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?

Wow ! guess  old dog is doing new tricks after all and dan parents is trying out his new artwork on the new series.His original artwork  feels so plastic like what he did with his female characters but this one is new and improved and it's kind of okay. I guess change does work after all.


So i guess Dan is going to make a new series by  returning to the classic archie world in reboot style but with a lighter tone and aimed for all ages since the main series is going towards dark territory as one of the characters will be killed off in the over the edge storyline (possibly reggie)

Quote from: Tuxedo Mark on April 12, 2017, 12:58:12 PM
It'll probably be some minor character that no one cares about - maybe even a no-name background character.

yeah,I hope so

Quote from: Tuxedo Mark on April 12, 2017, 12:58:12 PMBut, yeah, comic book deaths don't mean anything - not even in TV and film adaptations. That's why I roll my eyes whenever a reactor cries out a main character's name when s/he's in trouble on screen - as if they're in any real danger.

I know,It was considered a faded comic book trend that won't work

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on April 08, 2017, 12:01:32 AM
Management are attention whores and think simply having publicity is positive.

But i wonder what happens if they focus less on publicity and more on creativity

Quote from: 60sBettyandReggie on March 29, 2017, 02:42:22 PM
This is true...But even so, I really hope they don't kill Reggie (or any of the main characters for that matter). Why kill them? What's the point? If  they do end up killing Reggie, will he also die on the Reggie and Me title?  I don't like this reboot Reggie. He is not friends with the gang, he is always alone. It never was that way on the classic Archie comics. He was Archie's frenemy. They hung out together.
If it were up to me, I would have them kill the whole reboot and go back to the old and classic style and stories!

I hope so because using comic book death on the main series is considered a bad idea and is considered a change in tone and i agree reggie is considered a 'frenemy' throughout the archie series killing off is stupid stunt

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 30, 2017, 06:40:12 AMI don't know whether to be mad about it or just laugh at the ridiculous irony. It's just completely wrong-headed. What was once lighthearted teenage comedy hijinks is now supposed to be some angsty dramatic tension, as Jan & Dean's "Won't come back from Dead Man's Curve" plays in the background.

Yeah,I agree and it is considered stupid

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 25, 2017, 02:40:40 PM

Death has become fairly meaningless in comic books, anyway. Who really gets all bent out of shape when Captain America, or Wolverine, or Superman dies these days? It's been "done to death" (how apropos). It's all pretty ho-hum, and nobody feels any gravitas about how meaningful it is. All it really means is that you won't be seeing exactly that version of a character for a while (which is about the same as the cancellation of some character's series). There are uncounted ways to explain it all away as having never really happened, later resurrect the character somehow, or simply reboot him again and start over. Big deal.

You know i agree with you , death is pointless in comics because when you kill off a long running character they are revived sometime later  and then killed off,revived  again and so and so and so on ,Death is meaningless now in comics and is now a cliche ,the only thing that will shock the fans is that they should give a grand finale to the old universe like dc and marvel give a proper final ending and have the readers move on to the new dc and marvel universe with new canon stories , new heroes and new villains with new origins and i have the idea for that unfortunately there are many problems that prevent it from happening  and i know two problems-First The readers are attached to the those long running characters and they don't want want to let go and move on  and second companies use them as 'mascots'

Quote from: CAPalace on March 25, 2017, 06:14:20 PMThere are other ways to get readers/attention. Comic book "deaths" are just looked at as cheap now. Like, even if the 'Archie' comic has some sort of amazing storyline that comes from whatever will happen in these issues, right now I'm just looking at it as a lazy way for them to get some headlines and the non-comic book readers to buy the collectible variant covers to try to sell them off because of past stunts by not only Archie Comics but other comic book publishers as well.

Yeah,I agree with you the the 'death' gimmick is pointless since comic book companies don't want to really kill off long running characters and that gimmick is done to 'death' (no pun intended) ,I think it's better that those comic book companies should remove the death gimmick to those long running characters except maybe the minor and forgotten ones and maybe give a final story to the old universe like dc and marvel with a proper closure and have the readers move on to the new dc and marvel universe with new canon stories that might give shock to the readers.

Quote from: DeCarlo Rules on March 25, 2017, 02:40:40 PM As an interesting side point, Archie Comics was the very first comic book company to have an ongoing character die, way, way back when that was something unheard of, and actually meant something. That would have been The Comet, in PEP COMICS, which led to his brother swearing revenge on the criminals who killed him and becoming The Hangman.

That might be true, too bad it's forgotten to most people.

Quote from: Gotapenname on March 25, 2017, 04:08:38 PMYou like my first theory . That's good cause that makes one of us. I love and miss the messed semi friendship of Archie and Reggie. The fact that this storyline is probably going to be the nail in coffin for that ever happening in the re-boot makes me sad.

yeah,I might agree with you  cause this might lead to a 'jump in the shark' to the reboot series.

Quote from: Gotapenname on March 25, 2017, 04:08:38 PM As for my second theory as Reggie fan. I dislike  this one too of course. I tend make up theories  I don't like due to me being  the glass if half full but there probably going to be drought tomorrow and some is going to steal this glass from me kind of gal.

Yeah,maybe

Quote from: CAPalace on March 25, 2017, 06:14:20 PM
There are other ways to get readers/attention. Comic book "deaths" are just looked at as cheap now. Like, even if the 'Archie' comic has some sort of amazing storyline that comes from whatever will happen in these issues, right now I'm just looking at it as a lazy way for them to get some headlines and the non-comic book readers to buy the collectible variant covers to try to sell them off because of past stunts by not only Archie Comics but other comic book publishers as well.

Yeah,I agree with you the the 'death' gimmick is pointless since comic book companies don't want to really kill off long running characters and that gimmick is done to 'death' (no pun intended) ,I think it's better that those comic book companies should remove the death gimmick to those long running characters except maybe the minor and forgotten ones and maybe give a final story to the old universe like dc and marvel with a proper closure and have the readers move on to the new dc and marvel universe with new canon stories that might give shock to the readers.

Quote from: CAPalace on March 25, 2017, 08:08:55 AM
What kind of bothers me is that if they do go the route of someone being killed in a street race - Reggie and/or Archie would realistically wind up in court and go to jail for manslaughter.  They can't just go "oh I am so sorry this will affect me forever ;__; " and that'll be the end of that.

I know, I know, comic book logic and Archie Comics waving off issues like this, but, it would bother me.


You know after reading what you said ,I agree with you having someone killed off during the race and have someone wind up in court and in jail will be stupid especially the part where the series will change tone it's kinda stupid.

Quote from: CAPalace on March 25, 2017, 08:08:55 AMAlso someone going to court/jail would bring the whole mood of this series down in my opinion. I would stop reading it. If I wanted drama, I'd watch/read Riverdale :p

Yeah i agree with that as well.

Quote from: CAPalace on March 25, 2017, 08:08:55 AM Hopefully it is a dream or a fake-out death.

Yeah ,I hope so too which will probably won't happen in real life.(our real life that is)

Quote from: Gotapenname on March 24, 2017, 05:07:49 PM
I have two  theories one  is similar to you're first one but instead Archie and Reggie agreeing never to do something like this again. It will probably only be Archie feel any kind of responsibility while Reggie will just pin the whole on Archie. They will hate even more deeply than already do.

or they will have it be Reggie. Everyone in Riverdale will be either like so sad he died young but he was jerk. Archie will wangst about being a killer for few issues until his friends snap him out of it. Then mention it until some else get in danger again.   

You know i kinda like your first theory because this type might increase  Archie and Reggie's rivalry to a new level and will be more aggressive and dramatic  than its original counterpart when it was lighter


As for you second theory i think that will happen but it will be considered cliche and a stupid move killing off a major character which will be canon and it will lead to a new storyarc where he will be depressed.

I know that the reboot archie  universe series which started from 2015  is faithful to its original predecessor with its comedy but  with a bit of  drama which i am okay with that since the original classic predecessor also has drama.

However with the success of Riverdale a teen drama which for me is not faithful to the original  archie comics ,Archie comics decided to do the one trope that is used in most comic books and that is death, They used 'death' in alternate archie universe like with Life with archie the married life which involves archie's heroic sacrifice and Afterlife with archie where it takes place in the alternate archie universe where most characters turn into zombies while the survivors try to struggle for their lives and battle  other monsters and stuff.

This death part however is now used in main archie canon and that is used in the storyarc OVER THE EDGE ,Where it involves archie and reggie going for a race and it involves one of them to die (spoiler alert i think archie survives but reggie didn't)

I mean this is ridiculous they are going to use a dramatic death element in archie comics i mean this is kinda stupid i mean I understand that most comic books are not for kids but using death on one of the major archie characters in main canon this is stupid and cliche .I wish archie comics will not do that which brings to my next part ,theories.

   
• Theory 1-Death of a minor character during the race - Archie and reggie will race and then crash but in issue 21 they will survive with some injuries however some  minor character which is not important to the universe might have been caught in the crossline that he or she was fatally injured and succumbed to his or her injuries leading to his or death which shocks both Archie and Reggie as they realise that their dangerous race must have unknowingly killed a person which will haunt them for the rest of their lives,Issue 23 will involve the minor character's funeral as Archie and reggie who also attended the funeral tries to apologise to the deceased member's family then after the funeral ,the storyarc will end with Archie and Reggie agree never to do the dangerous stunt again otherwise this will cause harm to them or others around, this storyarc might give character development to the characters.

   
• Theory 2 -It was all just a dream for Archie-I think that the storyarc will just  be a dream as it involves archie  killed off in the race then has his spirit see his friends mourn him because he died and see his funeral in issue 23 before he is  dragged to heaven until he wakes up and realise that  it was all just a dream but it might be considered a warning and then the storyarc ends with archie telling reggie that he decided not to race with him after all so that he doesn't want to die just like in his dream.

   
• Theory 3-Killed off but with a second chance ending- I think it will be similar to theory 2 but it will be  death for real as archie will end up as a spirit in issue 22 and meets a guardian angel who gives him a tour of his post death with many of his friends mourning him and then ends with a funeral and issue 23 has him going  to heaven but then god gives archie a second  chance and then returns back to the starting point from issue 22  where reggie and archie challenging each other to a dangerous duel but then he changes his mind as he doesn't want to race with him otherwise he will be dead for real.The arc will end with archie thanking his guardian angel for giving him a second chance.

   
• Theory 4-one major character killed off for real- And here is the last theory which is considered the ridiculous thing happened to most comic books, the 'death' cliche as this arc will have reggie or a major character killed off leading to a change in status quo to the archie universe which will have a dramatic aftermath in the next storyarc.

And that's all the theories i explained tell me what you think and if you are not impressed with one of the theories maybe you can come up with your own theory and explain it by yourself.

Quote from: Vegan Jughead on February 12, 2017, 09:25:26 AM
Been hearing about the end of Archie Comics for years now, and they're still here.  Even though RIVERDALE's ratings aren't good it's getting mostly positive reviews and that can't hurt. 


I think Archie will be here as long as they want to.  Maybe it won't be the Archie the old school fans prefer, but Archie Comics will most likely exist for the foreseeable future.

He does  have a point.

Quote from: PTF on February 11, 2017, 09:37:17 PM
If Sonic does get canceled. It could go to IDW and continue from where they left off, couldn't they?

Nope

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 10, 2017, 08:59:10 AM
Those comics draw in a significant audience they wouldn't be getting otherwise.  Getting rid of them would be really stupid.  They probably make it easier to print regular Archie stuff.[/font][/size]

Yeah ,I think they are going to do that.

[/font]

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 10, 2017, 08:59:10 AM [/size]My guess is if they are canceled, it's because Sega decided to pull the plug.  Not sure why they would want to do that, but maybe Archie's doing so badly they could get a better deal from someone else.  Also I'm pretty sure they didn't like Archie's legal team getting schooled by Ken Penders so bad it was like an episode of Perry Mason.

yeah maybe i think Sega decides to end their licensing deal with archie comics for some unknown reason

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 08, 2017, 06:50:55 PM
One thing I thought could really level the company was Sega pulling its license for Sonic comics.  Whatever you think of them, they have a very solid fanbase of video game nerds and people who want furry/anthro comics.  So then this news/rumor mill bit ended up on multiple websites:

https://www.sonicstadium.org/2017/01/archie-sonic-comics-very-likely-cancelled/

Supposedly, there was an update from Archie saying the Sonic comics were only delayed until April.  However, as far as I can tell, those are only solicitations for a single wave of new issues.  The telling fact is you still can't subscribe to Sonic comics on Archie's website.  If there wasn't a licensing problem, why would they remove the option to subscribe?  Seems like a really good way to cut off future revenue streams.  The subscriptions have been described as "temporarily unavailable."  It's currently February, unlike when that article was first published.  Seems like a really long time to me.  You can also still subscribe to titles that had even longer delays, so that's not an explanation that makes sense.  As we know, Archie doesn't like to talk about titles that are on the chopping block at all.  Look at titles like New Crusaders who we were told would come back.

Honestly, as much as people here like the Riverdale gang comics, I don't know if Archie will be able to survive financially without those titles.

Maybe the reason sonic the hedgehog comics are about to be cancelled in issue 300 is because archie comics need to really focus more on their original archie brand rather than the licensing ones.

Quote from: Alexandra Cabot on February 09, 2017, 11:10:31 PMOne of the most annoying things about Archie Comics in recent years is how untransparent they are.  A lot of signs point to the company not performing well, but they don't have to let us know because they have no stockholders to answer to.  So they obfuscate all bad news.  It's pretty annoying, so we probably won't know what's really going on for a while.About selling the company.  Current management has certainly deteriorated this company's value considerably over its reign, like ridiculously deteriorated from the huge publishing operation it once was.  If they wanted to sell it for a decent amount of money, they should have probably done so like right after Jon Goldwater inherited his stake.  So I'd say other companies jumping at the chance to buy it are probably somewhat diminished now.

Well at least the archie comics series gain positive reception heck people like them however if the company reac bankruptcy well then maybe IDW will buy the rights and revive the archie and the riverdale series as a historical period comedy series taking place in the late 40s and the early 50s.

Quote from: carrotz on February 10, 2017, 03:22:52 AMI hope it's the end. They signed off on this nauseous tv show. I see now that they never really cared about their characters.

Look i know you guys don't like the tv show like me but it gains positive reviews and will be renewed for a 2nd season heck archie comics is becoming successful

Probably trying to fit in with the current times since message boards are considered a 'fad'