Happy Small Press Wednesday! In the spotlight this week is a new comic company on the horizon. Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award-winning writer, producer, and director Prentice Penny has partnered with Stranger Comics' founder Sebastian A. Jones to launch a joint venture comic book entertainment company focused on identifying and supporting new talent within the independent comic book world. The new company will serve as "an incubator and development lab for BIPOC creators and their IP."

Check out the details below:

"Combining Penny and Jones' creative expertise, the company will be able to amplify its storytellers by offering inroads into publication, adaptation of the IP into other mediums of entertainment (i.e. television, film, animation, podcast, etc.). The pair has already begun identifying such creators and is currently developing two separate properties under the joint venture – Harriet Tubman Demon Slayer created by David Crownson and Jaycen Wise from creator Uraeus."

Prentice Penny

"When Sebastian told me there's so many independent comic creators of color that largely get ignored in the movie and television space I knew that I wanted to help foster and produce content with these amazing creators. I'm so excited with all the possibilities the joint venture can do," said Penny. "Having someone like Sebastian as a partner who has had amazing success in the independent comic space and someone like myself that knows TV and film, it felt like such an easy and natural fit. I can't wait to dive in and find the next generation of BIPOC comic creators and get their work up on the screen."

"As a comic creator, it can be a daunting prospect to have an IP leave the familiar nest of the comic industry and head off to the big wide world of TV and Film," added Jones. "For many, the IP is not only a creator's idea, but also the creation that has been nurtured and cared for, often for many years, existing through comics, kid's books, poems, and song. After co-writing and developing with Prentice in a world that I've spent a lifetime creating, I couldn't be happier to have found the perfect partner to team up with, especially to help guide, mentor, and amplify the voices of aspiring BIPOC creators that need to be heard."

The new team-up follows Penny and Jones' recent pairing to co-author the comic Niobe & Dura: Wrath of the Ancient #1, which successfully launched on Kickstarter in August. 

Stay tuned for more details on what the new company will be publishing and producing in the future.