Archie (comic book) explained

Archie
Schedule:Monthly
Ongoing:y
Publisher:Archie Comics
Date:(vol. 1)
Winter 1942 – June 2015
(vol. 2)
July 2015 – September 2018
(vol. 1 cont.)
October 2018 – September 2020
Issues:(vol. 1) 666 (#1–666)
(vol. 2) 32 (#1–32)
(vol. 1 cont.) 15 (#699–713)
Main Char Team:Archie Andrews
Betty Cooper
Veronica Lodge
Jughead Jones
Writers:(vol. 1)
Various
(vol. 2)
Mark Waid
(vol. 1 cont.)
Ian Flynn (#699)
Nick Spencer (#700 sneak peek onwards)
Artists:(vol. 1)
Various
(vol. 2)
Fiona Staples (#1–3)
Annie Wu (#4)
Veronica Fish (#5–10)
Thomas Pitilli and Ryan Jampole (#11–12)
Joe Eisma (#13–17)
Pete Woods (#18–22)
Audrey Mok and Kelly Fitzpatrick (#23–32)
(vol. 1 cont.)
Fiona Staples, Annie Wu, Veronica Fish,Thomas Pitilli and Ryan Jampole, Joe Eisma, Pete Woods, Audrey Mok and Kelly Fitzpatrick (#699)
Marguerite Sauvage (#700 sneak peek onwards)

Archie (also known as Archie Comics) is an ongoing comic book series (published from 1942 through 2020 in two volumes) featuring the Archie Comics character Archie Andrews. The character first appeared in Pep Comics #22 (cover dated December 1941). Archie proved to be popular enough to warrant his own self-titled ongoing comic book series which began publication in the winter of 1942. The last issue of the first series was published in June 2015.

A second series began publication in July 2015 (briefly replacing the first series), featuring a reboot of the Archie universe with a new character design aesthetic and a more mature story format and scripting, aimed at older, contemporary teenage and young adult readers. It ran until September 2018. Archie Comics resumed volume 1 in October 2018. The title concluded in September 2020.

Publication history

Archie first appeared in Pep Comics #22 in 1941 and soon became the most popular character in the comic. Due to his popularity, he was given his own series which debuted in winter 1942 titled Archie Comics. Starting with issue #114, the title was shortened to simply Archie. The series ended with issue #666 (June 2015) to make way for a new series set in Archie Comics' "New Riverdale".

A new volume of Archie debuted in July 2015 as part of the New Riverdale relaunch.[1] [2] It is written by Mark Waid with art by Fiona Staples. Archie Comics Publisher/CEO Jon Goldwater has said that the new series will harken back to the comic's roots by showcasing more edgy and humorous stories as well as present the origins for the character and his friends as well as how the famous love triangle between Archie, Betty, and Veronica began.[3] Fiona Staples left the series after issue #3 while Annie Wu provided artwork for the fourth issue.[4] [5] Veronica Fish was the guest artist for the fifth and sixth issues before being named the regular artist for the series in February 2016.[6] Fish left the series after issue #10 but continued to provide the regular cover art up to issue #12. Thomas Pitilli and Ryan Jampole provided guest artwork for issues #11 and #12 with Joe Eisma being named the new regular artist starting with issue #13.[7] Pete Woods took over as series artist beginning with issue #18 in March 2017.[8] Woods served as the artist until #22 in July 2017. Audrey Mok & Kelly Fitzpatrick provided artwork from #23 onward in August 2017.

Volume 1 (1942–2015)

Significant issues

See main article: Love Showdown (Archie Comics). Issue #429 started one of Archie Comics most famous story lines, the Love Showdown where Archie gets a love letter in the mail and Betty and Veronica both swear it wasn't from them. The story was continued in Betty #19, Betty and Veronica #82, and concluded with Veronica #39.

In May 2009, Archie Comics released plans for what they would call "The Archie Story Of The Century" and announced that Archie Andrews would ask Veronica Lodge to marry him in Archie Comics # 600,[9] the first issue of a six-part story arc detailing their engagement, marriage and life together. The publishers of Archie Comics did not expect the response they received from readers and longtime fans telling them they made a mistake in Archie's choice. The New York Times later revealed that the whole story would be simply a fantasy and that the first half of the story would show Archie's life with Veronica, and the second half would show his life with Betty.[10]

This two-issue arc follows Archie Andrews and Valerie Smith falling in love when their two bands go on tour together. This is Archie Comics' first interracial relationship.[11]

The four issue arc follows a potential future where Archie married Valerie Smith and had a daughter with her named Star. It is similar to the Archie Marries Veronica/Archie Marries Betty arc. Issue #634 details a bunch of potential futures where Archie may have married Cheryl Blossom, Sabrina Spellman or Ethel Muggs.[12] [13]

Archie and his friends cross paths with the cast of Glee thanks to one of Dilton's science experiments gone wrong.[14]

Features the first appearance of Veronica's cousin, Harper, who is physically disabled and needs to use a wheelchair to get around.[15]

Collected editions

Early issues of Archie have been collected into hardcover 'Archive Editions' by Dark Horse Comics,[16] including original games pages and ads. IDW published archival hardback editions titled Archie's Americana which collect key issues from each decade since the 1940s. Similar hardbacks were produced showcasing work by favourite Archie creators.

Some key Archie storylines have also been collected as trade paperbacks.

Dark Horse Archive Editions

Title ISBN Release Date Collected Material
Archie Archives Volume OneMay 10, 2011Pep Comics #22–38, Jackpot Comics #4–8, Archie Comics #1–2
Archie Archives Volume TwoSeptember 27, 2011Jackpot Comics #9, Pep Comics #39–45, Archie Comics #3–6
Archie Archives Volume ThreeNovember 22, 2011Pep Comics #46–50, Archie Comics #7–10
Archie Archives Volume FourFebruary 14, 2012Pep Comics #51–53, Archie Comics #11–14
Archie Archives Volume FiveMay 1, 2012Pep Comics #54–56, Archie Comics #15–18
Archie Archives Volume SixAugust 14, 2012Pep Comics #57–58, Archie Comics #19–22
Archie Archives Volume SevenNovember 13, 2012Pep Comics #59–61, Archie Comics #23–25, Laugh Comics #20–21
Archie Archives Volume EightMarch 19. 2013Pep Comics #62–64, Archie Comics #26–28, Laugh Comics #23–24
Archie Archives Volume NineMarch 19, 2014Pep Comics #65–67, Archie Comics #29–31, Laugh Comics #25–26
Archie Archives Volume TenAugust 27, 2014Pep Comics #67–69, Archie Comics #32–34, Laugh Comics #27–28
Archie Archives Volume ElevenJuly 1, 2015Pep Comics #70–72, Archie Comics #35–36, Laugh Comics #29–31
Archie Archives Volume TwelveFebruary 10, 2016Pep Comics #73–75, Archie Comics #37–39, Laugh Comics #32–34
Archie Archives Volume ThirteenOctober 19, 2016Pep Comics #76–78, Archie Comics #40—41 Laugh Comics #35–37

IDW Collections

Title ISBN Release Date Collected Material
Archie's Americana Volume 1: Best of the 1940sSeptember 6, 2011Pep Comics #22, 25–26, 31, Jackpot Comics #6, Archie Comics #1, 7, 30, Jughead #1, Laugh Comics #23, 25, 27, 28. 36
Archie's Americana Volume 2: Best of the 1950sOctober 18, 2011
Archie's Americana Volume 3: Best of the 1960sMarch 27, 2012
Archie's Americana Volume 4: Best of the 1970sJuly 10, 2012
Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume 1July 6, 2010
Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo. Volume 2April 19, 2011
Archie" The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume 3January 24, 2012
Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume 4March 19, 2013
Archie: The Best of Harry Lucey, Volume 1October 18, 2011
Archie: The Best of Harry Lucey, Volume 2October 19, 2012
Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz, Volume 1November 29, 2011
Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz, Volume 2December 25, 2012

Trade paperbacks

Title ISBN Release Date Collected Material
Archie Marries...October 1, 2010Archie Comics #600–606
Archie: A Rock N' Roll RomanceFebruary 25, 2015Archie Comics #631–634
Archie Meets GleeAugust 6, 2013Archie Comics #641−644
Archie: Rockin' the WorldJanuary 13, 2015Archie Comics #650–653

'Best Of' Collections

Title ISBN Release Date Collected Material
The Best of Archie Comics: 75 Years, 75 StoriesOctober 27, 2015
The Best of Archie Comics Volume OneOctober 25, 2015

Volume 2 (2015–2018)

Story

The first issue focuses on Archie's recent split with Betty Cooper due to the "lipstick incident" that everyone is gossiping about trying to find out what it is. It also sets up the eventual formation of The Archies and the arrival of Veronica Lodge.[17] [18]

Reception

IGN gave the first issue a 9.5 out of 10 calling it "a joy in every sense of the word. It's a book that warms you, each turn of the page providing a welcome blast of character and heart." as well as calling it "one of the best new debuts to hit shelves this year."[19] Comic Book Resources said that "the publisher [Archie Comics] has created their best book in years." and that it "is must-read comics for anyone looking for fun, engaging characters and beautifully drawn, on-trend style."[20] Meanwhile, Den of Geek gave it five stars calling Fiona Staples' art "glorious" while saying that Mark Waid "does an impressive job of creating a Riverdale that feels modern and real."

Collected editions

The series has so far been assembled into the following collections:

Title FormatISBN Release Date Collected Material Issues Published
Archie, Volume OnePaperbackMarch 29, 2016Archie #1–6September 2015 – March 2016
Archie, Volume TwoNovember 30, 2016Archie #7–12April 2016 – September 2016
Archie, Volume ThreeMay 9, 2017Archie #13–17October 2016 – April 2017
Archie, Volume Four: Over the EdgeSeptember 19, 2017Archie #18–22May 2017 – July 2017
Archie, Volume Five: The Heart of RiverdaleMay 14, 2018Archie #23–27August 2017 – May 2018
Archie, Volume SixOctober 30, 2018Archie #28–32May 2018 – September 2018
Archie: Varsity Edition, Volume OneHardcoverMarch 12, 2019Archie #1–12September 2015 – September 2016
Archie: Varsity Edition, Volume TwoNovember 12, 2019Archie #13–22October 2016 – July 2017
Archie: Varsity Edition, Volume ThreeTBDArchie #23–32August 2017 – September 2018

Volume 1 cont. (2018–2020)

Collected editions

Title FormatISBN Release Date Collected Material Issues Published
Archie by Nick Spencer, Volume 1PaperbackSeptember 10, 2019Archie #700–704November 2018 – May 2019
Archie by Nick Spencer, Volume 2: Archie and SabrinaApril 14, 2020Archie #705–709June 2019 – December 2019
Archie & Katy KeeneSeptember 10, 2020Archie #710-713July 2019 – July 2020

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McNally. Victoria. Revel in Archie's Newfound Hotness With These Exclusive Comic Covers. https://web.archive.org/web/20150313163027/http://www.mtv.com/news/2102887/exclusive-archie-reboot-covers/. dead. March 13, 2015. MTV News. 6 November 2016. 11 Mar 2015.
  2. Web site: C.. Ron. Check Out the Full Line-up of Archie Comics Solicitations for June 2015!. Archie Comics. 6 November 2016. 18 March 2015.
  3. Web site: C.. Ron. Archie Comics Relaunches Flagship Series With New 'Archie #1,' Announces Expansive 75th Anniversary Plans. Archie Comics. 6 November 2016. 15 December 2014.
  4. Web site: Everything's Archie: Mike Pellerito Reveals Who Will Follow Fiona Staples, Talks Afterlife Delays and Much More. ComicBook.com. Russ. Burlingame. August 18, 2012. August 22, 2015.
  5. Web site: Elfring. Mat. Archie Comics March 2016 Covers and Solicitations. Comic Vine. 6 November 2016. 15 December 2015.
  6. Web site: White. Brett. "Archie" Names Veronica Fish New Regular Series Artist. CBR.com. 6 November 2016. 8 February 2016.
  7. Web site: Burlingame. Russ. Everything's Archie: Joe Eisma Joins "Archie," Tons of Exclusive Art, And More!. ComicBook.com. 6 November 2016. 23 August 2016.
  8. Web site: Couto. Anthony. EXCLUSIVE: Pete Woods Joins Archie As New Series Artist. cbr.com. 16 December 2016. 15 December 2016.
  9. Web site: Comic suspense: Archie Andrews pops question . CNN.com . 2009-05-28 . 2010-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20100408170147/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/books/05/28/comic.book.archie.marrying/index.html. April 8, 2010. live.
  10. Web site: This time, Archie plans to marry Betty . .canada.com . 2009-10-07 . 2010-12-27.
  11. Web site: Archie ##608. Comic Vine. 6 November 2016. 7 September 2014.
  12. Web site: Archie #631. Comic Vine. 6 November 2016.
  13. Web site: Archie #634. Comic Vine. 6 November 2016.
  14. Web site: Archie #642. Comic Vine. 6 November 2016.
  15. Web site: Archie #656. Comic Vine. 6 November 2016.
  16. Web site: Archie Archives Volume 1 :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics.
  17. Web site: Diaz. Eric. Review: Archie #1 Brings Riverdale to the 21st Century. Nerdist. 6 November 2016. 7 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916235152/https://nerdist.com/review-archie-1-mark-waid-fiona-staples/. 16 September 2018. dead.
  18. Web site: Cummins. Chris. Archie #1 (Archie Comics) Review. Den of Geek!. 6 November 2016. 8 July 2015.
  19. Web site: Lake. Jeff. Archie #1 Review. IGN. 6 November 2016. 8 July 2015.
  20. Web site: Little. Matt. Archie #1. CBR.com. 6 November 2016. 7 July 2015.