Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for 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 Pubwatch, Archie’s Free Comic Book Day title is announced, some new characters are introduced for Christmas, and Netflix’s version of The Archies releases a trailer. Also, there are plenty of new variant covers and much more!
Archie introduces Jangles, Sourplum, and Grumpus for December’s Archie Christmas Spectacular #1 And Hearts, Flowers, and Candies for February’s Archie’s Valentine’s Spectacular #1
The three elves — all chaos-bringers for the holiday season, the evil doubles of Jingles and Sugarplum, and the latter an in-universe version of Krampus who serves as Santa’s exact opposite — will appear for the first time in Archie Christmas Spectacular #1, which streets on December 6. Meanwhile, Veronica and Betty will confront the spirits of Valentines — Hearts, Flowers, and Candies — in Archie’s Valentine’s Day Spectacular #1 on February 7
Archie Comics Announces Archie Horror Presents: The Cursed Library: Prelude for Free Comic Book Day
Via their X, Formerly known as Twitter, Archie has announced that the Cursed Library storyline will continue for Free Comic Book Day. The Cursed Library: Prelude will feature Madam Satan and Jinx Holiday teaming up to take down the titular library for once and for all, but to do so they’re going to have to research the locale’s tumultuous history.
Featuring a cover by Robert Hack (pictured above), the title will drop at comic book stores on May 4, 2024.
The Archies Release Their Second Single Ahead of Netflix Film drop as well as a trailer
“Va Va Voom” was released on November 3.
As well as a fresh trailer:
The film hits Netflix India on December 7.
Another The Mighty Crusaders Hero Heads Back to Press with The Jaguar
Another Mighty Crusade is reborn as a heroine. She will follow Darkling back to press in February. Jaguar #1 will bring the titular heroine back in the form of Ivette Velez, who will use her superpowers to figure out who (or what) has been murdering Pampas Cats in Northern Peru.
The book’s team includes writing from Keryl Brown Ahmed, art from Tango, colors from Ellie Wright, and letters from Jack Morelli. Covers come from Maria Sanapo (above) with color work from Ellie Wright and Reiko Murakam. Jaguar #1 streets on February 21.
New Variant Covers from The One Stop Shop, Stadium Comics, VA Comic-Con, New York ComicCon, and Mellow Fellow Trading
It’s new variant cover time!
Stadium Comics is back with Pop Art and general cover exclusives. From the Pop Art collection, we have Cheryl Blossom as Poison Ivy — to match last month’s Harley Quinn variant — by Nuno Pereira, which covers Archie Christmas Spectacular #1. Only 250 copies exist of the variant, with 50 copies of the metal version extent. The metal version sold out as part of a two-issue pack at $59.99, but you can buy the regular variant for $14.99 here!
Stadium also has two more homage variants for Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special #1. This Nuno Pereira cover is a tribute to Witching Hour #28, is limited to 250 copies, costs $14.99, and is available here; a 25 copy virgin metal variant run has already sold out; they retailed for $59.99 in a two-cover pack.
Finally, there’s a Bruce Timm Vampirella homage, also by Nuno Pereira, which covers Darkling #1. It’s limited to 250 copies, and you can get it in standard format at $14.99 here. A 15 issue virgin metal cover run has already sold out.
Next are these sets of Josh Burns variants for Archie Christmas Spectacular #1 and Archie Halloween Spectacular #1. The first three Betty variants are limited to 250 copies apiece, with the final one being limited to 150 issues apiece and each cost $25. They went on sale November 18 here.
The Veronica variants are limited to 250 copies apiece, and cost $25. Each comes with a COD, and you can buy them here.
Burns also contributed these Josie McCoy variants for Josie and the Pussycats Anniversary Spectacular #1. Also limited to 250 copies apiece, you can pick them up here, or buy a bundle featuring both covers for $45.
The next two variants are by Jay Ferguson. They cover Madam Satan: Hell on Earth #1 and Darkling #1, respectively. The price points and limitation sets remain the same, and you can pick them up bundled together for $30 as well. pick your poison here.
Parent’s cover for Sabrina the Teenage Witch Annual Spectacular#1 has sold out over at The Comic Corner Store. It was limited to 200 issues at $19.99, with a 30-count metal variant and a 15-count rainbow holofoil variant here!
The next set of issues comes from Mellow Fellow Trading. The first cover is a Andrew Pepoy covers Archie Halloween Spectacular #1. It’s available for $12 here. Mellow Fellow is also set to offer a Pepoy cover for Josie and the Pussycats Anniversary Spectacular #1. The variant will be up for sale on November 23 here, and will also be a available on WhatNot. Mellow Fellow also has up a set of foil variant covers from Bill Galvan; several variants of his variant cover for Archie and Friends: Thrills and Chills #1. They also have his Halloween mask variant sets for Fear The Funhouse #1, and his Sleepaway Camp II variants for Archie Halloween Spectacular #1, all of which we have previously spotlighted. Most of the variants are going for $20, with some rarer issues going for $35 here.
Archie Comics Tweet of the Month
This is now a stan account for Reggie's pants. pic.twitter.com/DMWoPaYAnY
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) October 28, 2023
#NewRomantic Reggie, we need you now more than ever. #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/lKIFFuJHLZ
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) November 9, 2023
OK boomer pic.twitter.com/ucqU4WESkg
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) October 30, 2023
November means nothing but Reggie as far as the eye can see. Also: Boomer jokes!
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #345
Francis Bonnet (Cover); Lily Butler (Art); Ron Cacace (Writing), Ian Flynn (Writing); Pat Kennedy (Art); Rex Lindsey (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 8, 2023
Ron Cacace makes an excellent main Archie line debut with the lead story here. It’s a Jughead detective story, and Ethel’s along for the ride, and sight gags and injokes reign supreme. Looks like there’s gonna be no joy in Riverdale this Christmas — at least according to Ethel Muggs, who hears that Santa won’t be coming to town this season. Is it a lie? A hoax? A terrible truth?! She and Jughead investigate the matter to find out who’s originated the rumor, a case that proves to be far more twisty than either of them anticipated. This is such a funny, great story that’s good for people of all ages.
Elsewhere, Archie helps The Shield in finding a mysterious artifact that could save an important winter celebration.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
Josie and the Pussycats Anniversary Spectacular #1
Jim Amash (Inks); Holly G! (Writing, Pencils, Alternate Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 8, 2023
Fun, far-out, and a good use of all of the central Josie-verse characters – as well as the Archies, who play for time when technical difficulties interrupt the Pussycats’ concert. The main story is cute without being cutesy, and that makes it great. Josie and the Pussycats head into outer space to put on the wildest, furthest-reaching concert possible. Is the concept a stellar one, or is it too far out to be believed?
Picks From the Timecops
Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special #1
Laura Braga (Cover); Andy Fish (Art); Veronica Fish (Art and Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Veronica Johnson (Colors); Jack Morelli (Letters); Danielle Paige (Writing); Kelly Thompson (Writing)
December 13, 2023
It’s an all-Sabrina holiday special! In the first new story, Sabrina and her boarding school classmates survive the longest night of the year and work together to break an enchantment caused by an otherworldly, nearly-indestructible beast; in the second, we get a flashback to Aunt Hildie and Aunt Zelda as younger women!
Archie Christmas Spectacular #1
Jim Amash (Inks); Francis Bonnet (Cover); Lily Butler (Cover); Steven Butler (Cover); Tom DeFalco (Writing); Holly G! (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 6, 2023
Archie and the gang find themselves contending with Sourplum and Jangles, the evil counterparts of their kindly elf friends Jingles and Sugarplum.
Archie’s Pep Comics
Samm Schwartz (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Various (Writing/Art/Inks/Letters/Colors)
December 27, 2023
A TPG that covers one of Archie’s earliest comic endeavors – Pep Comics, which published Archie stories from the 1940s all the way into the 1980s! This softback collection combines the best of those years.
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #31
Francis Bonnet (Cover); Lily Butler (Inks); Steven Butler (Art); Ian Flynn (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Art, Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 6, 2023
Penny and Ginger enter the tunnel of love with Archie at Riverdale’s winter carnival. They both have visions about a future that includes him, which may or may not be influenced by the ride’s mysterious operator.
Elsewhere, Betty and Veronica help the new Jaguar do some Christmas shopping – only to run into the originator of the Jaguar moniker, Ralph Hardy!
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #320
Craig Boldman (Writing); Francis Bonnet (Cover); Pat Kennedy (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Art, and Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
December 20, 2023
Moose and Midge head out for a date, but the snow interferes with their plans in a major way! Elsewhere, Veronica’s attempt at keeping her New Year’s Resolution puts her afoul of Young Doctor Masters.
Leftover Fries
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #346
