Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for November! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe with this month’s news. In November’s Pubwatch, Archie announces their Free Comic Book Day offering and explains how facsimile issues work. Plus, plenty of new variant covers, and much more!
Archie announces their Free Comic Book Day offering
Winter might be approaching, but before you know it May — and Free Comic Book Day — will be here. Archie’s already ahead of the game; their offering will be Archie’s Comic Spectacular which will feature a whole host of characters familiar and recently added to the continuity.
There’s no word as to whether or not the issue will contain a new story, but it will be comprised of reprints of recent stories per this blurb on the official website.
Archie explains how facsimile issues work
Click through to read it!
Mike Norton talks Archie is: Mr. Justice with The Cryptid Collector’s Corner podcast
Listen here!
Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum praise Archie is: Mr. Justice #1
Writer-actor Oswalt and writer Blum gave the official Archie website high praise for the first issue: “Tim Seely has the kind of mind that ranges everywhere — and brilliantly. Whether it’s horror or, in the case, superheroes, you can always be guaranteed a shocking, fun, unforgettable take. And he certainly doesn’t disappoint here,” Oswalt said.
“Tim Seeley bleeds superheroes (he should really get that looked at) which makes him the right choice to usher Archie Andrews into his new spandex-clad adventures. Mr. Justice is the perfect blend of capes and classic Riverdale teen hijinks that services fans of both genres while still serving up something completely new. Archie may have already slayed horror, but now it’s his time to soar as a superhero,” said Blum.
Read their full statements here!
New Variant Covers from Great Wall of Comics, Stadium Comics, and Comic Book Exclusives/Mellow Fellow Trading, Dan Parent, and The Kubert School
It’s variant cover time!
Great Wall of Comics have this set of virgin Sam Payne variants for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. Each pays tribute to a different Christmas special with Veronica as Frosty the Snowman, Sabrina as The Grinch, and Betty as Charlie Brown. Each cover is limited to 250 copies with a COA; you can buy a cover apiece for $19.99 here, here, and here.
They also have black and white variants for Dan Parent’s covers for Red Sonja and Vampirella Meet Betty and Veronica #1 and 5. They’re $9.99 apiece here and here.
Stadium Comics is back with a variant exclusive. They have an exclusive homage tribute cover for Archie’s Christmas Spectacular that’s a tribute to Amazing Spider-Man #300. This Bill Galvan cover is limited to 250 copies. It’s going for $19.99 here.
All but one of the rest of the covers come from Comic Book Exclusives. First of all, there’s a foil variant for the facsimile edition of Veronica #28. It’s limited to 25 at $22.94.
Next is Dan Parent’s Hocus Pocus-inspired cover for The Cursed Library: Alpha. The regular variant is limited to 250 copies and goes for $11.94. Also available are a crystal foil variant, limited to 12 at $32.94, 25 foil variants for $35.94, and one of five magma foil variants at $43.94.
There’s also virgin variant options for the standard covers for Sabrina Annual Spectacular #1 and Archie Halloween Spectacular #1. Both are by Steven and Lily Butler. The Sabrina edition has 20 foil variants at $19.94, 10 confetti foil variants at $27.94, and 5 crystal foil variants at $34.94. The Halloween Spectacular has 10 lava foil covers at $29.94 and 20 chrome foil variants at $19.94.
Then there’s this Marat Mychaels Bloodstone tribute cover for Archie Horror Presents: Camp Pickins #1. Limited to 100 issues with a COA, it goes for $14.94.
Betty and Veronica make like Freddy and Jason for Ryan Kincaid’s Archie Halloween Spectacular #1 variant. It’s limited to 250 and goes for $14.94.
The Sabrina Spellman cover was drawn by Sajad Shah and covers Archie Horror: Judgement Day #3. It’s limited to 250 virgin variants and goes for $11.49. It can also be bought in a combo pack with one of 25 foil covers for $34.94, or as one of 12 crystal foil variants for $29.94.
This Betty and Veronica bikini cover was drawn by Dan Parent and covers Archie Halloween Spectacular #1. The basic virgin variant is limited to 250 copies and goes for $12.94. You can snag one of 15 crystal foil variants for $34.94, or one in a package with one of 30 foil variants for $39.49.
Parent also has two tattoo-inspired covers for The Cursed Library: Omega. The virgin variants are both limited to 250 each for the standard; both Betty and Josie go for $11.49 each. The Betty variant with 25 virgin foil variants comes in a set with a regular variant for $39.49. The crystal foil variant is limited to 12 covers and is available for $29.94. The Josie variant comes in the same varieties and is available at the same price points. You can also get both variants in a two-pack for $19.94.
Next is Bill Galvan’s variant for Archie Horror: Judgement Day #3. It pays tribute to the NES box art for Ghosts n’ Goblins. The regular variant is limited to 250 copies and goes for $9.94; one of 12 crystal foil variants goes for $29.94; one of five confetti foil variants for $44.94; and a combo pack of the standard variant and a foil variant goes for $29.94.
Dan Parent created the last four covers, the first two of which cover Josie and the Pussycats Annual Spectacular #1. The first is a tribute to an iconic image from Valley of the Dolls, the second a tribute to the standard poster for the Josie and the Pussycats film. The Valley variant is limited to 250 and going for $11.94; the crystal foil is limited to 12 and goes for $29.94, and the foil variant limited to 25 in a pack with the original variant for $29.94. The movie poster variants have the exact same totals and price points. You can get both of these Josie variants together for $19.94.
Parent also has two superhero variants for Archie Is: Mr. Justice #1. Sabrina as Felicia Hardy — or Black Cat — is limited to 250 issues for $11.94. The foil variant limited to 25 in a pack with the original variant for $34.94. The crystal foil is limited to 12 and goes for $29.94, and the confetti foil to 5 at $49.94. Betty as Spider-Gwen is limited to the same quantities and is going for the same price points. You can buy a two-pack for $19.94.
Comic Book Exclusives is also selling some remaining stock of Matt Talbot’s Halloween and Archie horror mashup prints. Limited to 200 apiece and going for $49.94 each, two of all three remain available.
Also, Dan Parent has reopened his own store and is selling variants.
Lastly, Archie has teamed up with the Kubert School for a benefit cover. The art was created by Kubert School student Audrey Cardenas. 13th Dimension has the scoop. You can pick it up at the school’s website for $10 apiece starting December 4. It’s limited to 250 copies.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
This month: Terrifier 3, Sabrina-based magic, and the history of the Nehru Jacket.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Josie and the Pussycats Annual Spectacular: #1
Lily Butler (Inks and Cover Inks); Steven Butler (Art and Cover); Ian Flynn (Writing); Vincent Lovallo (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 6, 2024
I deeply adore Archie’s yearly Josie-centric adventures. This issue is special, because it moves the universal Archie plotline, introduces us to Madam Striga, and draws the girls’ enemies and friends closer. In the issue’s original tale, Josie and the gang’s annual issue kicks off with the band performing at a monster’s ball! Mother Striga surfaces to cause chaos, causing the band to enlist Sabrina Spellman and their rival Alexandra Cabot for help!
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Archie is: Mr. Justice #1
Francesco Francavilla (Cover); Mike Norton (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Tim Seeley (Writing); Matt Talbot (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 20, 2024
This is a truly fantastic superhero take on Archie’s adventures; serious with beautiful art. Archie goes superhero again! Promising to be a much more serious take on the typical superhero shenanigans Archie Comics indulge in with their Pureheart the Powerful series, this one pits Archie against Mr. Lodge as America’s typical teenager attains superpowers and takes on the mantle of Mr. Justice.
Picks From the Timecops
The Cursed Library : Unbound (3 of 3)
Craig Cermak (Art and Cover); Francesco Francavilla (Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Jack Morelli (Letters); Eliot Rahal (writing); Luana Vecchio (Cover); Suspiria Vilchez (Cover); Magdalene Visaggio (Writing)
December 30, 2024
It all comes down to this! Madam Satan and Danni battle the dark forces of evil to reclaim Jinx’s soul from her father. Will they survive? Will Jinx?
Archie Christmas Spectacular: #1
Jim Amash (Inks); Ian Flynn (Writing); Holly G (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (cover colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 4, 2024
In this issue’s original tale, Amber Nightstone is…forced to be nice to Sabrina and get her a gift?!
Archie Milestones Jumbo Comics Digest #27: Jughead’s New Year’s Bash
Dan Parent (Cover Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Cover Inks); Various (Colors/Art/Inks/Writing/Letters)
December 25, 2024
A thick volume of New Year’s shenanigans!
Betty and Veronica: Jumbo Comic Digest #330
Francis Bonnet (Cover Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art and Writing and Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors);
December 27, 2024
Betty and Veronica team up with some new friends for a skateathon event, but will Archie ruin everything when he joins in?
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #146
Francis Bonnet (Cover Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art, Writing, Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 18, 2024
The gang invade New York City for the Times Square ball drop, but disaster strikes when some element-controlling witches show up!
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #356
Jim Amash (Inks); Francis Bonnet (Cover Inks); Steven Butler (Art); Tom DeFalco (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 4, 2024
Wilbur Wilkens and Archie clash during a big Riverdale Holiday gift swap! Will they learn to get along?
