The yearlong legal feud for control of Archie Comics has ended with a settlement that restores embattled Co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit to her position at the company. However, the confidential agreement was criticized by the granddaughters of Archie co-founder John L. Goldwater, who claim that both executives’ “hands are dirty.”

Wednesday’s settlement allows Silberkleit, who as co-executor of her late husband’s estate, controls a 50 percent stake in Archie, to return to the office and resume her duties overseeing the company’s scholastic and live theatrical endeavors. Goldwater, who owns 25 percent of the shares, handles everything else. The remaining shares are held by a trust established by Goldwater’s half-brother Richard Goldwater, who passed away in 2007.

Kornreich signed off on the settlement over the objections of Richard Goldwater’s daughters, Lisa, Taylor and Summer Goldwater, who, after initially sitting on the sidelines, now accuse their uncle Jon Goldwater of misusing Archie assets and Silberkleit of drawing a company salary while still working as a teacher. In court papers, one of the daughters’ attorneys said the agreement is little more than a reciprocal exchange between “two directors who have been stealing from the company, or aiding and abetting each other’s theft.”

From a business perpspective, it means the fate of the comics depends on the whims of Silberkleit. She is the single largest stakeholder. Also she would be the one answerable to investors for the comapny's balance sheet. If required, she can take a decision to terminate titles, perhaps entire characters just to keep them happy.

Which reminds me that the Chinese still haven't gone fishing for comic books, they have pretty much bought up everything else. I wonder what would happen if a Chinese hedge fund buys in Silberkleit, would Riverdale be replaced by Shanghai ?

That would be an interesting development

Taylor Goldwater has an account here. Maybe she'll chime in.