Archie Comics is a cultural phenomenon that defies any neat category.  More than 80 years on and it’s like the Beach Boys or The Bee Gees–it does what it does well and there really isn’t anything else like it.  So it’s big news when the writers and artists come up with something new.  Earlier this year the long-running publishing house added a new key character to Riverdale–Daisy Thunder.  Later this year Archie Comics is delving back into its distant past to merge Riverdale with a classic line of superheroes, as Archie Andrews becomes a superhero himself in the pages of the new series Archie is Mr. Justice. 

The four-issue limited series begins with a story by writer Tim Seeley and artist Mike Norton, told from the perspective of Jughead.  How does Archie become a superhero?  Who makes his costume?  How did he leave Riverdale and save the world?

Each new issue features a new writer/artist team.  Creators include Amanda Diebert, Blake Howard, Kenny Porter, Maria Laura Sanapo, and Brent Schoonover.  Colorist duties will be provided by Glenn Whitmore with lettering by Jack Morelli.

Mr. Justice isn’t new.  He was one of the superheroes from the original MLJ Comics “Mighty Crusaders” stories.  These characters exist inside the Riverdale world, something Archie and friends pull into the series in a “meta” way.

The biggest reason to give the series a try may be that fantastic homage cover to Action Comics #1 by Matt Talbot (above, top).  Two other cover options (also above) are by long-time Archie universe cover artist Francesco Francavilla and Reiko Murakami.

It sounds a lot like CW’s Stargirl, which also conjured up an old pantheon of superheroes from the past and showed us how they changed a small town like Riverdale.

Add Archie is Mr. Justice to your pull list at Elite Comics or your local comic shop now.  It’s slated to begin in November from Archie Comics.

C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg