Last week, Archie Comics teased an announcement for four new titles coming in 2017. Today, they unwrapped their upcoming gifts to comic fandom, with the caveat that the four new titles are going to be released first as one-shots, and, depending on fan response, may be green lit to be regular series.
“The worlds of Archie Horror and New Riverdale are always expanding and changing and we’re always striving to tell the best stories we can with the Archie characters,” said Archie Comics CEO/Publisher Jon Goldwater. “These new launches give readers a wider lens with which to see the Archie characters and concepts, including perennial favorites like THE ARCHIES, SABRINA, LITTLE ARCHIE and more. I think of it as a very ambitious and top-line pilot season that showcases the successful and acclaimed New Riverdale sensibility. If these books resonate, fans might just see them greenlit as regular series.”
The first title, as many predicted far and wide, is Art Baltazar and Franco’s return to Little Archie, which arrives in comic shops March 8th. Aw yeah, Little Archie!
The second title, which NerdSpan predicted not only in content, but the exact title, is The Archies, which arrives on March 15th. The Archies joins Archie Meets Ramones creators Alex Segura and Matt Rosenberg with artist Joe Eisma, and Jaime Hernandez of Love and Rockets draws the cover to the one-shot.
The third title is Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and though two-thirds of its creative team is known for IDW’s My Little Pony, Andy Price’s Sabrina art is much different than that on MLP. It’s still cartoony, but filtered with a lens of realism, not unlike Mike Allred’s work if Allred decided to try a thinner line. Katie Cook, Andy Price, and Franco’s Sabrina arrives on March 22nd
I took a few guesses at Frank Tieri and Michael Walsh’s teaser, though if it was a game of “Hot and Cold,” I didn’t get past “you’re getting warmer.” Jughead: The Hunger will expand the Archie Horror line on March 29th, with a peek at the sinister interior of Riverdale’s famous burger eater.
Official solicitations:
LITTLE ARCHIE ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Archie’s wildest day ever starts with a cat eating his homework—and things just get crazier from there! But this isn’t just an ordinary cat, and this certainly won’t be an ordinary day for Little Archie and his friends. Join in on the fun adventure from the superstar comics team Art Baltazar and Franco (Tiny Titans, Action Cat and Adventure Bug)!
Script: Art Baltazar and Franco
Art: Art Baltazar
Cover: Art Baltazar
On Sale Date: 3/8
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.THE ARCHIES ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Follow Archie’s quest to make his songwriting dreams a reality, and see what happens when the rock ‘n’ roll dream starts affecting his relationships with his closest friends. Join co-writers Alex Segura and Matthew Rosenberg (Archie Meets Ramones) and artist Joe Eisma (Archie) for a power-pop one-shot that goes loud on the music, fun and friendship.
Script: Alex Segura and Matt Rosenberg
Art: Joe Eisma
Cover: Jaime Hernandez
On Sale Date: 3/15
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Sabrina is off to college for her first foray into “the real world.” After years of being protectively home schooled by her aunts, she is ready to experience friends, boys, and parties—but a shocking revelation will rock her world in a way she never expected! From writers Franco (Tiny Titans) and Katie Cook (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) and art by Andy Price (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)!
Script: Katie Cook and Franco
Art: Andy Price
Cover: Sandra Lanz
On Sale Date: 3/22
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER ONE-SHOT
BRAND NEW ONE-SHOT SPECIAL! Jughead Jones has always had an insatiable appetite… but what if his hunger came from a sinister place? When a murderous menace is on the prowl, taking the lives of some of the most well-known and esteemed inhabitants of Riverdale, Jughead and his family’s dark legacy comes to light. Join writer Frank Tieri (Wolverine) and artist Michael Walsh (Secret Avengers) for this horrifying one-shot for TEEN+ readers.
Script: Frank Tieri
Art: Michael Walsh
Cover: Michael Walsh
On Sale Date: 3/29
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
