Archie (comic book)


Archie is an ongoing comic book series featuring the Archie Comics character Archie Andrews. The character first appeared in Pep Comics #22. Archie proved to be popular enough to warrant his own self-titled ongoing comic book series which began publication in the winter of 1942 and ran until June 2015. A second series began publication in July 2015, featuring a reboot of the Archie universe with a new character design aesthetic and a more mature story format and scripting, aimed for older, contemporary teenage and young adult readers. The printed comic book format is different from the previous publications.

Publication history

Archie first appeared in Pep Comics #22 in 1941 and soon became the most popular character for the comic. Due to his popularity, he was given his own series which debuted in winter 1942 titled Archie Comics. Starting with issue #114, the title was shortened to simply Archie. The series ended with issue #666 to make way for a new series set in Archie Comics' "New Riverdale".
A new volume of Archie debuted in July 2015 as part of the New Riverdale relaunch. It is written by Mark Waid with art by Fiona Staples. Archie Comics Publisher/CEO Jon Goldwater has said that the new series will harken back to the comic's roots by showcasing more edgy and humorous stories as well as present the origins for the character and his friends as well as how the famous love triangle between Archie, Betty, and Veronica began. Fiona Staples left the series after issue #3 while Annie Wu provided artwork for the fourth issue. Veronica Fish was the guest artist for the fifth and sixth issues before being named the regular artist for the series in February 2016. Fish left the series after issue 10 but continued to provide the regular cover art up to issue 12. Thomas Pitilli and Ryan Jampole provided guest artwork for issues 11 and 12 with Joe Eisma being named the new regular artist starting with issue 13. Pete Woods will take over as series artist beginning with issue #18 in March 2017. Woods provided as the artist until #22 in July 2017. Audrey Mok & Kelly Fitzpatrick will provide onward artwork from #23 in August 2017.

Volume 1 (1942–2015)

Significant issues

Issue #429 started one of Archie Comics most famous story lines, the Love Showdown where Archie gets a love letter in the mail and Betty and Veronica both swear it wasn't from them. The story was continued in Betty #19, Betty and Veronica #82, and concluded with Veronica #39.
In issues # 600–602, the story features a futuristic look into the life of Riverdale teen Archie Andrews in the years that follow his college graduation when Archie makes his ultimate decision to marry spoiled rich girl Veronica Lodge instead of sweet girl next door Betty Cooper. In Issues # 603–605, the story switches and Archie proposes marriage to Betty instead of to Veronica. Issue #606 serves as the epilogue to the story and ties the previous six issues together.
This two-issue arc follows Archie Andrews and Valerie Smith falling in love when their two bands go on tour together. This is Archie Comics' first interracial relationship.
The four issue arc follows a potential future where Archie married Valerie Smith and had a daughter with her named Star. It is similar to the Archie Marries Veronica/Archie Marries Betty arc. Issue #634 details a bunch of potential futures where Archie may have married Cheryl Blossom, Sabrina Spellman or Ethel Muggs.
Archie and his friends cross paths with the cast of Glee thanks to one of Dilton's science experiments gone wrong.
Features the first appearance of Veronica's cousin, Harper, who is physically disabled and needs to use a wheelchair to get around.

Collected editions

Early issues of Archie have been collected into hardcover 'Archive Editions' by Dark Horse Comics, including original games pages and ads. IDW published archival hardback editions titled Archie's Americana which collect key issues from each decade since the 1940s. Similar hardbacks were produced showcasing work by favourite Archie creators.
Some key Archie storylines have also been collected as trade paperbacks.

Dark Horse Archive Editions

TitleISBNRelease DateCollected Material
Archie Archives Volume OneMay 10, 2011Pep Comics #22–38, Jackpot Comics #4–8, Archie Comics #1–2
Archie Archives Volume TwoSeptember 27, 2011Jackpot Comics #9, Pep Comics #39–45, Archie Comics #3–6
Archie Archives Volume ThreeNovember 22, 2011Pep Comics #46–50, Archie Comics #7–10
Archie Archive Volume FourFebruary 14, 2012Pep Comics #51–53, Archie Comics #11–14
Archie Archives Volume FiveMay 1, 2012Pep Comics #54–56, Archie Comics #15–18
Archie Archives Volume SixAugust 14, 2012Pep Comics #57–58, Archie Comics #19–22
Archie Archives Volume SevenNovember 13, 2012Pep Comics #59–61, Archie Comics #23–25, Laugh Comics #20–21
Archie Archives Volume EightMarch 19. 2013Pep Comics #62–64, Archie Comics #26–28, Laugh Comics #23–24
Archie Archives Volume NineMarch 19, 2014Pep Comics #65–67, Archie Comics #29–31, Laugh Comics #25–26
Archie Archives Volume TenAugust 27, 2014Pep Comics #67–69, Archie Comics #32–34, Laugh Comics #27–28
Archie Archives Volume ElevenJuly 1, 2015Pep Comics #70–72, Archie Comics #35–36, Laugh Comics #29–31
Archie Archives Volume TwelveFebruary 10, 2016Pep Comics #73–75, Archie Comics #37–39, Laugh Comics #32–34
Archie Archives Volume ThirteenOctober 19, 2016Pep Comics #76–78, Archie Comics #40—41 Laugh Comics #35–37

IDW Collections

TitleISBNRelease DateCollected Material
Archie's Americana Volume 1: Best of the 1940sSeptember 6, 2011Pep Comics #22, 25–26, 31, Jackpot Comics' #6, Archie Comics #1, 7, 30, Jughead #1, Laugh Comics #23, 25, 27, 28. 36
Archie's Americana Volume 2: Best of the 1950sOctober 18, 2011
Archie's Americana Volume 3: Best of the 1960sMarch 27, 2012
Archie's Americana Volume 4: Best of the 1970sJuly 10, 2012
Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume 1July 6, 2010
Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo. Volume 2April 19, 2011
Archie" The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume 3January 24, 2012
Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume 4March 19, 2013
Archie: The Best of Harry Lucey, Volume 1October 18, 2011
Archie: The Best of Harry Lucey, Volume 2October 19, 2012
Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz, Volume 1November 29, 2011
Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz, Volume 2''December 25, 2012

Trade paperbacks

'Best Of' Collections

Volume 2 (2015–present)

Story

The first issue focuses on Archie's recent split with Betty Cooper due to the "lipstick incident" that everyone is gossiping about trying to find out what it is. It also sets up the eventual formation of The Archies and the arrival of Veronica Lodge.

Reception

gave the first issue a 9.5 out of 10 calling it "a joy in every sense of the word. It's a book that warms you, each turn of the page providing a welcome blast of character and heart." as well as calling it "one of the best new debuts to hit shelves this year." Comic Book Resources said that "the publisher has created their best book in years." and that it "is must-read comics for anyone looking for fun, engaging characters and beautifully drawn, on-trend style." Meanwhile, Den of Geek gave it five stars calling Fiona Staples' art "glorious" while saying that Mark Waid "does an impressive job of creating a Riverdale that feels modern and real."

Collected editions

The series has so far been assembled into the following collections:
TitleFormatISBNRelease DateCollected MaterialIssues Published
Archie, Volume OnePaperbackMarch 29, 2016Archie #1–6September 2015 – March 2016
Archie, Volume TwoPaperbackNovember 30, 2016Archie #7–12April 2016 – September 2016
Archie, Volume ThreePaperbackMay 9, 2017Archie #13–17October 2016 – April 2017
Archie, Volume Four: Over the EdgePaperbackSeptember 19, 2017Archie #18–22May 2017 – July 2017
Archie, Volume Five: The Heart of RiverdalePaperbackMay 14, 2018Archie #23–27August 2017 – May 2018
Archie, Volume SixPaperbackOctober 30, 2018Archie #28–32May 2018 – September 2018
Archie: Varsity Edition, Volume OneHardcoverMarch 12, 2019Archie #1–12September 2015 – September 2016
Archie: Varsity Edition, Volume TwoHardcoverNovember 12, 2019Archie #13–22October 2016 – July 2017
Archie: Varsity Edition, Volume ThreeHardcoverJuly 14, 2020Archie #23–32August 2017 – September 2018
Archie by Nick Spencer, Volume 1PaperbackSeptember 10, 2019Archie #700–704November 2018 – May 2019
Archie by Nick Spencer, Volume 2: Archie and SabrinaPaperbackApril 14, 2020Archie #705–709June 2019 – December 2019