If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Except for this year with the beaches closed. But you can always sit back and catch up on the pages of Archie Comics via some new books arriving soon at a comic book store near you. The high point from Archie this summer is this great homage cover to the Beach Boys’ Endless Summer #1 hit album from 1974 that rode the Billboard charts for 155 weeks, my own personal most-listened to album ever (you owe it to yourself to listen to this great compilation album of the band’s hits–check it out here at Amazon). The homage cover was created by Jeff Shultz and Rosario “Tito” Peña after artist Keith McConnell′s original album cover (designed just after McConnell’s tour as Marine Corps artist in the Vietnam War and a while before he would return to war as an artist in Desert Storm).
To commemorate its 80th anniversary as home to some of pop culture’s most iconic characters, Archie Comics is publishing a series of special digital-exclusive one-shot comics. Begin with Archie, Josie & the Pussycats, Veronica Lodge as Powerteen with Blackjack, plus Jughead, Cheryl Blossom, New Crusaders, Betty & Veronica, Katy Keene, and Young Salem–available now at comiXology, the Archie App, Hoopla, or wherever you get digital comics. Then coming next week is Sabrina and Sam Hill: Private Eye, and some artist spotlights, looking at creator Harry Lucey, then on May 20, it’s Dotty & Ditto with Bob Phantom, with a spotlight on Dan DeCarlo, and finally artist Dan Parent on May 27. Check out some looks back–inside a few of these issues–below, and a schedule of releases.
If you’re wondering who is the best current comic book interior artist, you only need to turn to the current issue of Archie Comics/Dark Horse Comics′ mash-up series, Archie vs. Predator II: Revenge Comes to Riverdale. Consistently Robert Hack is one of the industry’s best producing artists, and with this series he immerses readers into new territory where sci-fi meets small town America. And he’s a double threat–take a look at his incredible covers for Issues #1-3 above and below with co-creator Kelly Fitzpatrick (along with a nice variant cover from Francesco Francavilla).
Dark Horse Comics and Archie Comics have partnered again, bringing back writer Alex de Campi, who crafted the initial bestselling 2015 story (for both publishers) with artist Fernando Ruiz. Our preview below takes you right into the story where de Campi last left us. Something’s not quite right with Archie Andrews, and Betty and Veronica are attempting to track down a “Diagon Alley” of sorts called Memory Lane to get everyone back to where they are supposed to be. Funny and clever, it’s peppered with pop culture references, and some of Betty and Veronica’s best frenemy banter. Predator dogs! The Mars Curiosity rover!
Artists Rick Burchett, Derek Charm, Francesco Francavilla, Dan Parent, and Billy Tucci are providing some great cover variants for the series, too.
You won’t want to miss it. Here is a preview of the first issue of Archie vs. Predator II, plus a look at the variant covers, courtesy of Archie Comics:
As part of its volley of news items for San Diego Comic-Con this week, Dynamite Entertainment previewed five covers for titles it will feature with 40-page stories for this Halloween. You’ll want to add one or more of these titles to your pull list for your local comic book store’s annual Halloween Comic Fest bash (Note: “bash” usually is accompanied by cake). Look for special Halloween issues for Army of Darkness, the new Elvira, Mistress of the Dark title, Bettie Page, Red Sonja, and Vampirella.
In Army of Darkness, Ash finally meets ghost pirates. Written by Chad Bowers, Chris Sims, and Benito Cereno, with artwork by Eoin Marron and Anthony Marques, you’ll find a chainsaw battle against cutlasses and muskets. In the pages of Bettie Page a Boston artist is in contact with godlike space invaders, written by David Avallone and Leah Williams with artwork by Julius Ohta and Fernando Ruiz.
In Elvira’s Halloween special, the mistress of the dark hosts a horror film festival and learns a creator of a famous zombie flick is more than she bargained for–written by Dan Parent, Fernando Ruiz, and Scott Bryan Wilson, with artwork by Dan Parent and Fernando Ruiz. Readers of Vampirella will see their heroine celebrate her birthday, complete with a demonic invasion, Scott Lobdell and Blake Northcott are writing this story with artwork by Rapha Lobosco and Anthony Marques.
If you’ve been looking for your next retro fix, this may be it. Archie Comics and DC Comics is bringing nostalgia into a new crossover arriving in comic book stores today with Archie Meets Batman ’66. Two characters first seen in 1939–and never before have they appeared together! A battle in Gotham City extends its reach into Riverdale—with Mr. Lodge becoming Public Enemy #1 of the dynamic duo. And it’s up to Veronica to recruit some help and place a call… to the Batcave. Written by Jeff Parker and Michael Moreci with art by Dan Parent, J. Bone, Kelly Fitzpatrick, and Jack Morelli.
This new story is in the style of the opening title credits of the pop culture favorite 1960s live-action Batman series and the animated series Superfriends. And it’s an even bigger series than you might think, with its first issue full of not only the Archie gang and Batman and Robin. You’re going to find several of your favorite characters from the 1966 TV series make appearances. The artists have all emulated that over-the-top BAM! POW! variety of comic book goodness. Yes, we’re talking the return of the Batusi. Check out a preview to Issue #1 below courtesy of Archie Comics. Keep an eye out for a host of covers for this issue from Michael and Laura Allred, Derek Charm, Francesco Francavilla, Sandy Jarrell and Kelly Fitzpatrick, Dan Parent, J. Bone, and Rosario “Tito” Peña, and Ty Templeton.
Archie Comics plans to have a big presence at San Diego Comic-Con this week, focused on the hit CW television series Riverdale. Fourteen cast members from the series will be pictured on hotel keycards across town. With more than 40,000 keys created for the week, visitors will find these unique collectibles at nearly 40 San Diego hotels. Check your keycards for Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa), Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), Alice Cooper (Mädchen Amick), Fred Andrews (Luke Perry), Hermione Lodge (Marisol Nichols), Hiram Lodge (Mark Consuelos), Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch), Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray), Kevin Keller (Casey Cott), F.P. Jones (Skeet Ulrich), Reggie Mantle (Charles Melton), and Toni Topaz (Vanessa Morgan).
As promised, here’s your preview of Archie Meets Batman ’66, Issue #1:
In the latest ads for CW’s new teen series Riverdale, the live-action series looks even more like an updated Twin Peaks than in the initial teaser trailer. CW’s television adaptation of the 75-year-old Archie Comics characters and hometown is only weeks away. More and more we’re thinking the series has the look and feel of the Archie Comics’ recent successful expanded universe in its Afterlife with Archie and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series. Let’s face it–if the new television series really were to look like the monthly comic book, which has run relatively unchanged for its 75-year span, it would basically be a remake of Happy Days.
However CW’s Riverdale turns out, our fingers remain crossed that we’ll see the infamous Sabrina drop in as a guest star or that the writers will find a way to incorporate at least a good Halloween episode. Zombies, anyone? Another classic franchise family, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, are getting their own update next year when Dynamite Comics releases a new monthly series adaptation with a noir, true crime twist: Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie. The common theme seems to be bringing back the classics, but trying to spin them in a way to make them appeal to current audiences, which is nothing really new as adaptations go.
The first full-length trailer and a second teaser for Riverdale were both released this week. Every classic property should get the CW teen soap opera treatment like Riverdale and Smallville and all the great DC Comics series currently running. The shows may not be entirely loyal to the source materials, but you can bank on some interesting characters and well-told stories ahead.
Check out this first extended trailer for Riverdale:
In the first trailer for CW’s Riverdale, the live-action series looks more like an updated Twin Peaks than the classic comic book. But what a way to make an update! How will we know if Riverdale is a success? CW’s television adaptation of the nearly 80-year-old Archie Comics universe is only weeks away. Yet if you look back on your favorite teen television shows you may find writers and casting agents have been pulling from the Archie playbook before. Just take a look back at Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Who was a better Jughead than Xander? And did you ever see the original best frenemies Betty and Veronica in the love-hate relationship of Buffy and Faith? What about the dynamic of the leads in CW’s previous successful teen-driven, comic book series Smallville? Will Archie Comics’ own tried and tested formula prove to make Riverdale a keeper?
However CW’s Riverdale turns out, our fingers are crossed that we’ll see the infamous Sabrina drop in as a guest star or that the writers will find a way to incorporate at least a good Halloween episode banking on the success of the publisher’s recent Afterlife With Archie series. What sure-fire way to please a current audience than delivering a zombie episode?
The first teaser for Riverdale dropped this week. Although it doesn’t give us much, we get a look at the characters and a glimpse of the creepy tone of the show–a very CW teen-focused looking series. These kinds of shows have proven to be CW’s niche realm, along with its recent success with superheroes in its five DC Comics series: Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, iZombie, and Supergirl.
