A few months back we found out that "Robot Chicken/Titan Maximum" c0-creator/writer/producer Tom Root would be penning a special backup story for Archie's pal's landmark 200th issue in March. Now, it turns out readers will have another first to celebrate - Archie Comics' very first variant cover, which will ship to shops for free in a 1:3 regular cover ratio.





Newsarama's got Archie's official press release, which amusingly mentions "Robot Chicken's" Archie-meets-"Final Destination" mashup. I say "amusingly" because the parody isn't included on RC's Season 2 DVD collection and supposedly it's been replaced with another segment for its on-air broadcasts (and it's seemingly absent from the Internet). Let me throw out some crazy unfounded speculation and say that maybe Root caused a stir just so they'd take notice and give him a writing gig? Doesn't look like it, but according to the press release:
"The Archie Comics characters are comedy icons," said Root. "Each character's personality has been so well-defined over the course of nearly 70 years that it was a lot of fun to shake them up and present them with new challenges. Mostly, though, I just wanted to write a funny issue. I hope Archie fans like it!"
Since the story is about Archie trading his metabolism for a cheeseburger via the powers of "A spellbinding guest star' (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, y'all!), I am going to go out on a limb and say that, yes, I think I'm going to love it.

See you in March Jughead - Nay! - Variant Jughead!