Comics Alliance: An AOL Comic Book Community

In a previous comics blogging life not so long ago, you may have read my first look piece about Rich Koslowski's newest project, B.B. Wolf & The L.P.s, in collaboration with writer Johnnie Arnold.

Rich has been a very busy guy lately, completing B.B. Wolf in his gorgeous ink wash style (very similar to his work on the award-winning Three Fingers and The List), starting a new Three Geeks GN (a movie based on the trio is in the works) and staying ahead of schedule on his first assignment for the House of Ideas, scripting a 12-part story arc about the new Guardian for Marvel Comics Presents. And, that list doesn't include his freelance endeavors for other publishers including Archie Comics and Devil's Due (Family Guy).

Watching from the sidelines since the debut of Three Fingers five years ago, I'm glad to see Rich's "star" is finally ascending in the comics industry, and it's about time...

BTW, Rich pens one of the more politically incorrect and funnier creator blogs around, no doubt a product of his awesome storytelling, a gregarious nature (that belies a heart of gold) and a frighteningly acidic sense of humor (especially when I'm within earshot).

Press Release

Since the late 1960s, Archie Comics has been a leader in educating children on the importance of the environment, publishing many stories starring both their flagship characters as well as licensed characters that have brought environmental issues to light. Now, Eco-friendly concerns are once again in the spotlight as citizens try to do their part by using canvas bags for shopping, reusable water containers and more. This December, Riverdale's favorite comic book teens as well as that blue blur of a hero, Sonic the Hedgehog, engage readers once more with tales that encourage everyone to be more environmentally conscious in their own unique ways.

In "A Warming Effect," from TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #26, Reggie gives a "chilly reception" to his Eco-friendly pals' concerns over global warming, but an even more "chilling" dream soon "cools" his objections! Just what happened in that dream to turn Reggie from "mean" to "green?" George Gladir scribes and Fernando Ruiz delivers the art for this thought-provoking tale.

Next, in SONIC X #28, Sonic and his friends face a real "Green Eyed Monster! That's because one particular baddie is looking to use Eco-friendly means toward Eco-unfriendly ends! We're referring to Dr. Eggman of course, who uses his new 'bots powered by the sun, wind and water to devastate the city and leave Sonic and friends on the defensive... and perhaps even literally powerless to stop him! Sonic X-team Tracy Yardley! And Steven Butler ramp things up in this action-packed tale with environmental overtones.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #26
"A Warming Effect": Reggie gives a "chilly reception" to his Eco-friendly pals' concerns over global warming, but an even more "chilling" dream soon "cools" his objections!

SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Fernando Ruiz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!

Shipping Date: December 26th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 2nd, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: January 15th, 2008
Full color digest format
$2.49 US.

SONIC X #28
"Green Eyed Monster!": The world is embracing "green" energy to reduce cost and help the environment, and Sonic's adopted city, Station Square, is no different. But some choose to use Eco-friendly means toward Eco-unfriendly ends! Namely the evil Dr. Eggman, who uses his new 'bots powered by the sun wind and water to devastate the city and leave Sonic and friends on the defensive! Now Eggman is free to pursue the biggest natural energies ever, the Chaos Emeralds and the Master Emerald. With these power sources in hand Eggman will be in control of more power than the world has ever seen. Will Sonic be literally powerless to stop Eggman this time?!

SCRIPT: Tracy Yardley
ART: Steven Butler
Green 'n Mean cover by Eco-friendly Spaz!

Shipping Date: December 26th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 2nd, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: January 15th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE #580
"A Not-So-Cool Yule": Archie is having a stress-free holiday season, until
both Betty and Veronica give him "matching sweaters" that they expect him to
wear– the only problem is, the designs the girls chose don't match!

SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg

"Cold Comfort": Veronica thinks Archie is being chivalrous about her onion breath, when he merely has a cold!

SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb
ART: Stan Goldberg

"The Fix is In": When Mr. Lodge and Smithers see Archie with a tool kit, an unspeakable horror grips them – is hapless Archie somewhere in the mansion, trying to fix something?

SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg

"You Never Listen": Veronica laments that Archie never listens, but since he's not paying attention anyway, are her protests all for naught?

SCRIPT: Greg Crosby
ART: Stan Goldberg

Shipping Date: November 21st, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 28th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 11th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #114
FEATURING THE RETURN OF MONEY-SNIFFING CRICKET O'DELL! "Fortune Telling": Cricket O'Dell, the girl with the nose for money, is back A mere sniff and Cricket can tell you exactly how much cash is in your wallet. But this time, the same weakness that impacts her ability – an allergy to nuts – gives her a new power – the powers to see how much a person will have in the future! At first everyone is fascinated as Cricket reveals future prosperity for Riverdale's most financially challenged, but fascination turns to paranoia when Cricket reveals who will end up penniless! Is credence in Cricket's predictions "on the money," or simply a "bad investment?"
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg

Shipping Date: November 7th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 14th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: November 27th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #184
"The Fame Game": Jay, the '70s rocker next door, visits an Archies practice
showdown and fills them in on all the "wonderful" things they can expect
from fame... but wonderful is in the eye of the beholder!

SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Jeff Shultz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups

Shipping Date: November 21st, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 28th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 11th, 2007
Full color digest format
$3.69 US.

BETTY #170
"A Case of Stressmas": Betty decides to relieve Archie's math stress by giving him the gift of tutoring, but wait until you see the gift she gives to relieve Veronica's stress!

SCRIPT: Barbara Slate
ART: Stan Goldberg.

"The Collector": When Archie and Adam learn Betty likes collecting penguin figures, no flea market or antique store can restock them fast enough!

SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg.

"Miracle Work": When klutzy Archie helps the Coopers decorate their Christmas tree, is it doomsday for the ornaments, or the eve of a Christmas miracle?

SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Stan Goldberg

"Second-Hand Girl": When Veronica jets off to Paris, Betty ponders whether it's worth being Archie's "second choice" as date for the Winter Wonderland dance.

SCRIPT: Barbara Slate
ART: Stan Goldberg

Shipping Date: November 28th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: December 5th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 18th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #156
"Holiday on the High Seas": A holiday cruise with her parents is anything but smooth sailing for Veronica, who can't stand to be away from her friends during the holidays. But when the band booked to provide the cruise's entertainment cancels at the last minute, guess who steps in to fill their shoes? Now the only rough seas are reserved for Mr. Lodge!

SCRIPT: Bill Golliher
ART: Jeff Shultz
Other new and classic tales
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups

Shipping Date: November 7th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 14th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: November 27th, 2007
Full color digest format
$3.69 US.

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #25
"The Secret of Jughead's Hat!": Move over, Davey Crockett – when Jughead loses his trademark crown, he replaces it with a coonskin cap! There's simply no substitute for his ol' reliable headwear, however. Luckily, that's when Wendy Weatherbee reveals another hidden talent! Can she help Jughead get his head... ER, hat... back on straight?

SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups

Shipping Date: November 28th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: December 5th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 18th, 2007
Full color digest format
$2.49 US.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #117
"The Winner": Insisting he's turned over a new ego-free leaf, Reggie invites Archie and Veronica over to show them he's gotten rid of all his trophies... but all he's really done is recycled them into coat racks, hot plates and the like! Is there any escape from Reggie-mania?!

SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Fernando Ruiz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups

Shipping Date: November 28th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: December 5th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 18th, 2007
Full color digest format
$3.69 US.

SONIC X #27
"Conquest is Like a Box of Chocolates": Evil genius Dr. Eggman continues to enjoy his "retirement" from villainy while relishing his secret new career as the mighty luchador, El Gran Gordo! With Eggy preoccupied in the ring, the door is left open for a new evil to arise, and once-faithful sidekick Bokkun seizes the opportunity to be an even evil-er evil genius. He's helped on his quest by a massive sugar rush that renders him unstoppable... impervious to all including Sonic! Sometimes only an evil genius can stop a fellow evil genius, but who can lure him from his glamour of the stretchy-pants wrestling ring? The answer is just a pin... or at least a tie or technical fall... away! Don't miss the raucous conclusion everyone will be talking about!

SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: James Fry (pencils) & Terry Austin (inks)
Body slammin' cover by Spaz

Shipping Date: November 28th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: December 5th, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 18th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #182
"Fallen Angel": New Mobotropolis is rocked by the rampaging Enerjak, and even the combined might of Sonic and Shadow may not be enough to withstand his attack! Will this latest onslaught cause Shadow to go too far, and how will the odds change when Eggman throws down into the battle? "Albion's Shameful Secret": The tragic origin of the mysterious villain Dr. Finitevus is revealed... and it just could spell the doom of our hero!

SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Tracy Yardley (pencils) & Jim Amash (inks)
All-bets-are-off cover by Tracy Yardley & Ben Hunzeker

Shipping Date: November 14th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 21st, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 4th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #25
"DENIM!": If you think this summer's box office-busting arachnid hero had trouble with his new mood-altering threads, wait until you see what happens to Dilton! In this sequel to "Send in the Clones" from ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST #173, Dilton is lamenting his lack of luck with the ladies. With cell samples from Reggie and his synthoid-making machine working overtime, Dilton creates a new synthetic material that, unbeknownst to him, is actually alive! Not only does it lead to a new wardrobe for Dilton, but he also seems to have adopted Reggie's penchant for arrogance and self-centeredness! Can Archie and his friends undo this malevolent makeover?

SCRIPT: AND ART: Fernando Ruiz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups

Shipping Date: November 14th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 21st, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 4th, 2007
Full color digest format
$2.49 US.

VERONICA #185
"Riverdale High – the Musical!": When a former Riverdale High student-turned-famous screenwriter/director decides to make a movie about her teenage years, it's enough to make Veronica, Betty and their friends break out in song! Of course, using the current high school class as inspiration, there's more drama behind the cameras than in front of it! Don't miss this hilarious spoof of the beloved musical high school films that have captured the hearts of the nation. SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.

Shipping Date: November 14th, 2007
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 21st, 2007
On Sale on Newsstands: December 4th, 2007
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

Press Release

Scare Up Some Fun with Archies 2007 Halloween Mini-Comic. Each year Archie Comics produces a mini-comic for Halloween. These comics are made exclusively for comic book specialty stores and published in connection with Diamond Comics Distribution. Participating comic book shops give these mini-comics away free to their customers at Halloween. In past years fans have seen Sabrina turn manga for the first time. The one and only time Archie and the Riverdale kids were drawn manga style. Archie and the gang dressed up as there favorite heroes to see the debut of the Shield movie. Katy Keene returned to the pages of Archie Comics. As well as Archie's first Weird Mystery. This year as a special treat Dexter Taylor and Little Archie creator Bob Bolling present two tales of the Little Archies. If you would like to reserve a copy or if you would like the opportunity to give these mini-comics away to trick or treaters in your neighborhood, you need to act quickly because orders need to be in by the end of July. You can find a comic retailer near your home by calling 1-888-COMIC BOOK, (888)-266-4226 or click this link http://csls.diamondcomics.com

Little Archie 2007 Halloween Mini-Comic
"The House the Wouldn't Move"
The Little Archie kids decide to take one last stroll through Riverdale's spooky haunted house before the mayor has it torn down. Will they discover the key to saving the house or experience the fright of their lives?
SCRIPT AND ART: Dexter Taylor

"Spotty Strikes Back"
Spotty chases Carmel up a tree and its up to Little Archie to reluctantly rescue Betty's kitty cat?
SCRIPT AND ART: Bob Bolling, COVER: Bob Bolling and Rich Koslowski
Ships October 2007
Shipped in bundles of 50
16 pages full color
FREE

So every week I have to come up with an introduction about how there are new comics this week. It took me longer than I thought, but I am officially out of ideas. My only choice for the intro was to talk about how I had no ideas for the intro. I'm sorry, this never happens to me. I've sunk so low. What's next? Am I going to start just cutting and pasting the solicitation text for certain books when I can't come up with anything to say? Uh....

AVENGERS CLASSIC #2

First you get a Kirby Avengers classic. Then you get a back-up story by Dwayne McDuffie (of the unbeatable Justice League Cartoon) and Mike Oeming. And you get a cover by Art Adams. This book is the best value on the market today.

WORLD WAR HULK #2
WORLD WAR HULK X-MEN #2
WORLD WAR HULK FRONT LINE #2

I wait all month for the week when these books come out. The war in World War Hulk hasn't really even started yet and it's still awesome. We have so much smashing left to do these next few months.

Press Release

Sonic The Hedgehog has achieved something few comic book characters from the 1990s have: his title has survived for over a dozen years! Why? Chalk it up to a fiercely loyal fan base (comprised of a surprising number of adults in addition to children) who take their hero as seriously as fans of Star Trek! The comic books offer fans adventures which go beyond the video games and animated cartoons to expand the Sonic universe-- and the personalities of the characters who populate it.

Likewise, Sabrina the Teenage Witch has seen her fan base expand due to the current handling of her comic book series. When the look of the series switched to a manga art style under the creative guidance of artist Tania del Rio, the tone of the series' stories also changed, with del Rio serving double-duty as the writer. Adapting the complex, serialized nature of traditional Japanese manga stories and their penchant for more developed characters and relationships, Sabrina's fan are always anxious to see the next installment in her saga.

Now, the excitement and intrigue the fans have come to expect from both Sonic and Sabrina is heightened in a pair of issues that find our heroes' worlds in complete upheaval! Can the heroic hedgehog and winsome witch survive the latest challenges that are hurtling their way? Pick up these issues and find out!

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #89
"Shattered Lives": It's a bold new direction for Sabrina, just as her life is shattered into a million pieces! Her long time love has had his memories wiped due to her mistake. Tensions are on the rise with her friends and family. The "Four Blades" organization's plan to overthrow the corrupt magic Queen is progressing quicker than anyone expects. Sabrina is devastated by infighting and sabotaged by a traitor. But her seemingly never-ending magical abilities keep improving, making her possibly one of the most powerful magicians ever... And a target of some of the nastiest beings in the Magic Realm! As if that weren't enough, her cat Salem is going out on more dates than Sabrina! How long before real magic is back in Sabrina's life?

SCRIPT: Tania Del Rio
ART: Tania Del Rio & Jim Amash.
Life's an illusion cover by Tania del Rio (pencils) & Jim Amash (inks)!
On sale Diamond October 31
On sale Newsstand November 13
32-page, full color comic, $2.25 US.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #181
"Rising Evil - Enerjak Reborn!": The demolition starts here, with super-powered villain Enerjak wrecking havoc on Angel Island! Our heroes are readying their defenses while Sonic and Tails race against time to find the still missing Knuckles! Can they find him, or did Enerjak get to him first? PLUS: "Undone": You'll shudder at the shocking origin of this new Enerjak.. If your nerves are strong enough to handle it!

SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Tracy Yardley (pencils) & Jim Amash (inks).
Earth-shattering cover by Tracy Yardley!
On sale Diamond October 24
On sale Newsstand November 6
32-page, full color comic, $2.25 US

Press Release

In November, 2006, Archie Comics offered Sonic readers both new and old the opportunity to relive the earliest adventures of their favorite hero with the release of SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #1. Now, here we are on the eve of the release of the 6th volume, and everyone agrees: this new classic reprint series is a hit! Fans are jumping at the chance to travel back in time to where it all began. Back in 1993, Sonic the Hedgehog sped his way from video games to comic books. Almost 200 issues later, "the blue blur" can lay claim to having the most successful comic book career of all video game heroes. Now, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES, a thrilling series of upscale reprints, lets you revisit Sonic's early days in a premium yet affordable format. These special 5 x 7 & ½ inch editions contain 112 action-packed pages, faithfully re-colored and printed on superior stock, with a low cover price of only $7.49 US! Picking up where the SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #5 left off (which reprinted the original Sonic series issues #17 through #20), SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #6 brings fans these classic tales from issues #21 through #24 – including the return of Anti-Sonic and the first glimpse of Antoine and Bunnie's budding romance! Stories include: "The Three Phases of E.V.E." (issue #21), "The Return" and "Tails' Knighttime Story" (issue #22), "Ivo Robotnik, Freedom Fighter" and "The Vol-Ant-Teer" (issue #23), and the epic, "When Hedgehogs Collide" (issue #24). Including the first... and last appearance of Julayla, an early important person in Sonic mythology! Stories include:

"The Three Phases of E.V.E." (issue #21): Robotnik unleashes his latest creation, E.V.E. (Exceptionally Versatile Evolvanoids), a constantly evolving menace to destroy Sonic... biology has other plans! "The Return" (issue #22): Take a peek into a possible future world where Sonic is married with children. Also Robotnik returns to wreck havoc!
"Tails' Knighttime Story" (issue #22): Reading a bedtime story to Tails provides Sally with the perfect opportunity to teach him that Sonic's life isn't all fun and adventure!
"Ivo Robotnik, Freedom Fighter" (issue #23): Robotnik refuses to be upstaged by Carheem, a giant interplanetary scientist who has placed the Freedom Fighters under glass for future study!
"The Vol-Ant-Teer" (issue #23): Everyone wants to be the first to recover the power ring Tails left behind in Robotropolis. Features the first glimpses of the Antoine and Bunnie romance!
"When Hedgehogs Collide" (issue #24): All bets are off when Anti-Sonic returns... and he brings the anti-versions of the Freedom Fighters with him! Can Sonic and the real FF defeat their powerful, evil doppelgangers?

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #6, ships 9/26. 112-page, full color paperback, $7.49 US. SCRIPTS: Mike Gallagher, Angelo DeCesare, Mike Kanterovich & Ken Penders. ART: Dave Manak, Jon D'Agostino, Harvey Mercadoocasio & Art Mawhinney. Colossal cover by Spaz!

OK, I love my job. How can you not like working at a place where you get to spend your Saturday visiting comic book shops? I mean, does it really get any better than that? Well, I guess it might if they bought my comics for me, but that is a post for another day.

I started off my day waiting in line at Starbucks. I needed my caffeine if I was gonna spend the day driving between comic shops. One Venti White Chocolate Mocha later I was caffeinated and ready for that long trek across the street. My first stop was the brand new Phoenix Comics and Toys location in Lansdowne, Virginia. I was there just after they opened at 10 a.m. and was very happy to see a crowd in the store already. The minute you walked in the door there were tables on either side packed with free comics. I saw everything from the Archie line and several all-ages books on one table to Wolfman #1 (Image) and the less kid-friendly titles on the other table. Don't worry, the employees were there to make sure that the younger shoppers didn't take home any books that would not be appropriate. As you picked up your comics they made sure to let you know to go register for various prizes at a table near the back of the store. (Great way to get people all the way into the store guys.) The traffic in the store was steady while I was there and there was a constant influx of new faces every few minutes.

I could have stayed at Phoenix and taken pictures there all afternoon but I had to leave after about 45 minutes to get to my next stop on time. Leaving early made me miss Darth Vader and a legion of Stormtroopers that were supposed to visit around lunch.

Press Release

July means summer – time to hit the beach! While others are reading suspenseful, romantic paperback novels, Archie Comics is offering an alternative: two digests full of intrigue with stories so thrilling, it takes multiple issues to tell the tales!

We begin with BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #153. If you haven't heard about "Bad Boy Trouble Yet," you haven't been paying attention! "Bad Boy Trouble" is the ground-breaking story that began in BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #151 and caused quite a stir, because it features Riverdale's teens in a whole new look! That's right, the flagship characters of Archie Comics are getting an extreme makeover, and the buzz is deafening! At this year's second annual blockbuster New York City Comic-Con, both fans and media alike swarmed the Archie Comics booth hoping to learn more about this major event. Is wild man Nick St. Clair the misunderstand romantic he's convinced Veronica he is, or the wolf in biker's clothing that her friends think he is? All will be revealed in the pages of BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST, so be sure to reserve your copy of this much-anticipated issue, drawn in the all-new realistic style everyone is talking about!

Over in the pages of TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #22, another intriguing, multi-part tale is taking shape. In fact, "Civil Chores Part One" is a story that may just set the Riverdale teens asunder! When Archie goes on strike to protest the many chores/low allowance imbalance, he finds he has a lot of allies prepared to join him in his cause. But when Jughead realizes a raise for Archie means more dates with the girls and less time to hang with him, he forms an uneasy alliance with Riverdale's sneakiest and shiftiest. Will these monetary politics prove to be a triumph or tribulation for Riverdale's teens? Don't miss the first part of this two-part tale, to be continued the following issue!

Last but not least comes an intriguing tale straight from the annals of real life - the thrilling debut of artist Bill Galvan! In 2006 Archie Comics conducted portfolio reviews in search of new talent. Bill showed up at the San Diego Comic-Con with portfolio in hand and homemade Jughead shirt on back, and before too long his desire to render the misadventures of the crowned one was evident! Impressed by Galvan's pencil samples, the Archie management team hired Galvan as their newest artist, and his first-published work appears in JUGHEAD & FRIENDS #22. In "Mission Improbable," a story written by fan-favorite George Gladir, Jughead is helping his mother manage their booth at the bake sale. Do the delicious desserts stand a chance of being sold with Jughead around? You won't believe the outrageous lengths Jughead goes to "take the cake!"

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #153, ships 7/4. Full color digest format, $3.69 US. SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan. ART: Steven Butler.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #22, ships 7/11. Full color digest format, $2.49 US. SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz.

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #22, ships 7/25. Full color digest format, $2.49 US. SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Bill Galvan.

Press Release

Can it be so? Is Archie really 65 years old? You bet! The saga of everyone's favorite comic book teen began way back in December, 1941, with Archie's very first story in PEP COMICS #22 (December, 1941). A mere year after his auspicious debut, the red-headed wonder was awarded his own title with ARCHIE COMICS #1 (Winter, 1942). Now 65 years later, the Archie characters remain one of the longest-running groups of continuously published characters of all time! Is it any wonder? Archie and his friends have entertained 6 generations with timeless tales of the trials and triumphs of growing up! Along the way, they've represented the fads, fashions and attitudes of America's youth. This has led to an enormous following and spin-off projects such as countless animated series and licensed merchandise. Truly, Archie and his friends are a cherished American institution.