Even as the Sword of Damocles represented by COVID-19 hangs like a grim spectre poised to crush Diamond Comic Distributors (and the entire comic shop retailing industry as it has existed in the 21st century), there are new solicitations. Anything could happen, at the time I'm posting this, but the month's ACP solicitations are more exciting collectively than they've been in a while, IMO. In addition to continuing the just-shipped SUPER DUCK reboot (which I thought was funny and just great), here are some of the notables:


SUPERTEEN Betty Cooper is back! In her own series!! (These are just 2 out of 5 cover variants)




Another Archie crossover miniseries by the Archie Meets Batman '66 creative team of Jeff Parker & Dan Parent!

Certainly not one which would have occurred to me. Well, at least they're trying to keep the crossover concept going, but legal logistics probably rule out any kind of 'dream crossover' projects with Star Wars or Spider-Man. Superman would seem to be at least a possibility based on previous AC/DC co-productions, so fingers crossed for next time.




World of ARCHIE 100th Issue Special:

Not on my usual reading list, but I'll certainly be picking this one up (I HOPE!!) based on this solicitation description:
(W) Bill Golliher (A) Various (CA) Pat & Tim Kennedy
BRAND NEW STORY: "Hundreds of Possibilities!" Celebrate the milestone 100th issue of World of Archie! Archie takes a nap only to be awakened by someone pounding on his door. To his surprise, it's his best friend Jughead-but not the Jughead he recognizes. This one belongs to something called the Time Police, and he comes with a warning: all the Archie space time continuum will soon be collapsed into one reality. Archie must join forces with Jughead to save the day-and all of time as we know it!
In Shops: Jun 17, 2020
SRP: $7.99

Ooooh!! An Archie Multiverse story featuring Deputy Marshal Forsythe P. Jones of the Time Police!! SWEET!! Doesn't say whether the new story is longer than the standard digest lead of 5 pages, but one hopes against hope for a one-time exception 20-pager in honor of reaching 100 issues. Certainly sounds like more plot than they can squeeze down into a standard 5-pager, though. FINGERS CROSSED!



On the trade paperback front, there's this (No real details, so it's a crapshoot as to whether there will be any significant percentage of not-previously-collected stories making up this volume):

Is it merely the trade paperback version of the earlier-revised HC Deluxe Edition of the even-earlier Best of Archie Comics Volume 1 trade collection? Or an entirely different remix? No way to tell at present. Buyer Beware!



And of course, the continuing exploits and/or travails of the "All-New, All-Cynical" SUPER DUCK. NOT an All-Ages title as you might expect:

SUPER DUCK #1 read somewhat like a strange fusion of Mighty Mouse and Marvel's Howard the Duck. A complete reboot of the classic ACP character -- no prior familiarity necessary. Highly recommended by this reader!



Finally, on the Archie-peripheral collectibles front, there's THIS book (for a mere $5 cover price) from ACP licensee BuzzPop:

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 27, 2020, 02:42:30 AMSUPERTEEN Betty Cooper is back! In her own series!! (These are just 2 out of 5 cover variants)

Haha, a one-shot is not a series.

Anyway, this hasn't come out, which is a shame.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 27, 2020, 02:42:30 AM

Ooh, this one's hella sexy.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 27, 2020, 02:42:30 AMAnother Archie crossover miniseries by the Archie Meets Batman '66 creative team of Jeff Parker & Dan Parent!

Certainly not one which would have occurred to me. Well, at least they're trying to keep the crossover concept going, but legal logistics probably rule out any kind of 'dream crossover' projects with Star Wars or Spider-Man. Superman would seem to be at least a possibility based on previous AC/DC co-productions, so fingers crossed for next time.

This hasn't come out either.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 27, 2020, 02:42:30 AMWorld of ARCHIE 100th Issue Special:

Not on my usual reading list, but I'll certainly be picking this one up (I HOPE!!) based on this solicitation description:
(W) Bill Golliher (A) Various (CA) Pat & Tim Kennedy
BRAND NEW STORY: "Hundreds of Possibilities!" Celebrate the milestone 100th issue of World of Archie! Archie takes a nap only to be awakened by someone pounding on his door. To his surprise, it's his best friend Jughead-but not the Jughead he recognizes. This one belongs to something called the Time Police, and he comes with a warning: all the Archie space time continuum will soon be collapsed into one reality. Archie must join forces with Jughead to save the day-and all of time as we know it!
In Shops: Jun 17, 2020
SRP: $7.99

Ooooh!! An Archie Multiverse story featuring Deputy Marshal Forsythe P. Jones of the Time Police!! SWEET!! Doesn't say whether the new story is longer than the standard digest lead of 5 pages, but one hopes against hope for a one-time exception 20-pager in honor of reaching 100 issues. Certainly sounds like more plot than they can squeeze down into a standard 5-pager, though. FINGERS CROSSED!

The digest came out, but the new story isn't in it. Instead, the featured story is a reprint of "Welcome to Mirrordale".

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 27, 2020, 02:42:30 AMFinally, on the Archie-peripheral collectibles front, there's THIS book (for a mere $5 cover price) from ACP licensee BuzzPop:

This actually did come out on June 30.

Quote from: Tuxedo Mark on July 15, 2020, 09:38:06 PM

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 27, 2020, 02:42:30 AMWorld of ARCHIE 100th Issue Special:

Not on my usual reading list, but I'll certainly be picking this one up (I HOPE!!) based on this solicitation description:
(W) Bill Golliher (A) Various (CA) Pat & Tim Kennedy
BRAND NEW STORY: "Hundreds of Possibilities!" Celebrate the milestone 100th issue of World of Archie! Archie takes a nap only to be awakened by someone pounding on his door. To his surprise, it's his best friend Jughead-but not the Jughead he recognizes. This one belongs to something called the Time Police, and he comes with a warning: all the Archie space time continuum will soon be collapsed into one reality. Archie must join forces with Jughead to save the day-and all of time as we know it!
In Shops: Jun 17, 2020
SRP: $7.99

Ooooh!! An Archie Multiverse story featuring Deputy Marshal Forsythe P. Jones of the Time Police!! SWEET!! Doesn't say whether the new story is longer than the standard digest lead of 5 pages, but one hopes against hope for a one-time exception 20-pager in honor of reaching 100 issues. Certainly sounds like more plot than they can squeeze down into a standard 5-pager, though. FINGERS CROSSED!

The digest came out, but the new story isn't in it. Instead, the featured story is a reprint of "Welcome to Mirrordale".

RATS! I was really looking forward to that new story. Now I'll probably never know when (or IF) it's published in some other digest.

I guess WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO DIGEST #100 was still worth buying though, because of the variety of reprints. I haven't read an issue in about 2 years, and can't even remember the last digest that had a "From the Vault" section (let alone TWO!!). I think the Pat the Brat story was new, but I'm not 100% sure... plus there was Super Duck, Ginger, Katy Keene, and even a Reggie story. Aside from the missing new story, if every issue of WOA was like that, I'd be buying it regularly. At least it looked a lot better than ARCHIE JUMBO DIGEST #300, which aside from a new 5-pager whose plot revolved around the number 300 (typical), it looks like they put zero effort into making it special at all.

And since they seem to be doing all these special "limited" 12-issue digest series lately, why not one composed of nothing but classics "From the Vault" of the many different titles published in the 1950s and 1960s?

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 25, 2020, 12:03:34 PMRATS! I was really looking forward to that new story. Now I'll probably never know when (or IF) it's published in some other digest.

I've noticed, lately, none of the digests have new stories in them (not sure if even the covers are new). I don't know why that is. Archie Comics makes most of its money, I assume, from licensing (Riverdale, novels, etc.) and digests, not floppies, so I don't see why they can't pay for a new 5-page story in each digest. The last new story, I think, was in Archie Comics Double Digest #310, back on June 3.

Quote from: Tuxedo Mark on July 27, 2020, 06:05:19 PM

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 25, 2020, 12:03:34 PMRATS! I was really looking forward to that new story. Now I'll probably never know when (or IF) it's published in some other digest.

I've noticed, lately, none of the digests have new stories in them (not sure if even the covers are new). I don't know why that is. Archie Comics makes most of its money, I assume, from licensing (Riverdale, novels, etc.) and digests, not floppies, so I don't see why they can't pay for a new 5-page story in each digest. The last new story, I think, was in Archie Comics Double Digest #310, back on June 3.

New stories are apparently coming back in October, according to the new solicits: https://archiecomics.com/october-2020-solicitations/

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 27, 2020, 02:42:30 AMOn the trade paperback front, there's this (No real details, so it's a crapshoot as to whether there will be any significant percentage of not-previously-collected stories making up this volume):

Is it merely the trade paperback version of the earlier-revised HC Deluxe Edition of the even-earlier Best of Archie Comics Volume 1 trade collection? Or an entirely different remix? No way to tell at present. Buyer Beware!

Judging by the Amazon description and date, it's looks simply a repackage of the even-earlier trade collection, though I'm unsure, but it wouldn't surprise (could be a paperback of the hardback version however): https://www.amazon.com/Best-Archie-Comics-Superstars/dp/1879794845/ref=sr_1_3?crid=23UK0467V9JM3&dchild=1&keywords=best+of+archie+comics+book+1&qid=1595970894&sprefix=best+of+arc%2Caps%2C459&sr=8-3

Quote from: Hanna Barbera Montana on July 27, 2020, 10:15:56 PMNew stories are apparently coming back in October, according to the new solicits: https://archiecomics.com/october-2020-solicitations/

Nice! Thanks. Hmm, Sabrina: Something Wicked #4? When does #3 come out? Amazon still doesn't list it.

Quote from: Tuxedo Mark on July 28, 2020, 06:26:51 PM

Quote from: Hanna Barbera Montana on July 27, 2020, 10:15:56 PMNew stories are apparently coming back in October, according to the new solicits: https://archiecomics.com/october-2020-solicitations/

Nice! Thanks. Hmm, Sabrina: Something Wicked #4? When does #3 come out? Amazon still doesn't list it.

Hmmm... Ebay says August 26 (for presale), Previews World says September 23rd.

Waitin' for Satan. The Madam Satan one-shot. Wonder if we'll see Superteen #1 or Archie Meets Flash Gordon #1 before that?

Oh, irony... the Archie Comics FCBD book shipped from Diamond this week. Nothing to write home about. I read it, but I'm tossing it back to my LCS next week.

Due next week from Diamond:
ARCHIE & FRIENDS FOREVER TP
ARCHIE EXPLORERS OF THE UNKNOWN TP
B & V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #282
(...and who knows what else; mainly just keeping track of the classic stuff for myself.)

Also, that ARCHIE SHOWCASE DIGEST #1 apparently is out this week, but since I forgot to order a copy until last week, I won't get mine until next week. I'd be more excited if the character being showcased was anyone but Archie.

Quote from: Hanna Barbera Montana on July 28, 2020, 06:57:43 PM

Quote from: Tuxedo Mark on July 28, 2020, 06:26:51 PM

Quote from: Hanna Barbera Montana on July 27, 2020, 10:15:56 PMNew stories are apparently coming back in October, according to the new solicits: https://archiecomics.com/october-2020-solicitations/

Nice! Thanks. Hmm, Sabrina: Something Wicked #4? When does #3 come out? Amazon still doesn't list it.

Hmmm... Ebay says August 26 (for presale), Previews World says September 23rd.

I think it was yesterday (or the day before) that I saw a listing for it on Amazon that said August 26, but it's gone now.

ARCHIE SHOWCASE DIGEST #1 (despite focusing on a character who isn't exactly lacking in exposure) was pretty good. A much higher than average dose of the older classic stories in this one. Especially looking forward to #2 featuring Jughead.

"Hundreds of Possibilities" apparently will be included in a new jumbo "Collector's Edition"' digest in February, just in time for the 80th anniversary.

https://archiecomics.com/february-2021-solicitations/

I hope "Hundreds of Possibilities" finally does see print in the Archie 80th Anniversary digest.

February is a good month! When was the last time we saw nothing but classic Archie titles coming out? Still waiting for an ARCHIE SHOWCASE DIGEST #3.

BUT will we ever see the Betty Cooper SUPERTEEN one-shot, the ARCHIE MEETS FLASH GORDON one-shot, or the conclusion to the all-new all-different SUPER DUCK miniseries? 

Somehow despite everything happening, that MADAM SATAN one-shot managed to squeak out (it was good). C'mon guys!!