Archie Comics’ superhero imprint, Dark Circle Comics, has announced that they will be publishing a new title, The Web, based on their vintage comic book hero.

The Web’s premise sounds like a solid basis to a good comic book story, and it also sounds like an echo of G Willow Wilson’s excellent Ms. Marvel comic book.  “…high-schooler…suburban New Jersey…idolizes a hero…Finding herself with mysterious powers much like her idol…struggle to balance her new life as a superhero while also dealing with family issues.”   This is absolutely fine, as some of the best comic book stories came from borrowing from earlier comic book stories, much as Peter Parker’s work situation in his earliest stories resemble Clark Kent’s, including an irascible publisher, a crush on a woman in the office, and depending on moving stories about his costumed alter ego.

Interestingly, while DC Comics published two The Web series when they had the license, this is the first time that Archie has published a series with that title, although The Web did appear in back-up features and as a member of The Mighty Crusaders.

The current and upcoming Dark Circle line-up includes The Black Hood, The Fox, The Shield, The Hangman, and now The Web.  Conspicuously absent from the Dark Circle Comics superhero line-up are The Fly and Fly-Girl, and, perhaps less conspicuously due to being less successful moving comic books (but more so than The Web), The Jaguar.

Official press release:

DARK CIRCLE UNVEILS NEW SERIES — THE WEB — FROM WHITE, KUDRANKSI
Adding to an already impressive lineup of books that include THE BLACK HOOD, THE FOX, THE SHIELD and THE HANGMAN, Archie’s superhero imprint Dark Circle Comics today announced plans for the latest re-imagining of a classic property with THE WEB.
Written by bestselling novelist Dave White (the Jackson Donne series of PI novels) and featuring art by artist Szymon Kudranski (Batman: The Dark Knight, Spawn), the series stars Jane Raymond, a 14-year-old high-schooler in suburban New Jersey who idolizes a hero known The Web. Finding herself with mysterious powers much like her idol, Jane’s struggle to balance her new life as a superhero while also dealing with family issues will put this new hero to the ultimate test.

THE WEB hits comic book stores early 2016.

The Web