Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of April! 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, Archie announces a new NFT collection, mints a brand-new official Discord, and more!!
Archie Comics Announces Web3 Metaverse called Archieverse: Eclipse; fans express displeasure
On April 14, Archie Comics announced that they will enter the Web3 sphere with Archieverse: Eclipse. Drawing on Madame Satan lore, the project promises “a near-infinite storyline, created with fans. ” To quote the website’s official promotional blurb, “6 Characters from Greendale and Riverdale are caught up in a mysterious prophecy that will define the future of the Archieverse. 66,666 unique profile pictures (PFPs) will be minted giving the owner access to exclusive opportunities to create inside Archie Comics’ universe: Role-Play challenges to collect original art, community puzzles to unlock new experiences and a first-of-its-kind opportunity for writers and artists to have their work featured in upcoming comic books with credit and royalties. Each NFT contains the keys to the next chapter. The future of Greendale and Riverdale is in your hands.” Fans will eventually be able to submit their characters for inclusion in a comic which will be entitled “Archieverse Collides.” Some describe this as a “giant writer’s room” accessible to all where fans can contribute future storylines; others feel that this, among other problems, basically amounts to fans paying to have Archie consider their publication ideas.
Fans will be allowed to mint their own characters and these characters will go up for sale on May 16. The secondary marketplace opens May 31. Creators will have “Potential inclusion in future Archie Comics projects with credit and royalties for selected artists” as well as access to exclusive channels and early access to various exclusive materials. The daily purchase cap is set at $3,000 USD and the weekly purchase cap at $5,000 USD.
Tweets promoting this new universe were not well received by the comic company’s faithful, with generally negative responses attached to each promotion of the project. Fans became even angrier when the Archie Horror Twitter was apparently repurposed to serve as the Archie NFT Twitter account. There’s also an excellent deep dive into the situation which was published in mid-April by The Verge’s
New Official Archie Comics Discord Server Launches
While the server does have some connections to the recent NFT launch, there are also Q&As with Archie creators and general chatting going on at the company’s all-ages server which is located here.
Archie announces that Harper Lodge will return in Archie and Friends: Summer Lovin’ #1 with a Tee Franklin-penned story
After a long absence from the main comics line, fans will get to see Harper Lodge, Veronica’s cousin, again in Archie And Friends: Summer Lovin’ #1. Harper features in “Carnival Love,” and promises the possibility of a Reggie and Harper pairing. The issue will be written by Tee Franklin, with art by Dan Parent. It’ll street on June 8.
Archie partners with the Children’s Tumor Foundation; introduces the first hearing-impaired character to the Archieverse
Per a recent press release from Archie Comics, Grace Alondra, a character living with neurofibromatosis (NF), will be introduced in Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #329. Neurofibromatosis, or NF2, is “a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves in the body, and which often leads to hearing loss,” per Archie’s press release.
“Grace is a talented and whip-smart teenager,” said Archie Comics Editor-in-Chief Mike Pellerito. “The fact that she’s experiencing hearing loss is only one part of her story. To me, this is the stuff that really matters, and we’re proud to be working with the Children’s Tumor Foundation on an important story like this.”
Grace’s story was written by Alex Simmons, with art by Bill Galvan and Ben Galvan, inks by Glenn Whitmore, and letters by Jack Morelli. The book streets on April 20, 2022.
“The Archies” film enters production
Milkshakes for everyone because THE ARCHIES MOVIE IS NOW FILMING ?#TheArchiesOnNetflix #ZoyaAkhtar @kagtireema @tigerbabyfilms @ArchieComics @GraphicIndia pic.twitter.com/usESV62GX2
— Netflix India (@NetflixIndia) April 18, 2022
The motion picture, which is a production headed by Netflix India, has no currently slated release date.
New Exclusive Variant Covers Available from Stadium Comics
This month’s Stadium Comics pre-orders give us a groovy kinda Archies tribute and a parody of a well-known meme. The first cover — which fronts The Archies Anniversary Spectacular, puts the gang in a rainbow room, gives them groovy ’60s threads, and lights both up with a space-age font. The cover was created by Bill Walko. 250 copies of the variant exist, with 25 metal variants made, available exclusively in a 2-cover pack with the standard which has sold out. Each of the standard-issue variant covers costs $14.99 and can be pre-ordered for an April 27 release here.
Stadium also had a foil variant of Jeff Schultz’ standard cover for the comic, which is sold out.
The second cover wraps itself around Archie Meets Riverdale #1. As you can see, it’s a parody of the Spider-Man pointing meme. The cover was created by Nuno Pereira. 250 copies of the variant exist, with 50 metal variants made, available exclusively in a 2-cover pack with the standard version. Stadium is also offering a foil cover variant of the standard version of the comic’s cover, as drawn by Ben Caldwell. Each of the standard-issue variant covers costs $14.99; the two-cover pack with the metal variant goes for $49.99 and the Caldwell foil variant for $24.99. All three can be pre-ordered for a May release here.
Riverdale is renewed for Season 7; begins airing in new Sunday night timeslot.
Variety confirms that Riverdale will continue for at least one more season after their current outing finishes airing at some point this summer, which will be its seventh. The show has also switched timeslots and is now airing on Sundays at 8 PM EST.
Archie Comics offers two free stories in celebration of Earth Day
The comics giant has offered two original tales with an environmental theme and bonus teacher’s guide for free. You can read “Bottle Battle” by Angelo DeCesare, Pat Kennedy, Mike DeCarlo, Pat Owsley and Barry Grossman and “Getting Drastic with Plastic” by Batton Lash, Bill Galvan, Jim Amash, Jack Morelli & Digikore Studios at the link above.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
Uh…what?#ArchieComics #Archie #Comics #BettyAndVeronica pic.twitter.com/ohwohKC7As
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) April 2, 2022
Um, phrasing?! Wholly inappropriate, Miss Grundy.#ArchieComics #Archie #Grundy #Phrasing pic.twitter.com/H5WNqPUOL8
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) April 8, 2022
Songs will be sung of Archie's bravery in the halls of Valhalla from now until Ragnarok.#ArchieComics #Archie #Comics #Vikings pic.twitter.com/hxtrcrJcNz
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) April 9, 2022
In which everything is inappropriate and Archie almost dies.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Bite-Sized Archie Vol. 1 (TR)
Ron Cacace (Writing); Vincent Lovallo (Art and Cover);
April 27, 2022
You’ve heard me rave about Bite-Sized Archie a billion times before, and now fans who want an even more portable version of these webcomics are in luck, as Archie has finally released a TR of the comic series most memorable moments. Shattering the fourth wall with tongue tucked firmly in cheek, the series takes a look at all your favorite Archie characters and has fun putting them through adventures both knowing and very out there. It breaks down the Archieverse into quick, daily, comic-strip-sized bites, which is good news for anyone intimidated by the size and breadth of the Archiveverse. If you wanna have a good time but you don’t wanna worry about the commitment of an ongoing series, this is a great little Archie-flavored pitstop.
Archie Milestones Digest #14: Best of the 1990s
Dan DeCarlo (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing and Art); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
April 6, 2022
This collection combines the best of Archie Comics’ ’90’s babies while adding a brand new Dan Parent-written and drawn story in which the gang goes to see a taping of their favorite sitcom (It’s called “Buddies” and the title of the story is “I Won’t Be There for You”, so guess what we’re parodying here!), only to find themselves mediating for the show’s bratty cast so the show will be guaranteed to go on. This has a perfect balance of very iconic 90’s-set stories and new material that definitely makes snapping it up worthwhile.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Fun With Little Archie and Friends Special
Dan DeCarlo (Cover); Agnes Garbowska (Art); Matt Herms (Colors); Erin Hunting (Cover and Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Jamie L. Rotante (Writing); Adrian Ropp (Art); J Torres (Writing); Shannon Watters (Writing); Brittney Williams (Cover)
April 13, 2022
This one’s just plain cute. It takes Archie and the gang out of high school and lands them straight back into those days of paste-eating and milk money. It’s all of the Archie you love, only with braces, skinned knees, and first crushes.
The Archies Anniversary Special #1
Tom DeFalco (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Jeff Shultz (Art and Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
April 6, 2022
Would you believe The Archies are celebrating their 55th anniversary this year? And they don’t look a day over ’69! This issue compiles new and old stories and has a brand new tale from Tom DeFalco and Jeff Schulz in which the band must pursue a new place to rehearse after Archie’s pop kicks them out of his garage.
Picks From The Timecops
Archie Meets Riverdale One-Shot (#1)
Ben Caldwell (Cover); Derek Charm (Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Pat and Tim Kennedy (Art); Daniel Kibblesmith (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Bob Smith (Inks)
May 11, 2022
So it’s come to this; the wholesome Riverdale gang meets the…well, slightly-less wholesome Riverdale gang. Expect conflict and some good old-fashioned tongue-in-cheek humor.
Archie Showcase Digest #8: New Kids Off the Wall
Digikore Studios (Colors and Cover); Rich Koslowski (Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art and Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Alex Simmons (Writing)
May 11, 2022
Things in Riverdale will never be the same when a nearby school shutters, causing a group of 50 students and four teachers to merge with the folks matriculating at Riverdale High. The gang soon finds themselves clashing with these fashionable, talented folks. Will they learn to get along or is a rumble afoot?
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #119
Jim Amash (Art); Francis Bonnet (Cover); Bill Galvan (Art); Ian Flynn (Writing); Dan Parent (Writing, Cover and Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
May 4, 2022
Are you ready for Archie to take on Elon M — I mean Eli Peppercorn? And he gets Jughead into cryptocurrency. He makes a mint but can’t remember his own password and has to guess his way in. Will the timing of the release of this story break your humble reporter’s brain?
Elsewhere, Archie’s cooking nearly gets him killed, forcing superhero Fireball to call on Pureheart the Powerful to get them all out of a jam before Pops goes up in flames.
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #15
Jim Amash (Art); Tania Del Rio (Writing); Bill Golliher (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Jeff Shultz (Cove); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
May 18, 2022
In this issue Betty and Veronica find themselves trapped in a speeding self-driving car, which takes them on a tour of Riverdale’s quirkiest locales. Is Eli Peppercorn behind this mess?!
