I would think one of the fun things about working on the Archie Horror line would be that you could grab your copy of the Archie Encyclopedia, open it to a random page, point at a character and ask, “Ok, what evil thing can we do with them?”
Archie has a vast library of characters just waiting for their turn to do something terrible, or at least have something terrible done to them. Which brings me to Chilling Adventures Presents … Truth or Dare, a new one-shot announced by Archie this week. It brings a character named Trula Twyst into the Archie Horror universe, and based on her encyclopedia entry, I suspect she was destined to be there all along:
Created by writer Craig Boldman and artist Rex Lindsey, Trula debuted in 1997 as a new student at Riverdale High who used her interest in behavioral science “to manipulate Jughead and shake the stoic slacker’s resolve,” making him give up junk food.
Ron Robbins and Laura Braga introduce a more adult take on the character in Truth or Dare, where she’s described as “equal parts Girl, Interrupted and Cruel Intentions, with a dash of Saw.”
“I cherished the opportunity to take Trula and give her the starring role she deserves,” Robbins said. “At its core, Truth or Dare is a horror story about a teenager not just desperate to fit in, but to be the queen bee. Trula has her fair share of trauma to back up that damaged mentality. It’s up to our gang to make sure that nobody gets hurt, and that Trula gets the help she needs, but just like in real life, things can take an unexpected turn.”
Here’s the full solicitation from Archie:
When new student Trula Twyst comes to Riverdale, her mysterious and quiet nature doesn’t mix well with the squeaky-clean façade of Riverdale High. Tormented by her past and with a keen interest in Behavioral Psychology, she sets her sights on dismantling the traditional high school hierarchy from within. How? By a simple game of Truth or Dare… This horror one shot is smart, sexy, and for fans of movies like Escape Room, Saw, and Girl, Interrupted.
Script: Ron Robbins
Art: Laura Braga
Colors: Ellie Wright
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Laura Braga
Variant Cover: Suspiria Vilchez
On Sale Date: 7/17
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
Here’s a look at Vilchez’s variant cover:
“I’ve always been a big fan of the horror genre,” Braga said, “and drawing a story like Truth or Dare is so fun and inspirational, it allows me to work on the expressiveness of the characters and the atmosphere. Ron’s script kept me hooked until the last page; I hope you all enjoy it!”
The one-shot arrives in stores July 17.