Usually, try to run something on Archie Comics on Mondays because, well, it is Archie Comics day. But, this time, I’m making an exception because I want one Archie Comic fresh in your mind—so we’ll take a look a tit when you visit your comic shop to pick out this week’s fantastic comics.
I’m talking about Archie as Mr. Justice #3— and only one more issue in this miniseries to go, and I’ll be disappointed to see it end because it has been fantastically entertaining to watch the story unfold. Each issue has a different creative, with this issue having Kenny Porter writing and Maria Laura Sanapo with pencils.As the series unfolds in flashbacks, Archie’s friends tell the next part of the story, and a grown-up Betty Cooper tells the next part of the story. Once, the Riverdale Gang was pigeonholed as being a certain way. Still, over the last decade, Archie Comics has found fantastically unique ways to tell stories with everyone’s favorite while at the same time remaining true to what Archie Comics is all about.
Without revealing too much, this isn’t a repeat of typical superhero cliches or a sense of “been there, done that,” either. Throughout the series, there’s been some foreshadowing that things don’t end up the way you might expect for a hero like Mr. Justice. Can’t wait to see how all this ends—it’s been a fantastic tale.
Speaking of heroes, Archie has been doing something unique: It’s become reprinting—archiving– the Golden Age run of Pep Comics. It started with Pep Comics #1, which had the first appearance of The Shield. What comic fans might not realize—The Shield was the FIRST of the patriotic-themed heroes. Coming out in 1940, he appeared several months before Captain America.
Now, every week, they’ve been issuing some Golden Age Pep Comics, starting with Pep Comics 23 and heading to issue 42 in the coming weeks. Oddly, Archie has skipped archiving Pep Comics 2 through—22, the latter which has the first appearance of Archie Andrews.But these Golden Age classics are worth checking out because they feature some of the early Archie and Riverdale stories. Back then, Archie was regulated to the back of the book, and it would be a bit before he was featured on the cover.
It was still the Age of Heroes with the Shield and The Hangman taking the cover. Archie has a long history of heroes who eventually formed the Mighty Crusaders. If you’re unfamiliar with the Archhiew heroes—here’s a perfect way to sample them.
World of Betty & Veronica Double Digest #38, like most Archie Digests, contains at least one new story or this issue. It’s Friday the 13th, and superstition hangs heavy over Riverdale like a dark cloud. Betty, Veronica, Cheryl, and a few other Riverdale Girls head out to the Lodges’ remote winter cabin for a weekend escape—but the darkness has other plans. Strange and sinister attacks disrupt the night, turning the friends against one another.To me, the new story is only the icing on the cake! At almost 200 pages, for $7.00, it’s one of the best bargains you’ll find at our comic shop this week. While it naturally features many classic B &V stories, it’s the non-B & V tales that I often enjoy the most. The digests are frequently the best place to see characters that don’t always get the spotlight these days. How about a tale featuring Chuck & Nancy—do YOU even know who these two are? The digest is your chance to learn more.
Wait, there’s even more fantastic Archie fun! You get Sabrina in some solo tales. Ethel—known for chasing poor Jughead, gets a story! Best of all, these digests are always fun for all ages.
When was the last time YOU checked out and read some Archie Comics? Like many fans, it will probably never happen for some time. Well, now is the perfect time to read some Archie. Besides, a thriving, growing comic industry needs everyone to read comics outside of the latest event or hot comic. Now, treat yourself to some Archie—you deserve it!
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