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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The Shield needs Archie’s ‘obsessive trivia knowledge’ to save the day in this preview from ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #345

Check out a preview of a new story coming to stores next week.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present a preview of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #345, which includes a new holiday story starring Archie and The Shield. The digest arrives in stores Nov. 8.

In “S’No Problem,” Ian Flynn, Pat Kennedy, Lily Butler, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli send Archie to the Mighty Legends of Justice Museum for their annual holiday party. But the festivities are threatened when a dangerous weapon goes missing, and the Shield needs Archie’s trivial knowledge of all things superhero to find it.

Check out the preview below, along with a classic holiday-themed “Little Archie” story by Bob Bolling.

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Exclusive: Ian Flynn + Holly G! reintroduce Fran Frazer to the ‘World of Archie’

The Golden Age photojournalist will make her return to comics this January.

For the past several years Archie Comics has reintroduced some of their classic genre characters into their all-ages comics. From their superhero characters like the Crusaders to private detective Fu Chang, the company has been breathing new life into these characters while at the same time adding to the rich tapestry of Riverdale.

We’re pleased to announce that another Golden Age character will find her way to Riverdale — Fran Frazer, a photojournalist who first appeared in Top-Notch Comics #9 back in 1940. She’ll make her return in January in a new story appearing in World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #136 by writer Ian Flynn and artist Holly G!

Flynn has had a lot of experience revisiting these older characters and making them relevant to the modern age, having written many of the stories that integrated the Crusaders into the classic Archie universe.

“It’s always a pleasure to be entrusted with breathing new life into these older characters,” Flynn said. “I hope folks enjoy Fran’s new incarnation and ask to see more of her intrepid, glove-trotting adventures.”

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