Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for the month of November! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In November’s Archie Comics Pubwatch, Archie has a new social media manager, there are some new characters and one-shot issues on the horizon, some fresh cover exclusives, and much more!
Chris Cummins Joins Archie Comics as New Social Media Manager
Per an announcement on the official Archie Comics website, Philadelphia native Cummins is already busy brightening up Archie’s social handles. His resume includes stints at Topless Robot, Philadelphia Weekly, USA Today and Den of Geek.
Archie Comics to Introduce Two (More) New Characters
Just when you thought the comics company’s wave of new characters was at an end, they’ve announced two new additions to the ever-expanding Archie Comics cast.
First up will be Prasad Arora, a Bollywood teen idol who will make his first appearance in The Archies in India in January 2023, which will be released ahead of the Nextflix India movie The Archies. Prasad is handsome, confident, and, well, swoon-worthy. He soon finds himself tangled up in a matchmaking plot involving Betty and Veronica. You can learn a bit more about him in this School Library Journal article.
In February of the same year, fans will meet Cassie Cloud. She’s tall, beautiful, and popular with the guys – but actually has a thing for short nerds and loves D&D. She will pop up for the first time in Archie Valentine Spectacular #1, and you can read more about her in this Popverse story.
Archie’s editor-in-chief Mike Pellerito says about Cassie and her proclivity for the short and nerdy, “I’m always looking for trends we can incorporate in the comics; Jamie, who is both a great editor and writer, had the concept for Cassie, and we paired it with the ‘short kings’ trend. So, we get to introduce a great new character and bring back Raj, Dilton, and everyone’s favorite, Randolph.”
Archie Meets Mad Max in Archie vs the World
In case you’ve been missing your monthly dose of despair what with Afterlife with Archie still hovering in limbo, Archie Comics is set to take its readers (and its characters) into the apocalypse in 2023.
In Archie vs the World, everyone’s favorite teen is now a loner struggling like everyone else to find water and food to live off of. He’s on a collision course with his “evil mirror image” Reggie. Fortunately, he’s mastered a deadly form of the martial arts. The blurb describes this one as “equal parts Mad Max: Fury Road and The Fist of the North Star.” It was written by Aubrey Sitterson and drawn by Jed Dougherty, who contributed “Jughead the Burgarian” to this year’s The Best Archie Comic Ever. Colors and letters will be provided by the always-reliable Matt Herms and Jack Morelli, respectively. Covers were drawn by Aaron Lopresti (above) and Jed Dougherty, respectively. The issue streets on January 18, 2023.
Archie Brings Back Jinx Holliday For Free Comic Book Day with The Cursed Library
If you enjoyed this year’s Jinx’s Grimm Fairytales, then Archie has a big treat for you; they’re going to be releasing another Jinx Holliday-centered one-shot for Free Comic Book day in 2023! No word as to who will contribute, but they have shared this Robert Hack-drawn main cover. We’ll deliver more details ahead of its May release as they arrive.
Betty Cooper Prepares to Face Down a Killer in Betty: The Final Girl
Inspired by the horror trope of ‘the final girl,’ this Archie Horror one-shot will follow Betty Cooper to an isolated mountaintop chalet. Though she and Veronica are supposed to be getting in a weekend of skiing, instead Betty’s mind begins to run away with her and she begins to wonder if she’s being spied upon. The anthology series will also feature stories about Melody Valentine and Brigitte Reilly.
The three stories will be written by Micol Ostow (“Rosemary’s Babysitter,” Betty’s story), Casey Gilly (“Be Mine or Die,” Brigitte’s story) and Sam Maggs (“Melody’s Next”). The stories will respectively be illustrated by Laura Braga, Natalie Nardozza and Carola Borelli. As always, Jack Morelli will handle the lettering, with Matt Herms handling the colors. Covers will be provided by Braga (see above) and Megan Hutchison. The issue will street on February 15, 2023.
New Variant Covers from Great Wall of Comics and Stadium Comics
It’s new variant cover time! Our first two issues are Dan Parent exclusives for Great Wall of Comics. The first features Betty, Veronica, Archie and Jughead prepping for the holidays. The second is a tribute to the poster for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Both cover Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. The Archie/Betty/Jughead/Veronica one is limited to 200; the Archie solo cover to 150. Each comes with a COA and cost $24.99 individually here and here.
The rest of our variants come from Stadium comics. First is this rather gruesome Elf tribute mashed into a zombie situation, which fittingly covers Happy Horrordays #1. It’s by Nuno Pereira, limited to 250 copies and there were 25 metal cover variants that sold out as part of a two-cover bundle. The standard variant costs $14.99 each and is available here.
Next there’s peppermint pink Betty Cooper cover for Betty and Veronica Christmas Party #1. It was drawn by FLOPS, and is also limited to 250 copies with 25 metal cover variants that, too, are long-gone. The standard variant is $14.99 and you can grab it here.
Then there’s Nuno Pereira’s visual tribute to Spawn, which covers Return of the Chilling Adventures in Sorcery #1. It is also limited to 250 copies with 25 metal cover variants that are long-gone. The standard variant is $19.99 and you can grab it here.
Finally, Nuno Pereira pays homage to the cover of Detective Comics #25 for Bob Phantom #1. It is also limited to 250 copies with 25 metal cover variants that are also long gone. The standard variant is $14.99 and you can grab it here.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
It's Throwback Thursday! Remember that time when the gang- oh, fine… Here's KJ Apa shirtless. Happy now? pic.twitter.com/ehkRkELR8l
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) November 3, 2022
Not shown: Riverdale overrun by #trashpandas the next day. #Thanksgiving #LittleArchie #DexterTaylor #justiceforspotty pic.twitter.com/NL8S6ycu0x
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) November 15, 2022
Chris Cummins, knocking it out of the park already and giving the people what they want.
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Archie Milestones #17: Best of the 1980s
Dan DeCarlo (Cover); Tania del Rio (Writing); Rex Lindsey (Art and Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 2, 2022
This one’s, like, totally rad. If you grew up in the 1980s then your memories of Archie probably include at least one of the syndicated cartoons, and a good deal of the comics which are reprinted in this handsome Milestones edition. In the collection’s new story, Betty and Veronica attempt to escape the texting-happy ’20s’ with an 80’s throwback weekend which will make anyone under 35 feel very, very old but also amuses due to the way it reveals how cellphone-dependent we’ve become as a populace. But that doesn’t stop the volume itself from being a fun and easy to enjoy throwback issue for anyone who remembers what Reganomics were.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #335
Francis Bonnet (Writing and pencils); Bill Golliher (Writing, Cover and Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors);
November 16, 2022
I love ensemble stories, and the new lead here is an ensemble story to the max, so I’m giving it a secondary slot on the list. Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and Archie find themselves in hot water as they try to wrangle their siblings and cousins during a wild day at the mall.
Picks From the Timecops
Happy Horror Days #1
Joe Corallo (Writing); Joe Eisma (Art); Adam Gorham (Cover); Robert Hack (Alt Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Butch Mapa (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Patrick Piazzalunga (Art); Joanne Starer (Writing); Frank Tieri (Writing);
December 14, 2022
Are you ready for some spooky shenanigans to go with your eggnog? Archie Horror gets in on the festivities this year with chills and thrills galore. We even get a Jughead: The Hunger story!
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #21
Francis Bonnet (Cover); Steven Butler (Art); Ian Flynn (Writing); Rex Lindsey (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing and Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 14, 2022
In this month’s batch of Veronica and Betty stories, Veronica goes viral after designing a snowperson that grabs attention for its high-fashion ways and Betty finds herself taking care of a superpowered Eagle!
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #336
Bill Golliher (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art and Cover Writing); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors);
December 21, 2022
The whole gang makes a series of New Years Resolution. In a week, if they manage to stop themselves from breaking their vows, one of them will win a great prize. Veronica’s cousin Marcy trying to keep them from ruining their promises – so who will win in the end?
Archie Presents: Laugh Comics (TR)
Dan DeCarlo (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Various (Art/Writing/Letters/Colors)
December 28, 2022
Journey back in time and feast your eyes on some of Archie’s earliest endeavors. A lot of Archie’s first adventures were published in Laugh magazine, a tradition that started in the ’40’s and ended in the ’90s. This TR assembles a variety of stories from the comic’s entire run.
The Archie Library #11: Archie’s Christmas Stocking
Rich Koslowski (Cover), Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Various (Art/Writing/Letters/Colors)
December 7, 2022
Looking for a one-stop shop for your Archie-based holiday needs? Have this nice, thick collection from the Archie vaults!
