary Fighter Mom, 2016 (about professional Mixed Martial Fighter Michelle Waterson) followed by The Carter Effect, 2017 (about Vince Carter when he played for the Toronto Raptors), 299 Queen Street West, 2023 (about Much Music) and Run Terry Run, 2025 (about Terry Fox). In 2025 he launched the TV series Sneaker Room.
PRODUCT:
BOOKLET GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story black & white & Cover front black & white:
Low Society, Ed., Rob Walton. 2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.” Writ., Devon Wong. Illus., Ron Kasman. 3-8. “Everything.” Writ., Sam Noir. Illus., Rina Rozsas: 9-14. “Cerebus 700: That Was Then This Is Now.” Car., Rob Walton:15-20. “The Sound of One Hand Honking.” Writ., Oliver Ho. Illus., Dylan Kloepfer: 21-26. “Morning Stroll.” Writ., Jesse Saunders. Illus., Anthony Smerek: 27-32. “Legacy AKA: Issue 300.1.” Writ., Jamie Bullock. Illus., Dave Sim: 33-38. All lettering done by Ron Kasman.
SOURCE:
Article booklet:
Low Society, Low Society. 2013: “A word from the Editor”: Inside front cover.
Email:
Ron Kasman to Robert MacMillan, 28 February 2025.
GALLERY:
Low Society, 2013: Front cover.
This humorous opening story also outlines what this project is trying to achieve.
Low Society,2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.”: 3.
Low Society,2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.”: 4.
Low Society,2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.”: 5.
Low Society,2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.”: 6.
Low Society,2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.”: 7.
Low Society,2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.”: 8.
Low Society,2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.”: 9.
Low Society,2013: “Legacy AKA: Issue 300.1.”: 38. This is the poignant ending to “Legacy AKA: Issue 300.1” for the full story see CEREBUS THE AARDVARK.