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:

I review "Stuck With You" from Cheryl Blossom: Summertime Fun #3 (1995).

Quote from: Sitcomics on March 20, 2020, 03:37:20 amShort answer: not for a while.

Long-winded writer's answer: The 5th Binge Book is 2/3 drawn and hopefully 3/3 written & drawn in a couple months. The plan is to switch to Diamond next year, assuming Diamond still exists by then, which means waiting a while to print the entire new story. You can actually read the new chapter (and all 11 previous digital issues) for free on Kindle Unlimited right now by following the link and part two should follow in a couple months. Have fun!

Whoa. You hadda bring THAT up. I've heard rumblings that... all is not well in comic book retailing-dom. And if Diamond Comic Distributors ceases to function, that's pretty much all she wrote for print comics retailing as it has existed up until this point in time, because there's really nothing to replace it. Bookstore sales of collected editions and graphic novels can go on, and of course digital comics, but not the printed type of floppy comics. All would be apparently collateral damage victims of the COVID-19 Apocalypse. I guess that would effectively sort of level the entire playing field for the little guys in comic publishing, but... *brrrr!* I don't even really want to think about it.

Short answer: not for a while. 

Long-winded writer's answer: The 5th Binge Book is 2/3 drawn and hopefully 3/3 written & drawn in a couple months. The plan is to switch to Diamond next year, assuming Diamond still exists by then, which means waiting a while to print the entire new story. You can actually read the new chapter (and all 11 previous digital issues) for free on Kindle Unlimited right now by following the link and part two should follow in a couple months. Have fun!

Hey Darin!

Good to hear that Super Suckers is still a going thing, and that Corona vampires haven't caused the end of Bung Hill civilization (such as it may be...)

Any projection on the next SS Binge Book? I need that for my collection.

I review "Beach Blanket Blossom" from Cheryl Blossom: Summertime Fun #3 (1995).

It was close but we got another issue of Super 'Suckers done before the world ended. Here's the link to Amazon for those who see money as ephemeral and comics as essential. You can also binge-read the first 11 issues for free on ComiXology Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08632SPZH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=suckers+5.1&qid=1584598506&sr=8-1

I've rarely bought a floppy.
But these are great!

Why is Ronnie driving Archie's car?

I didn't see this one coming, because I didn't read Dynamite's solictation for this issue closely enough. I had been buying the previous issues more to get the Dan Parent cover variants than for any other reason. #1-8 are done in the same "New Archie" style as the earlier DC crossover with Harley & Ivy. Which is nowhere near as interesting to me as it would be if Dan Parent drew the story. But surprisingly to me (I was completely unaware until I opened the cover of #9 and began reading) Dan Parent DID in fact draw the interior artwork for this entire issue.