Clover Press Announces Creator Owned Imprint The Fourth Leaf; ‘I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits’ Launch Title

I may be a bit late to this one, but I have had a busy and awesome few days running a comic book workshop and organising the graffiti at my local music festival right here in the heart of Birmingham. As such, I am playing a bit of catch-up, which is why it’s only now I’m informing you all of a new imprint from Clover Press, The Fourth Leaf, championing creator-ownd comic and graphic novels.

The Fourth Leaf will launch with a new graphic novel, I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits, by Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard, the anthology Cal McDonald: Plague of Evil and Other Stories, by horror legend Steve Niles, and various artists, along with a deluxe, oversized new edition of Sean Lewis and Jonathan Marks Barravecchia‘s critically acclaimed Bear Pirate Viking Queen. Not bad for a publisher only established in 2019.

Here’s Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz with a statement on this new expansion:

“We’re living in an unparalleled time of creativity and opportunity in the comic book industry. We may not have flying cars (yet) and we may not be living on space stations (yet), but we are absolutely living in the future of near-endless creative possibilities. It’s our distinct pleasure at Clover Press to spotlight some of the stories that resonate deeply with us, and connect them directly to readers looking for something new and different. These are bold, bloody and pulpy stories by fearless creators, and we’re proud to provide them a place to create without limits. These are stories to invigorate and ignite the future.”

Each new title will be launched as a crowdfunder on Kickstarter, with Wagner and Hillyard’s I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits coming soon. You can sign up for that one here.

Here’s writer, Wagner on his and Hillyard’s new collaboration:

“People often tell me I write weird books. I don’t. I write stories about friendship, family, loyalty, and wonderfully broken people that just happen to feature serial killers, cannibals, homicidal furries, and, in the case of I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits, murder chickens. Somehow, Daniel and I managed to make our previous books look almost responsible, and Clover Press encouraged us every step of the way. Together, we’ve created a wonderfully weird beast that I absolutely cannot wait to unleash on the world.” 

Artist Daniel Hillard added:

“I never could have imagined that mine and Doug’s love of the quirky and horrific would bring us to a place of crazed cultists, a Frankenstein-esque serial killer, immortal murder chickens and a zombie-driven-apocalyptic-death truck! I mean … what!?” 

Clover Press Publisher Hank Kanalz also added:

“When Doug and Daniel first pitched me on this, I pretty much greenlit it when they said ‘Murder Chickens.’ But at the heart of this story is the family Doug and Daniel have crafted – this is about what and who you’d die for. And Murder Chickens.”

The Kickstarter campaign for I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits, will also feature an exclusive Dust Jacket Edition with art from artist Chris Bachalo, a Deluxe Slipcase Edition of the book, exclusive art prints, and even a Murder Chickens Card Game.

You can read the first 12 pages for free now here.