Mojo Press - History

History

Mojo Press was founded in 1994 by publisher Ben Ostrander and managing editor Richard Klaw ostensibly to publish the Joe R. Lansdale and Klaw co-edited anthology Weird Business (1995), although the first Mojo Press title was actually the Klaw-edited comic book anthology Creature Features (1994) featuring the original Lansdale story "Grease Trap", illustrated by Ted Naifeh.

In 1994, during the 90s comic-boom, friends Lansdale and Klaw had ruminated over the non-existence of a "a comic book anthology with some of the biggest names in fantasy and horror fiction". Klaw suggested they produced one themselves, utilising Lansdale's connections, and the two began searching for a publisher. Concurrently, Klaw (then working in a Bookstop) had struck up a friendship with regular customer Ben Ostrander, even renewing his interest in comics after a considerable hiatus, having discovered the two shared many interests. Ostrander was looking to change careers, even approaching Klaw with the idea of opening a specialty science fiction shop, although this was ultimately scrapped.

Lansdale and Klaw, despite not having a publisher (Dark Horse, according to Klaw "looked at like had grown another head") were generating positive responses from possible contributors for their untitled anthology project. Poppy Z. Brite, Norman Partridge, Neal Barrett, Jr., Scott A. Cupp, Nancy A. Collins and Bill Crider all expressed their interest, and Klaw produced a proposal which Ostander agreed to. Soon:

"The deal that ultimately created Mojo Press was sealed in the hotel bar of the 1994 Armadillocon."

Klaw had recently left Blackbird Comics, with two books - Wings and Creature Features - completed, but unpublished. Creature Features was:

"a collection of six stories, one of which was an original by Joe R. Lansdale, with a cover and design by Darrin LeBlanc inspired by love for B-monster movies."

Ostrander and Klaw published it partly as a trial run with a local printing press in San Antonio, and partly to try out Darrin LeBlanc as an art director for their intended first (true) title: Weird Business. Ultimately, LeBlanc did indeed become art director, but Mojo's second title was printed in Canada.

Klaw took on book editing duties ("develop projects and talent"), while Ostrander was publisher - "dealing with printers and distributors, etc." For the first four Mojo titles, Ostrander and Klaw re-negotiated individual terms, but for the fifth, it was agreed that Klaw should became an official employee. He took the title of Managing Editor, a position he held until 1998, when he left the company.

This fifth title was also Mojo Press' first prose book: Behold the Man: The Thirtieth Anniversary Edition (1996) by Michael Moorcock with an introduction by Jonathan Carroll. It was designed and illustrated by John Picacio, and featured his first book cover, produced after Klaw took him to meet Moorcock, who personally gave him free rein. This "gave confidence at the time and.. set a tone for career that continues to this day."

Over five years, Mojo produced nineteen separate publications. Klaw left Mojo Press is 1998, and the last three titles were edited by Ostrander.

Contrary to rumors, Lansdale did not own a stake in the publisher.