Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of September! 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, lots of comics have dropped as Archie starts to catch up to their pre-COVID release slate!
Archie Comics Begins Selling “Archie is a Simp” Teeshirt in response to viral Twitter thread
In a follow-up to the “don’t call Archie a simp” joke from Archie Comics Twitter——last month, the comic conglomerate is now selling a teeshirt featuring that magical moment.
For those who missed out, the comics’ official Twitter instructed its audience not to call America’s favorite teenager a simp in July.
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.”
Big End of Summer Sale at the Archie Comics Store
As Summer concludes, the Archie Webstore has been advertising a 50 percent off sale (with special discounts for bundles and subscriptions) since August. The sale shows no sign of stopping, so stop by and get your Jughead on!
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Archie Comics 80th Anniversary Presents: Sabrina Manga: Color Collection Vol.1
Jim Amash (art); Teresa Davidson (art); Tania Del Rio (script, cover, art); Jason Jensen (art) July 29th, 2020
If you’re a huge fan of Archie’s Sabrina series, you’ve probably always wondered what it’d be like if everyone’s favorite witch and her family were mangafied. While the issue’s approach isn’t traditional manga by a long shot, it’s pretty darn cute, with big, bubble-eyed adorableness on display from Del Rio, Davidson and Amash. The colors pop brightly and the humor is gentle and funny. There’s a sense of liveliness to the whole collection that makes it stand out among the Archie Horror and mainline Archie releases; something immature and yet hilarious. It’s a cute, sweet production that will likely delight teens as Sabrina’s origin story is once again milled over for fresh pulp and the teenage witch takes flight and learns to balance her mortal desires with her witchy ways.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Betty and Veronica: The Bond of Friendship
Matt Herms (art); Jack Morelli (art); Jamie L. Rotante (writing); Brittney Williams (art and cover)
September 2nd, 2020
In case you’re wondering: yes, this is just as adorable as it looks. In Archie Comics’ first ever graphic novel, everyone’s favorite BFFs face adulthood and the possibility of existing without one another as they try to prepare for highschool graduation and college. Flight of fancy, romance, music, and Betty and Veronica’s unbreakable bond, all stand the test of time in this delightful sweetheart of a graphic novel.
Archie and Friends: Endless Summer #1
Jim Amash (art); Bill Galvan (art); Pat and Tim Kennedy (art); Jack Morelli (art); Dan Parent (writing and art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (cover); Jeff Shultz (art and cover); Bob Smith (art); Glenn Whitmore (art) August 12th, 2020
Summer’s almost over, so why not grab a little bit of Archie silliness and let the cool breeze wash over you? This issue collects a bunch of summer one-shot stories, taking the gang from the beach to a spooky camping trip to a road trip out of Riverdale!
Archie Unlimited Picks of The Month
If you have Archie Unlimited, here are a few highlights from this month’s offerings!
Jughead TheHunger Vs Vampironica GN: Werewolf!Jughead versus Veronica the Vampire, which is just as much fun as it sounds.
Archie Meets the B-52s One-Shot: I reviewed this one for WWAC, and it’s as much goofy fun as the title suggests.
The World of Tomorrow
Archie and Katy Keene (GN)
Laura Braga (art and cover); Matt Herms (art); Jack Morelli (art); Mariko Tamaki and Kevin Panetta (writing) October 21st, 2020
This funny and properly soapy graphic novel (collecting the five issue miniseries) explores what happens when Katy Keene moves to Riverdale. Her initial popularity gains the attention of Archie, Archie’s girlfriend Sabrina, and the rest of the gang, so when Veronica arranges a deal with a major fashion manufacturer for Katy, the whole gang goes to New York to help out. But Katy flees into the New York night, and Archie, Betty , Sabrina and the others follow.
Archie Showcase Digest: Jughead #2
Various (Art and Writing); Dan DeCarlo (cover)
October 7th, 2020
As part of Archie’s 80th anniversary, a bunch of fun Jughead stories have been collected into a single volume. Expect to watch him eat, hang out with Hot Dog, rock out, eat, bake, avoid relationships and have I mentioned eat?