Welcome to the Archie Comics Pubwatch for October! I’m Lisa, reporting from a corner booth at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, and here’s this month’s news. In October’s Pubwatch, there are more details about Mr. Justice, some interviews, plenty of new variant covers, and much more!
Visionary joins Mr. Justice for Archie Is: Mr. Justice #2 in January
It looks like Veronica’s got a secret of her own in the Mr. Justice universe! While Mr. Lodge and Mr. Justice are natural born enemies, it looks like Veronica will take on the superheroine personality of Visionary for the series.
The script will be handled by Amanda Diebert with Brent Schoonover providing the issue’s art. Glenn Whitmore provides color work and Jack Morelli letters. The issue’s covers will be provided by Matt Talbot (above), Reiko Murakami, and Jamal Igle.
Archie Is: Mr. Justice #2 will hit the streets on January 15, 2025.
Archie has also released some preview images and character sketches ahead of the release of the first issue of Archie Is: Mr. Justice, which can be viewed below, with additional artwork here.
Bite-Sized Archie Celebrate its 200th Strip
Click through to read it!
Chris Cummins talks comics and more with the Archie and Me podcast
Listen here, and then check out our interview!
Archie and Me reviews The Cursed Library: Omega
Jamie Lee Rotante talks Archie Horror with Cemetery Dance
New Variant Covers from Great Wall of Comics, Stadium Comics, and Comic Book Exclusives/Mellow Fellow Trading
It’s variant cover time!
Great Wall of Comics has this Dan Parent variants for Josie and the Pussycats Annual Spectacular #1. Representing a tattoo flash sheet, it features Josie, Melody, and Valerie in pin-up style playing along. The cover is limited to 250 copies with a COA; you can buy a cover apiece for $19.99 here.
Stadium Comics is back with a host of variant exclusives. First, they have an exclusive homage tribute cover for Betty #8. This Bill Galvan cover is limited to 250 copies. It’s going for $19.99 here.
Then there’s this Pop Art covers drawn by Nuno Pereira. A companion to last month’s Veronica Baroness cover, this Cheryl Blossom as Scarlett from G.I. Joe homage covers Josie and the Pussycats Annual Spectacular #1. Limited to 250 copies in this first edition you can get it for $19.99 here.
The rest of the covers come from Comic Book Exclusives, all of them drawn by Dan Parent. The Sabrina with a broom cover is from Archie Halloween Spectacular #1. It’s limited to 250 virgin covers at $11.94, 15 Crystal Foil variants for $39.94, and 30 foil covers at $39.94.
These two Sabrina Marilyn Monroe homages were New York Comic Con exclusives and cover Sabrina Annual Spectacular #1. The orange foil is limited to 50 copies at $29.94. The pink foil variant is limited to 25 at $43.94.
Then there’s these Bewitched homages, which also cover Sabrina Annual Spectacular #1. The blue foil version is limited to 50 at $29.94, the green foil to 25 at $43.94.
This Betty-centered cover for Archie: Truth or Dare #1 is a bloody tribute to the poster for A Nightmare On Elm Street. Regular virgin edition is limited to 250 and goes for $11.99.
The Sabrina Spellman Halloween-themed pin-up cover also covers Archie: Truth or Dare #1. It’s limited to 250 virgin variants and goes for $11.99.
This devilish cover is a tribute to Veronica #28. It’s limited to 250 copies and goes for $14.99.
Next, this Alfonse Mucha tribute covers Sabrina Annual Spectacular #1. The virgin variant is limited to 250 and goes for $11.49. The virgin foil variant is limited to 25 and comes in a set with a regular variant for $39.49. The crystal foil variant is limited to 12 covers and is available for $39.94. Finally, the magma foil version is limited to 5 an available for $59.94.
Last of all is this tribute to Carrie, covering Archie Halloween Spectacular #1. The virgin variant is limited to 250 and is available for $11.94, the crystal foil is limited to 10 and goes for $39.94, and the foil variant limited to 20 in a pack with the original variant for $39.94.
Archie Comics Tweets of the Month
This month: Why are dating apps so popular?
Sugar Sugar of the Month
Archie Comics: The Cursed Library: Omega#2
Craig Cermak (Art and Cover); Matt Herms (Colors); Inhyuk Lee (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Julius Ohta (Cover); Skylar Patridge (Cover); Eliot Rahal (Writing); Magdalene Visaggio (Writing)
October 23, 2024
It was well worth the wait, but then again I’m a huge sucker for Danni and Jinx’s adventures. This is a gruesome series, but it’s also mordantly funny and well-paced and adds a quirky sense of personality. If you care about the Archie Horror universe at all, or any of the characters in it, then you’ll be pleased to spend a little time with this issue. Cermak’s exemplary art double-underlines a great script by Rahal and Visaggio.
In this issue, Danni’s quest to save Jinx from hell continues apace as Danni ends up in a mirror universe and Madam Satan fights the man.
Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #355
Bill Golliher (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing, Cover & Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
October 30, 2024
This is a fun twist on Archie’s typical antics with his well-meaning fumbling causing as much chaos as humanly possible, while also really actually caring about the people in his life.
In the issue’s new story, the gang teams up to buy Miss Grundy a special Christmas present. Unfortunately, said present is now left to the whims of Archie’s terrible present-wrapping skills! He also drops the book in a tub while reading it. Can he save the day?
Hotdogs and Hotshots
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #36
Jim Amash (Inks); Craig Boldman (Writing); Bill Galvan (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Cover Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
October 23, 2024
A frustrated Veronica is a funnier Veronica, and Daisy Thunder is one of the best new additions to the Archie Comics roster in some time, so this makes for a fun story. Daisy Thunder can’t, for the life of her, figure out who Veronica Lodge is. She recognizes all of her other Riverdale Elementary friends, but not Miss Lodge. Naturally, there’s no way Veronica’s going to sit for that!
Betty and Veronica: Jumbo Comic Digest #328
Bill Golliher (Cover Inks); Dan Parent (Writing, Art, Cover); Bob Smith (Inks); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
October 2, 2024
This one’s just plain hilarious. Only Veronica Lodge would create her own upmarket, in-bedroom edition of Spirit Halloween! Veronica Lodge responds to her father’s threats about cutting off her allowance by opening up her very own Halloween shop in her bedroom, but will things end up too spooky for Ronnie to bear?
Archie Halloween Spectacular: #1
Lily Butler (Inks and Cover Inks); Steven Butler (Art and Cover); Ian Flynn (Writing); Vincent Lovallo (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
October 2, 2024
This one’s necessary if you want to keep abreast of the Mother Striga storyline. A battle between good and evil sets in when Amber Nightstone shows up to add a little chaos to a Halloween party at the Lodge Mansion!
Picks From the Timecops
Archie is: Mr. Justice #1
Francesco Francavilla (Cover); Mike Norton (Art); Jack Morelli (Letters); Reiko Murakami (Cover); Tim Seeley (Writing); Matt Talbot (Cover); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 20, 2024
Archie goes superhero again! Promising to be a much more serious take on the typical superhero shenanigans Archie Comics indulge in with their Pureheart the Powerful series, this one pits Archie against Mr. Lodge as America’s typical teenager attains superpowers and takes on the mantle of Mr. Justice.
Josie and the Pussycats Annual Spectacular: #1
Lily Butler (Inks and Cover Inks); Steven Butler (Art and Cover); Ian Flynn (Writing); Vincent Lovallo (Cover); Jack Morelli (Letters); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 6, 2024
Josie and the gang’s annual issue kicks off with the band performing at a monster’s ball! Mother Striga surfaces to cause chaos, causing the band to enlist Sabrina Spellman and their rival, Alexandra Cabot, for help!
Archie Showcase Digest Presents: The Archie Library #21 – Archie’s Christmas Stocking
Dan Parent (Cover Art); Rich Koslowski (Cover Inks); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Various (Colors/Art/Inks/Writing/Letters)
November 20, 2024
It’s Christmas time, and this digest is filled to the brim with holiday shenanigans!
Betty #8 (Facsimile Edition)
Dan DeCarlo (Cover Art); Alison Flood (Cover Colors); Various (Colors/Art/Inks/Writing/Letters)
November 27, 2024
A facsimile reprint of the classic issue!
World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #37
Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing/Art/Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 27, 2024
Betty and Veronica run afoul of the mystical Kardak who makes a mess of things when his disappearing act sends them back in time!
Betty and Veronica: Jumbo Comic Digest #329
Dan Parent (Cover); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors) Glenn Whitmore (Colors); Various (Colors/Art/Inks/Writing/Letters)
November 6, 2024
No new story has been announced for this issue yet, but enjoy the cute cover!
World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #145
Jack Morelli (Letters); Dan Parent (Writing/Art/Cover Art); Rosario “Tito” Peña (Cover Colors); Bob Smith (Inks); Glenn Whitmore (Colors)
November 13, 2024
Time for Riverdale High to celebrate its annual Christmas party! A Christmas Party that’s about to be complicated by the inclusion of Wilbur Wilkins – and Alexandra Cabot, who crashes the party to pursue her crush.
