Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of May! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In May’s Pubwatch, we’ve got more Danni Malloy on tap, we take a deep dive into several titles, we detail more about The Archies, we preview some new covers, and more!
Archie Horror and Chilling Adventures Presents: Strange Science #1 in August; Danni Malloy to come out as trans
If you liked Jinxed: A Cursed Life as much as I did, then hold on to your hats — this summer will also bring us more Danni Malloy, Jinx’s best friend and a part of her rock band. Chilling Adventures Presents: Strange Science #1 will follow Danni returning to her roots in super science; after all, she was originally introduced in 1989 as a rival for local science geek Dilton Doiley’s scientific exploits. It turns out this new version of Danni shuns science. But when Dilton gets in trouble only Danni can help find her old friend.
Chilling Adventures Presents: Strange Science #1 will also let Archie fans know that Danni is trans. “I’ve been wanting to make this happen for a long time, and it’s really cool to see it finally come to fruition,” Magdalene Visaggio, who wrote the issue, said in a press statement released by Archie Comics. “I never wanted Danni’s trans identity to be gimmicky, or for her to feel like she was only created to be trans. So, I’d like to apologize for sneaking her over the line like this! I wanted you to have a chance to fall in love with her for who she is, not what she is. I’m honored I got to make it happen, and I’m grateful to Archie for never, not even once, pushing back on my insistence on making their books a little bit more queer. I hope Danni finds a good home at Archie with supportive writers and artists helping to keep her alive for years to come.”
Chilling Adventures Presents: Strange Science #1 also includes art by Butch Mapa, color work by Ellie Wright, and letters by the ubiquitous Jack Morelli. Mapa and Wright have teamed up to provide the cover’s main version, and Skylar Patridge providing a variant. Chilling Adventures Presents: Strange Science #1 streets on August 16.
ComicCon.com Talks Jinx: A Cursed Life with Jamie L. Rotante And Craig Cermak
Click through to read!
Jamie L. Rotante Appears on the Archie & Me Podcast
Click through to listen!
The Archies given a fall release date by Netflix India
Coming this fall to Netflix worldwide is #TheArchies, a brand new feature film from director Zoya Akhtar that promises music and fun featuring your favorite Archie characters! pic.twitter.com/MeIUFeEzkq
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) April 19, 2023
Via the Archie Twitter.
Jamie L. Rotante Talks about The Cult of that Wilkins Boy for The Daily Dead
Click through to read this continuation of Jamie’s column.
Archie gives out free previews of Archie Horror Presents: The Cursed Library
The issue – featuring writing from Magdalene Visaggio and art by Craig Cermak – was available for Free Comic Book Day, but you can also read a preview via Archie’s website here!
Archie Encyclopedia adds an update for Penny Parker
Also available at the Archie website here!
Archie Store adds Team Betty and Team Veronica Shirts
At Archie’s Threadless shop!
Our Own
Click through to read!
New Variant Covers from Great Wall of Comics, Mellow Fellow Trading, Arsenal Comics and Games and Stadium Comics
It’s new variant cover time!
Great Wall of Comics has a whole bunch of exclusive variant sets available, on the way, or sold out. The first covers Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Beach Party #1 and was drawn by Dan Parent. There were 25 virgin metal variants available, which sold out. But you can buy a regular copy of the variant at $24.99 here. It’s limited to 200 copies and comes with a COA.
The next cover is also by Parent and covers Archie & Friends: Hot Summer Movies #1. A parody of the film poster for Weekend at Bernie’s, each cover is limited to 200 copies, retails for $19.99 apiece, and comes with a COA. They’re available here.
The next three form a matched set featuring Sabrina, Veronica, and Betty at the beach. They were created by Sam Payne. These images also cover Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Beach Party #1, is limited to 200 issues apiece for the regular variants and 50 copies for each metal variant. The metal variants are only available in double-cover packs and go for $69.99 each. The regular variants go for 24.99. All come with COAS and can be ordered here.
The next cover is also by Parent, and covers Archie & Friends: Hot Summer Movies #1. A parody of the film poster for Fast Times at Ridgemont High, each cover is limited to 200 copies, retails for $19.99 apiece, and comes with a COA. They’re available here.
Parent also had a sold-out Star Wars-inspired variant available at Great Wall of Comics for Archie & Friends: Hot Summer Movies #1. 200 copies were available, and they have sold out.
Next up is a variant for Chilling Adventures Present…Camp Pickens #1 by Beth Zwolski Tobias. The covers are available exclusively at the Lake Como Art Festival. Mellow Fellow Trading is also offering up 50 blood-spattered versions, 3 Birchwood Covers, 3 Etched covers, 3 etched green marble covers, and 1 etched grey cover. Standard covers are limited to 125 copies each and come with a COA. Standard issues should retail at $15 apiece. The covers will be sold on eBay, WhatNot, and CBE.
Dan Parent is planning to offer a limited Pride Month variant for Archie & Friends Summer Special #1. There will be only 200 copies of the issue made. DM him on Twitter if you’d like one.
The next stack of variants comes from Stadium Comics. First is Nuno Pereira’s variant cover for Archie & Friends: Hot Summer Movies #1, which in itself is a tribute to the poster for Clueless. The limited metal variant, available only in a two-cover pack, was limited to 25 copies, cost $59.99, and has sold out. Pereira’s standard variant is still available. It’s limited to 250 copies apiece, costs $14.99, and is here.
Stadium also has a virgin variant cover for Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Beach Party #1. It’s drawn by Laura Braga and is a homage to the cover of She-Hulk #24. It’s limited to 250 copies, but it’s only available in a two-cover pack with their exclusive Incredible Hulk #1 variant. It retails for $19.99 in a two-pack and is available for pre-order here.
Arsenal Comics and Games is offering four further covers. The first, a tribute to the promotional images sent out for the upcoming Barbie movie, covers Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Beach Party #1 and was drawn by Bill Galvan. Fans can pick between an unsigned variant set for $34.99, or a variant set signed by Galvan for $49.99, The variant set is limited to 250 copies overall.
Arsenal Comics is also offering up this Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom poster variant parody by Galvan, which covers Archie & Friends Summer Special #1. It’s also limited to 250 copies. An unsigned version can be snagged for $19.99 and a signed version can be bought for $26.99 here.
Finally, Ryan Carr covers Chilling Adventures Present…Camp Pickens #1. The issue is limited to 250. You can buy a standard copy for $19.99, a signed copy from Carr for $24.99, a copy signed by issue writers Jordan Morris and Blake Howard for $24.99, and an issue signed by Carr, Howard, and Morris for $29.99 here.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
#Riverdale wasn't the first (or last) time Archie fought a bear. pic.twitter.com/WxNxP7uN6x
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 18, 2023
Which shirt suits your personality? pic.twitter.com/XMaa0G3L6L
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) April 27, 2023
The sun is bright and beautiful, yet it could easily kill us all. 🌞 pic.twitter.com/Thj0RJ8kFc
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 23, 2023
Betty, you good? pic.twitter.com/DejPwpvgAk
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 7, 2023
We are such huge fans of @MarkHamill, so this picture of him and his daughter enjoying Archie Comics makes us happier than Rebels dancing with Ewoks! #Maythe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/HQRPaDB4Js
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 4, 2023
Sabrina vs. Monday? Our money is on the teenage witch. pic.twitter.com/J8rp10FPFf
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 15, 2023
Archie v Bear, Personality questions, Jughead treatise against the sun, Betty’s life as an alien, and cool shots of Mark Hamill boning up on his Archie. Plus a very destructive Sabrina.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Chilling Adventures Presents: Jinxed: A Cursed Life #1
Craig Cermack (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Magdalene Visaggio (Writing); Ellie Wright (Inks)
May 17, 2023
This may just be the best Archie Horror comic released this year. The bratty, free spirit of Jinx Holliday and her more practical drummer Danni have been delightful throughout their recent revival. When put up in a contest of wits with Satan, she surprisingly knows her way around Old Scratch’s weaknesses. The book is complete, fast-paced, wickedly funny, and just the right amount of gory.
Jinx and Danni’s friendship is another highlight of the issue, as is the visceral art. While Jinx may be your average 14-year-old, she’s your average 14-year-old who’s the daughter of Satan (though she denies it) and now must try to exorcise a demon from Jughead Jones even though her soul belongs to daddy.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #340
Francis Bonnet (Writing); Lily Butler (Inks); Steven Butler (Art); Jack Morelli; Dan Parent (Writing, Art, Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
May 17, 2023
I’ve been loving the revival Archie’s set up for super-sleuth Penny Parker, and the fresh tale featuring her in this one is a lot of fun. In this issue, she returns to the Archie fold to help Archie find a missing book report. Ginger Snapp also appears to try to figure out who the heck has it out for Archie (besides the universe, as per usual). Meanwhile, the Superteens find themselves in a pickle that only the Super Pets can get them out of!
Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Game On #1
Jack Morelli (Letters) Dan Parent (Art and Cover); Ron Robbins (Writing); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
May 3, 2023
In this very fun video game story-centric collection, Betty, Sabrina, and Veronica are zapped into a video game by Amber Nightstone and her impish pals, Trick and Treat! They have to make their way through various video games as a team if they want to survive. Can they do it?
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #25
Jim Amash (Inks); Bill Golliher (Art and Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing and Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
May 10, 2023
Again, I love me some Ginger Snapp (who tries to cage some love advice from Betty and Veronica) and Penny Parker (whose athletic skills may figure into Veronica’s plans to get out of attending a debutante ball), so this was another fulfilling May read!
Picks From the Timecops
Chilling Adventures Present: Camp Pickens #1
Carola Borelli (Art); Diana Camero (Art); Francesco Francavilla (Alternate Cover);Matt Herms (Colors); Blake Howard (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Jordan Morris (Writing); Mike Norton (Art); Tim Seeley (Writing); Matt Talbot (Cover)
June 21, 2023
It’s summer, and what better time to settle down with a slasher flick? In this case, the gang ends up in the woods with a bunch of vulnerable kids — and a killer stalking the usually-safe environs of Camp Pickens.
Archie & Friends: Hot Summer Movies #1
Ben Galvan (Art and Cover); Bill Galvan (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Adrian Ropp (Writing); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
June 6, 2023
We exclusively revealed this title for y’all in March, and now it’s available to be read! The new story in this one features Jughead as an Indiana Jones-style adventurer!
Archie & Friends: Endless Escapades #1
Bill Golliher (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Various (Writing/Art/Inks/Letters/Colors)
June 21, 2023
A compilation of all of the best of Archie’s most modern tales!
Archie Milestones Jumbo Comic Digest #20: Jughead Superhero Special
Bill Galvan (Cover); Various (Writing/Art/Inks/Letters/Colors)
June 7, 2023
All Jughead! All flying! It’s the best of Juggie’s superhero adventures!
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #341
Lily Butler (Art); Steven Butler (Art); Tom DeFalco (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art, Cover and Writing); Bob Smith (Art); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
June 21, 2023
A brand new viral dance is taking Riverdale by storm thanks to the micro video platform Tik-I mean FlipFlop. Ethel Muggs wants to take on this dance for two, but can’t pick between her eternal crush Juggie and her new flame Charlie. Will she be able to decide during Veronica’s pool party?
In the Riverdale superheroverse, Pureheart the Powerful and Captain Flagg must defend the post office against Tom Twister.
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #315
Jim Amash (Inks); Ian Flynn (Writing); Holly G (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Art, Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
June 28, 2023
Ethel Muggs and Cassie Cloud team up against Veronica and Betty in an all-out volleyball war, but things turn messy when they try to score some attention from some fellas. Elsewhere, Archie’s date with the none-more-goth Darla Lang goes awry when things get too sunny!
