Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for December! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe with this month’s news. In December’s Pubwatch, Archie announces a facsimilie issue Kickstarter! Plus, plenty of new variant covers, and much more!
Archie announces partnership with Macroverse; Will produce and release several facsimile volumes of key issues
Archie Comics has teamed up with Macroverse in a venture to bring even more facsimile issues into being. The initial goal was facsimiles of “Archie Comics Tip-Top 10″ — Pep Comics #22, #26 and #36, Archie Comics #1, #2, #7, and #13; Betty and Veronica #1 and #3; and Archie’s Madhouse #22. These issues include the first appearances of Archie Andrews himself, Jughead Jones, Betty Cooper, Sabrina Spellman and Veronica Lodge. The others sport iconic covers or iconic stories.
The stretch goal is the Archie’s Girls Key Runs collection, combining Betty and Veronica #1 – #10 and Archie’s Madhouse #21-30. The issues will be available in handsome Betty or Veronica-centered packaging slipcovers, depending on the pledger’s preference, at the $600 pledge level. When the GoFundMe reaches $25k, the collector’s cards level is unlocked. Stretch goals include reprints of Archie Annual #1 and Betty and Veronica Annual #1.
“Our commitment to detail with Authentic Editions borders on obsession,” said Macroverse Head of Publishing Adam Fortier to Comics Beat, who announced the Kickstarter exclusively. “From faithfully preserving the original cover prices and vintage ads to meticulously maintaining the Golden Age coloring, paper stock, and printing techniques, we leave no stone unturned. Every element is crafted to deliver the most authentic experience possible, allowing collectors and fans to hold a piece of history in their hands exactly as it was originally meant to be seen and experienced. It’s a labor of love and respect for the artistry and craftsmanship of these timeless comics.”
The Kickstarter launched on December 17. The stated goal is $10,000 and as of press time, it has landed $56,601, meaning that all the announced rewards have been unlocked. It will be open until January 14.
CBR declares Archie Comics the best comic publisher of the 2010s
Click through to read it!
Archie and Me Podcast announces Archie Comics: Backstage podcast; first is on Archie Is: Mr. Justice
Listen here!
New Variant Covers from Great Wall of Comics, Comic Book Exclusives/Mellow Fellow Trading, Dan Parent, and Source Comics and Games
It’s variant cover time!
Great Wall of Comics has yet another connecting cover set, and this one is a set of virgin Fernando Ruiz variants for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. The three covers show a variety of female Archie Comics characters in Christmas gear. Each cover is limited to 250 copies with a COA; you can buy a cover apiece for $24.99 here.
Comic Book Exclusives has another bundle of exclusives. First of all, there’s a virgin version of Dan Parent’s cover for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. There’s a confetti foil variant limited to 5 issues at $44.94. There’s also 20 foil variants for $24.94.
Next is Dan Parent’s Sabrina Christmas variant for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. 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, 20 foil variants for $37.94, and one of ten color shift metal variants at $49.94.
Parent also has these connecting covers featuring Betty and Veronica as Anna and Elsa from Frozen for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. The regular variant goes for $23.94 per set, and is limited to 250. A confetti foil variant is limited to five at $49.94 in separate Elsa and Anna variants. A set of regular variants combined with one of 20 regular foil variants goes for $37.94 each and are segregated to Elsa and Anna versions.
Then there’s this Scott and Ken Veronica-centered Terrifier 3 tribute cover for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. It’s limited to 250 regular issues at $11.94 each, combined with 20 foil variants at $38.94 per set and 5 confetti foil variants at $39.94 each.
Scott and Ken also have a Sabrina-centric cover for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1, this one based on the movie poster for The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s limited to 250 regular issues at $11.94 each, combined with 20 foil variants at $38.94 per set. One of 25 color shift metal variants goes for $44.94.
Dan DeCarlo’s cover for the facsimile reprint of Betty #8 gets some sparkle in these re-releases. You can snag one of 12 confetti foil covers for $34.94, or as one of 12 crystal foil variants for $29.94.
Dan Parent, meanwhile, has Betty under the sea as a mermaid for Betty #8. The basic virgin variant is limited to 250 copies and goes for $11.94. You can snag one of 12 crystal foil variants for $29.94, or one of 25 foil variants in a package for $29.94.
Another Parent cover for Betty #8 sees her as Marilyn Monroe. The basic virgin variant is limited to 250 copies and goes for $11.94. You can snag one of 12 crystal foil variants for $29.94.
Dan Parent also has two Betty and Veronica covers that have them as Wonder Woman and Power Girl for The Cursed Library: Unbound. The virgin variants are both limited to 250 each for the standard; both Betty and Veronica go for $11.49 each. The Betty variant with 25 virgin foil variants comes in a set with a regular variant for $39.49 with Veronica carrying the same limits. The crystal foil variant is limited to 12 covers and is available for $29.94 each, and 5 Confetti foil versions at $49.95.
Dan Parent has added a bunch of old stack of previous variant covers to his official store, including this Peanuts/Archie mashup.
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 is 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, Brent Schoonover has released this exclusive cover for Archie Is: Mr. Justice #2 to Source Comics and Games. Please call them for cost of item.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
This month: Mr. Justice #1 Easter Eggs, Archie Comics Wrapped, and Drone jokes.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
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
This has been a fun series that’s percolated along well and comes to a meaty, solid, gory conclusion here. The horror/comedy works here, and my love of Dani and Jinx, continues to drive my enjoyment of this one. It’s well worth catching up on!
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?
Hotdogs and Hotshots
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?! This impossible plotline is a ton of fun to read about.
Picks From the Timecops
Archie is: Mr. Justice #2
Amanda Diebert (Writing); Jamal Igle (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Brent Schoonover (Art); Matt Talbot (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
January 15, 2025
Diebert and Schoonover take over for this issue, which follows Veronica Lodge and the possible formation of her own superheroine identity.
Archie Showcase Digest Presents #22: Archie’s Valentine’s Spectacular
Dan Parent (Cover Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (cover colors); Bob Smith (Cover Inks); Various (Art/Inks/Colors/Writing)
January 29, 2025
A big bouquet of Archie’s most love-laden adventures!
Betty and Veronica: Jumbo Comic Digest #331
Bill Golliher (Cover Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art/Writing/Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
January 15, 2025
Dilton finds himself in a world of trouble when bad guy Murder Hornet steals his super pollinator. Fly Girl and SuperTeen to the rescue!
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #147
Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Cover Inks)
January 22, 2025
The new story for this one wasn’t listed, but the charming cover suggests love is in the air!
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #357
Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art/Writing/Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
January 8, 2025
An indoor flower show draws Murder Hornet. Can Pureheart the Powerful save the day?
