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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.35

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                              VERTIS HOLDINGS, INC.
                             1999 EQUITY AWARD PLAN

          AGREEMENT, dated as of September 5, 2002, by and between Vertis
Holdings, Inc. (the "Company"), and Catherine S. Leggett (the "Participant").

                              PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

          The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), which administers
the Vertis Holdings, Inc. 1999 Equity Award Plan (the "Plan"), has authorized
this grant of a non-qualified stock option (the "Option") on September 5, 2002
(the "Grant Date") to purchase the number of shares of the Company's common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock") set forth below to the
Participant, as an Eligible Employee of the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company (collectively, the Company and all such Affiliates of the Company shall
be referred to as the "Employer"). Unless otherwise indicated herein, any
capitalized term used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to
such term in the Plan. A copy of the Plan has been delivered to the Participant.
By signing and returning this Agreement, the Participant acknowledges having
received and read a copy of the Plan and agrees to comply with it, this
Agreement and all applicable laws and regulations.

          Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

          1.   TAX MATTERS. No part of the Option granted hereby is intended to
qualify as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

          2.   GRANT OF OPTION. Subject in all respects to the terms and
conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the Participant is hereby
granted an Option to purchase from the Company 3,574 shares of Common Stock, at
a price per share of $31.50 (the "Option Price").

          3.   EXERCISE.

          (a)  The Option shall become vested and exercisable in installments on
the dates provided below, which shall be cumulative; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Option shall become vested and exercisable in full on a date, if any, that the
Board determines that the Company's EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2002
is at least $244 million; PROVIDED, FURTHER that the Participant has not
incurred a Termination of Employment with the Employer prior to any such date.
To the extent that the Option has become vested and exercisable with respect to
a percentage of shares of Common Stock granted as provided below, the Option may
thereafter be exercised by the Participant, in whole or in part, at any time or
from time to time prior to the expiration of the Option as provided herein and
in accordance with Section 6.3(d) of the Plan, including, without limitation, by
(i) the filing of such written form of exercise notice, if any, as may be
required by the Board, (ii) the execution and delivery by the Participant of the
subscription agreement referred to in Section 7 below, and (iii) the payment in
full of the Option

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Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option is
so exercised. Upon expiration of the Option, the Option shall be canceled and no
longer exercisable. The following table indicates the dates (the "Vesting
Dates") upon which the Participant shall become vested and be entitled to
exercise the Option with respect to the number of shares granted as indicated
beside that date:

<Table>
<Caption>
          Vesting Date                                Percent of Option Shares
          ------------                                ------------------------
          <S>                                                <C>
          September 1, 2003                                  33%

          September 1, 2004                                  33%

          September 1, 2005                                  34%
</Table>

There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods prior to each
Vesting Date, and all vesting and exercisability increases shall occur only on
the appropriate Vesting Date.

          (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, any portion
of this Option that is not  vested upon the Participant's Termination of
Employment shall be canceled and be non-exercisable upon such Termination of
Employment.

          4.   OPTION TERM. The term of each Option shall be ten (10) years
after the Grant Date, subject to earlier termination in the event of a
Participant's Termination of Employment as specified in Section 5 below.

          5.   TERMINATION.

          Subject to Section 4 above and the terms of the Plan, this Option, to
the extent vested at the time of a Participant's Termination of Employment,
shall be exercisable as follows:

          (a)  In the event of the Participant's Termination of Employment for
any reason other than as described in Section 5(b) below, this Option shall
remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days from the date of
such Termination of Employment or (ii) the expiration of the stated term of this
Option pursuant to Section 4 hereof.

          (b)  In the event of the Participant's Termination of Employment for
Cause or in the event of a Participant's voluntary termination at any time after
an event that would be grounds for a Termination of Employment for Cause, this
entire Option (whether or not vested) shall be forfeited and canceled in its
entirety upon such Termination of Employment.

          6.   RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER OF OPTION. The Option granted hereby
shall not be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and during the lifetime of the Participant, may be exercised only
by the Participant or the Participant's guardian or legal representative. In
addition, the Option shall not be assigned, negotiated, pledged or hypothecated
in any way (except as provided by law or herein), and the Option shall not be
subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to
transfer, assign,

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negotiate, pledge or hypothecate the Option or in the event of any levy upon the
Option by reason of any execution, attachment or similar process contrary to the
provisions hereof, the Option shall immediately become null and void.

          7.   RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND SALE OF SHARES. Shares of Common
Stock acquired by the Participant (or his or her estate or legal representative)
through the exercise of this Option shall be subject to the provisions of a
subscription agreement which shall be provided to the Participant immediately
prior to the earliest Vesting Date hereunder.

          8.   RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. The Participant shall have no rights as
a stockholder with respect to any shares covered by the Option unless and until
the Participant has become the holder of record of the shares, and no
adjustments shall be made for dividends in cash or other property, distributions
or other rights in respect of any such shares, except as otherwise specifically
provided for in the subscription agreement referred to in Section 7 above.

          9.   PROVISIONS OF PLAN CONTROL. This Agreement is subject to all the
terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, the
amendment provisions thereof, and to such rules, regulations and interpretations
relating to the Plan as may be adopted by the Board or any committee thereof and
as may be in effect from time to time) and, as provided in Section 7 of this
Agreement, the subscription agreement. The Plan is specifically incorporated
herein by reference. If and to the extent that this Agreement conflicts or is
inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, the Plan
shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly.

          10.  NOTICES. Any notice or communication given hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, or
by United States mail, to the appropriate party at the address set forth below
(or such other address as the party shall from time to time specify):

          If to the Company, to:

               Vertis Holdings, Inc.
               250 W. Pratt Street, 18th Floor
               Baltimore, Maryland  21201
               Attention: Secretary

          If to the Participant, to:

               The address indicated after the Participant's signature at the
end of this Agreement.

          11.  NO OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT. This Agreement is not an
agreement of employment. This Agreement does not guarantee that the Employer
will employ the Participant for any specific time period, nor does it modify in
any respect the Employer's right to terminate or modify the Participant's
employment or compensation.

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
date and year first above written.

PARTICIPANT:                                      VERTIS HOLDINGS, INC.

By: /s/ Catherine S. Leggett                      By: /s/ Dean D. Durbin
    ----------------------------------            ------------------------------
Name: Catherine S. Leggett                        Name: Dean D. Durbin
Social Security No:  ###-##-####                  Title: Chief Financial Officer
Home Address:  4401 Dustin Road
               Burtonsville, Maryland  20866

                                      -4-<Page>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.36

                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of the date set forth on the signature page hereto by and between the
employee set forth on the signature page of this Agreement (the "Seller") and
Vertis Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

                              PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

     The Seller is an employee of the Company and owns, directly, beneficially
and of record, the number of shares of the Company's common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, set forth on the signature page hereto (the "Shares"). The
Seller originally acquired the Shares with the proceeds of one or more secured
promissory notes executed by the Seller in favor of the Company (collectively,
the "Loan"). As of August 31, 2002, the principal amount outstanding under the
Loan and estimated accrued interest, together with an estimated per diem rate of
interest, are as set forth on the signature page hereto. The Shares were pledged
to the Company as security for the repayment of the Loan pursuant to one or more
Securities Pledge Agreements by and between the Seller and the Company
(collectively, the "Pledge").

     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, (1) the Seller desires
to sell all of the Shares, and the Company desires to purchase such Shares, (2)
the parties desire to use the proceeds from the sale of the Shares to repay the
principal balance of the Loan, (3) the Company will release the Seller from any
obligation to pay the accrued interest on the Loan, and (4) the Company will pay
to the Seller a partial bonus from the Seller's 2002 bonus under the Company's
Executive Incentive Plan (the "EIP") in an amount sufficient, after withholding
at the applicable supplemental rate, to fund the payment by the Seller of taxes
required to be withheld by the Company at the applicable supplemental rate, in
respect of the release of accrued interest on the Loan.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the agreements,
covenants, and representations hereinafter contained, the Seller and the Company
intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

     1.   AGREEMENT TO SELL. Upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Seller shall sell, assign, transfer and deliver to the Company at the Closing
(as defined in SECTION 4), the Shares free and clear, other than the Pledge, of
all liens, claims, charges, pledges, security interests, pre-emptive rights,
rights of first refusal, obligations, encumbrances and restrictions
(collectively, "Liens"), and the Company shall purchase and accept the Shares
from the Seller at the Closing.

     2.   PURCHASE PRICE. In consideration of the sale, assignment, transfer and
delivery of the Shares to the Company by the Seller, the Company shall pay to
the Seller the purchase price of $31.50 per share (the "Purchase Price"), which
amount shall be applied by the Company to repay the outstanding principal
balance of the Loan.

     3.   INTEREST. In consideration of the sale, assignment, transfer and
delivery of the Shares to the Company by the Seller and the repayment of the
outstanding principal balance of the Loan, the Company shall release the Seller
from any obligation to pay the accrued interest on the Loan. The Seller
acknowledges and agrees that the Company will be required to withhold federal,
state and/or local taxes at the applicable supplemental rate in respect of the
amount of interest released (the "Withheld Amount") and that the amount of
interest released will be reported as income on the Seller's 2002 Form W-2.

     4.   BONUS. In consideration of the Seller's service to the Company in
2002, the Company hereby awards to the Seller a partial bonus from the Seller's
2002 bonus under the EIP in an amount (the

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"Bonus Amount") which, when reduced by withholding taxes on the Bonus Amount at
the applicable supplemental rate, shall be equal to the Withheld Amount. The
Bonus Amount shall be applied by the Company at the Closing in satisfaction of
its obligation to pay to relevant taxing authorities the Withheld Amount and
applicable withholding taxes on the Bonus Amount. The Seller acknowledges and
agrees that the Bonus Amount will be treated as a "miscellaneous bonus" under
the Company's payroll system and reported as income on the Seller's 2002 Form
W-2.

     5.   CLOSING. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the "Closing") shall take place
on the date of full execution of this Agreement and all other deliveries
contemplated hereby; provided that the Closing may take place at such other
time, date or place as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing.

     6.   THE SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS AT CLOSING. At the Closing, Seller will
deliver to the Company the following:

          (a)  certificate(s) representing the Shares, accompanied by a stock
power duly executed in blank and in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A;

          (b)  an executed cross-receipt evidencing receipt of the consideration
contemplated hereby in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT B; and

          (c)  such other documents and instruments as may be required to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

     7.   THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS AT CLOSING. At the Closing, the Company will
deliver to the Seller the following:

          (a)  an executed cross-receipt evidencing the repayment of the Loan
and release of the interest thereon and receipt of the other consideration
contemplated hereby in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT B; and

          b)   such other documents and instruments as may be required to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

     8.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER. The Seller represents
and warrants to the Company that the statements contained in this SECTION 8 are
true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing:

          8.1  TITLE TO THE SHARES. The Seller is the sole beneficial and record
owner of the Shares, and owns such Shares free and clear of any Liens (other
than the Pledge) and has and at Closing will have full power and authority to
convey such Shares free and clear of any Liens (other than the Pledge), and upon
delivery of payment for the Shares as herein provided, the Seller will convey to
the Company good title thereto free and clear of any Liens (other than the
Pledge).

          8.2  CAPACITY; AUTHORITY; BINDING EFFECT. The Seller has the legal
capacity to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each other document
being executed in connection herewith to which the Seller is a party. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Seller and
(assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Company)
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable
against the Seller in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,

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reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors rights and remedies generally and subject to general principles of
equity.

          8.3  BROKERS AND ADVISORS. The Seller has not taken any action which
would give rise to a valid claim against any party hereto for a brokerage
commission, finder's fee or like payment.

          8.4  RECEIPT OF INFORMATION. The Seller acknowledges that the Seller
has received and carefully reviewed or had the opportunity to review (a) this
Agreement, (b) the Stock Repurchase Summary of Terms dated September 12, 2002
delivered to the Seller describing the transactions contemplated hereby, (c) the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, including the
financial statements included therein, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and (d) the other information provided to the Seller upon the
Seller's request. The Seller acknowledges that no representations or warranties
have been made to the Seller concerning the Shares or the Company or its
prospects or other matters, except as set forth in this Agreement, and that the
Seller has been given the opportunity to examine all documents and to ask
questions of, and to receive answers from, the Company concerning the Shares,
the Company, its prospects and other matters and the terms and conditions of
this Agreement.

     9.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to each Seller that the statements contained in this
SECTION 9 are true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and will be true
and correct as of the Closing:

          9.1  ORGANIZATION. The Company is a corporation validly existing under
the laws of the state of Delaware.

          9.2  AUTHORITY; BINDING EFFECT. The Company has been duly authorized
to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other document being executed in
connection herewith to which the Company is a party. This Agreement has been
duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Seller) constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights and remedies
generally and subject to general principles of equity.

          9.3  BROKERS AND ADVISORS. The Company has not taken any action which
would give rise to a valid claim against any party hereto for a brokerage
commission, finder's fee or like payment.

     10.  CANCELLATION  OF LOAN.  Within a reasonable  period of time after the
Closing,  the Company will deliver to the Seller the original certificate(s)
evidencing the Loan marked "cancelled."

     11.  EXPENSES. Except as otherwise set forth herein, each party to this
Agreement shall pay all of its expenses relating hereto, including any income,
capital gains, sales, transfer or documentary taxes, and fees and disbursements
of its counsel, accountants and financial advisors, whether or not the
transactions hereunder are consummated.

     12.  NOTICES. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices,
requests, demands and other communications under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be addressed: (a) if to the Company, to
Vertis Holdings, Inc., 250 W. Pratt Street, 18th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland
21201, Attention: Secretary and (b) if to the Seller, to the address set forth
on the signature page hereto. All such notices, requests, demands or
communications shall be mailed postage prepaid, certified mail, return receipt
requested, or by overnight delivery or delivered personally, and shall be
sufficient and

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effective when delivered to or received at the address so specified. Any party
may change the address at which it is to receive notice by like written notice
to the others.

     13.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the exhibits hereto)
is intended by the parties to and does constitute the entire agreement of the
parties with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. This
Agreement supersedes any and all prior understandings, written or oral, between
the parties, and this Agreement may be amended, modified, waived, discharged or
terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which
enforcement of the amendment, modification, waiver, discharge or termination is
sought.

     14.  GENERAL. The paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall be
effective only upon execution by all parties hereto. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns, but nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to
or shall confer any rights, remedies or benefits upon any person other than the
parties hereto. This Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto, except
that the Company may assign this Agreement to one or more of its subsidiaries or
affiliates, provided that the Company shall remain primarily liable on this
Agreement, notwithstanding any assignment. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without
giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

     15.  CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY. The Seller acknowledges that the Seller
has had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of the Seller's choosing
regarding the terms of this Agreement before signing it and that in executing
this Agreement the Seller has not relied upon any representations or statements
by the Company or any of its shareholders, agents, representatives, employees,
or attorneys regarding the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement,
other than as set forth in this Agreement.

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Seller and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of September 24, 2002.

WITNESS/ATTEST:                  THE SELLER:

/s/ Courtney Spence              /s/ Catherine S. Leggett
-------------------------        -----------------------------------------[SEAL]

                                 VERTIS HOLDINGS, INC.

/s/ Gynene V. Sullivan           By:/s/ Dean D. Durbin
-------------------------        -----------------------------------------[SEAL]
                                 Name:   Dean D. Durbin
                                 Title:  Chief Financial Officer

SELLER NAME:   CATHERINE S. LEGGETT
ADDRESS:  4401 DUSTIN ROAD
               BURTONSVILLE, MARYLAND  20866

SHARES
NUMBER OF SHARES: 10,000
AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE: $315,000.00

LOAN
PRINCIPAL BALANCE: $315,000.00
ESTIMATED ACCRUED INTEREST AT 8/31/02: $55,675
ESTIMATED PER DIEM INTEREST: $85.09

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                                    EXHIBIT A

                                   STOCK POWER

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned does hereby sell, assign and transfer
unto Vertis Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), 10,000
shares of the Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company
represented by certificate number(s) VH 56, and does hereby irrevocably
constitute and appoint Piper Rudnick LLP, as attorney-in-fact to transfer said
shares on the books of the above named corporation with full power of
substitution.

Witness: /s/ Courtney Spence         Signature: /s/ Catherine S. Leggett
         -------------------                    ----------------------------
                                     Name:       Catherine S. Leggett
                                     Date:  September 24, 2002

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                                    EXHIBIT B

                                  CROSS-RECEIPT

     Reference is made to the Stock Purchase Agreement of even date herewith
(the "Agreement") by and between Vertis Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and the undersigned stockholder of the Company (the "Seller").

     1.   The Company hereby acknowledges receipt of 10,000 shares of common
          stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares").

     2.   The Company hereby acknowledges receipt of $315,000.00 , representing
          the purchase price from the Seller's sale of the Shares (the "Purchase
          Price"), and application of the Purchase Price to the repayment in
          full of the principal amount outstanding under one or more secured
          promissory notes executed by Seller in favor of the Company
          (collectively, the "Loan"), and hereby releases the Seller from any
          further obligation under the Loan, including any obligation to pay
          accrued interest under the Loan, which amount was estimated as $55,675
          as of August 31, 2002 and will include an estimated per diem rate of
          interest of $85.09 through the date set forth below (the "Accrued
          Interest").

     3.   The Company hereby acknowledges receipt of the payment contemplated by
          Section 5 below in respect of taxes withheld by the Company at the
          applicable supplemental rate from the release of the Accrued Interest
          (the "Withheld Amount").

                                 VERTIS HOLDINGS, INC.

                                 By: /s/ Dean D. Durbin
                                     ----------------------------
                                 Name:  Dean D. Durbin
                                 Title: Chief Financial Officer

     4.   The undersigned, as Seller, hereby acknowledges receipt of the
          Purchase Price and directs the Company to apply the Purchase Price to
          the outstanding principal balance of the Loan.

     5.   The undersigned, as Seller, hereby acknowledges receipt of a partial
          bonus (the "Bonus") from the Seller's 2002 bonus under the Company's
          Executive Incentive Plan in an amount determined under Section 4 of
          the Agreement and directs the Company to apply the net amount of the
          Bonus against the Withheld Amount.

     6.   The undersigned, as Seller, hereby acknowledges the repayment or
          release of all indebtedness associated with the Loan.

                                 Signature: /s/ Catherine S. Leggett
                                            ---------------------------------
                                 Name: Catherine S. Leggett
                                 Date: September 24, 2002

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