Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of July! I’m Lisa reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In this month’s Archie Comics Pubwatch, a plethora of tie-in products have been announced, a new Madame Satan One-Shot is coming in October, and Katy Keene ends its run on the CW.
Archie Comics, King Features and Kate Spade Join Forces for Veronica and Betty-based Handbag and Accessory Line
Betty and ‘Ronnie have had a lot of cute, chic fashion and cosmetic-related tie-in deals announced over the past few years, from a line of Keds shoes featuring the girls’ faces to a MAC collection of makeup. This summer, high-end handbag crafter Kate Spade joins the lineup, producing a collection of Bets and Veronica-based purses, wallets, backpacks, keychains, pins, coin purses, pouches, small leather goods and various articles of clothing.
“Inspired by the classic ’40s Archie comic book style,” the line is described as “beautifully optimistic” and will “showcase the characters’ differing personal styles; Betty’s classic preppy flair and Veronica’s sleek dark style,” according to the press announcement.
All items are currently available at Kate Spade Outlets worldwide.
Dark Archieverse Expands With a Madame Satan One-Shot
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina universe adds another one-shot to its repertoire of adults-only issues.
Madame Satan, all about everyone’s favorite Archieverse demoness, will soon be coming to a comic shop near you. To quote the issue’s press release, it will feature Madame Satan “taking matters into her own hands” and challenging the devil for ownership of the throne of hell.
Madame Satan will be written by Eliot Rahal, with art by Julius Ohta, Matt Herms and Jack Morelli. Ohta will also contribute a cover, with Robert Hack offering a variant version.
The issue will street on October 21st.
Archie Comics Twitter Tells Fan Not To Call Archie a Simp; Readers Quickly Find Classic Panel Where He Calls Himself Same
The always-hilarious official Archie Comics Twitter—home of fine information and wonderful shitposting—instructed its audience not to call America’s favorite teenager a simp.
Please stop writing "Archie is a simp" in the comments of our YouTube videos. You will receive a permanent ban from our channel. Thank you.
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) July 21, 2020
A fan quickly found a vintage panel, however, where Archie calls himself a simp.
This you? pic.twitter.com/soTkplV2Id
— Keith Campbell (@keithrcampbell) July 21, 2020
The Twitter’s reply? An amused “Delete this.”
Spotify and Archie Comics Partner For Archie Podcast Series
Like podcasts? Like Archie comics? Spotify and Archie are planning to scratch your itch for teen drama, small-town antics and fluffy shenanigans.
In July, Spotify signed a first-look deal with the comics giant, with the plan to create podcasts based on some of the comic book series’ most popular characters and story arcs. These podcasts are slated to appeal to both adult fans of the franchise as well as children.
“The podcast and audio space is so vibrant, and Spotify is, hands down, the industry leader there,” said Archie Comics CEO/Publisher Jon Goldwater in a press release. “Bringing the iconic Archie library of characters to Spotify is a perfect match, and we’re so excited to partner with them to explore new, compelling stories featuring our characters. It’s an amazing frontier and we can’t wait to unveil what we’ve been working on.”
Katy Keene Cancelled at the CW After One Season
We’re closing this month’s news report with some sad tidings. The CW has cancelled Katy Keene, its Riverdale spin-off featuring Lucy Hale, after one season. The frothy, light-hearted soap is being shopped around for a new home, and options on the cast have been extended to the end of the month of July. The likeliest place it might land is HBOMax, which already has a streaming deal with the CW and where the show is already streaming, but poor +7 numbers indicate that even with HBOMax, a deal is unlikely take place.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Archie’s Explorers of the Unknown
Jon D’Agostino (art), Mindy Eisman (art), Barry Grossman (art), Rex Lindsey (art and cover), Rich Margopoulos (writer)
July 1st, 2020
There’s nothing more fun than an Archie adventure tale, and this volume tells it very well. Readers have the privilege of following Archie across the universe as he and the gang battle monsters of all shapes and sizes, in colorful and well thought-out and drawn adventures from the pens of Archie’s usual gang of talented artists.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Sabrina: Something Wicked #2
Sweeney Boo (cover); Veronica Fish (art and cover); Andy Fish (art); Rian Gonzales (cover); Jack Morelli (art); Kelly Thompson (writing)
July 8th, 2020
This series has been super charming, balancing a kid-friendly plot with a truly suspenseful and high-stakes adventure. Fish’s art is beautiful, and Thompson’s writing inspires.
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #100
Pat and Tim Kennedy (cover), Bob Smith (cover), Rosario “Tito” Peña (cover); Various (Art and Writing)
July 22nd, 2020
Archie celebrated the 100th issue of this digest with some special guests. An important and historical milestone.
The World of Tomorrow
Betty and Veronica: The Bond of Friendship OGN
Matt Herms (art); Jack Morelli (art); Jamie L. Rotante (writing); Brittney Williams (art and cover)
September 2nd, 2020
In Archie’s first ever graphic novel, everyone’s favorite BFFs face adulthood and the possibility of existing without one another.
