Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for December! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In December’s Pubwatch, Pop’s Chocklit Shop of Horrors is back in business! Also, there are plenty of new variant covers and much more!
Pop’s Cock’Lit Shoppe of Horrors returns with Pop’s Chock’Lit Shoppe of Horrors: Fresh Meat in March
With the success of the first version of Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe of Horror firmly under their belts, Archie Comics is bringing the series back for another go-round.
“We’re incredibly excited to return to the dark world of Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe of Horrors for another serving of scares! We’re even more excited because the full creative team from last year’s issue is returning. What I love about Pop’s is that it deftly blends some of the most absurd, gruesome, and gory slasher and sci-fi horror with the funniest lines and moments I’ve ever read in an Archie Comic. It’s the perfect schlockfest and anyone who enjoys the brazen, dark humor of horror is sure to enjoy this anthology!” Jamie L. Rotante, Senior Director of Editorial at Archie Comics told Bloody Disgusting, who exclusively broke the news.
The series will once again feature three stories, interconnected by a bridging narrative – but this time it’s a prequel issue, which will explain how Pop Tate became the cannibalistic, murderous dude with ties to the dark side. The titles that comprise the anthology and their teams are The Lord of the Fries by Amy Chase (writing) and Federico Sabbatini (art), Feed Me, Jughead by Jordan Morris (writing) and Liana Kangas (art), and Free Market, Free Range by Ryan Cady (writing) and Chris Panda (art), with colors by Ellie Wright and letters by Jack Morelli. The issue features covers by Adam Gorham and Aaron Lea (see above).
Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe of Horrors: Fresh Meat streets on March 20.
Lina Kangas and Amy Chase to write and draw Archie Horror Presents: The Cursed Library: Prelude
Via her X, Formerly known as Twitter account, Chase revealed that she and Kangas have collaborated on Archie’s Free Comic Book Day release, The Cursed Library: Prelude.
Featuring a cover by Robert Hack (pictured above), the title will drop at comic book stores on May 4, 2024.
CBR.Com Discuss the Historical Impact of Archie’s Christmas Stocking Digests
Right here.
Dan Parent offering hand remarqued covers of Sabrina Christmas Magic #1 on an exclusive cover
Dan Parent recently posted this exclusive offer for Sabrina’s Holiday Special #1. You can get a hand-remarqued exclusive cover by emailing him at danparent@hotmail.com. Each issue costs $40 with $10 surcharged shipping, and $25 to Canada. Comes with an additional holiday print and sketchbook.
New Variant Covers from Stadium Comics, Bird City Comics, Arsenal Comics And Games, The Comic Book Store, Happy Comics Company and Mellow Fellow Trading
It’s new variant cover time!
Stadium Comics is back with two homage variant exclusives. First, there’s this X-Men homage by Nuno Pereira, which covers Archie’s Marvelous Cover Gallery#1. The issue is exclusive to Stadium Comics and collects all of their Marvel Comics Archie tribute covers. Slated to be released in late February 2024, Only 1o0 copies exist of the variant, with 50 foil variants and 25 metal variants extent. The metal version sold out as part of a two-issue pack with a metal version of their Betty & Veronica Hulk #181 homage by Marco D’Alfonso, which covers Betty and Veronica #1 at $99.99. A graded variant offered for $99.99, numbered to 10 and marked VF/NM, also sold out, But you can buy the regular variant for $19.99 or the foil variant, which is in a double-pack with Marco D’Alfonso’s Werewolf by Night #32 tribute cover for Jughead the Hunger at $49.99 here!
Stadium also has this Laura Braga variant for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. This cover is a tribute to Dan DeCarlo’s Archie’s Christmas Stocking cover from 1993, is limited to 250 copies in its standard virgin variant, costs $19.99, and is available here; a 20 copy virgin metal variant run has already sold out; they retailed for $59.99 in a two-cover pack with the standard cover.
Next is this thisisfunart’s variant for Fear the Funhouse: Toybox of Terror. Arsenal Comics and Games is selling this one, and it’s limited to a run of only 50 issues. You can buy it for $19.99 in a standard edition or signed and numbered by the artist and issue writer Timmy Heague here.
This Sabrina Spellman variant which covers Sabrina Holiday Spectacular #1 by Sweeney Boo is limited to 250 copies apiece, and costs $19.99. You can buy it at Bird City Comics here.
Dan Parent is offering up two variants at Happy Comics Company. The first covers Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. It’s a tribute to Jughead’s Pal Hot Dog, a briefly-run series from the 1990s, and features Hot Dog, Betty and Veronica. Limited to 250 copies apiece, you can pick them up here, graded by the CGC to a 9.8. They cost $75 apiece.
The next variant covers Sabrina Holiday Spectacular #1 and was a Big Apple ComicCon exclusive. Serving as a tribute toward both Parent and Bill Steranko, you can buy it unsigned for $20, signed by both men for $75, and signed and graded by the CGC at a 9.8 for $150 here.
Parent has also created a Catwoman #51 cover homage for Archie’s Halloween Spectacular #1 . It’s limited to 200 issues at $19.99, and is available at The Comic Corner Store here!
The next set of issues comes from Mellow Fellow Trading. The first cover is an Andrew Pepoy cover for Archie’s Christmas Spectacular #1. It’s available for $11.99 and is limited to 200 copies here. The issue also has 3 birch wood covers available for $99.99, 5 Silvered Black Metal variants for $74.99, 12 Alt metal variants for $49.99, 5 2D/3D foil variants at $34.99 and 20 Holofoil variants at $24.99.
Mellow Fellow also has multiple variants for Veronica Fish’s standard covers for Sabrina Holiday Spectacular #1 . There are five virgin birchwood variant covers available at $99.99; 12 metal variants for $49.99; 3 red marble variants for $74.99; 5 crystal fleck foil variants at $44.99; 10 lava foil variants at $34.99; 25 foil variants at $24.99 and 200 virgin variants at $14.99. Mellow Fellow also has up a set of foil variant covers from Andrew Pepoy’s Josie Anniversary Spectacular #1 cover; 20 alternate color foil variants for $20, 10 variant foil covers for $30, and 10 metal alt covers covers for $40. Lastly, they have three variations on Dan Parent’s cover for Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Christmas Party #1. 20 alt-color virgin foil covers for $24.99, 10 variant foil covers for $34.99, and 5 crystal foil variants for $44.99.
Archie Comics Tweet of the Month
Thanks to the legendary Deepak Chopra for his praise of #TheArchiesonNetflix! https://t.co/SEoytqP9Ql
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) December 13, 2023
This is who I am now. The guy that spends half an hour trying to turn Reggie into Namor. pic.twitter.com/QXZOmB1ljC
— Kevin City ComicCon (@KevinNewburn) December 3, 2023
Depak Chopra thinks The Archies is awesome! Also bonus X-Men!Riverdale ornaments.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special #1
Laura Braga (Cover); Andy Fish (Art); Veronica Fish (Art and Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Veronica Johnson (Colors); Jack Morelli (Letters); Danielle Paige (Writing); Kelly Thompson (Writing)
December 13, 2023
“Fantastic” describes this Sabrina one-shot in a nutshell; wintery, filled with suspense, but easygoing enough to be consumed by teenagers and adults alike; creative and adventuresome! Lovely art and smart writing make this December’s best title by a wide margin and a must-by for Sabrina fans everywhere.
In the first new story, Sabrina Spellman and her boarding school classmates survive the longest night of the year and work together to break an enchantment caused by an otherworldly, nearly-indestructible beast. In the second, we get a flashback to Aunt Hildie and Aunt Zelda as younger women at solstice time. An invaluable, fun outing.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #31
Francis Bonnet (Cover); Lily Butler (Inks); Steven Butler (Art); Ian Flynn (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Art, Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 6, 2023
The first story here is what really makes this one stand head and shoulders above the competition. Penny and Ginger enter the tunnel of love with Archie at Riverdale’s winter carnival. They both have visions about a future that includes him, which may or may not be influenced by the ride’s mysterious operator.
Elsewhere, Betty and Veronica help the new Jaguar do some Christmas shopping – only to run into the originator of the Jaguar moniker, Ralph Hardy!
Picks From the Timecops
Archie Love Showdown: 30th Anniversary Special Editon [TPB]
Dan DeCarlo (Art and Cover); George Gladir (Writing); Bill Golliher (Writing); Dan Parent (Writing and Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Henry Scarpelli (Cover Letters); Various (Art)
January 24, 2024
A blast from the ’90s returns to print in January when the classic tale in which Archie finally picks between Betty and Veronica returns to print!
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #321
Dan Parent (Writing, Art and Cover); Ron Robbins (Writing)
Art: Dan Parent, Bill Galvan, Bob Smith, Jim Amash
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Bill Golliher, Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña
January 31, 2024
Moose turns to Betty and Veronica to help spruce up his look when he worries about losing Midge to the more stylish Reggie!
Elsewhere, Betty and Veronica find a portal (?!) beneath Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe (!!!) that may lead them into something supernaturally sticky (???).
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #347
Francis Bonnet (Writing); Holly G (Art); Daniel Kibblesmith (Writing); Rex Lindsey (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
January 24, 2024
Sabrina accidentally unleashes the anti-cupid, Heartbreaker, on the world and must fix things before every Archieverse couple fights. Elsewhere, another Moose and Midge story sees Midge worrying about whether or not Moose is neglecting her – and Valentine’s Day – in favor of the big game, but he has a trick up his sleeve.
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #136
Jim Amash (Inks); Lily Butler (Inks); Steven Butler (Art); Ian Flynn (Writing); Holly G! (Art); Bill Golliher (Cover); Daniel Kibblesmith (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
January 1o, 2024
Fran Frazer takes center stage as she and Hal Davis investigate a corruption case involving Archie and Veronica! Meanwhile, Betty and Veronica find the most perfect health specimen in Riverdale after being challenged to do so by Young Doctor Masters.
