Picking up where PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #125 left off, "Break-up Blues Part 2" finds Midge dating Reggie and Moose about to start dating Judy Johnson. But even though he's taken Midge out on a few dates, Reggie is having second-thoughts as Midge is obviously missing Moose... and Reggie is missing the cat-and-mouse game he used to have so much fun playing with Moose!  Does Reggie hold the key in getting Moose and Midge back together... or will his involvement only draw Midge closer to him?  And what will Moose's new girlfriend, Judy Johnson have to say about it? 

2007's "Bad Boy Trouble" set the comics world on its ear as the teens were depicted in a realistic style.  This year's "Match Makers" continued the look and kept people talking.  Now veteran penciler Tod Smith and journeyman inker Al Milgrom carry on that look in what is sure to be the most explosive Archie Comics story of the year! 

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #126
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan. 
ART: Tod Smith (pencils) and Al Milgrom (inks). 
PLUS: Other new and classic tales! 
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. 
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: October 29th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 5th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: November 18th, 2008
176-page, full color digest
$3.69 US.

Victor Gorelick is given the Inkpot Award

Archie Comics' Editor-in-Chief, Victor Gorelick, was honored with a surprise presentation of the legendary Inkpot Award during the 2008 Comic-Con International. The Inkpot Award was presented to Victor by the Comic Con's Gary Sassaman, during Victor Gorelick's Spotlight Panel.

Victor Gorelick has worked at Archie Comics for 50 years, and is a veteran of the comic industry. Victor joined Archie Comic as an art assistant, and has served as production coordinator, art director. After being art director for a number of years, Victor was promoted to Managing Editor and Richard Goldwater became President and Editor-in-Chief. Victor now services as Archie Comic's Editor-in-Chief. Victor has unique knowledge of every facet of the editorial process required to create and publish successful comics. He has done everything from writing to coloring, and everything between. He has highly regarded artistic skills and an eye for meticulous detail. He also has a well honed sense of the wholesome content of Archie Comics that has been the basis for the bond of trust built with readers by Archie Comic down through the years. He has worked closely with numerous companies designing various custom comic books. For example, he has overseen collaborations between Archie Comic and Kraft General Foods, Radio Shack and even the F.B.I.! He is a moving force on the Comic Magazine Association of America's Code Authority Guidelines Committee, a member of the Board of Advisors of the Joe Kubert School where many of today's comic artists first learned their craft, and he has taught cartooning as an instructor at the Kingsborough Community College in New York City.

Since 1974, Comic-Con International has awarded the Inkpot Award. It is an achievement award given to professionals in comic book, comic strip, animation, science fiction, and related pop-culture fields.

Past Archie Comics Recipients of the Inkpot Award include, Al Hartley in 1980, Bill Woggon in 1981, Dan DeCarlo and George Gladir in 1991, Stan Goldberg in 1994, Bob Bolling, and Dexter Taylor in 2005.

We at Archie Comics would like to congratulate Victor Gorelick on receiving Comic-Con International's 2008 Inkpot Award.

ARCHIE #587
THE “FRESHMAN YEAR” SAGA BEGINS HERE!
“The Summer Before”: Travel back in time with this five-issue tale that takes Archie and his friends back to their very first year in high school. It all starts with this poignant prologue which finds the gang wondering just what that first year will be like, while reflecting fondly on the past as well. Along the way, the gang must deal with the pending departure of one of their closest friends, as well as their bickering parents. And while the kids count the days until they enter their new school home, someone else is joining Riverdale High, too: Principal Waldo Weatherbee! All this, plus allusions to Captain Pureheart, The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Veronica’s worldwide travels, and more! It’s all brought to you by fan-favorite writer Batton Lash of “Wolff & Byrd” and “Archie Meets the Punisher” fame.
SCRIPT: Batton Lash.
ART: Bill Galvan.
Shipping Date: July 16th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 23rd, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: August 5th, 2008
32-recycled page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE AND JUGHEAD ENCOUNTER ANCIENT HORRORS IN A SPECIAL HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY COMIC!

Over the past several years, Archie Comics has delighted comic shop customers with exclusive giveaway comics produced in conjunction with Diamond Distribution. In addition to Archie’s involvement in Diamond’s annual Free Comic Book Day program, Archie has also served up thrills and chills come Halloween-time. These full-color, 16-page, Halloween-themed comics have all-new stories and art and make the perfect “treat” for the goody bags of costumed revelers.

This year, Archie Comics is back with another fun-filled giveaway issue. Archie and Jughead take center-stage in a spooky, kooky spoof of a certain box office smash about museum exhibits coming to life. With a script by veteran writer George Gladir, author of countless Archie classics; and art by famed Little Archie artist Bob Bolling, this is sure to have appeal not just to children but adult collectors as well.

In “The Mystery of the Museum Sleep-in,” the museum is a scream for Archie and Jughead. Inspired by a favorite film, the pals decide to spend a night at the museum to experience maximum spookage. And experience it they do, as statues suddenly come towards them! Are these artifacts coming to life for real, or is somebody playing the ultimate Halloween “trick” on our unsuspecting teens? The answer will leave you scared silly!

Participating Comic Book Shops give a copy of this comic to customers on Halloween. If you would like to give these mini-comics out at your home for Halloween, you need to contact your local comic retailer and order them today. The mini-comics are bundled in groups of 50 and have to be ordered in July.

You can find a comic shop near you at
Comic Shop Locator Service`
or by calling toll free 1-888-COMIC BOOK
(1-888-266-4226)

ARCHIE #586
“One Click Away”: Archie decides to date other girls while Veronica’s out of town, but while Archie flirts away, Veronica’s spies click away on their camera phones! 
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman.  ART: Stan Goldberg. 
“Teen Tycoon”: Mr. Lodge has a dream… make that a nightmare… about Archie becoming a millionaire! 
SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare.  ART: Stan Goldberg. 
“No Parking Zone”: Archie finds the beach has gone to the dogs… especially when a little puppy follows him there.  Trouble is, it’s a “no dogs allowed” beach! 
SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare.  ART: Stan Goldberg.
Shipping Date: June 18th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 25th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 8th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

This July, Archie Comics releases the first part of an epic storyline the fans have been clamoring for.  The “Freshman Year” saga follows the Archie teens from the summer following middle school graduation through their first year at Riverdale High, including all the seasons and the special activities and events that are a part of each.  It’s a prequel 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.

A look back to how it all began isn’t all the fans have been clamoring for.  Countless fans have weighed in with their concerns about the environment, and Archie Comics has heard their pleas.  Just as “Freshman Year” writer Batton Lash is turning back the timeline for a fresh look at Archie and his friends’ beginnings, the publishers of Archie Comics are giving previously used paper a fresh look by printing this storyline on recycled paper!  Beginning with ARCHIE #587, all five issues featuring this special storyline, through issue  ARCHIE #591 will have their interiors printed on recycled paper.   

Archie Comics is pleased to support the “green” initiative while entertaining its readers with “Freshman Year.”  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 for FRESHMAN YEAR is “Scrapyard Detectives” creator Bill Galvan.  In the year since he started working on Archie Comics, he has become one of the most popular artists to render the freckle-faced teen and his friends.  With the unbeatable team of Lash and Galvan taking a fresh look at Archie, this is one “year” you can’t afford to miss!

ARCHIE #587, ships 7/16.
ARCHIE #588, ships 8/13.
ARCHIE #589, ships 9/17.
ARCHIE #590, ships 10/22.
ARCHIE #591, ships 11/19.
All comics are 32-page, full color, priced at $2.25 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.