Archie

Hi Guys,

THE ARCHIE PREQUEL “FRESHMAN YEAR” GETS IN FULL SWING IN ARCHIE #588!

In the tradition of such famous comic book series and mini-series as John Byrne’s “Superman: the Man of Steel,” Frank Miller’s “Batman: Year One” and Marvel’s “Ultimate” line comes the latest comic book icon to get the “prequel” treatment: Archie!   That’s right, now you, the reader can travel back in time with Archie and his friends to their very first year in high school in this five-part epic storyline we’re calling THE FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA!  

It all began last issue (ARCHIE COMICS #587) with a poignant prologue called “The Summer Before,” exploring how the famous friends who just graduated junior high would deal with their pending positions as high school seniors.  Now, in issue #588’s “Freshman Year: Fall Semester,” Archie and his friends are starting the fall semester of their first high school year.  Having survived a summer that saw the departure of Jughead and bickering parents, the gang arrives at high school… to find elementary school Principal Mr. Weatherbee has now become the high school Principal!  But it’s not just about reunions at Riverdale High.  Archie also makes a new friend in Pencilneck G., although he prefers his more laid-back buddy Jughead.  He also makes some new enemies in Jared McGerk and his band of bullies!  Along the way the other classic faculty members are introduced, as well as Pop Tate and his Chok’lit Shop!  It’s the funniest first year of high school ever!

This special storyline is brought to you by none other than fan-favorite writer Batton Lash.  No stranger to Archie Comics, the famed writer of the “Wolff & Byrd” series turned the comic industry upside down in 1994 when he penned the unlikely Archie/Marvel cross-over comic, “Archie Meets the Punisher.”  Many thought it would never work, but Batton’s ingenious script won over even the toughest skeptics, and the comic wound up being not only one of Archie’s biggest-selling issues ever, but also one of the most highly-acclaimed.  Batton returned the following year with another well-received story arc appearing across several Archie titles.  The “House of Riverdale” was a loving tribute to the type of serio-comic, spooky mysteries so prevalent in the vintage “Life with Archie” series.  Handling the art chores is “Scrapyard Detectives” creator and popular Archie artist/writer Bill Galvan.  This is one “year” you can’t afford to miss!

ARCHIE #588
SCRIPT: Batton Lash.
ART: Bill Galvan.
Shipping Date: August 13th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 20th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: September 2nd, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

<p><table id="table9" cellspacing="5"><tbody><tr><td><div class="postbody"><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/kkgn.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/Keene_001.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/Keene_002.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/Keene_003.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/Keene_004.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/Keene_005.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/Keene_006.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><img alt="Image" src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee203/archiecomics2008/Keene_007.jpg" height="675" width="450" /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">GLAMOUR GIRL KATY KEENE RETURNS IN A GRAPHIC NOVEL COLLECTING HER MODERN-DAY MODELING MISADVENTURES!</span> <br /><br />Yes, it’s another great entry in the ARCHIE GRAPHIC NOVEL series, now with a new 6 x 9 trim size and increased page count of 112 pages! Our focus this time is that queen of chic, KATY KEENE. Since the 1940s, fashion model supreme Katy has enthralled audiences with her own self-titled series as well as KATY KEENE PIN-UP PARADE and KATY KEENE FASHION BOOK MAGAZINE. Readers have long thrilled to her adventures on the runway as well as her intriguing romances. Best of all, Katy Keene was one of the first interactive comic book series, inviting readers to send in fashion suggestions of their own that were turned into pin-ups and paper dolls that they could cut out and keep! In 2005, Katy returned in a big way in the FREE COMIC BOOK DAY entry for that year. By popular demand, Katy soon began appearing again on a regular basis in the pages of ARCHIE &amp; FRIENDS. Her new adventures were charted by writer-artist Andrew Pepoy, and were filled with the same adventure and romance Katy fans had come to expect, served up with a modern-day twist of course – now Katy is a model, movie actress and pop singing sensation rolled into one! Now these popular Katy stories are collected together for the first time. This handsome, fully colored edition features not only every KATY KEENE story from ARCHIE &amp; FRIENDS #101 through #110, it also includes an ALL-NEW story from Pepoy that charts Katy’s whirlwind career. Don’t miss the high fashion hijinx! Stories include: <br /><br />“Katy’s Diary”: Discover how a Michigan girl went from a Chicago University student to a sensational celebrity supermodel! <br />“…And the Award Goes To”: An appearance at the “VTV Movie Awards,” where she’s nominated for “best kiss” in “The Web” movie affords Katy an opportunity to sing on stage! . <br />“Paparazzi Problem”: Katy spirits off to a secluded seaside town, hoping to relax and avoid the press… but even there, tabloid shutterbugs lurk! . <br />“Love in Blum”: Katy Keene lands a plum role in “Johnny the Pirate III,” but all her sister MacKenzie cares about is crashing the set so she can meet hunky heartthrob Oleander Blum! <br />“Music Magic v3.0”: Entertainment reporter Margot Vhang pulls out all the stops hoping to catch Katy in a scandal she can exploit. Leaving no slimy rock unturned, imagine Margot’s surprise when she learns the scandal-LESS truth about Katy! . <br />“Beaches, Bikinis &amp; Backstabbing”: Katy frolics on the beach in the middle of winter… on a working vacation in sunny Central America! But things soon go from sweet to sour when spoiled supermodel Mischa Mucha joins the photo shoot. <br />“May I Have This Dance?”: Katy’s sister MacKenzie has a crush, but her crush has designs on Katy! Can MacKenzie find a way to swing the subject back around to herself? <br />“The Web Returns”: It’s the return of that “Mighty Hero,” the Web… sort of! It’s the filming of the latest super-heroic multiplex mega hit starring everyone’s OTHER favorite arachnid-inspired hero, the Web. Katy has the plum role of the hero’s spunky girlfriend, but when things get seriously deadly on the set, Katy may have to put on her detective hat. Who is sabotaging the stunts, and why? <br />“Viva Las Vegas”: The glittery city never saw anyone as glittering as Katy! Katy is in town to present the awards at an extreme sports skateboarding competition, but she isn’t winning any awards with her love-interest, stuntman K.O. Kirby. <br />“America’s New Best Model”: Call it “designer satire” when Katy takes on television model competitions! Katy of course is the nicest contestant on the reality series hosted by Tyrant Brinks… and that makes her a real winner, no matter how the judges vote! <br />&quot;Four Color Fun&quot;: Katy is clearly a hero to the many fans who show up to meet her at the mammoth California Comic-con, where she's promoting her epic &quot;Web Returns&quot; film. While there, she sets out on a comics quest of her own that's sure to be as thrilling as her celluloid exploits! <br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><span style="COLOR: red">KATY KEENE SPECIAL #1</span></span><br />SCRIPT AND ART: Andrew Pepoy. <br />Shipping Date: August 13th, 2008<br />On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 20th, 2008<br />On Sale on Newsstands: September 2nd, 2008 <br />112-page, full color graphic novel<br />$10.95 US.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></p>

This past weekend, at the wedding of Jenna Bush and Henry Hager, President George Bush shared a father-daughter dance to Tyrone "Super T" Smith’s rendition of the Archies' hit, "Sugar Sugar". Smith said, "He was right there. He got down. He got down!"



We at Archie Comics congratulate President Bush on the occasion of his daughter’s wedding, and we send our best wishes to Jenna and Henry Hager for a long and happy marriage.

ARCHIE #588
THE FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA GETS IN FULL SWING THIS ISSUE!
"Freshman Year: "Part Two": In the tradition of "Batman: Year One," "Superman: The Man of Steel" and the Marvel Ultimates comes the biggest Archie Comics event since the "Love Showdown!" The first full-length issue of the "Freshman Year" saga finds Archie and his friends just st
Arting the fall semester. Having survived a summer that saw the dep
Arture of Jughead and bickering parents, the gang arrives at high school… to find elementary school Principal Mr. Weatherbee has now become the high school Principal! But it’s not just about reunions at Riverdale High. Archie also makes a new friend in Pencilneck G., although he prefers his more laid-back buddy Jughead. He also makes some new enemies in Jared McGerk and his band of bullies! Along the way the other classic faculty members are introduced, as well as Pop Tate and his Choklit Shop! It’s the funniest first year of high school ever, courtesy of fan-favorite writer Batton Lash of "Wolff & Byrd" and "Ar
chie Meets the Punisher" fame, along with "Scrapyard Detectives" creator and popular Archie
Artist/writer Bill Galvan.
Script: Batton Lash.
Art: Bill Galvan.
Shipping Date: August 13th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 20th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: September 2nd, 2008
32-page,
Full Color comic
$2.25 US.

KATY KEENE SPECIAL #1
Yes, it’s another great entry in the ARCHIE GRAPHIC NOVEL series, now with a new 6 x 9 trim size and increased page count of 112 pages! Our focus this time is that queen of chic, KATY KEENE. Since the 1940s, fashion model supreme Katy has enthralled audiences with her own self-titled series as well as KATY KEENE PIN-UP PARADE and KATY KEENE FASHION BOOK MAGAZINE. Readers have long thrilled to her adventures on the runway as well as her intriguing romances. Best of all, Katy Keene was one of the first interactive comic book series, inviting readers to send in fashion suggestions of their own that were turned into pin-ups and paper dolls that they could cut out and keep! In 2005, Katy returned in a big way in the FREE COMIC BOOK DAY entry for that year. By popular demand, Katy soon began appearing again on a regular basis in the pages of ARCHIE & FRIENDS. Her new adventures were ch
Arted by writer-
Artist Andrew Pepoy, and were filled with the same adventure and romance Katy fans had come to expect, served up with a modern-day twist of course. Now these popular Katy stories are collected together for the first time. This handsome, fully colored edition features not only every KATY KEENE story from ARCHIE & FRIENDS #101 through #110, it also includes an ALL-NEW story from Pepoy that ch
Arts Katy’s whirlwind career! In "Katy’s Diary," readers will discover how a Michigan girl went from a Chicago University student to a sensational celebrity supermodel! You won’t want to miss the high fashion hijinx!
Script AND
Art: Andrew Pepoy.
Shipping Date: August 13th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 20th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: September 2nd, 2008
112-page, Full Color graphic novel
$10.95 US.

ARCHIE #585
“A Yelp for Help”: Archie, Betty and Jughead decide to make extra money as personal aides, which only leads to romantic misunderstandings¸ canine chaos, and garage sale mania!
SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg.
“Par for the Course”: A golf outing with a potential business partner turns into a golf “ouching” when Archie comes along with club in hand!
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher. ART: Stan Goldberg. “Lucklorn”: Archie laments the fact that for someone who doesn’t believe in “luck,” Jughead sure has a lot of “good fortune!”
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman. ART: Stan Goldberg.
Shipping Date: May 21st, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 28th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: June 10th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

Betty & Veronica artist and writer Dan Parent will be at the Philadelphia Wizard World Convention this weekend May 30th through June 1st, He will be sketching and signing in Artists Alley at table #1413B.

Philadelphia Convention Center
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107