Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of March! 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, Riverdale gets renewed, variant covers are discussed, and some new info about Archie’s digital plans comes forth!
Riverdale Renewed For Season 6!
As announced in this Hollywood Reporter article, Riverdale was among several series renewed by the CW for a fresh season in February. The series will finish out its fifth season around June due to a COVID-skewed shooting schedule.
Riverdale, notable for its campy, tropey, and unconventional take on the Archie universe, just flashed forward in time several years, giving us a future world and an adult Archie, Betty, Jughead, Veronica, and the rest of the gang.
As of press time, the series has aired its eighty-second episode, with the eighty-third ready to roll this coming Wednesday.
Archie Comics co-president Alex Segura tells Publisher’s Weekly Explains how the company survived COVID, talks of digital future for the company.
In a new interview with Publisher’s Weekly, Segura explains that the comic corp survived the long winter of COVID with many comic book stores closed by staying in close touch with its fans and promoting virtual, as well as newsstand and grocery store, options for its readers. The strategy has paid off, and lead to strong sales for the brand’s virtual options, especially digital subs.
“We’re seeing over 750,000 pages of Archie Comics stories being read digitally through these (Hoopla, Archie Unlimited, etc.) subscription services each month,” Segura told PW.
The article, which also talks about how the company has and is adapting its content to various mediums, which we’ve covered here, can be read here.
“My goal for Archie has always been to make sure these characters and stories were accessible to everyone, everywhere,” said Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics CEO as of 2009, added. “Over a decade ago, Archie was nowhere in the cultural zeitgeist. Today we are one of the most pop-culturally relevant and energized IPs out there. That’s a testament to the hard work we’ve done to raise that brand awareness through publishing and media.”
Looks like that goal is well within reach!
Archie Comics Hits 2 Million Followers on Instagram!
The official Archieverse social account hit the milestone on February 16th!
92nd Street Y Announces Second Class for Kids with Dan Parent
You can enroll your kids (or a kid you know, age 9-13) in a virtual Make Your Own Comic Book Class with Parent starting in late March.
VA Comics Offers Exclusive Everything’s Archie #1 Dan Parent Variant Exclusive
Dan Parent aces another cover variant for Archie Comics, delivering a parody of classic romance cover comics for VA Comics and Everything Archie #1. The cover shows a tearful Betty Cooper witnessing a kiss between Archie and Veronica, in the iconic style of many classic romance comics from the 40’s through the 70’s.
This variant is limited to 250 copies each for a virgin (logoless) cover, either signed or unsigned. All are guaranteed to be case fresh, but not guaranteed to be in any graded condition.
The signed edition retails for $29.95, and the unsigned for $19.95, with an additional $9.95 for flat-rate shipping in the US and $19.95 flat-rate international shipping. The books will be on the way by mid-May. You can buy them here!
Archie’s Threadless Shop Has Updated!
If you’re in the market for new threads, there are some brand-new designs in the Archie shop. Aside from some South Side Serpent designs, there are some special Valentine’s Day designs still in stock, a retro Josie McCoy design, and some pop-art inspired collections. Click above to see if something you like is available!
Archie Comics Twitter Tweet of the Month
A fun trailer for Riverdale: The Ties that Bind OGN, streeting in April!
One last high school mystery…
Pre-order the all-new #Riverdale: The Ties That Bind graphic novel: https://t.co/X7lESPHtIX pic.twitter.com/aGW7xPzNKX
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) March 1, 2021
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Sabrina: Something Wicked TR
Veronica Fish (art and cover); Andy Fish (art); Jack Morelli (art); Kelly Thompson (writer)
March 3rd, 2021
The latest Sabrina series has been an unstinting if dramatic, delight. Something Wicked has packed magical hijinks and fun worldbuilding into a single, tight story that pits Sabrina against some high punching magical heavyweights. Beautifully illustrated by Veronica and Andy Fish, with gorgeous, moody colorwork and seriously high stakes in a tight script by Kelly Thompson. Some fans of the series general aren’t too happy with the final chapter here, but I found it entertaining – and enjoyed the possible reset it offers.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Betty And Veronica: Jumbo Comics Digest #292
Bill Golliher (Writing); Jack Morelli (Cover And Art); Dan Parent (art and cover); Bob Smith (art); Glenn Whitmore (Art)
March 31st, 2021
The AU universes offered by The Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest and the World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comic Digest series have proven to be delightful. This month: a what-if story poses a question – what would happen to Riverdale if Veronica and Betty were smarter than Dilton? A worthwhile question answered with Archie-typical gentle humor.
World of Archie Vol. 2
Rex Lindsey (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (cover); Various (Art and Writing)
March 31st, 2021
Once again – I am a 90’s kid who loves the processed cheese that Archie was putting out back then. The World of Archie takes you and the Riverdale gang on a trip through time itself – from pre-history to points far northward.
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comic Digest #3
Bill Golliher (Writing); Jack Morelli (art); Dan Parent (Cover and Art); Bob Smith (Art); Glenn Whitmore (art)
March 17th, 2021
Speaking of AU tales – your genderswap fanfics come true when Beau and Vernon pursue the hand of the lovely Archina in another Reversedale tale! Who will find love and who will end up with the short end of the stick? You’ll have to wait and read, which I assure you will be a worthwhile pursuit.
Archie Unlimited Picks of The Month
If you have Archie Unlimited, here are a few highlights from this month’s offerings!
Archie’s Girls Betty & Veronica #118: Notable for the first appearance of Betty as Super-Teen, her superhero moniker and a personality which will resurface very soon in a new series.
Archie Milestones Digest #10: If Archie’s 80th anniversary has kept you on your toes, this one will help you further condense your collection.
Archie Comics 80th Anniversary Presents: Archie Newspaper Classics: Did you know that Archie published newspaper comic strips featuring everyone’s favorite redheaded teenager? You can read about them in this collection!
Picks From The Timecops
Riverdale: The Ties that Bind TR
Micol Ostow (writer); Thomas Pitilli (Art and Cover); Andre Szymanowicz (Art); John Workman (Art);
April 14th, 2021
Can’t get enough Riverdale stuffed into your eyeballs? This TR tells us a missing tale set between seasons four and five of the show. All of the gang must survive a spine-tingling overnight encounter with some dangerous characters. Sounds scary!
Archie’s 80th Anniversary Jumbo Comics Digest #2
Jim Amash (Art); Angelo DeCesare (Writing); Pat and Tim Kennedy (Art); Jack Morelli (Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Jeff Shultz (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Art)
April 14th, 2020
In a meta-tastic encounter, Archie leads the reader through the history of the art of Archie comics. And then he has to deal with them coming to life and shapeshifting the narrative. This isn’t an Archie Horror title, so at least we know it’s not a battle to the death!
She’s Josie (TR)
Dan DeCarlo (Cover); Various (Art And Writing)
April 21st, 2021
Ever wanted to know how Josie McCoy came to be? In this ’60’s-tastic series, we go back in time to meet Josie, Melody (Valerie did not exist in this portion of the continuity), Pepper and the Cabot Twins, as well as Josie’s then-boyfriend Albert, before they were tangled up in the Pussycat’s shenanigans.
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comic Digest #4
Bill Golliher (Writing); Jack Morelli (art); Dan Parent (Cover and Art); Bob Smith (Art); Glenn Whitmore (art)
April 21st, 2021
This month’ AU tale? What if Betty Cooper was an alien from outer space? Sounds far out!
Second Looks
- Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #316
- World of Archie Jumbo Comic Digest #108
- Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #318
