Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for June! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In June’s Pubwatch, Sabrina’s got another annual to watch out for! Also, there are plenty of new variant covers and much more!
Sabrina Spellman introduces us to another of her nemesis with Sabrina’s Annual Spectacular!
If you thought Sapphire and Jade were tough customers, they’ve got nothing on Madame Striga. This new witch – apparently the first one that ever was, from whom all witches have descended – is unleashed during a battle between Sabrina Spellman and Amber Nightshade in this year’s Sabrina Annual Spectacular. That unleashing will cause Madame Striga to run rampant through three of Archie’s all ages titles from September through November. You can spy her in Archie Halloween Spectacular and see her story conclude in November’s Josie and the Pussycats Annual Spectacular #1.
“I’m a fan of the wild and magical world of Ms. Spellman, and I’m always eager to explore it in ways that are more narratively meaty. Amber is a great foil and rival for Sabrina, but they’re on about equal footing. The new evil we’re introducing – Mother Striga – is on a whole other level. How will Sabrina manage when she’s completely outclassed in terms of raw, magical might?” said issue writer Ian Flynn to Newsarama, which carried the official announcement about the title.
“In Sabrina’s world, Mother Striga is the FIRST witch, the mother of all witches, and very malevolent. Mother Striga exists as the Darkseid or Thanos of Sabrina’s world, the ultimate evil presence who shows up to cause havoc for everyone,” said issue artist Steven Butler. “In designing her, I wanted her to look regal yet emaciated, like an ancient mummy – she even wears wrappings like a mummy – with thick, viscous black hair that’s alive and can morph into a cloak or weapon,” Butler continued. “Her look comes from my memories of several different Disney villains, especially Cruella de Vil and Yzma from the Emperor’s New Groove, along with my memories of a character from an old and obscure comic and cartoon series called ‘Mr. & Mrs. J Evil Scientist.”
Besides Butler and Flynn, the issue will feature inks from Lily Butler, colors by Ellie Wright, and letters by Jack Morelli.
Sabrina Annual Spectacular #1 streets on September 4.
Daily Dead has an interior art preview for Archie Comics: Judgement Day #3.
Here!
New Variant Covers from Stadium Comics, Great Wall of Comics, Comic Book Exclusives/Mellow Fellow Trading, Tom Rapka, Dan Parent and The 616 Comics.
Stadium Comics is back with a host of variant exclusives. First, if you missed out on those Betty and Veronica Summer Spectacular #1 Fallout variants we talked about last time, it’s back in stock. It’s limited to 75 reprint copies; the latter has a 10 copy foil variant, which is still available. You can buy your copies here for $9.99 and $49.99, respectively
Stadium’s exclusive for Chilling Adventures Present: Truth or Dare #1: This Laura Braga pop art cover of Sabrina Spellman is limited to 50 copies and is going for $19.99 here. There was a metal cover variant limited to 15 copies which is being sold for $69.99 at the same link.
This Nintendo-based cover for the facsimile repub of Betty and Me #15 was drawn by Nuno Pereira. Limited to 50 copies in this first edition, it has already sold out at $19.99. The metal variant is limited to 15 copies in a metal version and is only available in a two-cover pack at $69.99; it too has sold out.
Then there’s this cover for The Wicked Trinity #1. A tribute to the cover for Haunted, it was drawn by Bill Galvan. Limited to 50 copies, It’s available for $19.99 here. The metal variant was limited to 15 copies and was only available in a two-cover pack at $69.99. It can be viewed above.
Great Wall of Comics has this Sam Payne variant for Betty and Veronica Summer Spectacular #1. It sees Betty posed as Farrah Fawcett was for her bestselling pin-up; limited to 200 copies with a COA and is going for $19.99 here.
Fernando Ruiz also has a variant for Betty and Veronica Summer Spectacular #1. It, too, is limited to 20 copies and comes with a COA for $19.99. Snag it here!
Dan Parent has another tryptic virgin variant print re-release, this one for his Grease-inspired double covers for Archie Summer Lovin’ #1. Snag it for $34.99 over here. Parent also has this Betty, Veronica and Cheryl-centric cover for Betty and Veronica Summer Spectacular #1 limited to 200 pieces with a COA. It’s already sold out, but you can look at it here.
Finally, Fernando Ruiz has two different variants up for Betty and Veronica: Summer Spectacular. Also limited to 200, they come with a COA and are up for preorder at $19.99 here.
Comic Book Exclusives has some interesting variants for old issues and fresh covers for new issues. First of all, feast your eyes on these alternate covers for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #5. These Robert Hack variants are available at a 25-count foil cover for $24.99, one of ten metal variant covers for $56.99, or one of five lava foil variant covers for $63.99.
These Audrey Mok covers for Jughead #9 come in a foil variant for $24.99 and a confetti foil variant at $34.99. The confetti foil is limited to 10 copies and the regular 2o.
Bill Galvan’s tribute to the cover of New Mutants 98 coves Archie and Friends: Blockbuster Movies #1. You can pick up a general variant for $10, a $39.99 foil variant limited to 30 copies, and a metal variant, limited to 10 copies at $49.99.
These Parent-drawn covers for Archie Comics: Judgement Day #2 shows Sabrina Spellman dolled up as Zatanna Zatara. The 250 copy plain virgin variant goes for $10.99, a 30 copy foil variant for $34.99, a 10 copy metal variant for $48.99, and 5 crystal foil copies at $60.99.
Parent has one more cover for Judgement Day #2, and this one features Betty cosplaying as Harley Quinn. A plain 250 copy variant goes for $10.99, a 30 copy foil variant for $34.99, and a 5 copy crystal foil variant for $60.99. You can also get a Harley/Zatanna two-cover pack for $19.49. Also, feast your eyes on this variant for Betty and Veronica: Summer Spectacular, which should show up on Mellow Fellow Trading in July.
Speaking of Parent, he’s just opened up a brand-new store from which he’s going to be selling variants, art prints, and other media. Of note is this wraparound cover variant for Betty and Veronica: Summer Spectacular, on which he’s taking pre-orders. It’s a SDCC exclusive and goes for $20.
The 616 has a bunch of Josh Burns variants for Betty and Veronica: Summer Spectacular. All of the coves are limited to 250 copies each. The sunrise version of Betty’s cover costs $19.99, the sunset $19.99, and the plain $19.99. Veronica’s versions, from sunrise to plain, cost $19.99, $19.99, and $19.99, respectively.
Lastly, Tom Rapka is offering this Terminator-inspired cover for Archie Comics: Judgement Day #2. It’s limited to 250 and to find out the price and get a copy, you have to DM him at his X account here.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
This month, Archie’s world tour is in Jeopardy, the word Zaddy is mentioned, Reggie is a bad lifeguard, ghost surfers, and The Bear is back.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
The Wicked Trinity #1
Soo Lee (Cover); Sam Maggs (Writing); Lisa Sterle (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Ellie Wright (Color)
June 19, 2024
“We are the weirdos, Mister.” You can apply those words to many a young aspiring witch, but this in-depth look at Amber Nightstone’s mini-coven is the right mix of fun and supernatural. Sabrina’s three least-favorite pains in the butt get their own one-shot here, as they try to navigate magic and friendship with aplomb. Infighting, worldbuilding, and magic – what more could you ever want from a witchy Sabrinaverse comic (except a little more Sabrina? But then again, this party isn’t really about her).
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Archie Comics: Judgment Day #2
Francesco Francavilla (Cover); Matt Herms (Colors and Cover colors); Megan Hutchison (Art and Cover); InHyuk Lee (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Aubrey Sitterson (Writing)
June 19, 2024
Archie’s dark night of the soul continues. More friends are found and lost; more characters are absorbed into a dark conscious. It’s gooey, it’s gory, it’s even a little heartbreaking – but it’s pure Archie Horror at its best.
Archie & Friends: Blockbuster Movies
Lily Butler (Inks); Steven Butler (Cover Art and Art); Ian Flynn (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors);
June 5, 2024
All movie-based tales! Hosted by PoolNoodle! Wait, who’s PoolNoodle? Well, he’s a PG-rated Deadpool – of a sort. Believe me, reading about him is an experience, and one you won’t soon forget.
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #351
Bill Golliher (Writing and Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (colors)
June 12, 2024
My favorite all-ages new story of the month sees Fran Frazier introduce the gang to her cat, Stinger, as she and the rest of the group try to save their favorite summer amusement park from going under.
Picks From the Timecops
Archie Comics: Judgment Day #3
Francesco Francavilla (Cover); Matt Herms (Colors and Cover colors); Megan Hutchison (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Aubrey Sitterson (Writing); Luana Vecchio (Cover)
July 31, 2024
It gets even darker and more perilous from here on out for poor Arch. Can the powers gifted to him by Madam Satan through Alastair help Archie quell the hell surrounding him? Or are things about to get a whole lot worse if Alastair grabs hold of Archie’s body for good?
Chilling Adventures Presents: Truth or Dare #1
Laura Braga (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Ron Robbins (Writing); Suspiria Vilchez (Cover); Ellie Wright (Colors)
July 17, 2024
Trula Twyst returns to Riverdale to take names, break hearts ,and claim revenge; combining a game of truth or dare with psychological insights mined from her courses, she tries to wrench the gang apart. Will she succeed?
Betty and Veronica: Summer Spectacular #1
Jim Amash (Inks); Steven Butler (Art); Tom DeFalco (Writing); Holly G! (Cover Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
July 3, 2024
A collection of the very best of Betty and Veronica’s summertime antics, featuring a new tale in which Betty and Veronica’s swanky all-girls party is ruined by Archie, Cody Cloud, and their troupe of little leaguers!
Archie 1000 Page Comics Spectacle
Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Various (Colors/Art/Inks/Writing/Letters)
July 31, 2024
Archie, Archie, and more Archie! Another huge collection of stories gives you plenty to do during those long summer afternoons or those endless car rides!
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #352
Jim Amash (Inks); Tania Del Rio (Writing); Holly G! (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
July 17, 2024
Sabrina’s plans to hold a cool monster movie night on the beach with her friends is ruined by Amber Nightstone! Can she fight back this attempted Monster Mash before it becomes a graveyard smash?
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #142
Francis Bonnet (Cover Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Cover; Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
July 31, 2024
Archie vs Ghost Surfers? Archie versus Ghost Surfers.
Archie Showcase Digest: Christmas in July #19
Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Various (Colors/Art/Inks/Writing/Letters)
July 3, 2024
Already hankering for a slice of Christmas goodness? This issue combines some of Archie’s best Christmas adventures!
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #326
Francis Bonnet (Cover Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Art, Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Gillian Swearingen (Colors)
July 24, 2024
Can Betty and Veronica master the rigors of pickleball? Maybe, with Moose at their sides!
