Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of September! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In this month’s Archie Comics Pubwatch, a new title is announced for December, two titles sell out at a publishing level, new exclusive covers, and much more!
Two Upcoming Issues sell out at the publishing level.
Archie Comics reports that both Jinx’s Grim Fairy Tales #1 and Sabrina Anniversary Spectacular have sold out on their end and are, as of press time, unavailable direct from them. You can still check with your local comic store to find stray first printings of issues, check retailers for exclusive variants, or you can wait for their second printings, which Archie reports will be on sale October 5.
Sabrina’s Anniversary Spectacular, of course, features the debut of Amber Nightstone, a new antagonist for everyone’s favorite teenage witch, with the Jinx issue offering an anthology of horror and an adult version of the character.
Bite-Sized Archie To Receive Second Print Collection
Per writer Ron Cacace’s Twitter, the softcover volume, Bite-Sized Archie: Going Viral will arrive in stores in May of 2023. If you want to keep abreast of the series of Internet-based short-form comic strips, you can catch them on the official Archie Twitter or via this tag on their news blog.
Archie to offer a Horror One-Shot for the Holiday Season
Ready to make your holidays a little more chilly? Archie will release Happy Horror Days #1 in December. The issue, which will sport a new story from the Jughead: the Hunger universe in which the good-hearted werewolf takes on Krampus, is another trilogy of tales similar to the Halloween and Christmas-centric issues Archie has released over the past couple of months. Two other stories will feature Sheila Wu and Reggie Mantle. The issue will sport art from Joe Eisma, Butch Mapa and Patrick Piazzalunga, with writing from Frank Tieri, Joanne Starer and Joe Corallo. Matt Herms and Jack Morelli, as always, will be on color and letter duty. The issue’s main cover (on the right) was illustrated by Robert Hack, with a main variant by Adam Gorham. Happy Horror Days #1 will street on December 14.
New Variant Covers from Great Wall of Comics
It’s new variant cover time! Sadly, at the moment these two Betty and Veronica bikini covers — which decorate Archie Halloween Spectacular #1 — have sold out.
But Great Wall of Comics is offering another set of variants for Archie Halloween Spectacular #1 which both features the debut of new characters Trick and Treat and pays tribute to the Karate Kid. As of press time the presale for the former took place on September 17, but there are still copies available. You can buy either virgin variant for $24.99 each or as a connecting cover set for $39.99 here.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
Inspiration for Betty Cooper was Betty Tokar Jankovich who was dating Archie Comics illustrator Bob Montana when she was 18 🥹 #Riverdale pic.twitter.com/WOcZzToSI9
— Barchie Updates (@BarchieUpdates) September 12, 2022
Some truly awesome Betty character backstory!
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Sabrina The Teenage Witch Anniversary Spectacular #1
Dan Parent (Art, Writing and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
September 7, 2022
I’m never anything but honest when I write my pubwatches — I love Sabrina Spellman, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. This is an essential piece of Sabrina-ania, celebrating the best of her stories while introducing a brand-new story and a brand-new character. Sabrina the Teenage Witch Anniversary Spectacular #1 introduces a new rival for everyone’s favorite magic-loving teen, Amber Nightstone, who seeks to swipe Sabrina’s place in the mortal world, as they were both born on the same day and only one witch born on that date may walk the mortal realm. The end result is magical chaos that has a special cheerful zing to it.
Chilling Adventures Presents: Weirder Mysteries#1
Juan Bobillo (Writing); Adam Gorham (Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Ryan Jampole (Writing); Aaron Lea (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Ron Robbins (Writing); Federico Sabbattini (Art); Joanne Starer (Writing); Frank Tieri (Writing)
September 21, 2022
This has Betty Cooper kicking alien behind, folks; no better reason to pick it up, and it’s absolutely why this issue is sharing the Sugar Sugar slot this month. Also features Ethel Muggs getting caught up in a time-travel escapade with Bingo Wilkins and Alexandra Cabot becoming a victim of her own hubris. Creepy without being too gory, and perfectly suitable for teens who love a little bit of spooky sci-fi violence, this is a fun one.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Archie Showcase Digest #10 Presents: Sabrina: 60 Years of Magic
Dan DeCarlo (Cover); Various (Writing/Art/Inks/Colors/Letters)
September 28, 2022
Lots more Sabrina, at a price that’s easy on the eyes.
The Archie Encylopedia
Ian Flynn (Writing), Caty Koehl (Writing), Jamie L. Rotante (Writing); Gillian Swearingen (Writing); Dan Parent (Cover); Various (Art)
September 28, 2022
Reference! This volume takes a deep dive into the Archie universe and its many, many characters! It’s a necessary buy for anyone who’s deeply into Archie and Archie-based lore.
Picks From The Timecops
Chilling Adventures of Salem #1
Cullen Bunn (Writing); Francesco Francavilla (Cover Variant); Matt Herms (Colors and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Schoening (Art and Cover)
October 12, 2022
All Salem, all the time. Sabrina’s kitty familiar strikes out on his own on a quest to protect strays in this spin off of the CAOS universe.
Fear the Funhouse #1
Diana Camero (Art); Lisette Carrera (Art); Ryan Caskey (Art); Matt Herms (Colors); Jack Morelli (Letters); Micol Ostow (Writing); Michael Northrop (Writing); Magdalene Visaggio (Writing)
October 19, 2022
A much more lighthearted take on the horror genre, this kiddie horror book meant for tweens features younger versions of Archie and co telling creepy fireside stories. Are they too scary to be believed?
The Return of Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #1
Vincenzo Federici (Art); Francesco Francavilla (Cover Variant); Casey Gilly (Writing); Sina Grace (Writing); Matt Herms (Colors); Corin Howell (Art); Liana Kangas (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Julius Ohta (Cover); Elliot Rahal (Writing)
October 26, 2022
Madame Satan is back at it, and this time she’s acting as a principal at Baxter High School while trying to dodge Satan’s minions after escaping from hell. A trilogy of creepy tales unfolds, leading the students into a one-on-one battle with Madame Satan herself.
Archie Halloween Spectacular #1
Dan DeCarlo (Cover); Ian Flynn (Writing); Ryan Jampole (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors);
October 5, 2022
Brand-new characters Trick and Treat light up this one, which features a whole bunch of Halloween stories to feast your eyes on.
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #308
Francis Bonnet (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing and Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Jeff Shultz (Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
October 19, 2022
Veronica invites her friends over for a sleepover, and she plans to binge-watch horror movies. Will everyone be enchanted, or will it cause one horrifying argument?
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #124
Jim Amash (Inks); Tom DeFalco (Writing); Ben Galvan (Cover); Bill Galvan (Art and Cover); Bill Golliher (Writing and Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors);
October 26, 2022
In one truly wild-sounding new story, Archie comes to realize that he was one of two children who helped foil the dastardly Mad Doctor Doom in his quest for world domination, and must once more rise to the occasion! There’s also a Superteens-centric tale centered around Reggie (Evilheart).
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #19
Jim Amash (Inks); Tania del Rio (Writing); Ben Galvan (Cover); Bill Galvan (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
October 5, 2022
A brand-new Sabrina-centric tale brings us the second Amber Nightstone story. Sabrina’s pretty sure she vanquished her new foe last month — so why does she have a sneaking suspicion that Amber’s out to get her this Halloween?
