Nevada Jones rides again while Kevin Keller has eyes for Ghost Fox in ‘Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #312

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

Courtesy of our friends at Archie Comics, we’re happy to present a preview of two new stories from Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #312, which comes out March 15.

The first story, “Real Horse Power,” features a classic Archie deep cut, Nevada Jones. The “Cattle Detective” appeared in back-ups stories in Pep Comics and Zip Comics back in the day, and his modern equivalent appears in a story set at the Lodge Ranch (You might be asking, “Veronica’s dad owns a ranch?” Of course he does). This one is by Ian Flynn, the Kennedy Brothers, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

The second story features the return of Ghost Fox, who we saw last week trying to save his dad from Mr. Smile. This time around, he’s being investigated, but not by a villain — Kevin Keller wants to know who the new kid is from Red Circle High, and he enlists Veronica to help him figure it out. Flynn also wrote this one, with Steven Butler and Jim Amash providing the artwork, and Whitmore and Morelli on colors and letters, respectively.

Below you’ll find previews of both stories, plus, in keeping with the horse theme, a classic story featuring Betty and Veronica at the Riverdale Riding Academy.

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Mr. Justice and Steel Sterling make return appearances in ‘World of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #126

Check out an exclusive preview of two new stories coming in next week’s digest.

Courtesy of our friends at Archie Comics, we’re pleased to kick off the new year with a preview of World of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #126.

This digest has three new stories in it in addition to a bunch of classic stories, and today we have previews from two of those stories. The first sees the return of Mr. Justice for what could be his biggest challenge ever — serving as a life coach for Cheryl Blossom. This is a guy who used to regularly fight Satan, but Cheryl may be more than he can handle. That one is by Ian Flynn, James Fry and Bob Smith.

The second preview features Steel Sterling battling the Blue Bison, a battle that would probably go more smoothly if Betty and Veronica weren’t competing to get an autograph from our hero to give to Archie. It’s by Tom DeFalco, the Brothers Kennedy and Jim Amash, while Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli provide coloring and lettering for both stories.

Check out the preview below, as well as a classic story featuring Betty battling technology.

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Betty + Veronica ditch the Archies to form Rock Candi

The Riverdale music scene will never be the same.

Move over, Mary Janes — there’s a new band of girl rockers set to shred your comics. In a story written and drawn by Holly G!, Betty and Veronica have quit The Archies and teamed up with drummer Jola Kitt to form a new band, Rock Candi. 

It all goes down in Betty & Veronica Friends Forever: Rock ‘N’ Roll in March.

Joined by Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli, Holly G! will introduce another new character to Riverdale, following the debut of Cassie Cloud in the Valentine’s Day special coming next month. She’s also breaking up The Archies — or at least sending them in a new direction, a band that’s been part of the pop culture circuit since the 1960s.

“Rock Candi proves that girls can ROCK!” Holly said in a press release. “No more tambourine shaking or backup vocals; these girls are shredding guitars, writing their own songs, and singing them. The story is more drama than comedy — it’s about not letting someone keep your light from shining, and how a band is supposed to support one another. I’m excited for more Rock Candi stories to come!”

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Betty & Veronica fight crime with Fly Girl in ‘Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #309

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

Courtesy of our “fly” friends at Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present a preview of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #309, which comes out Nov. 23.

This digest will include two new stories, in addition to a selection of classic Archie material. Our preview today includes pages from “Super Sale!” by Ian Flynn and Ryan Jampole, which features an appearance by Kelly Brand, aka Fly Girl, aka the daughter of the original Fly Girl Kim Brand. As eagle-eyed continuity followers might remember, Kim passed on the mantle to Kelly in the 2012 Mighty Crusaders series.

Check out the preview and solicitation information below.

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Trula Twyst rocks Jughead’s world in ‘World of Archie Jumbo Comics’ #122 [Exclusive Preview]

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

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present a preview of World of Archie Jumbo Comics #122, which comes out Aug. 17.

This digest will include two brand-new stories, in addition to a selection of classic Archie material. The new stories feature the work of Francis Bonnet, Craig Boldman, Bill Golliher, Rex Lindsey, Bob Smith, Rich Koslowski and more. In the first one, Archie tries to win an obstacle course — and a date with Veronica — as Mr. Lodge does everything he can to ruin Archie’s chances. The second story features Jughead’s nemesis, Trula Twyst, who steals his drumming style to get under his skin.

We also have a fill-length classic Archie story for you, featuring the work of Bob White, the creator of Cosmo the Merry Martian. The summertime story features Archie, Reggie, Veronica and poolside shenanigans.

Below you’ll also find previews of stories by Dan Parent, Ian Flynn, Jeff Shultz and more, plus a complete classic Archie story featuring the work of Frank Doyle and Dan DeCarlo. Enjoy!

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Archie goes Jurassic in ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #330 [Exclusive Preview]

Check out a preview of ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #330.

There’s no time better then summertime, and what does summertime bring? Sun, surf and dinosaur movies! Wait, what? OK, this summer does, and it also brings a brand new story featuring a prehistoric version of the Archie gang.

Courtesy of the fine folks at Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present an exclusive look at next week’s Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #330, which features 192 pages of comics — including a new story by Dan Parent, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli, titled “Jurassic Farce!” We’ve got a snippet of the new story, as well as a complete Frank Doyle/Harry Lucey story from the archives.

You can find all the solicitation details and the preview below:

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Van Lente + Parent team for Archie’s 80th anniversary one-shot

‘Everything’s Archie’ will present a new story in the classic Archie art style.

Archie Andrews celebrates his 80th anniversary this year, and Archie Comics will acknowledge the milestone with a new one-shot, Everything’s Archie. Fred Van Lente and longtime Archie artist Dan Parent will craft all-new story told in the traditional Archie Comics art-style.

The comic is the first in a series of classic-styled one-shots celebrating the anniversary.

“You can always tell a great franchise because it quickly and easily updates to any era, and bringing Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie and Jughead into our world of social media insanity and real life anxiety was…pretty effortless,” said Van Lente. “Turns out the Riverdale gang is your perfect guide to modern living, even if half the time they can’t figure it out for themselves!”

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What Are You Reading? ‘Friday,’ Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel and more

See what the Smash Pages crew has checked off their “to read” list lately.

If you’re looking for something to read while sheltering in place, you’ve come to the right blog, as the Smash Pages crew has a whole mess of comics to talk about this week. So without further ado …

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Archie rocks ’n’ rolls into the 1950s

Waid and Augustyn unite for another take on history through the eyes of the Archie gang.

Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn recently took the Archie gang back to the 1940s, and now they’re turning their attention to a different decade — the 1950s.

“As a boy who grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, I’ve been a rock-origins aficionado my entire life,” Waid said. “Archie: 1955 is my chance to visit that era I so love, and do it with an Archie spin. As with Archie: 1941 we’re very true to the time while telling a story in a modern way that’s exciting and dramatic. Using Archie as a lens through which to really examine the beginnings of rock ‘n’ roll is a blast.”

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