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.

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.

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!

ARCHIE  #587
“The Summer Before”
SCRIPT: Batton Lash. 
ART: Bill Galvan
Shipping Date: July 16th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 23rd, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 5th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.