Per The Hollywood Reporter, writer/director Kevin Smith and Dark Horse Comics are teaming up to launch Secret Stash Press, a new line of creator-owned comics. The first titles, both expected this fall, will be “Masquerade,” an eight-issue series about a budding vigilante, and “Quick Stops,” an ongoing anthology set in Smith’s View Askewniverse, featuring characters from films like Clerks, Mallrats, and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot. The line is named after Smith’s New Jersey comic book store Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, and includes Smith and Jason Mewes’s alter-egos in its logo.
“2022 marks the 25th anniversary of my comic book store, Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash,” Smith said. “And after a quarter-century of selling comics, the Secret Stash is going to MAKE our own comics! Following the recipe written by Mike Richardson eons ago when he turned his comic shop into a legendary comic book publisher, the Secret Stash is ready to take the next step in its evolution. I’m ecstatic for Secret Stash Press to become a part of the Dark Horse multimedia empire and I hope our books will bring new customers into comic shops and delight regular readers from all around the world.”
Mike Richardson, founder and president of Dark Horse, said, “I’ve been a fan of Kevin’s films for years. The fact is, we have much in common. We’ve both worked in our own comic shops, worked in the film business, but most of all, have a passionate love for the comics medium. It only makes sense for us to finally team up, and I am extremely proud to announce his exciting new line of comic books and graphic novels here at Dark Horse. Kevin has a brilliant, creative mind, and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for all of us.” Dark Horse previously published the comic book prequel for Smith’s Netflix series Masters of the Universe: Revelation.
Dark Horse also closed out the week with the announcement they will publish “Maze,” an award-winning Brazilian graphic novel by Thiago Souto, in English. The fantasy book, which was released in Portuguese in 2017, tells the story of Nico, a boy whose dreams can become real, and who spends his nights adventuring with his imaginary friend Góreck. But one night, Nico doesn’t fall asleep, and Góreck must “enter a labyrinth of memories” to find and rescue him. The story hits comic book stores on November 11, and bookstores on November 29, 2022.
