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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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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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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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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Veronica + Betty help the Shield with her holiday shopping in this preview of ‘Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #319

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

Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #319, which will feature a new holiday story starring Betty, Veronica and the Shield.

In “Holiday Heist,” Victoria Adams, aka the Shield, needs help with her holiday shopping — something Veronica knows a thing or two about. Veronica takes our hero to an auction house, where the prices are a bit out of Victoria’s range, but I bet the two shady guys in trench coats will come into play. This story’s by Ian Flynn, Bill Galvan, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

Check out the preview below, along with a complete Josie and the Pussycats story by FRank Doyle and Dan DeCarlo.

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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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Nevada Jones rides to the rescue in this preview of ‘Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #317

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 two new stories from Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #317, which comes out Sept. 6.

In the first story, Hiram Lodge invites Nevada Jones to check out his new Western-themed attraction — which happens to be populated with out-of-this-Westworld robot versions of the cowboy. Ian Flynn, Pat Kennedy, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli bring this one to life.

Then in the second story, Jack Chang is back to help Betty and Veronica solve the mystery of a vanishing case of money at Riverdale’s annual charity cricket match. Tom DeFalco, Steven Butler, Lily Butler, Whitmore and Morelli are the creative team for this “Whodunit?”

Check out both previews below, along with a complete Josie and the Pussycats story by Frank Doyle and Dan DeCarlo.

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Ghost Fox takes a radical trip back in time in this preview of ‘Archie Jumbo Comics’ #343

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

If you’re still coming to terms with the fact that Riverdale has aired its last episode ever, fear not — the comic book adventures of Archie and his friends continue every week. And this week, thanks to Archie Comics, we have a preview of two new stories appearing in next week’s Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #343.

The first story features Archie, Dilton and Moose helping out Nevada Jones with harvesting the Nevada Orchard fruit trees, with a little “help” from Dilton’s drones. Things do not go well in this story by Ian Flynn, Pat Kennedy, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

In the second story, Ghost Fox is preoccupied with 1985 when he is accidentally transported back in time thanks to one of Dilton’s machines. (Are we sure it’s a good idea for this kid to have access to technology?) This totally tubular story is by Dan Parent and Bob Smith, along with Whitmore and Morelli.

Check them both out below, along with a classic Archie story featuring Archie cowboying up after a relative gifts him a pair of boots.

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Captain Commando offers Shark Fiend swimming lessons in this preview of ‘Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics’ #316

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

Archie Comics has shared a preview with us of Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #316, which will feature two new stories in addition to a whole lot of classic material.

In the first new story, Mr. Lodge has hired Captain Commando to endorse his new water park, and it’s a good thing he did, as Shark Fiend shows up to cause trouble. Writer Ian Flynn, artist Steven Butler, inker Lily Butler, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli jump into the deep end for this one.

The second story features the return of Fu Chang, International Detective, as a classic video game cartridge goes missing from the Riverdale Museum. Not only does this one offer up a parody of Knives Out, but it also has some fun with the name of the video game that fans of Hyrule and Sabrina the Teenage Witch will appreciate. Writer Francis Bonnet and artist Rex Lindsey are joined by Whitmore on this one.

Check out both previews below, along with a complete classic story featuring Betty Cooper.

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A killer doll runs wild and Betty gets a superhero upgrade in this preview of ‘World of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #27

The Boy Buddies and Mr. Justice return to Riverdale in two new stories appearing in next week’s digest from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to present a preview of two new stories from World of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #27, which comes out July 19.

This week we start with an homage to the already classic killer-doll-run-wild movie M3GAN, as the Little Archies call in the Boy Buddies to help them stop M1N3RVA 2.0, a doll Little Dilton brought to life with an AI upgrade. This one is by Ron Robbins, Steven Butler, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli.

Then, in the second story, Mr. Justice is back in Riverdale looking for another sidekick — I guess things didn’t go so well with Moose — and this time he has his sights set on Superteen, aka Betty Cooper. Ian Flynn, Bill Golliher and Jim Amash team with Whitmore and Morelli on this one.

Check out both stories below, along with a complete classic Veronica story by Jamie L. Rotante and Dan Parent.

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(Mr.) Justice is served in this preview of ‘World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’ #131

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

Mr. Justice and Darkling help keep Riverdale’s summer interesting and fun in these previews of two new stories coming in World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #131, which arrives in stores July 5.

In the first story, Reggie is up to his old tricks until Moose calls him on it — which brings the attention of Mr. Justice. The gallant Moose is rewarded with super powers for his efforts, much to the chagrin of that goofus Reggie. It’s courtesy of writer Ian Flynn, artists Bill Galvan and Jim Amash, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli.

Then in the second story, we find out that the mystical hero Darkling, who doesn’t like beaches, isn’t a fan of fireworks, either. When she tries to make them more to her liking, something goes wrong. This one is written and drawn by Dan Parent, with Bob Smith on inks. They’re joined by Whitmore and Morelli as well.

Check out both previews below, as well as a complete classic Archie story by J. Torres and Craig Boldman.

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