I admit that for years, I was not a big Archie Comics reader. Like many fans who’ve been reading comics for many years, I think we cast them off as “kiddie comics.” It was when I had author Michael Northrop on the podcast that he schooled that a lot of what we think of as “kids’ comics” are really “All-Ages.” I had him on the podcast twice. Once to talk about Teen Titans Go! The graphic novel he wrote. And, again, for Young Alfred: Pain in the Butler. He made a fantastic guest, and you should check out those shows.
I’ve come to enjoy whatever Archie puts out. They are likely to quote from Forrest Gump: “Archie Comics are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”. They’re always fantastically fun, unexpected reads.
Take World of Archie Double Digest #149—out this week! Like most of the digests, there are at least one or more new stories. First up, his tale with the Riverdale Gang and Cosmos the Maritan. Here’s a perfect example of how Archie deep-dives into its history to bring fresh takes on long-established characters. Cosmos had a series during the dawn of the Silver Age. Here, Archie and his gang introduce Cosmo the Merry Martian to the excitement, adventures, and quirks of teenage life on Earth.
With nearly 200 pages (and a fantastic bargain at $6.99), you never know what they’ll tuck away in between the pages. I like how Archie often showcases characters other than Archie, Jughead, Betty, or Veronica. You get solos of Moose, Reggie, Dilton, and more, just to name a few. Also, these stories are generally from all the ages of comic books. I swear, there’s a Golden Age or early Silver Age tale tucked within this digest. One of the best things about these tales is that they hold up over time, no matter how long ago they first came out.
Over the past few years, Archie has been building its horror comics line with a series of one-shots and mini-series. Recently released was Archie Horror Presents: The Nine Lives of Salem. Now Salem Saberhagen is Sabrina’s cat and appeared at the same time way back in Archie’s Mad House #22 in 196. Archie has put out a great read for you, Sabrina fans– Sabrina: 60 Magical Stories.
For Salem’s one-shot, Archie has assembled an all-star creative team. Writer Cullen Bunn (you know his work from such titles as Harrow County and Uncanny X-Men) and layouts by Dan Schoening (who has done work for both Archie and BOOM! Studios and art by another Archie artist, Ben Galvan. Together, they hit this one right out of the Riverdale ballpark!
Once a formidable warlock, Salem’s reckless misuse of his dark arts condemned him to a lifetime of servitude—as a cunning cat familiar bound to a family of witches. Though he prowls through his days with sardonic charm and feline grace, the shadows of his past are never far behind. When old adversaries resurface, hungry for vengeance, Salem finds himself teetering on the edge of survival. The sins of his former self now threaten to unravel his nine lives, one clawed battle at a time. Now is a purr-fectly fantastic time to sink your claws into some Archie horror.
Another recent one-shot that’s a little tamer is Betty and Veronica’s Friends Forever: Once Upon a Time. Sure, these two have been battling it out for Archie since the beginning, but underneath it all—and even though they often DO get under each other’s skin—they are truly best friends.
It’s an all-new story. When the mysterious and beguiling Mother Striga welcomes Betty and Veronica into her enchanted woodland cottage, she offers them the chance to be her apprentices in the mystical arts. The girls stumble upon an ancient grimoire brimming with tantalizing spells—each promising to unlock their most profound, wildest dreams. But their first attempt at potion-brewing spirals into chaos, unleashing an uproarious series of magical missteps, quirky transformations, and laugh-out-loud surprises. Could this enchanting misadventure be the ultimate lesson in magical mishaps? Read it to find out!
Now, Mother Stirga is a relatively new ‘citizen’ of Riverdale. In the Sabrina mythos, it is whispered through darkened woods and ancient halls that all witches trace their origins to a single, sinister source—a wicked matriarch whose malevolence has forever stained the legacy of magic itself. That formidable force is none other than Mother Striga, the first witch, whose shadow looms over all who dare to wield the arcane. She made her first appearance last fall in a three-part crossover that began in Sabrina the Teenage Witch Annual Spectacular. Check out her first round in Riverdale and see why Mother Striga lives up to being the most Wicked of All Witches!
There you have it—three fantastic reads! When was the last time YOU read an Archie Comic? No better time than now!
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