Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for May! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news! In May’s Pubwatch, Archie picks between Betty and Veronica (Again), The Cursed Library gets a multi-part event, some more retro characters resurface, and some previews are afoot! Also, there are plenty of new variant covers and much more!
Archie delves even deeper into The Cursed Library with the four-part The Cursed Library: Alpha!
Spinning off from multiple issues, the most recent of which is the Free Comic Book Day one-shot The Cursed Library: Prelude, Jinx Holiday and Madam Satan are going to get their own miniseries at the end of the summer.
The Cursed Library: Alpha is set to become Archie’s second miniseries, composed of four issues running from August to November. Building off the events of Prelude, it will see Danni Malloy descend to hell to save Jinx’s soul after Jinx trapped Madam Satan at the foot of Madam Satan: Hell on Earth.
“The CURSED LIBRARY event that Mags and I have been asked to helm is unlike any other moment in Archie Comics history. It’s both a throughline and nexus point that weaves together everything in the Archie Horror universe that’s happened so far. Its goal is to provide shape to the world that has been created. THE CURSED LIBRARY is essentially saying: ‘All of this matters. There is a fabric,'” said series co-writer Eliot Rahal in a statement released by Archie Comics ahead of the book’s release. “I think what I love and am most proud of is that this connectivity is secondary to the story. THE CURSED LIBRARY can stand alone because, at its heart, this is the culmination of two stories: Madam Satan’s and Jinx’s. These two characters have had painful journeys of self-discovery and are finally meeting their climax –– but it’s all wrapped up in the Apocalypse. It’s both the end and a new beginning. And by the time we’ve closed the chapter on the Cursed Library, the Archie Horror line will be diving into a very new and exciting future.”
“This is an ambitious project led by two of the best writers we’ve had the pleasure of working with on our horror titles, and, honestly, two of the best writers in comics, period. I have the ultimate trust in them to craft a story that is layered, poignant, and still metal AF. This feels like the culmination of almost everything I’ve personally worked on as an editor, and I’m thrilled that I get to watch Eliot and Mags create a world (or rather, convergence of worlds) that I’m, frankly, in awe of. This is not just a love letter to our fans, but to the art of storytelling as a whole, complemented by the stunning artwork of Craig Cermak,” Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante said in the same statement.
As for Cermak, he said, “It’s been exciting to go on this journey with Jinx and see it develop into something much grander,” Cermak said. “Building on top of all the various horror tales featuring so many great Archie characters is providing such a gratifying opportunity as an artist, with so much great material from which to pull.”
The miniseries features writing from Rahal and Magdalene Visaggio, art from Cermak, and color work by Matt Herms, with letters by Jack Morelli. Cermak provides a cover, as do Robert Hack, Soo Lee, and Reiko Murakami.
Archie Horror Presents: The Cursed Library: Alpha #1 streets on August 21.
Another Top-Notch Comics Character is revived in Kardak The Mystic #1
After decades on the shelf, Archie’s dusting off a very old friend for August.
Kardak the Mystic hasn’t been seen for decades, but now he’ll be the subject of a fresh one-shot. Set to explore John Cardy’s quest for redemption — which leads him to places he never did expect – leading to chaos. Real name John Cardy, Kardak was created in 1939.
“Kardak the Mystic is one Editorial was especially excited about, as we all have a deep love of magicians and were even more intrigued by the prospect of having a horror/sci-fi take on Kardak, where the magic can be a lot more ominous than your typical carnival fare,” said Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante in an official statement posted on the Archie Comics website.
“Getting to revisit the character of Kardak, whom I had the opportunity to touch on in a short for JINX’S GRIM FAIRY TALES, has been an absolute thrill!” said issue writer Joe Corallo in the same statement. “Combining classic elements from his Golden Age TOP-NOTCH appearances with a fresh, updated look and perspective on these characters will excite both longtime and new Archie fans alike!”
“Kardak the Mystic was there at the dawn of the Golden Age of comics, predating even Archie and the Riverdale crew. It’s an honor to be able to bring the character back into the spotlight, and to redefine the character for a modern audience. Readers can expect a lot of spooky atmospheres, dark choices, and creepy monsters. Everyone should follow their dreams, but this issue warns us to be careful, because some of them can lead into nightmares!” said illustrator Butch Mapa.
Aside from Mapa’s art and Corallo’s writing, the issue sports colors by Ellie Wright and letters by Jack Morelli. Mapa handles a cover (above), as does Skylar Patridge.
Kardak The Mystic #1 Streets on August 14.
Archie finally picks between Betty and Veronica (Again) in the Tom-King penned Archie: The Decision
Remember when Archie picked between Betty and Veronica and experienced two different futures? Or the time he experienced what choosing between them one winter night would be like? Archie’s making another choice between Betty and Veronica this summer – and he’s got a famous face from the comics to help him do it.
Tom King is set to write Archie: The Decision in August. It will see everyone’s favorite typical teenager pick between Bets and Veronica, and cover the reactions of their friends.
“As a massive Archie fan, this is just a pure joy project for me. I wanted to do something zany and cool and screwball and hysterical and gorgeous and harebrained and maybe a little tiny itty-bitty bit profound as a tribute to my Golden and Silver Age Archie heroes — people like Dan DeCarlo, Harry Lucey, Bob Bolling, Bob Montana, and Samm Schwartz. And who better to do that with than the modern Archie maestro, Dan Parent, who inherited and brilliantly carried on the legacy of those giants. [The Decision] is an epic, riotous story featuring scores of Archie characters where Dan and I wrestle with the greatest dilemma in the near 85-year history of comics: Betty or Veronica!? I’m not sure we can solve it, but, like all of Riverdale, we’re going to have a ton of fun trying,” King said in a statement to Polygon, which got the exclusive scoop on the comic’s release. Alongside King, the story will feature art from Dan Parent. Covers will be provided by Parent and Stephen Byrne (above).
Fans will figure out if Betty or Veronica would ever like to date a guy like him (or perhaps a ninja?) when streets on August 28.
Archie Comics Announces New Facsimile Line
No, your eyes are not deceiving you; that is a facsimile edition of the “beat them off” comic book cover that went viral a few years ago. Archie Comics have announced that they’re planning on re-issuing select past issues, starting with Betty and Me #16 and its iconic…um, for a few reasons…cover!
“We use the word ‘iconic’ a lot at Archie and it’s with good reason,” said Archie Comics CEO & Publisher Jon Goldwater in the statement linked to the official website above. “We’re in our ninth decade of publishing the adventures of Archie and the gang, and that has naturally given us the runway to make a big impact. There have been so many touchstones through the years, whether it’s the debut of major new characters like Josie and the Pussycats and Sabrina, or the smaller things fans have come to cherish, the quick gags and sweet scenes that over time have built such strong character personalities and a lasting legacy. The Facsimile Editions are a way for us to celebrate some of these iconic moments with our most dedicated readers in comics that instantly recall the past, while introducing new readers to what makes Archie special, as well.”
This first issue will come out on August 7.
The Archies score at the E4M Awards
The movie scored three wins, for Best Actress Debut twice over and Best Male Actor debut. Congratulations to everyone!
Archie’s House of Horror is back to cover Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1
Click here to read Jamie L. Rotante’s article.
Megan Hutchinson Talks with the Cryptid Creator Corner about Archie: Judgement Day
Click here to listen!
New Variant Covers from Stadium Comics, Great Wall of Comics, Comic Book Exclusives/Mellow Fellow Trading, Dan Parent, Happy Comics Company and Heroes Comic Shop.
It’s new variant cover time!
Stadium Comics is back with a host of variant exclusives. First, if you missed out on those Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1 and Archie and Friends: Blockbuster Movies #1 variants we talked about last time, they are back in stock with new editions. Both are limited to 75 reprint copies; the latter had a 15 copy foil variant, which sold out. You can buy your copies here and here.
Stadium has a secondary cover for Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1. This one’s a Frankenstein tribute to Archie #125, drawn by Fernando Ruiz. Limited to 50 copies for the first edition, it’s going for $19.99 here. There was an already sold-out metal cover variant limited to 15 copies which also sold out at $69.99.
These variants for Archie and Friends: Blockbuster Movies #1 show off the brand-new character Poolnoodle. It was drawn by Steven Butler. Limited to 50 copies in this first edition, you can snag it for $19.99 here. The blue variant is limited to 15 copies in a metal version and is only available in a two-cover pack at $69.99; you can also get it at the above link.
Then there’s this cover for The Wicked Trinity #1. A tribute to the cover for Uncanny X-Men #171, it was drawn by Nuno Pereira. Limited to 50 copies, It’s available for $19.99 here. The metal variant was limited to 15 copies and was only available in a two-cover pack at $69.99. It can be viewed above.
Finally, Vaulties everywhere will recognize this homage to Fallout. It’s a variant for Betty and Veronica: Summer Spectacular #1. It was also drawn by Pereira and is limited to 50 copies, the first edition sold out at $19.99 here. Interestingly enough, the 20 copy large metal variant, only available in a two-cover pack at $69.99, is still available at the above link.
Great Wall of Comics has this Sarah Scribbles variant for The Wicked Trinity #1. It’s limited to 200 copies with a COA and is going for $19.99 here.
Did you like those Dan Parent tryptic virgin variants for Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Fairytales #1 we showed you in March? Well, Great Wall of Comics has an art print of the image for sale. It’s got Veronica, Sabrina, and Betty all dolled up as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and Alice in Wonderland, respectively. Limited to 100 copies, it comes with a COA and is available here for $19.99.
Comic Kingdom Creative has this passel of covers; the first is for Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1 and features Josie McCoy. It’s limited to 300 copies. Then there’s the Kunkka cover for Sabrina Holiday Spectacular #1, featuring the titular witch herself, also limited to 300 copies. These Dawn McTeigue covers for Archie Halloween Spectacular #1 find Betty as Lydia and Veronica as Beetlejuice — and also as two gals from Monster High, each limited to 250 apiece. The Shikarii covers for Chilling Adventures in Sorcery#1 are limited to 400 standard variants and 100 “risque” variants at $14.68. Then there’s this John Gallagher ‘battle damaged’ variant for Mighty Crusaders: The Shield, limited to 120 copies and going for $4.40. Finally, there’s this Peach Momoko variant for Archie Halloween Spectacular #1, which runs $19.08 for the trade-dressed version and $33.03 for the virgin variant. Unless it’s listed, all covers are limited to 300 copies and available in a virgin non-graded version for $26, signed by the artist for $46, or graded at a 9.8 for $95, all CAD.
Comic Book Exclusives has a whole bunch of Bill Galvan covers for Archie: Weirder Science #1. You can currently purchase one of 150 regular variants at $39.99, 30 foil variants at $39.99, and one of 12 metal variants at $59.99, all of which come with a COA.
Next up is this Scott & Ken cover for Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Fairytales #1. A plain signed variant with a COA is worth $19.99 and is limited to 250 copies; unsigned, it’s worth $11.99. There are also 25 foil variants available for $39.99.
Next is this Sajad Shah Sabrina Spellman cover for Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1. There are 250 copies available at $12.99; a foil variant is limited to 50 for $39.99.
Some particularly gory Bill Galvan covers Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1. It’s limited to 250 copies at $12.99 and $39.99 for one of 25 foil variants.
Lastly, Dan Parent pays tribute to Albedo with this cover for Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1. Limited to 250 copies, it goes for $14.99. You can pick up one of 20 foil variants for $39.99, or a copy signed by Parent for $19.99. Parent’s variant for Archie and Friends: Blockbuster Movies #1 — featuring the gang as characters from The Wizard of Oz — will be released in June on WhatNot.
This version of Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Fairytales #1 hails from Heroes Comic Shop in Elmira Heights. Created by Chris Bell, it’s limited to 200 and only available in-store.
Elias Chatzoudis has this cover for Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Fairytales #1 available at Sapphire Skull Comics. It’s limited to 200 virgin covers and costs $20 here!
Dan Parent is selling this Kevin-centric homage to Barbie and I’m Just a Ken, which covers Archie and Friends: Blockbuster Movies #1. It costs $25 and will cost an extra $25 for a remarque sketch from Parent. Contact him on his X (formerly Twitter) account to scope a copy; the front and back covers, in turn, are visible above.
Lastly, Happy Comics is offering this two-part Betty and Veronica Swiftie cover for Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Fairytales #1. Created by Dan Parent, it’s limited to a set of 250 and goes for $40 here.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
Nothing bad happens next . . . pic.twitter.com/HkUg4kAwl6
— Jesse Post (@Jesse_Post) May 23, 2024
Betty and Veronica won the #MetGala, obvs. pic.twitter.com/ebeaIk2lU9
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 7, 2024
You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me. pic.twitter.com/TqU6YwARa7
— Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 2, 2024
Nothing bad EVER happens to the Mr. Lodge, Met Gala fashion, and MEMES!
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Archie Comics: Judgment Day #1
Francesco Francavilla (Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Megan Hutchison (Art and Cover); Jae Lee (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Aubrey Sitterson (Writing)
May 22, 2024
Watching the Archie world tackle psychological horror has been a fascinating process – mostly because this version of psychological drama is heavily steeped in blood. Judgment Day #1 is an issue-long denouement, an exploration of decay. An experiment has gone wrong, and everyone who isn’t dead is a demonic hybrid. Only Jughead and Archie appear to still be normal – well, Archie WAS normal, until Madam Satan got involved. She’s building Archie back up into something new, someone new -by splitting him in half. What, and how, and who? Archie’s coping with demonic entities in the middle of an apocalypse – or is he?
Everything is beautifully handled by Sitterson and Hutchinson, who combine their forces to make you gape, watch, and wonder. One of the best things to come out of Archie Horror in centuries, this is a good’n.
Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Fairy Tales #1
Goldie Chan (Writing); Ben Galvan (Art and Cover); Bill Galvan (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Glenn Whitmore (Color)
May 1, 2024
Loaded from top to bottom with duck puns, Goldie Chan’s cheery, chipper cheep of a new story spotlights how cool it is to be different, using Cassie Cloud, Rand0lph on a flying dragon, and a carpentering Archie and Betty to get the point across. Kids of all ages should read this one and smile.
Hotdogs and Hotshots
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #140
Bill Golliher (Cover Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Art; Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
May 22, 2024
Sometimes, an Archie story just speaks to me. In this case, it’s asking – are you ready to rumble? Featuring Moose, Archie, and Jughead making a three-man tag team for a professional wrestling battle royal, the men bump up against some seriously tough customers – who happen to be some adults they know pretty well. Who’ll get the duke, and who will go over the top rope?
Picks From the Timecops
Archie Comics: Judgment Day #2
Francesco Francavilla (Cover); Matt Herms (Colors and Cover colors); Megan Hutchison (Art and Cover); InHyuk Lee (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Aubrey Sitterson (Writing)
June 19, 2024
Archie’s dark night of the soul continues. Does he have friends out there? Can he find them? And even worse question – does he want to?
The Wicked Trinity #1
Soo Lee (Cover); Sam Maggs (Writing); Lisa Sterle (Art and Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Ellie Wright (Color)
June 19, 2024
Sabrina’s three least-favorite pains in the butt get their own one-shot. Infighting, worldbuilding and magic highlight this spooky tale in the vein of The Craft!
Archie & Friends: Blockbuster Movies
Lily Butler (Inks); Steven Butler (Cover Art and Art); Ian Flynn (Writing); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors);
June 5, 2024
All movie-based tales! Hosted by PoolNoodle! Wait, who’s PoolNoodle? You’ll have to buy the issue to find out.
Betty and Veronica: A Year in the Life
Jim Amash (Inks); Francis Bonnet (Writer); Bill Golliher (Writer); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Art; Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Various (Colors/Art/Inks/Writing/Letters); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
June 26, 2024
Combining a bunch of seasonal Betty and Veronica stories, this one covers a full year in the life of everyone’s favorite teens.
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #351
Bill Golliher (Writing and Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (colors)
June 12, 2024
Fran Frazier introduces the gang to her cat, Stinger, as she and the rest of the group try to save their favorite summer amusement park from going under.
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #141
Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Art, Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
June 26, 2024
Archie vs Ghost Surfers? Archie versus Ghost Surfers.
Leftover Fries
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #325
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #33
