Betty & Veronica Spectacular

ARCHIE COMICS SHIPPING JUNE 2008

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:13:54 -0500

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #84
"Get Up & Go": When Veronica finds herself perpetually late for school, her father insists she start riding the bus. Will she give up the creature comforts of her father's limo so easily, or come up with an alternate way to travel with style?
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
Shipping Date: July July 16th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 23rd, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: August 5th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

Archie Comics First Look: BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #82

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:58:09 -0500

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #82
SPECIAL "LOVE & ROMANCE" ISSUE!
“For Better or For Worse”: Betty and Veronica are shocked to find Archie attending a wedding with Cheryl Blossom as his date! Things get even worse for Veronica when Betty gets upgraded to bridesmaid. Will Veronica find a way to take center stage at this event? Does Archie have freckles?!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
PLUS: A peak into Betty and Veronica's romantic futures - according to them!
BONUS: Fashion pages, fun quizzes, puzzles and games for hope(ful) romantics everywhere!
Shipping Date: March 12th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: March 19th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: April 1st, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #83

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:48:02 -0500

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #83
IT’S A SPECIAL "SUMMY FUN" ISSUE WITH THOSE TEEN SCENE DREAMS, BETTY & VERONICA!
"The Battle for Riverdale Cove": When both the boys and the girls claim the same exact spot in the cove as their exclusive place to hang out, they hold a multi-game contest to determine who has dibs. When they get to the
"treasure hunt" portion of the competition, imagine their surprise when they stumble upon a bag of coins and jewels! Will the two teams put aside their rivalry long enough to team-up and solve this mystery?
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
PLUS!: Special features including
"Betty & Veronica’s Favorite Summer Things,"
"Top 10 Beach Tips,"
"Good Summer Fashions" and more!
Shipping Date: May 14th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 21st, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: June 3rd, 2008
32-page,
Full color comic
$2.25 US.

Archie Comics First Look: BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #81

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:35:35 -0500

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #81
"How Green Can You Go?": Led by Tomoko and her brother Akira, the kids at Riverdale High decide to
"go green" in a big way, by having an eco-friendly winter dance. But the only
"green" Veronica is willing to commit to is money! Will she change her mind when her father offers to host the dance in the new solar-powered wing of his estate? Or will it take one hunky enviro-boy to make her see the light? Don’t miss this exciting story loaded with off-the-grid environmental tips and off-the-chart laughs! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
Shipping Date: February 6th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 13th, 2008
On Sale
On Newsstands: February 26th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

Betty & Veronica's Spectacular "Love & Romance" Issue

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:51:12 -0500

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #82
Special "Love & Romance" Issue!

In a special issue of Betty & Veronica Spectacular, Cheryl Blossom stars in “For Better or For Worse”, a tale in which Archie and Cheryl hear wedding bells, as Archie accompanies Cheryl to a wedding as her date. When Betty becomes a bridesmaid at the very same wedding, Veronica must find a way to include herself and take center stage. Betty and Veronica also share their personal vision of their own romantic futures. All of this, as well as all of the fashions, quizzes, puzzles and games that sets Betty & Veronica Spectacular apart and makes it… Spectacular!

Stories and Art by Dan Parent

Shipping Date: March 12th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: March 19th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: March 31,2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE COMICS SHIPPING MARCH 2008

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:58:53 -0500

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #82
SPECIAL "LOVE & ROMANCE" ISSUE!
"For Better or For Worse": Betty and Veronica are shocked to find Archie attending a wedding with Cheryl Blossom as his date! Things get even worse for Veronica when Betty gets upgraded to bridesmaid. Will Veronica find a way to take center stage at this event? Does Archie have freckles?!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
PLUS: A peak into Betty and Veronica's romantic futures - according to them!
BONUS: Fashion pages, fun quizzes, puzzles and games for hope(ful) romantics everywhere!
Shipping Date: March 12th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: March 19th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: April 1st, 2008
32-page,
Full color comic
$2.25 US.

Dan Parent talks about Betty & Veronica Spectacular

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:43:16 -0500

Archie: What is the difference between a story in Betty & Veronica story for the comic or digest and one that goes into the Spectacular?

Dan Parent: We try to treat the spectacular book as a trendier book that someone who doesn't even read our books might pick out and give it a try. We also try to give it a bolder graphic style that will pop out on the newsstand.

Archie: The look, feel and design of Betty & Veronica Spectacular are different than the rest of the Archie Comics, how did this come about?

Dan Parent: The old Spectacular book was really no different than the regular Betty & Veronica book, so we wanted the book to have a separate identity. We went with the more magazine-ish approach, but not so far that it would turn off Archie fans too. The book is by far the most requested at conventions, and I think we've really succeeded in our original intentions.

Archie: How did the quizzes come about?

Dan Parent: All the teen books have quizzes, and people in general like to evaluate themselves, so the quizzes add a fun element to the book.

Archie: How many magazines do you read each month?

Dan Parent: I subscribe to over 30 magazines a month. I have to continually bring boxed of books to the recycling center, otherwise my house would look like a disaster zone!

Archie: Both the coloring and backgrounds have more detail and texture, how is this look achieved?

Dan Parent: Thank God for PhotoShop. It's changed my life (along with many other artists!) PhotosShop gives you the freedom to do so many things, especially to redo things when you don't like them.

Archie: So, is Betty & Veronica Spectacular a one man show where you do the writing, penciling, inking, coloring and lettering?

Dan Parent: Well, on some features I do everything, but on the main stories we still use the coloring, inking and lettering talents of artists like Rich Koslowski, Barry Grossman and Jack Morelli. And Archie's art department is so good at taking my digital work and adding their own elements to make them even better.

Archie: What type of things influence you when plotting new Betty & Veronica Spectacular stories?

Dan Parent: I base the stories on what's going on in the news, or possibly a story I've read about in a magazine. Sometimes a real life event will spark a story idea. Like, when my daughter's school made a rule that everybody's required to take a shop or home ec. class whether they want to or not, that become a plot for one of the Spectacular books last year.

Archie: How do you plot out and issue with your editor and how much editorial involvement is there in the creation of each issue?

Dan Parent: I sit down with Victor Gorelick, and we come up with an overall theme. Then that's followed by a cover, and it all unfolds from there. Victor's good at pinpointing what will work and what won't, which I guess is why he's Editor-in-Chief!

Archie: As a comic that is published quarterly, you had an issue out for each new season's fashions; now that the Betty & Veronica Spectacular has increased to a bi-monthly title will this have any impact on the content?

Dan Parent: No, we'll still focus on seasons and holidays, now we just get to do more! And there's no shortage of themes when it comes to teens (or tweens)!

Archie: What can Betty & Veronica Spectacular fans look forward to seeing in the coming months?

Dan Parent: We've got a green issue coming out, then a special love and romance issue with a fun wedding story. Then we've got a Summer Fun issue coming (notice how I'm re-using the term "Summer Fun" from the old days) and we've done a back-to-school book each year, so we'll be doing another one of those! And that only brings us to September!

THIS FEBRUARY, ARCHIE AND HIS FRIENDS “GO GREEN!”

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:06:31 -0500

For years, stories in Archie Comics have explored the benefits of being environmentally friendly – from anti-pollution tales of the 1960s and ‘70s, up through tales of recycling and conservation in the ‘80s, ‘90s and the millennium, Archie Comics has always been at the forefront of the “green scene.” In the 1990s, Archie was even the first major comic book company to print their comics on recycled paper and soy-based inks!

Now, environmental issues are once again a focal point of today’s headlines. People from all walks of life, no matter what age, heritage, or political affiliation are seeking ways to live smarter when it comes to our natural resources. Teenagers in particular have embraced the cause, and Archie and his friends at Riverdale High are right in line, as two special stories reveal this February.

The environmental awareness begins in BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #81. In “How Green Can You Go,” Tomoko Yoshida and her brother Akira inspire the rest of the school to “go green” in a big way, by having an eco-friendly winter dance. But the only “green” Veronica is willing to commit to is money! Will she change her mind when her father offers to host the dance in the new solar-powered wing of his estate? Or will it take one hunky enviro-boy to make her see the light? Don’t miss this exciting story loaded with off-the-grid environmental tips and off-the-chart laughs!

Over in BETTY #172, the girls decide to offer a trophy to the boy who proves to be the most into “The Green Scene.” Of course, the boys are filled with imaginative ways they think they can reduce global warming, while the girls are the ones with the real solutions, in this amusing tale filled with useful environmental tips.

Don’t miss these timely and poignant tales – order your copies today!

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #81
“How Green Can You Go?”: Led by Tomoko Yoshida and her brother Akira, the kids at Riverdale High decide to “go green” in a big way, by having an eco-friendly winter dance. But the only “green” Veronica is willing to commit to is money! Will she change her mind when her father offers to host the dance in the new solar-powered wing of his estate? Or will it take one hunky enviro-boy to make her see the light? Don’t miss this exciting story loaded with off-the-grid environmental tips and off-the-chart laughs!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
Shipping Date: February 6th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 13th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: February 26th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE COMICS SHIPPING FEBRUARY 2008

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:44:20 -0500

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #81

"How Green Can You Go?": Led by Tomoko and her brother Akira, the kids at Riverdale High decide to "go green" in a big way, by having an eco-friendly winter dance. But the only "green" Veronica is willing to commit to is money! Will she change her mind when her father offers to host the dance in the new solar-powered wing of his estate? Or will it take one hunky enviro-boy to make her see the light? Don’t miss this exciting story loaded with off-the-grid environmental tips and off-the-chart laughs!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
Shipping Date: February 6th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 13th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: February 26th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.