Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on May 13, 2017, 07:06:52 AM
There's some hope yet (provided the book actually gets published, which is always a cause of doubt with ACP), as the Penguin Books Australian website (https://penguin.com.au/books/the-best-of-josie-and-the-pussycats-9781682559307) claims that the book is a "full-coloor collection of Josie and the Pussycats's all-time favorite stories, hand-picked by Archie creators, editors and historians from thousands of pages of material." Notwithstanding the fact that the bit at the end about being "hand-picked by Archie creators, editors and historians from thousands of pages of material" sounds more than a little over-inflated (as opposed to the usual assemblage of "stories we had ready-to-hand because we'd already reprinted them all in recent years in other places"...), I guess we can still hope for "full-coloor" (must be some kind of Aussie thing).

The best advice I can give to anyone who really wants to see this book published is to PRE-ORDER IT -- either through Amazon, another online retailer of your choice, or through your LCS retailer when (and if) the book is actually officially solicited through Diamond Comic Distributors. Clearly with all the solicitations and cancellations we have seen with ACP, the powers-that-be there are being guided as to whether the book will actually go to the printer by pre-order numbers. If those numbers are too low, then it's not going to happen.

I would say there's more than some hope yet.  I guarantee it will be color, if, as you say, it gets published.  I think it will be published.  JATP were a big enough part of RIVERDALE that I think ACP will want to make more of their content available. 

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on May 09, 2017, 09:36:45 PM

Quote from: Vegan Jughead on May 09, 2017, 07:41:17 AM
Not sure why you would think it's black and white.  IF it happens, it should be color.  All of the other "Best of Archie Comics" 400 pagers were color and priced at $9.99.  NOW let's just hope it happens!

There hasn't been a new 400-500 page Archie Comics trade collection (apart from those Giant Comics conglomerations of recent digest story content) since Archie's Favorite High School Comics in July 2015. Then we get a solicitation for a June 2017-shipping dated The Complete Sabrina Vol. 1 TP collection in black & white (and also cover-priced at $9.99) ... so it seems like that's the format they're going with now for what was formerly the same-sized The Best of Archie Comics or Archie's Favorite Comics.

Neither of these books has the word "ARCHIE" prominently displayed in large letters on the cover, so I'm not sure what you think would be the distinction between them in terms of why one would merit a color collection, while the other was a black & white collection. I'm assuming it's because she's NOT Archie, that Sabrina gets the black & white treatment... but then neither is Josie.




While Sabrina's B&W trade paperback collection may not be good news to some people, I no longer believe that it will be cancelled by the people at ACP because of low pre-orders, and here's why:

You may be right but Sabrina is "the complete" and Josie is "best of".   That's why I thought the Josie one would be color.  I hope it's not B&W.  I wouldn't buy any collection in B&W.  Takes 75 percent of the fun out of what Archie Comics is. 

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on May 08, 2017, 11:51:55 AM
Not much in the way of details for this one... Amazon is pricing it for pre-order at $10 for "over 400 pages", so it seems likely this will follow The Complete SABRINA the Teenage Witch Vol. 1 TP in the black & white format, for a projected shipping date of September 12, 2017. That's if we're not hearing about the cancellation of the Sabrina trade collection first, within the next month or so. If it's not included in next month's solicitations for ACP product shipping from Diamond, it would seem to be even more suspect.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Josie-Pussycats-Archie-Comics/dp/1682559300

Not sure why you would think it's black and white.  IF it happens, it should be color.  All of the other "Best of Archie Comics" 400 pagers were color and priced at $9.99.  NOW let's just hope it happens! 

Quote from: Tuxedo Mark on May 05, 2017, 03:15:20 PM
Great episode. I just want to add a few things to what everyone else has said:

My mom audibly gasped when Cheryl attacked Jughead. I can kinda understand it, though.

The Cheryl/Betty bathroom scene was kinda nice but too short. Betty's at a loss for words, so give the girl a hug or something!

Betty is a Blossom. Wow. I did not see that coming. That makes Betty and Cheryl third cousins, I believe. Same for Polly and Jason. Nowhere near scandalous. And, hey, last week, Cheryl was shown to have an interest in a Cooper lady, so...hint, hint.

Betty is the only one to think of Cheryl and what Clifford being the killer might mean for her. She immediately calls her to warn her, returning the solid that Cheryl did for Polly a few episodes back.

Betty has Cheryl's phone number in her contacts list. Just sayin'.

I was in suspense during Cheryl's slo-mo walk. I thought "Oh, man, are they gonna catch her?" Then she confronts her dad, doing the exact opposite of what Betty told her to (get out now). Cheryl has this quiet braveness to her when dealing with her parents (see also: warning Polly). She had no way of knowing how her dad would handle her knowing what he did. I guess she gambled he'd kill himself instead of her. That must have been what she was hoping for. (By the way, is deliberately revealing information to drive a person to suicide a prosecutable offense?)

I felt the wrap-up was rushed. I wouldn't have minded it being extended partly into the next episode. In particular, I would have liked to have seen Cheryl reveal she had the ring. We can assume she told Sheriff Kan'tdomyjob, because Clifford taking back the ring ends up in Jughead's summary, but I wanted to actually see Cheryl go "Surprise, bitches!" or something like that.

So next week's episode is setting up for season 2. Not sure what will happen. Maybe Sabrina will appear?

Excellent recap!  The wrap-up was rushed because some episodes of this show need to be 90 minutes.  I WISH the finale was 2 hours like some shows do.  It needs it.  Otherwise, FANTASTIC episode!

Quote from: PTF on May 05, 2017, 04:48:28 AM
Spoilers for anyone who hasn't watched the episode.


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Clifford Blossom. Okay, it stormed in my area so I missed some parts in the episode but from what I can piece together from what I saw. Jason didn't want part of the family business (not the maple syrup part) and wanted to leave with Polly and needed money so he wanted to run drugs for JP and Serpents. They decide to hold him for ransom because "rich kid" but that leads to Clifford shooting Jason. Looks like one of the serpents (the one who was going to clobber Archie in the bar) had roughed him up pretty bad.

Also on a more creepy level, we find out why Hal stole the evidence from Sheriff Useless and why the sudden mood swing: turns out grandfather Cooper...was a Blossom. That's right. The Coopers are really Blossoms, they just gave up the family name after their side of the family tree was robbed of their wealth. So Betty and Cheryl are cousins and Polly and Jason...are something I see in the South far too often.


Daddy Jones confesses to the murder because Clifford went to him when he went to jail and told him he'd kill Jughead if he didn't take the blame. I mean, yeah, he kidnapped and dumped the body, but y'know...who am I kidding, he's garbage.


The evidence was found on a flash drive after Joaquin leads them to where he stashed Jason's jacket. So that was his insurance.

When Sheriff Moron finally arrives at the Blossom compound he finds Clifford hung himself in the barn and several barrels with drugs. So that was what Jason was trying to get away from. So yeah. Jason was the only pure hearted red head on this show. And you can argue Archie when he stops going after every girl he sees!

Anyway random thoughts.


Jughead had it rough this episode. His friends betray him, his dad is in jail, all the adults treat him like garbage, and when he wants to live with his mom...she's moved on wants him to stay out of her and his sister's life. So all the hope of his family ever being together was for nothing. I'm a guy, and even I wanted to give him a hug.

Oh, and the adults in this episode, save for Alice Cooper, took a few levels in dumb. As the kids try to explain that gun was planted but are not believed. Fred took an extra level in jerkiness, too with his treatment of Jughead. He was so bad, Archie wanted to move to Chicago. Seriously, do you know how bad you are when being in Chicago is better than being in a room with you? Did you all not see that Draft?


The random serpent guy I didn't bother remember was killed and made to look like an overdose with money from a bag with the initials H L on them.


Betty Cooper really carries this episode as she proves that she and Jughead are the real stars of this show and the only two with fully functional brains. She even figures out "hole in jacket" something probably in the linen of the jacket. I mean, probably didn't need Archie to put the dead kid's jacket on, but Archie has been a jerk for a good bit, so yeah. Serves you right. Ghost cooties.

Sheriff Keller is an idiot.

Hiram is getting out of jail, so y'know nature hates a void so we're getting a new evil rich guy! Yay!

Kevin inherited a good deal of Sheriff Rosco's braincells, but luckily he has smart friends who convince him something is up with his boyfriend.

The House GOP reads healthcare bills better than Sheriff Keller examines evidence.  Well, evidence that doesn't get stole from him.

Hal breaks into the Cooper home to destroy the evidence and reveals...ewwww...and of course The Coopers get Polly the heck out of their. The transmission cuts off a bit, but Betty probably said something awesome to Penelope.

The transmission again goes out when Betty and Polly talk. So someone will have to fill me in on what they said.

Betty should be the Sheriff of Riverdale.

Apparently Pop Tates is like Wal-Mart: opened 24/7

Jughead is upset that his dad will stay in jail because...y'know disposing the body, kidnapping, perjury. While I know that this seems right in the normal world, I don't like agreeing with Sheriff Hindrance.

I want to feel bad for Cheryl...but nah. Maybe this will make her a better villain later on. Seriously, you tell everyone that Betty kidnapped and tortured someone...and Betty is still doing Homecoming? Your dad was right, you are a disappointment.



So my thoughts, all joking aside. I liked the episode, but I think the mystery could have been done a bit better.

Okay, let's take the Cooper/Blossom thing. Jughead and Betty were researching everything and they never stumbled across this or looked into it? I mean, I'm pretty sure town hall, archives, old newspapers. But whatever.
What bothers me is that this wasn't hinted at. Heck, how about something like "Polly and Jason have the same eyes" or some sort of comment.

And I'm supposed to remember that one random Serpent from when he messed up the costruction site in the dark and in the darkly lit bar?

Just a few subtle hints like when Monk goes over "Here's what happened" and I can go "oh okay, I missed that in the beginning but it's there." Just so I have a chance to get all the clues instead of two big bits revealed that I had no way of knowing. But I will give them credit for Clifford telling the family "I looked our son's killer in the eye" as proof he went to the jail. It's just one or two little tweeks to make this perfect.



But the jacket and it's importance did come up. And again, at least you had the two stars of the show, Betty and Jughead go to their board, eliminate suspect and come down to the finally two, The Blossoms.

And you really feel for Jughead. Man, do you feel for this kid. All the adults dump on him, his dad's in jail and still a criminal, and his mother doesn't want him in her life and when he tries to leave Riverdale he's stuck. Heck, he even moves into the Andrews garage after he overhears Fred not wanting him for fear something could happen to Archie. Great work by Cole.

And Reinhart. Those two are the main reason why I like this show. And Camilla. And the chuckles I get when Archie is just randomly shirtless for no reason but to show his abs. "Hey, let's go jog in my boxers to Ms. Grundy's."



So it was a great episode...and this isn't even the season finale!

GREAT recap!  "Ghost cooties".  LOLOLOLOLOL

Quote from: JonInIowaCity on May 05, 2017, 07:04:30 AM
The whole Blossom/Cooper related thing didn't hold a lot of water for me. I come from a town -- a family even -- with people just as related to the spouse as Polly and Jason. It'd feel legal in any of the states. Seemed tenuous...

Jon, the whole show is tenuous.  And ridiculous.  That's why I love it so much.

Quote from: Archie Comics Collector(Kalell) on April 22, 2017, 08:46:41 AM
Can someone link to an article that mentions Your Pal Archie will be a mini series? Articles below contradict this as even Dan Parent mentions it will be a new monthly title. There will be a special variant cover for the first five issues that connect to form a huge image of Pop's Chocklit Shoppe but I have not seen where it says it will be a mini series beyond this. I know you can only subscribe for 5 issues at the Archie Comics website but I am hoping its more than that as the articles are not very clear that it is only 5.



Article 1 from Archie.com
The following is a link to the announcement at Archie comics about Your Pal Archie and it mentions it is a new comic book series. There is no mention of it being a mini series beyond special variants for the first five.  This is a main new Archie series which could last for more than 5 issues.

http://archiecomics.com/yourpalarchie/
Classic Archie is back with a fun twist in YOUR PAL ARCHIE, a new all-ages comic book series launching in July from artist Dan Parent and writer/inker Ty Templeton.

Article 2 from Comicbook.com with quote from Dan Parent
In the following article Dan Parent mentions that Your Pal Archie is a classic monthly title not a mini series but specifically mentions it as a monthly title so where is the mysterious article that mentions this is a mini series unless we are guessing. I definitely like that they are taking inspiration from Riverdale for art as KJ Apa from Riverdale is HOT!!



http://comicbook.com/comics/2017/04/17/classic-archie-gets-a-riverdale-twist-in-new-all-ages-series-fro/
Quote from Dan Parent:
"In addition to drawing lots of classic Archie stories for the digests, I've been working on the digital first series Life With Kevin, starring Kevin Keller. I had a feeling a classic monthly title might come back into the fold. So here it is!"



A series is not a monthly title if it only lasts for a few issues and is short term but referred to as a mini series which I have not seen in any articles I have read.

see my comments in the shoutbox

I had forgotten about this!  Pretty sure Archie Comics has too. 

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on April 18, 2017, 10:25:40 PM

Quote from: Fernando Ruiz on April 17, 2017, 06:16:52 PM

It's definitely a step in the right direction. It's too bad its a half of a step. Once again, we see Archie Comics trying to have their cake and eat it too. What a way of sub-dividing their brand! How many different Archies are we going to have? Reboot Archie, Classic Archie, New Classic Archie... Which of these is going to be the face of the company?

I have really mixed feelings about this. On the positive side, it's nice to see that Dan is getting more pages of work from Archie Comics. I'm not NOT going to buy it, because Dan isn't all of a sudden going to become a worse artist, but I could really do without yet another revamp. To be totally honest, I'd really have been ecstatic if the announcement had been that Dan's new story pages in all the digest titles had been expanded from 5 pages per issue to 10 pages, or that Dan was going to be doing a quarterly series of original 96-page classic Archie trade collections to be distributed through the book trade and regular newsstand distribution.

I'm a bit bored with "new look"s after 10+ years, and tinkering with Archie (and Sabrina, etc.) on a content level. Basically what this announcement tells me is that ACP is ignoring the real problem of connecting with its true traditional target audience. They're more interested in tying their success or failure to the traditional 32-page paper-covered periodical format, the traditional format favored by comic book collectors, and that format is ball-and-chained to the independent comic shop direct distribution system (you know, apart from the digital version).

The announcement may seem like great news if you're... well, us. "Comic book collectors", people who buy comic books and collect them, and do so by being customers of an independent comic book retailer (at a brick-and-mortar store, or by purchasing them online). But what about the 10-year-old girls? Are they suddenly going to begin making a monthly trip to a local comic book store? Common sense tells me "no". There's nothing wrong with classic Archie on a content level, as far as how Dan is writing and drawing stories for the digests. What's wrong is that the 32-page paper-covered periodical isn't reaching the right audience of readers.

And you know, I LOVE the fact that the dedicated comic book store network of independent retailers exists. It's great for ME. But maybe if you're a 10-year-old girl, not so much.

No, I don't think injecting a dose of "Riverdale TV fusion" is going to fix that issue.

You make really good points but I doubt this is aimed at 10 year old girls.  I think it's aimed at old folks like you and me and I'm totally excited about it.  I can tell you that Dan is really excited about it. 


It's also Archie Comics admitting without admitting that the reboot sales are sagging and they need to do something different.  Going back to the same house style Dan was drawing before the reboots would be admitting defeat.  They may eventually get back there or not, but this is a way to try to please the old time fans without coming right out and saying they were wrong. 


At least that's my take on it.  I'm actually a fan of most of the reboots, but I didn't think they were a long time solution.  I'm not sure there IS a long time solution.  Archie is an anachronism to the vast majority of people.  It's gonna be really hard to change that, obviously. 

Dan Parent is doing a new ongoing series in the classic Archie style...sort of.  It's a little updated, but this will be fantastic!  It will be written by Ty Templeton who I'm not familiar with.  Can't wait for this!


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/04/17/fan-favorite-artist-dan-parent-is-bringing-back-archies-classic-look-with-a-twist/?tid=ss_fb&utm_term=.281f6c912d37

Quote from: JonInIowaCity on April 16, 2017, 07:21:20 PM
Unfortunately, it hasn't aired yet on Netflix in the USA. But I expect that it will be there once the show ends. A few of my friends have told me that they would prefer to wait until it launches on Netflix in one block of episodes.

Yes it will debut on Netflix in the US 8 days after the finale which is May 11.  So I assume if on schedule it will be on Netlix May 19th.

With or without a delay, the show doesn't have ratings momentum.  Either way, I'm sure the second season will get made.  Then hopefully it will be released on DVD.  The show has a huge cult following that will buy those.  I never buy DVDs but I would definitely buy RIVERDALE on DVD. 

I personally know a ton of people waiting for it to get to Netflix.  The show is being watched all over the world too. 

Pretty sure season 2 will be the last, but glad the CW renewed it.  It deserved it.  It's been great. 

Quote from: Cosmo on April 13, 2017, 07:09:56 PM
Did anyone else have the pleasure of enjoying the Freddy the Pig series in their younger days? Absolutely wonderful books by Walter R Brooks and all were illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Great adventures for younger readers, but still stand up nicely when you read them again as adults.

I've never heard of them Cosmo, but I looked them up on the net and they look amazing! 

Quote from: JonInIowaCity on April 12, 2017, 09:23:40 PM
I found an old copy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at my parents' home this weekend. It belonged to my dad when he was a young boy back in the 50s. It occurred to me that I've never read it and decided to check it out. I'll start reading it later tonight or tomorrow.

Cool!  I'm a distant relative of Harriet Beecher Stowe.