Exclusive Preview | Introducing Archie’s newest rival, Daisy Thunder

Check out a preview of next week’s ‘Archie & Friends: Hot Rod Racing.’

Next week Archie Andrews might need a tune-up as his “oldest rival” returns in Archie & Friends: Hot Rod Racing, which introduces Daisy Thunder to the cast.

The Southside Serpent has a bone to pick with Archie because once upon a time, he ruined her art contest drawing, and now she’s back for revenge. Daisy challenges the Archie gang to a race that’ll go through all the different areas of Riverdale, as the racers pass landmarks like the Mighty Legends of Justice Museum and the haunted Igor Estates.

“Racing and cool cars are such a big part of childhood fantasies and part of Archie lore, and we wanted a new character who evoked that feeling with a little bit of danger,” said Archie Comics Editor-in-Chief Mike Pellerito, who added that the character’s look was inspired by “Evel Knievel, Pinky Tuscadero and Penelope Pitstop.” 

The new story is by Craig Boldman and Steven Butler, and will be accompanied by several classic racing stories.

“Daisy Thunder is a childhood friend of the Riverdale gang — or should we say frenemy? — who moved away when they were very young. Now she’s back!” Boldman said. “In the intervening years, she’s had an amazing life, owing to her father’s career as a globe-hopping professional race car driver. He’s ready to settle down and enjoy a slower pace, but it turns out Daisy’s not wired that way.”

Check out a preview of the new story below, along with a classic racing story by George Gladir and Bill Vigoda.

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Sam Maggs + Lisa Sterle bring ‘The Wicked Trinity’ to Greendale High

Sabrina’s not the only teenage witch in Greendale.

Sabrina Spellman’s old high school is getting a new class of witches in The Wicked Trinity, a one-shot written by Sam Maggs with art by Lisa Sterle. They’re joined by colorist Ellie Wright and letterer Jack Morelli for the project.

“Real witches writing real witches — that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics!” Maggs said. “I was named after a famous witch — Samantha from Bewitched — and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes Wicked Trinity a dream project for me.”

The one-shot will feature Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, who have appeared in Archie classic, all-ages titles, but this will be their first appearance in Archie’s line of comics for older readers.

“When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity, I was immediately intrigued,” said Archie’s Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante. “I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s Sabrina Annual Spectacular comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our Sabrina the Teenage Witch series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent Darkling one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

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Archie and the gang prepare for summer movie season in June’s ‘Archie & Friends: Blockbuster Movies’

Get your first look at the sensational character find of 2024, PoolNoodle!

Before you know it, summer will be here, bringing warmer days and a fresh batch of big, blockbuster movies to enjoy.

To help prepare you for the summer movie season, Archie Comics will release Archie & Friends: Blockbuster Movies in June, and we’re pleased to not only reveal the cover, but also give you a look at a new character debuting in this issue — PoolNoodle! Designed by Steven Butler, PoolNoodle will serve as a kinder, gentler, four-wall breaking foil for Archie as they “poke fun at every movie you can shake a stick at — or sword.”

The special is written by Ian Flynn, who has helped bring new life to Archie’s superheroes in recent years, and drawn by Steven Butler and Lily Butler. They’re joined by colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli.

“Between all the blockbuster movies with escalating premises and the rampant cross-property projects, going to the movies can be a little overwhelming,” Flynn said. “One thing Archie is great at is looking at the world and making these problems more manageable and even a little bit funny. (Although, let’s be honest, if they let me do a Crusaders ‘Cross the Cosmos’ event, it’d look something like this.)”

Is Archie taking votes on a “Cross the Cosmos” event? Because we vote “yes.” In the meantime, check out the cover and solicitation information for Archie & Friends: Blockbuster Movies, as well as a look at PoolNoodle:

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The picture’s not so perfect in this preview of a new Shield story from ‘World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #138’

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Check it out — Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of  World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #138, which will arrives in stores March 13.

In “Picture Perfect,” everyone in Riverdale is pretty excited that they’re filming a new Shield movie — everyone that is, except for the Shield himself. This one’s written and drawn by Dan Parent, with inking by Bob Smith, coloring by Glenn Whitmore and lettering by Jack Morelli.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete classic Jughead story by Bill Golliher and Al Milgrom.

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Archie’s obsessive fandom helps save the day in ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #348’

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Hey! We’re back with another preview, courtesy of our friends at Archie Comics. This one’s for a new story appearing in Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #348, which will arrive in stores Feb. 28.

In “The Devil’s in the Details,” Archie’s interview to intern at MLJ Museum with The Shield goes sideways when a swarm of villains show up — but all isn’t as it seems in this story by Ian Flynn, Pat Kennedy, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

BTW, the “MLJ” Museum is a fun Easter egg — it’s a reference to Archie Comics’ original name, M.L.J. Magazines, Inc., which started out publishing superheroes before Archie and the gang were created. It was named for the founders, Maurice Coyne, Louis Silberkleit and John L. Goldwater.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete “classic” Arachie story by Frank Doyle and Stan Goldberg.

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Archie Andrews battles demons in ‘Archie Comics: Judgment Day’

The first Archie Premium Event debuts in May.

Archie Comics has announced what they’re calling their first “Archie Premium Event,” titled Archie Comics: Judgment Day. The Archie Horror title will feature a powered-up Archie Andrews battling in a Riverdale overrun by demons.

The story is written by Aubrey Sitterson, who penned Archie vs. The World and  No One Left to Fight. He’s joined by Rockstars artist Megan Hutchison, colorist Matt Herms and letterer Jack Morelli.

Judgment Day places Archie Andrews squarely at the center, acting as our hero—but with the power to choose who lives and who dies, can he truly remain a hero through and through?” said Archie Comics’ Jesse Goldwater. “This miniseries raises the stakes more than any title we’ve ever done before. The fate of the entire world is in Archie’s hands.”

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Exclusive Preview | ‘The Jaguar’ leaps back into action next month at Archie Comics

Check out a preview of a new one-shot by Keryl Brown Ahmed and Tango.

Courtesy of our friends at Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present an exclusive preview of next month’s The Jaguar one-shot by Keryl Brown Ahmed, Tango, Ellie Wright and Jack Morelli.

“I absolutely loved updating The Jaguar, a character with a rich history and a few different iterations,” Brown Ahmed said. “First of all, I’m a cat person, so a feline-themed superhero delights me to no end. I chose to center this story on Ivette embracing her heritage because, coming from a multiethnic background myself, it’s something I struggle with. I think it’s important for first- and second-generation Americans to find ways to connect with their family’s cultures of origin because, in my experience anyway, it increases self-worth and gratitude for those who came before us.”

Zoologist Ivette Velez is the current Jaguar and star of the one-shot. Her predecessor, Ralph Hardy, debuted in 1961 and passed the mantle on to her in a New Crusaders story by Ian Flynn and Ben Bates about 10 years ago. This new story has Velez heading to Peru to investigate the mysterious deaths of the Pampas cats of Northern Peru.

“I appreciate that Ivette is a character who clearly still carries much of her trauma pretty close to the surface,” Tango said. “Keryl organically shows that in the ways Ivette maintains an aloof (and catlike), antisocial streak in her approach to others. That also takes on new layers when she shifts into her Jaguar persona.”

Check out the preview and solicitation text below, and look for The Jaguar when it hits store shelves on Feb. 21.

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Bunn + Schoening continue the story of cult leader Bingo Wilkin this spring

‘The Cult of That Wilkin Boy: Initiation’ will arrive in stores in April.

The classic Archie character Bingo Wilkin received a makeover as a rock star-turned-cult leader last year courtesy of Archie Horror, and this spring he’ll return for another round of fame, fortune and satanic worship in The Cult of That Wilkin Boy: Initiation.

The one-shot will reunite writer Cullen Bunn and artist Dan Schoening, who worked on the previous story of Bingo and his quest for fame. They’re joined by inker Ben Galvan, colorist Matt Herms and letterer Jack Morelli. 

“I’m so excited to have the chance to write a new Bingo story,” Bunn said. “Initiation stands completely on its own as a fun, dark little horror tale. But, for those who have read The Cult of That Wilkin Boy, it continues the tale of deviltry and supernatural shenanigans in an exciting way. Returning to this world, I wanted to tell a tale that was a natural progression for Bingo but was also an amplification of the nightmarish horror that surrounds him.”

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Jaguar’s greatest foe might be too many Christmas cookies in this preview of ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #346

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present a preview of two new stories from Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #346, which comes out Dec. 13.

This story features the original Jaguar, whose magical belt isn’t fitting quite as well as it was before the holidays (I’ve been there) — which throws him for a loop as he tries to save Santa from a gang of criminals. This tale of too much holiday cheer (and maybe cookies?) is by Bill Golliher, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete Little Archie Christmas story.

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It’ll take two Jaguars to save Christmas in this preview of ‘World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics’ #31

Check out an exclusive preview of a new story coming in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

‘Tis the season for giving, and Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of one of the new stories appearing in World of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #31, which will arrives in stores Dec. 6.

“Reindeer of Terror” features not only Ralph Hardy, the original Jaguar, but also Ivette Velez, the legacy character who will star in her own one-shot next year. Along with Betty and Veronica, they’re on a mission to save Christmas after the evil Kennel Kwenn steals Santa’s reindeer. This jolly tale is by writer Ian Flynn, artists Steven Butler and Lily Butler, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli.

You can find more information and the preview below, along with a classic Christmas tale featuring Betty, Veronica and Santa, written by the late Batton Lash.

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All the villains were stirring in this preview of ‘World of Archie Jumbo Comics’ #135

Tom DeFalco and Steven Butler pay tribute to a classic Christmas poem in one of two new stories appearing in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of one of the new stories appearing in World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #135, which will arrives in stores Nov. 22.

Our preview this week is a fun one, as writer Tom DeFalco, artists Steven Butler and Jim Amash, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli pay tribute to a Christmas classic. A Visit from St. Nicholas, the poem by Clement Clarke Moore, gets turned on its head as Pureheart the Powerful and Pow-Girl hear the “clatter” of super-villain activity before Christmas.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete Archie story by Frank Doyle and Samm Schwartz.

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The Jaguar returns to action in a one-shot next year

Keryl Brown Ahmed and Tango send the Mighty Crusader to Peru for a solo adventure.

Jaguar, the New Crusaders character who debuted in 2012, leaps into a one-shot this February, courtesy of writer Keryl Brown Ahmed (Big Ethel Energy), artist Tango (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), colorist Ellie Wright, and letterer Jack Morelli.

Zoologist Ivette Velez is the most recent character to use the Jaguar name; her predecessor, Ralph Hardy, first debuted in 1961 and passed the mantle on to her in a story by writer Ian Flynn and artist Ben Bates. This new one-shot follows up on that story, as Jaguar heads to Peru to confront a predator that’s killing off wild cats.

“The character’s long history and many iterations provided a great creative foundation for me while also leaving plenty of room to explore The Jaguar’s character in ways that felt exciting and authentic,” Ahmed said. “I’m very grateful to Archie Comics for entrusting me with her, and I’m excited to see where she goes next!”

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