ARCHIE DIGEST #249
"Dream Scene":  What's the perfect remedy to being stuck in class on a cold winter day?  When you're Archie, it's daydreaming of beach balls and bikinis, of course! 
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. 
ART: Randy Elliott. 
"Stop Watch": Mr. Weatherbee welcomes the inevitable first mishap of the semester – once Archie, Jughead and Reggie get in trouble, the school year can officially begin! 
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. 
ART: Tim Kennedy.   
PLUS: Other new and classic tales! 
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents. 
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!   
Shipping Date: November 12th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 19th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: December 2nd, 2008
88-page, full color digest
$2.49 US.










BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #86
SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE!
"Jingles All the Way": The Sugar Plum fairy is convinced that Betty and Veronica are being manipulated by Archie; while Jingles the Elf thinks Archie would be better off without the girls.  They each decide to take matters into their diminutive hands – by adopting human forms to distract the teens!  Will their diversions dismantle the love triangle for good, or will there be a merry… and romantic… Christmas for everyone after all? 
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.   
Shipping Date: November 12th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 19th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: December 2nd, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.








SONIC SELECT VOLUME #2
THE NEW SERIES OF SONIC COLLECTIONS FEATURING CLASSIC TALES FROM SONIC SUPER SPECIALS CONTINUES!
Following in the smashing success of the Sonic Archives series, Archie continues the proud tradition of reprints with Sonic Select! These fully restored and re-mastered 6x9 inch graphic novels feature the best stories taken from the original Sonic Super Specials! Volume 2 presents stories from such classic specials as "Knuckles' Chaotix", "Super Sonic vs. Hyper Knuckles", "Mecha Madness", and "Sonic Live!"   Now these hard-to-find stories are conveniently collected in this handsome volume, allowing fans from today and yesterday to add to their stash of Sonic comics, or start a whole new collection! Join the fun and become a part of Archie-Sonic history! 
SCRIPTS: Mike Gallagher, Ken Penders, Kent Taylor and Mike Kanterovich. 
ART: Art Mawhinney, Patrick Spaziante, Ken Penders, Harvey Mercadoocasio and Rich Koslowski.  Super-terrific cover by Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante! 
ISBN #: 978-1-879794-36-5
Shipping Date: November 12th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: November 19th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: December 2nd, 2008
128-page, full color graphic novel
$11.95 US.

Jingles AND Sugar Plum?  Oh, this oughta be good!

Naughty or Nice indeed!

Dan Parent's art continues to impress.  I personally think it's getting even better over time. 

I also really like the Sonic layouts - the "island in the sky" splash is really nice.

I have no idea that we're still using the word 'Chauvinist' in the 21st century...

Hi Frank,

     Have I ever told you what a sharp, intelligent , insightful person you were?

Dan
   

  haha!

well... not to be "too" much of a "fanboy" - here's a couple quick notes on what I think is very, very good about this particular set of pages:

1) The cover.  Good use of space and positioning.  Girls frame a confused Archie and they are "cute"
2) Page one.  Splash.  We rarely see the characters touching each other (at least in this more casual/friendlier manner).  It is very affectionate.
3) Page two panels 3.5.6 - great action/reaction work!  Betty "rolling" her eyes to Veronica's closed-eyes condescending look in panel 3, Archie's classic cartoon "shock" look in 5, and the girls "united" in 6.

Not that I pay very much attention to this sort of stuff...   lol.


oh.. and something I've noticed that I like about your artwork is what I call the "classic Dan Parent open/closed eye" technique.  You seem to have one character with eyes closed and one with eyes open then they are speaking with each other which I feel creates visual support for the "bantering" feeling of the dialogue that is part of comic (as in comedic) dialogue.

Pretty astute observation, Frank!  I never noticed that before!

Really I thought she had brownish-blonde hair??