Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 09, 2017, 10:54:08 AM

Quote from: terrence12 on July 09, 2017, 07:21:01 AM
Maybe I guess the reason Diamond doesn't add Digests into their stats is because they think Digest are just relics of the past for which they are.

It has nothing to do with any prejudicial attitude towards the digest format on the part of Diamond Comics. They distribute hundreds of products every single week, but they don't produce a monthly sales report detailing the sales on every single item they distribute.

It's much simpler than that. They only list sales for the top 300+ or so publications (and there is a separate list for trade collections) that they distributed every month, so things that sold fewer copies fall off the bottom of the list, because that data becomes irrelevant when the numbers get too small. Archie's digests aren't on Diamond's sales reports lists because they sell very poorly -- in comic book shops -- compared to other comics they carry. So yes, the digests sell even worse than those floppy comic titles ACP is cancelling in comic book stores. The purpose of Diamond reporting their sales list is so that comic shop retailers can know which comics are selling well (or not so well) in stores other than their own, which would help them make decisions about which comics they should preorder (or RE-order) from Diamond, and in what quantities. If Diamond were to report sales on every single product they distribute, the list would be thousands of items long, with some products selling less than 1000 units.

But Archie's digests (unlike their floppy-format comic books) aren't dependent on Diamond Comic Distributors for the majority of their sales, because Diamond sells its products mainly to independent comic shops -- and there are only about 2000 or so of those stores in North America. Archie digests are mainly sold in other diverse retail chain stores, where they sell much better than they do in comic book stores.

That's true though people will probably ignore the digest and just look online at previous issues instead,Since Digest are probably outdated.Still if Archie comics is closed down because of low sales in the near future maybe the only hope is to have it sold to IDW so that the company will revive the series as a humour period piece taking place in the 40's and 50's since this is the era where Archie gain popularity.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 09, 2017, 06:02:21 AM
Digests don't register in sales for comic book shops, which is why there's no sales data for them, which comes only from Diamond Comics' statistics. The vast majority of those digests are being sold NOT in comic shops, but at various retail outlets, or direct from ACP through subscriptions, and there is no sales data from those methods of distribution that is available to the public. On the other hand, Diamond's sales statistics for floppy comics reliably account for more than 90% of ALL sales of printed copies.

Maybe I guess the reason Diamond doesn't add Digests into their stats is because they think Digest are just relics of the past for which they are.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 09, 2017, 06:02:21 AMBETTY AND VERONICA #1 sold very well in July 2016. It sold 70,830 copies according to Diamond's sales data. B&V #2 didn't do nearly as well as #1 in November 2016, selling only 19,794 copies. STILL much better than ARCHIE #20, though... But that is a massive drop in sales from one issue to the next. We don't yet have sales data for B&V #3, which arrived in comic shops only last month, but I'll bet I can guess that it sold less than #2. We also need to take into account that B&V was a massively expensive comic book title for ACP to produce... by ACP's standards. There was a HUGE amount of overhead cost in hiring Adam Hughes. There doesn't seem to be much point in speculating about the future of that title, since we already know that issue #3 was the last to be written & drawn by Adam Hughes. No issue #4 has yet been solicited by ACP (and may never be). Certainly the lack of Adam Hughes would affect future sales in a negative direction, so who could predict whether this could still be a viable reboot?

Woah,Good point I guess the series remain in hiatus because Adam is done with the series.At least Rachael Stott is in charge of the series even though  we don't see the sneak preview of her version of Betty and Veronica

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 09, 2017, 02:35:50 AM

Quote from: terrence12 on July 09, 2017, 01:02:37 AM

So,If you what you are saying is true then the other Archie reboot titles will end this year living only the reboot Archie which will probably end in about a year or two.

I guess you haven't been following too closely.

REGGIE AND ME ended with issue #5 in May 2017.
JUGHEAD ended with issue #16 in June 2017.
JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS will conclude with issue #9, expected in August 2017.

That leaves ARCHIE as the sole remaining rebooted ACP floppy comic, unless you're counting the Archie Horror titles (which barely manage to ship a new issue every 6 months or so).

Sales figures from comic shops serviced by Diamond Comics (which is all of them) for May 2017:

ARCHIE #20 = 10,755 copies
RIVERDALE #2 = 7,878 copies
THE ARCHIES (one-shot) = 7,741 copies
JUGHEAD #15 = 5,805 copies
JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS #7 = 5,254 copies
REGGIE AND ME #5 = 3,859 copies


If these titles, collectively, represent what Archie Comics as a publisher is depending on for its profitability and survival, they are indeed in big, big trouble. We already know that the last three listed titles have been cancelled, so we have some idea where the dividing line of unprofitability lies. There would seem to be no reason to follow up that ARCHIES one-shot based on sales, and if sales don't improve on RIVERDALE within a few issues, it seems likely that that one would be headed for cancellation as well, leaving only ARCHIE... but for how much longer?

The digests, on the other hand, are mainly distributed outside of Diamond Comics' direct-to-comics shop sales system, so we really have no reliable figures on their sales. You better HOPE they're selling better than those sales figures above, or it's just about all over for ACP, at least as far as print comics are concerned.

Woah,You are not kidding eventhough the reboot Archie is still on top ,The others have low sales though you didn't mention about Betty and Veronica especially the one shots and whether if The Archies becomes a full series including Archie horror's latest series The Hunger.

Then this could possibly mean that the Reboot Archie will end in about one or two years after the Over the edge storyline which will cause 'Jump  the shark 'to that series  because one character is killed off (spoilers betty and hope it's just coma)

And if the reboot series ends because of low sales then this will cause bankruptcy and closure to Archie Comics

But at least Your Pal archie series gain positive reception maybe there could be hope that it will gain profit and bring back the old readers even though this series is using Dan Parent's new style which I admit suits him better.

Especially the Digest which contains reprints of old Archie tales even though 'Digest' is just a relic of the past that people will ignore it especially that it wasn't part of the sales chart .


Still however if those titles and even digest get low  sales especially that Riverdale will probably be cancelled in about few years even though the latter will be considered logn running in the future.


Then this will be the end of Archie comics unless there is hope maybe Goldwater would sell the company to IDW known for their best licensed and they will make the Archie series as a comedy Period piece series set in the 40's to 50's since the series is known then or I could be wrong.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 08, 2017, 05:17:41 PM
Just so you know. Classic Archie (the character) has not been replaced. He's still around, and appearing in stories every month. Those stories don't happen to appear in a floppy format comic book with the one-word title ARCHIE, though. They only appear in the digests.

Yes,That's true the classic Archie will live on in reprints and digest with few new stories including 'Your pal,Archie' even though the reboot takes over the comic book market.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 08, 2017, 05:17:41 PM
If "main title" just means the title you like the best or think is the most important, well I can't argue with that. That's your opinion.

Yes,That's true but since Comic book are the main big ones for the company and the classic has ended while the reboot takes over ,The reboot will always be the main one .Even though the Classics will live on in reprints including 'Your Pal,Archie'.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 08, 2017, 05:17:41 PM
If it actually means anything objective though, the "main title" for a comic book publishing company should probably be the one they publish that sells the most copies (and/or generates the most profit, based on cover price). That would be - probably, since I can't confirm actual numbers - either Archie Comics Double Digest or World of Archie Double Digest. That applies regardless of the fact that the new stories in those titles are only 5 pages long.

Counting the two B&V digests, there are six digest titles, 3 of which are published 10 times a year, and 3 of which are published 6 times a year, and every one of them has a new 5-page story in it "in the traditional Archie style". So 48 new digest stories are published per year (240 pages in total). Archie (the classic version of the character) probably appears (conservatively) in about 2/3rds of those stories, so about 160 of those pages. With the end of Reggie's, Josie's, and Jughead's New Riverdale version floppy comics, I doubt if the remaining New Riverdale ARCHIE title can even claim to publish more than 160 pages of new material per year. Even if it does, it isn't read by as many people (some of whom aren't adults, so do they not count?) as the digests.

So,If you what you are saying is true then the other Archie reboot titles will end this year living only the reboot Archie which will probably end in about a year or two.Including Afterlife with Archie which will probably end with the possible final storyarc 'Archie is legend' and will end in about two years.Which lives only the digests to sell since they reprint classic Archie stories with few new ones even though they are considered 'relics of the past' .

So I think that the comic books whether they revert back to classic or a new reboots will probably become bimonthly instead.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 08, 2017, 12:53:17 AM

Quote from: terrence12 on July 07, 2017, 12:17:02 PM


But since the riverdale series is considered a hit according to critics and people like it especially the reboot series gain positive reception ,I think the company will be fine.However,If what you said about the continuation of sales decline and Archie's attempt to make a experimental products for new readers.It is as if the road to bankruptcy and closure is coming.

New Riverdale Archie IS a spinoff. So was Life With Archie, and Afterlife With Archie... and Riverdale (both the television series and the comic book based on it). They are all, every single one of them, spinoffs of the original ARCHIE series (the one that ran 666 issues), and Your Pal Archie is also a spinoff of that, in the same way that Archie's Pal Jughead was a spinoff back in 1950, and those spinoffs continue to 'spin off' even though the original series was discontinued in 2015.


You might say that the TV series Riverdale is a partial spinoff of the early issues of New Riverdale Archie, or that the comic book Riverdale is a spinoff of the TV series Riverdale, BUT Your Pal Archie is no more derivative of any of those than they are of the comics that came before them (but especially the original Archie comic book series). THERE'S NO MAIN SERIES ANY MORE. New Riverdale Archie is the longest-running consecutively-numbered spinoff series published by ACP left at this point, but it's still a mere 2-year-old in comic book history.

Yes,from your perspective I still think that the reboot Archie or "New Riverdale Archie" as you called it replaced the original classic Archie after it ended and becoming the main title while 'Your pal Archie' will just be a spinoff for all ages.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 08, 2017, 12:53:17 AM
Critics can't arbitrarily decide what's a "hit". They can give it a thumbs up or a thumbs down, but critics are few in number, and can only try to influence the choices other people make. Hits are decided by consumers who support something by buying products. Hits generate lots of money for the company that produces them. At this point New Riverdale Archie is still selling better than the original Archie was when it was cancelled with #666, but not so much better that it can be called a "hit". Its sales are marginal in comparison to those of comic book titles from other publishers, and it has lost huge numbers since the earliest issues published. That is not a hit by any definition. Maybe the FIRST issue of the new Archie could be described as a "hit", but not currently-published issues. It is, by default, the best-selling ongoing FLOPPY COMIC title ACP is still publishing at this point (but look how few ongoing floppy comic series are left at this point). It still sells poorly compared to the digests ACP publishes. ACP still derives the majority of its income from publishing the digest titles, and more people read those new Dan Parent stories than any other new material ACP is generating right now.

Yes,Indeed.I guess this is the reason why Archie comics are launching 'you pal Archie' because old readers want their 'old' archie back and they will soon.Also since the reboot Archie gains profit for the company even though it wasn't gaining huge numbers like what you said.I still think it will be a main series and will be ongoing at least until the next reboot happens in about few years.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 08, 2017, 12:53:17 AMAnd you BEGAN this discussion by proposing that its days are numbered and it is destined to be replaced, so why are you holding it up as ACP's savior for the future now? The people who buy it may LIKE it, but there aren't enough people who DO buy it.

Well,I was going to say the company will be okay since it is adjusting to the times and make books which are experimental to both old and new readers like their horror spinoff Afterlife with Archie for example ,The reboot series and the Riverdale tv show which gain positive reception.However when you mention sales are low and stuff,It made me think that the company is about to go bankrupt and close down in about few or many years.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 07, 2017, 11:53:35 AM

Quote from: terrence12 on July 07, 2017, 09:32:41 AM

QuoteYour Pal Archie is sort of testing the waters, while not exactly a real return to where they left off with ARCHIE #666. They're trying to find some compromise to appeal to new readers while not losing old ones.

Maybe,I guess they are just making this series to gain back the old readers ,However time change and people will probably move on besides the company will still focus more on the reboot since it gain good reception and Your Pal Archie is still a spinoff and is aimed for some retro all age readers. Heck I kinda like Dan parent's new style it kinda suits him just fine.

1.  What do you consider Your Pal Archie a "spinoff" of?  (*Any more than say, Life With Archie, Afterlife With Archie, New Riverdale Archie, and the radio show, cartoons, and TV series [and the comic book based on the TV series] based on the original 1940s character. Yes, they are all spinoffs in the same sense as Jughead or Betty & Veronica starring in their own comic books...)

Exactly,It's just a spinoff from the main title but is  considered a 'Classic 2.0'

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 07, 2017, 11:53:35 AM2.  When you think about it, "retro" and "all ages" is really a contradiction in terms. Not all ages can appreciate retro, because some will be too young to appreciate that quality about it.  They'd be truly better off if they could figure out what appeals to ALL ages, but of course that's no easy trick. The real question is, can Your Pal Archie be both kid-friendly and nostalgia-friendly, while capturing at least some of the important, lucrative 20-40 demographic -- that's where the money is loosest for floppy comic sales -- at the same time? Any one of the three might not be enough, maybe not even two.

Exactly,The 'Your Pal Archie' series will be considered both 'Retro 2.0' and 'all ages' since the main one is aimed for older audience as it is about to reach a dark tone.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 07, 2017, 11:53:35 AM 3.  I don't think ACP is as committed to the "New Riverdale Archie" plan as you seem to think. Oh, I think they WERE, at one time, but since sales continue to ebb with every passing issue, I think they're open to trying just about anything at this point, and less sure of the idea of putting all their eggs in one basket, by trying to create "a line of titles" or "an imprint". At this point it seems to me they're trying to figure out what amounts of particular ingredients to use in what mixture to create a recipe for something called "Archie Comics" that will appeal to the greatest number of people, because "New Riverdale" does not seem to be that recipe. And it could be there's no answer except continuing to experiment and try something different with each new attempt at an iteration of Archie until they find a few version that will stick around.

Hmm,Maybe.But since the riverdale series is considered a hit according to critics and people like it especially the reboot series gain positive reception ,I think the company will be fine.However,If what you said about the continuation of sales decline and Archie's attempt to make a experimental products for new readers.It is as if the road to bankruptcy and closure is coming.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 07, 2017, 05:37:06 AM

Quote from: terrence12 on July 07, 2017, 02:01:08 AM

Quote from: Mr.Lodge on July 06, 2017, 05:49:18 PM

Quote from: terrence12 on July 06, 2017, 12:32:40 PMWill the Archie reboot end in about few years and replace with a new reboot?

You mean like DC, Marvel, etc..... 

Yes.But will not have a crisis event thing like Marvel and DC

Your Pal Archie seems like it's backing off the more extreme reboot of New Riverdale titles for ACP, just like the 2016 DC Rebirth seems like it's backing off a little (still not far enough for me) from the earlier 2011 DC New 52. Both companies lost a lot of former readers because the earlier reboots were too extreme, and now that some few years passed and the previous reboot lost a lot of its momentum (and sales), they're desperately trying to appeal to the old readers to get them back.

I don't think you'll be seeing any more New Riverdale titles launched, but Your Pal Archie is sort of testing the waters, while not exactly a real return to where they left off with ARCHIE #666. They're trying to find some compromise to appeal to new readers while not losing old ones.

Maybe,I guess they are just making this series to gain back the old readers ,However time change and people will probably move on besides the company will still focus more on the reboot since it gain good reception and Your Pal Archie is still a spinoff and is  aimed for some  retro all age readers.Heck I kinda like Dan parent's new style it kinda suits him just fine.

Quote from: BettyReggie on July 07, 2017, 06:41:59 AMI have a feeling that Reggie & Me will return. In the last issue it said it would. I can't wait for it.

yeah,I hope so too.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 06, 2017, 02:44:47 PM
What makes you think they're waiting for New Riverdale ARCHIE to end before rebooting again? Half an "UNboot" is still a form of REbooting.

Yes,But it is just an all ages spinoff as Archie Comics just focus more on the main titles that is the reboot.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 06, 2017, 02:44:47 PM
Seems like they're having second thoughts, like "Maybe we went too far...?" and the failures of the New Riverdale Reggie & Me, Josie & the Pussycats, and Jughead are pointing out that they've alienated a big percentage of their traditional fans, so they're pulling back and trying to find some middle ground. Although if the truth be known, the New Riverdale ARCHIE alienates me far more than the new JUGHEAD did (but I realize I'm in the minority on that one).

Maybe,But I think people and the critics are okay with the reboot Archie.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on July 06, 2017, 02:44:47 PM
And then there's Harley & Ivy meet Betty & Veronica, which again, seems like it's aiming somewhere "in the middle" between classic B&V and Adam Hughes' B&V... maybe slightly more to the New Riverdale side of things, while Your Pal Archie is skewing closer to the classic Archie side. Personally, I think they made a big mistake in not letting Dan Parent (or maybe Jeff Schultz or Pat & Tim Kennedy) draw this one...



And if either of those aren't big enough sellers to point the way forward to ACP, then they'll probably crank out more miniseries, up and down the tonal scale, with various mixtures of creators and percentages of comedy-to-dramedy...

Maybe this non canon crossover might be a mixture of the classic and the reboot,I think .And since the reboot Archie goes to the mature dramatic part after the Over the Edge storyline,I think Your pal Archie might be an all ages spin off,Just to be safe.

Quote from: Mr.Lodge on July 06, 2017, 05:49:18 PM

Quote from: terrence12 on July 06, 2017, 12:32:40 PMWill the Archie reboot end in about few years and replace with a new reboot?

You mean like DC, Marvel, etc..... 

Yes.But will not have a crisis event thing like Marvel and DC

Look, This maybe considered a weird theory but here goes,You know the Archie Reboot that's been ongoing since 2015,I was thinking suppose if the writers run out of ideas for the reboot and that the characters will keep on evolving throughout the years ,I have a feeling in about few years,The Archie reboot will end and will end with the characters graduating and will have an epilogue showing their new lives though It will probably never show who Archie is married to.


Then there will be another reboot to the Archie Comics series probably about going back to the Classic roots or something new with new designs.I mean, I understand there are new writers who are going to take over the title but I  still think that those writers will probably run out of Ideas since the characters will evolve through time and then they will end this era while creating a new one.


Am I right ? Will the Archie reboot end in about few years and replace with a new reboot?

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on June 10, 2017, 12:08:15 AM

Quote from: steveinthecity on June 09, 2017, 01:56:37 PM
Does Sega have another publisher to turn to in the event ACP doesn't renew?

Hard to say, but both IDW and Boom Studios publish kids' comics lines, into which Sonic could conceivably fit comfortably. Arguably IDW would be the better fit, since Sonic qualifies as both kid-friendly and as a nostalgia property. Are either of those companies interested? Who knows.

I think that could work ...kind of.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on June 10, 2017, 12:08:15 AMDC also publishes a small line of kids' titles, but it's been some years since DC actually licensed any properties for kids -- parent company Warner already has plenty of kid-targeted IPs.

Unfortunately they focus more on their main own brand including warner bros own properties

Quote from: steveinthecity on June 09, 2017, 01:56:37 PM
When does Archie officially lose the license?  Weeks, months, a year?  Just wonder if there's enough financial motivation to produce more issues if as Goldwater reportedly stated "(they) are trying to get away from Sonic because it's not really Archie"?

I don't think so.Since the series remain in hiatus.I have a feeling that it will be cancelled in about next year.

Quote from: steveinthecity on June 09, 2017, 01:56:37 PM Does Sega have another publisher to turn to in the event ACP doesn't renew?

Sadly,No.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on June 09, 2017, 06:10:48 AM
From the Bleeding Cool website (May 9th, 2017):

Quote...an Archie Comics spokesperson told us "We are aware of the questions regarding Sonic. Archie and SEGA are in communication and we hope to have some news soon. We thank the fans for their patience."

Yes,I know that but some people think that the comic book series is about to end a at any moment

Since Archie Comic's Sonic the hedgehog comics are now remaining on hiatus and with Archie comics focus more on their main brand and the television series that is called 'Riverdale'.I think that Sonic the hedgehog comic book series will come to an end.

So here are my thoughts on how Sonic the hedgehog comic book series will end when the company annouce that they end contract with Sega  and how the final issues play out.

For the Main series: Since the hiatus began with Sonic the hedgehog 290,I think the writers will probably cancel the plots for the future issues of 291-300 and just rewrite 291 or/and 292 as the farewell issue/s for the series similar to what the final issue of Mega Man did when it began its hiatus and now cancelation by just giving a sneak peek to upcoming plots that will never be made and then ends with an 'And the Adventure continues' ending along with the bonus final page saying goodbye to the fans before the series ends or maybe a break in the fourth wall issue saying that the series is cancelled as the characters leave the set before the stories are over and then ends with sonic before going along with his friends to unemployment waving goodbye .

But if Archie comics decides to give the writers a chance to write one more issue before the end  then they will release 291-294 before ending the series with issue 295 which will be the final issue of the series and it will have  the 2 similar plots to what  I said about issue 291 and perhaps maybe a funny bonus page before closing the series will have the characters complaining that the series is cancelled and they didn't reach issue 300.

But if Archie comics decided to end the series  with a bang with issue 300,I think that they will get a chance for the writers to make the final story arc from the series that will begin from issue 295 to 300 which will be the epilogue issue and bring  closure to the series

I think that the series will be released on monthly or maybe weekly since Archie Comics focus more on their main brand and just end the sonic series quickly.

For the Spinoff : Since the series has the only spinoff that is Sonic universe,I am going to guess how Archie comics is going to end the series along with the main one,Perhaps maybe they will cancel the planned freedom fighters storyarc that was supposed to begin with issue 95 to probably 100 and just turn issue 95 into the final issue as it probably deals with the series cancelation or with present Sonic thinking about the memories of his previous adventures and write down in a journal or something.

But if archie comics wants to end the series with issue 100 then they will greenlight the freedom fighters storyarc making it the final storyarc of the Sonic universe series and end it with a historic 100th issue.

and like the main series, this  series will  also be released on monthly or maybe weekly since Archie Comics focus more on their main brand and just end the sonic series quickly.

So these are my thoughts on how the final issues of Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comic plays out,What do you think?

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on May 25, 2017, 04:49:27 PM
Actually, DC never owned the ACP superheroes. They just licensed them from ACP, like they've licensed other characters over the years for comic books.

The 1940s incarnations of those superheroes are known as the MLJ superheroes (which all more or less ended by the time the company changed its name to Archie Comic Publications in 1946).

In 1959, Joe Simon & Jack Kirby created a couple of new superheroes titles for ACP, The Adventures of THE FLY and the Double Life of Private Strong. The latter title featured a hero named Lancelot Strong, who became an entirely new version of The Shield (completely unrelated to the earlier, 1940s version in anything but name). In 1964 ACP added a comic book adaptation of THE SHADOW, which by the third issue changed into a superhero version of that character who had super mental powers (kind of like Professor X crossed with Batman). During the early 1960s these titles all bore a corner cover box which declared them as part of the Archie Adventure Series. Around the same time The Adventures of THE JAGUAR was also added to the line. The new Shield's comic only ran 2 issues. The Shadow's comic ran 8 issues. The Jaguar's comic ran 15 issues, and The Fly's comic, having debuted several years earlier, ran 30 issues to 1964. The indicia to all these comics stated that they were published by Radio Comics, as opposed to Archie Comic Publications.

About 6 months passed without any superheroes, and then in 1965, all of a sudden The Fly was back... but now he had changed his name to FLY-MAN (with issue #31, which continued the numbering of the previous Fly series). With issue #35, and new cover corner box on FLY-MAN identified the comic as part of the Mighty Comics Group. In the issues in between, the Black Hood, the Shield, and the Comet had teamed up with Fly-Man and Fly-Girl,  to form THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS, which then spun off into its own comic book. FLY-MAN ran from #31 to #39 (with backup stories added featuring more revived MLJ heroes like the Hangman, the Web, and Steel Sterling), before changing into an anthology title called MIGHTY COMICS PRESENTS, which ran from #40 through #50 (one issue longer than Fly-Man's run). The MIGHTY CRUSADERS comic only ran 7 issues, and there was a one-shot giant-sized reprint comic called SUPER-HEROES VS. SUPER-VILLAINS. Together those 28 comics represent the entire output of The Mighty Comics Group.

The Red Circle name was originally used by in the 1970s for a short-lived series of horror comics, then lay dormant again for years until the 1980s. when the ACP superheroes were once again revived. THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS' 1980s series only ran from 1983-1985 for a total of 13 issues, but a number of the individual characters also got their own short-lived titles during this same time.

The came DC's attempt, Impact Comics, in the early 1990s, which only lasted a few years too. The second DC revival in the early 2000s was the first to revive the Red Circle imprint again. Then it lay dormant again for another decade before ACP itself finally attempted another try at superheroes with THE NEW CRUSADERS.

And ALL of those attempts were fairly straight mainstream superhero comics, until the relatively recent change in branding to Dark Circle.

So I guess the question I'd have to ask is if none of those attempts really managed to capture an audience and result in any significantly long-running titles, then what would make you think anything has changed in the times since then? Marvel and DC really do have total market domination when it comes to the genre of superheroes, so if even DC couldn't make it work for them...

Wow, you have an good accurate description  of the archie comics superheroes brand especially about its history.I guess this explains why Archie comics created the darker reinterpretation of those characters with dark circle.Though If they would revive the superhero characters with a tone of Dc and Marvel and be rebranded as Mighty Comics instead of red circlebut give a full reboot as in start over.

You know the superhero characters in Archie comics? Well, They were originally the comic book creations which are superheroes until Archie and his gang gain their popularity during their debut.And was the reason why MLJ was renamed as Archie comics.


The superheroes who are then formed as mighty Crusaders had short term revivals in the secondary  Archie Comics brand called the 'red circle' in the 60's,70's, 80's and the early 90's before being sold to Dc comics to revive them as 'IMPACT comics 'a DC sub-brand.However due to low sales that brand was canceled.DC tries this again by adding the characters into the DC universe but that didn't catch readers attention so they canceled it.


Archie comics gained back their characters from Dc and revive them as New Crusaders in their revived 'red circle'  brand but it was short lived so they cancelled it living a cliffhanger though they made a continuation sometime later as New Crusaders: Dark Tomorrow.


So Archie comics change the red circle into 'Dark Circle' where they make stories about the dark reinterpretation of the Archie superheroes.And you know the rest.




So if Archie Comics decided to revive their superhero brand maybe they should include them in their newly Archie action brand (in case if Sonic is canceled) or rebrand Dark Circle as Red Circle and here how they will do that. By rebooting the characters like valiant during its revival but make the tone be like the current Marvel comics and Dc rebirth.


Have the superheroes be heroic and villains be villains but don't let them include the dark tones like the Dark Circle, Make the tone be like regular superhero comics  Also Give them event story arcs much like most superhero comic books in the industry and that's all I can say.


What do you think?