July sees the Archie books come with a lot of welcome additions/throwbacks. I am most looking forward to the return of Pureheart and the rest of the Archie Super Teens, but there is something for everyone this month! Video gamers can enjoy Sonic and Mega Man as always Sci-fi & horror fans can enjoy the Archie’s Weird Mysteries trade, based on the cartoon of some years past. The popular Kevin Keller character continues his mini-series (strangely enough doubling in the indices as Veronica issues), and there’s even a new Sabrina trade! Take a look, and then tell your retailer you want the latest Archie books!

ARCHIE COMICS FOR JULY 2011

ARCHIE AND FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #7

“Cold Cash”
It may be summer, but it’s getting cold! When the Ice Cube and The Witch Doctor to rob Lodge Industries it’s up to Riverdale’s greatest superhero, Pureheart to stop them in their tracks! Can Pureheart save Mr. Lodge’s millions and bring the heat to Ice Cube’s plans?
SCRIPT: FRANK DOYLE
ARTIST: BOB WHITE, MARIO ACQUAVIVA
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, BOB SMITH
Shipping Date: 7/6/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/20/2011
Newsstands: 7/26/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

ARCHIE’S WEIRD MYSTERIES

Collecting some of the best tales from the series based on the hit cartoon, Archie and the gang continue their classic adventures – with a weird, offbeat twist! Archie is working for Riverdale High School’s newspaper, investigating weird phenomena and bizarre happenings. It seems the school’s science department blew a fuse in its hyper sub-molecular quarkinator and all sorts of things are now crawling and slithering through the town. It’s up to Archie to look into the cases and usually he happens to be there when they are resolved as well. All of the gang from the pop television series shows up, including occasional appearances from their own Sabrina the Teenage Witch, popular comic book character of the 1970s and popular television character of the late 1990s.
SCRIPT: PAUL CASTIGLIA
ARTIST: FERNANDO RUIZ
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, RICH KOSLOWSKI
Shipping Date: 7/5/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/20/2011
6×9, 128 page, softcover trade paperback
$9.95 US / $10.95 CAN

SONIC UNIVERSE #30

“Inside Job” Part Two
Scourge the “Evil Sonic” is imprisoned in Zone Jail! He’s going to need support to escape, but the mercenary gang of the Destructix aren’t interested. Can Scourge delve into their dark pasts and find a reason to gain their trust? Or will he wind up a green smear on the wall?
SCRIPT: IAN FLYNN
ARTIST: TRACY YARDLEY!, JIM AMASH, PHIL FELIX, STEVE DOWNER
COVER: TRACY YARDLEY! JIM AMASH & BEN HUNZEKER
Shipping Date: 7/6/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/20/2011
Newsstands: 7/26/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

ARCHIE #623

“Banded Together”
It’s a battle of epic proportions! In “˜Banded Together’ the Archies and Josie and the Pussycats play on the season finales of competing reality shows, All American Idol and The X – Factory! But will the ratings winner be an up and coming reality show showcasing Archie and Veronica’s relationship?
SCRIPT: DAN PARENT
ARTIST: FERNANDO RUIZ, RICH KOSLOWSKI
COVER: DAN PARENT, RICH KOSLOWSKI
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

B & V DOUBLE DIGEST #193

“Losers Can Be Choosers” and “Dog Gone It”
In “Losers Can Be Choosers”, Riverdale is home to a new comic book convention. And with comic conventions, comes costume contests. Join in the pageantry as Betty, Veronica and Cheryl Blossom all compete for first place! Then in “Dog Gone It”, Betty spends time as a pet sitter, but is forced to be a dog catcher when he runs away.
SCRIPT: GEORGE GLADIR, JOHN ROSE
ARTIST: STAN GOLDBERG, AL BOLLING, JIM AMASH
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, BOB SMITH
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

B & V FRIENDS DOUBLE DIGEST #216

“Teen Spirit”
In “Teen Spirit”, Betty and Veronica are trapped on a yacht with a bunch of sleeping boys. Looking for adventure, they come across an old pirate ship rumored to be haunted by a ghost. When they get on board, they discover there is a ghost, but they don’t realize he’s a teenage ghost who is lovesick!
SCRIPT: ANGELO DECESARE
ARTIST: DAN PARENT, JOHN D’AGOSTINO
COVER: DAN DeCARLO
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

JUGHEAD DOUBLE DIGEST #172

“Treasure Hunt” and “Tricks and Costume Day”
In “Treasure Hunt”, the gang finds a treasure map in Jughead’s attic and begins to search for riches in the back yard! But will the hunt end with Jughead being buried? Next in “Tricks and Costume Day”, Jughead and Hot Dog help raise money for emergency pet care with cute pet costumes and amazing pet tricks.
SCRIPT: PAUL KUPPERBERG, GEORGE GLADIR
ARTIST: TOD SMITH, STAN GOLDBERG, JIM AMASH
COVER: TOD SMITH, AL MILGROM
Shipping Date: 7/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 7/27/2011
Newsstands: 8/2/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

BETTY #193

“Fantasy Flair”, “Just Relax”, “Shell Belle” and “Love the One You’re With”
In “Fantasy Flair”, Betty dreams of Archie being a superhero and sweeping her off her feet literally! Next, In “Just Relax”, Betty and Midge take a vacation with Betty’s parents and find out there is more than one way to relax! Then, in “Shell Belle” Betty takes her brownie troop to the beach to collect shells to make some fun crafts. Finally in “Love the One You’re With” Betty and Dilton find themselves with the same situation.
SCRIPT: GEORGE GLADIR, MIKE PELLOWSKI, JOHN ROSE
ARTIST: KENNEDY BROS., JACK MORELLI
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, BOB SMITH
Shipping Date: 7/20/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
Newsstands: 8/9/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH: ANIMATED

Collecting some of the best stories from the comic series based on the hit animated show, join Sabrina as she faces a flurry of new foes, meets new friends and tries to deal with the trials and tribulations of high school – with the added burden of being a teenage witch! What happens when Sabrina meets Repulsa? Can she handle being transformed from a high-schooler to a 12-year old? That and much more. Featuring the writing of Mike Gallagher and artist Dave Manak, this collects the hit comic for the first time, deftly bringing the world of the popular animated cartoon to comic form.
SCRIPT: MIKE GALLAGHER
ARTIST: DAVE MANAK
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, JOHN D’AGOSTINO
Shipping Date: 7/19/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
6×9, 128 page, softcover trade paperback
$9.95 US / $10.95 CAN

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #227

“Genesis” Part Two: Sonic’s 20th Anniversary Celebration kicks into high gear as the most talked about Sonic story EVER continues! Sonic joins his new friends Sally, Boomer and Antoine as they brave the treacherous Labyrinth Zone! What perils await them in these dark waters? Even if they do track down this “Dr. Robotnik,” are they up to the challenge of defeating him?!
SCRIPT: IAN FLYNN
ARTIST: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE, TRACY YARDLEY!, TERRY AUSTIN, JOHN WORKMAN, MATT HERMS
COVER: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE
Shipping Date: 7/20/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
Newsstands: 8/9/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #9

“Love Me Baby, Mumbai” Part 1
In “Love Me Baby, Mumbai”, Raj Patel dreams of being a film director! His current ITube movie “˜Love Hate Triangle’ has over 10,000 views and has caught the eye of Kunal Desai, one of the biggest Bollywood producers in India! Can Raj turn Love Hate triangle into an epic film?
SCRIPT: TANIA DEL RIO
ARTIST: BILL GALVAN
COVER: BILL GALVAN, AL MILGROM
Shipping Date: 7/20/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/3/2011
Newsstands: 8/9/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

KEVIN KELLER #2

“The Write Stuff”
In “The Write Stuff”, Veronica helps Kevin Keller’s family plan a birthday party for his dad. When Kevin and Veronica begin going through pictures and stories from Kevin’s past, she sees and experiences all the incredible things he did. But with all the places Kevin lived, he realizes how much Riverdale has become home for him.
SCRIPT: DAN PARENT
ARTIST: DAN PARENT
COVER: DAN PARENT
VERONICA #208 VARIENT COVER: DAN PARENT
Shipping Date: 7/27/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/10/2011
Newsstands: 8/16/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

LIFE WITH ARCHIE #12

The best selling magazine continues with all new adventures! In “Archie Loves Veronica” things are not going well! Reggie’s trial is coming to a close and not looking good, Jughead’s Choklit Shop is struggling and Archie and Veronica’s marriage isn’t doing well either. Then in “Archie Loves Betty”, being teachers is beginning to take its toll on the couple and Veronica finds out something unpleasant about the man she’s interested in.
Also, Riverdale Guide to Back-to-School Fashions, the Top 5 shockers in MTV MMA’s, and news on Spy Kids 4! Plus Jughead’s video game reviews and a look at the secret agents and spy books published by Archie Comics.
SCRIPT: PAUL KUPPERBERG
ARTIST: NORM BREYFOGLE
COVER: NORM BREYFOGLE
Shipping Date: 7/27/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/10/2011
Newsstands: 8/16/2011
Magazine, 80 pgs, Full-Color
$3.99 US

MEGA MAN #4

“Let the Games Begin!” Part Four: This is it! Mega Man has reached Dr. Wily’s stronghold, and now nothing stands between him and the madman! Except the Yellow Devil. And the Copy Robot. And the rebuilt Robot Masters. Good luck, Mega Man! Don’t miss the finale to the first arc to this brand new series!
SCRIPT: IAN FLYNN
ARTIST: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE, RICK BRYANT, JOHN WORKMAN & MATT HERMS
COVER: PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE
VILLAIN VARIANT COVER: BEN BATES
Shipping Date: 7/27/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/10/2011
Newsstands: 8/16/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color

I’m trilled to present this first look. Life with Archie is an odd periodical. You get some absolutely amazing comics mixed with some crazy Teen Beat-style articles. While it’s oddly compelling to compare today’s celebrities with Archie & pals, The thing that keep me picking this book up is The Married Life. You get two full length stories each month set in alternate futures. One where Archie married Veronica, and the other where he married Betty.  While in the hands of lesser writers this could be a saccharine storyline with no real redeeming value, Married Life transcends that. The stories are compelling, thought-provoking, and not at all what you’d expect from an Archie tale. The characters grow up, and so does the story telling. Don’t take my word for it, check out these pages from Life with Archie #9 and see for yourself. Then pick it up at you local comic shop, or astoundingly enough, at the magazine aisle at your grocery store!

As I intimated in our preview of this issue, Betty & Veronica are very old hat at going to prom. The full-length story in this issue pokes a bit of fun about that, when the duo try to remember who took Archie last time and who’s turn it is this go around. If that was it to the story, it’d be pretty standard Archie fare, but writer Dan Parent takes a different tack, and it was quite refreshing. Some time ago, a school district in Riverdale’s vicinity closed and the orphaned students were welcomed to Riverdale High with open arms. With all the new blood, B&V decide maybe it’s time to play the field a bit.

Opportunity knocks when Veronica goes prom shopping!

Veronica has a scheme in mind, and the purpose it serves is twofold and a stroke of storytelling genius as well. To find out who to take to the prom, Veronica sets up a speed date session with all of the new guys, which turns out to be a good plan and introduces the reader to all of the new characters without having a roll call, which is all too often the case in other comics. The speed date ends with our two heroines with some new arm candy, but the lads of Riverdale also get to meet some new people on their dates, even Jughead!

Forsythe P. Jones, master of sarcasm.

The prom dates themselves have some interesting quirks that drive the rest of the story, and makes for a very atypical prom night (except for maybe Jughead, surprisingly). As the story wraps up, things come full circle in way that leaves the reader with a smile on their face. This is why I read Archie books, I can forget about the insanity of other companies’ rigamarole and just sit down and genuinely enjoy a story.

Can I say I love that an Archie book has an asterisk box?

Moving onto the technical aspects of the book, I mentioned above how much I admire Dan Parent’s writing on the book, but I’ll be honest, I was more familiar with his artwork, so it was even more of a pleasant surprise that he can hold his own in both fields. The art in this tale is by Jeff Shultz, and while some will says the ‘Archie Style’ makes it difficult to gauge an artist’s talent, I have to disagree. The clean lines and masterful facial expressions (aided by the inks of Bob Smith) are second to none and places Shultz in my top 3 of current Archie artists.

This book won’t be in stores until next Wednesday, but I implore you to tell your comic shop owner to save you a copy. You won’t regret it and it comes with my highest recommendation.

Betty & Veronica fascinate me. It’s a testament to their friendship that they stay friends even though they are also rivals for Archie. Most times you’d see that devolve into something you’d have to pay to see on late night TV. Anyway, Riverdale’s best BFFs are back in next week’s Betty & Veronica Double Digest #160. Veronica is subsidizing the local economy, but when the credit card bills come in, Mr. Lodge is none to happy. Will Ronnie have to obtain gainful employment? Will she spend her paycheck in one swoop when she gets to the first boutique she sees? We’ll have to wait and see. As for Betty, she and her mother go to a spin class. Betty thinks it’s just as boring as I do, but her mom has some helpful hints which make it an experience to remember!

As always, the Archie line of Double Digests give you 160 pages of content for a mere $3.99. Pick one up, and you’re guaranteed a read that won’t be done in 5 minutes, and your wallet will thank you, too! Enjoy the preview!

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #190
“Pop Ups Here” and “New Spin”
In “Pop Ups Here,” Veronica begins to feel the financial pinch and may have to (gasp) get a job! But while shopping she comes up with a solution on how to keep stores at the mall from closing and help Mr. Lodge and his business. Next, “New Spin” finds Betty’s plans to go bike riding ruined by the rain. When she decides to ride a stationary bike at the gym instead, she finds the experience a wild ride of imagination and excitement
SCRIPT: GEORGE GLADIR, MIKE PELLOWSKI
ARTIST: STAN GOLDBERG, MARK McKENNA, KEN SELIG
COVER: DAN PARENT
Shipping Date: 4/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 4/20/2011
Newsstands: Week of 5/3/2011
Digest, 128 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

Betty & Veronica are getting ready for their 71st or so prom! To shake things up, a new influx of Riverdale students is there to change the balance. Who’s taking who to the prom? The answers may surprise you! You can find out next week when the book hits stands or stay tuned later today, as we’ll have an advanced review. In the meantime, check out the preview!

BETTY & VERONICA #253
“Your Prom or Mine” .
In “Your Prom or Mine”, Betty and Veronica have the difficult task of finding the perfect prom dress. But getting dresses is an easier task than Archie has! Who will he take to the prom? The wrong choice could mean he’ll end up going to this year’s prom alone!
SCRIPT: Dan Parent
ARTIST: Jeff Schultz and Rich Koslowski
COVER: Dan Parent
Shipping Date: 4/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 4/20/2011
Newsstands: Week of 5/3/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

So, Archie is up to his usual antics again. He literally horns in on a band, waxes poetic about French pastries, and invites himself to lounge in Mr. Lodge’s den. Pretty standard Archie fair, but the story I am looking forward to isn’t in the preview pages, sadly. I really want to know how a pair of pants are going to cause Archie to lose Jughead’s friendship. I guess I’ll have to head to my comic shop next Wednesday and pick the book up to find out. You should too! Enjoy the preview!

ARCHIE #620
“A Lot of Brass,” “Yours, Mine and Ours,” “Elite Treat” and “How Low Can You Go?”
Archie’s good at tooting his own horn and in “A Lot of Brass,” it bothers everyone in school when it becomes an actual horn. Then in “Yours, Mine and Ours,” Mr. Lodge creates a fool-proof way to schedule himself and with one push of a button, Archie undoes it all. In “Elite Treat,” can Jughead tell the difference between French pastry and a boxed snack? Finally, in “How Low Can You Go,” Archie’s new pants cause him to lose everything, including Jughead’s friendship.
SCRIPT: CRAIG BOLDMAN, ANGELO DECESARE
ARTIST: TIM KENNEDY, PAT KENNEDY
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ
Shipping Date: 4/13/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 4/20/2011
Newsstands: Week of 5/3/2011
Comic, 32 pgs, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

I’ll be honest with you, I used to read the Sonic comic, but it got very convoluted. I am excited for the upcoming reboot, but until then, we have the upcoming Sonic Universe #27! While I may not be aware of the book’s continuity or anything like that, I am a sucker for alternate universes! Take a look for yourself, and if you like what you see, pick it up at you local shop next Wednesday!

SONIC UNIVERSE #27
“Fractured Mirror” Part Three: Silver joins an all-new, all-different band of Freedom Fighters in all-out war against Enerjak and his sinister Prelate minions! It’s a no-holds-barred battle in this dark version of reality, and everyone may not make it to the end!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ARTIST: Tracy Yardley!, Jim Amash, Phil Felix, Ray Dillon
COVER: Tracy Yardley! & Ben Hunzeker
Shipping Date: 4/6/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 4/13/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US

Well, the Adventures in the Wonder Realm saga is over, but that doesn’t mean Dilton’s inventions are done causing trouble for Archie and his friends! A freak lightning storm causes one of Dilly’s experiments to take on a life of its own, literally! The Riverdale gang will never look at a Transformer the same way again! Dilton also gets a rare starring role as he falls for the new transfer student. It’s a classic tale of staying true to yourself, despite pressure not to. Enjoy these and over 100 pages of other stories in World of Archie Double Digest #6, coming to comic shops next week!

WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #6
“The Junkman Cometh,” “Don’t Mind Me” and “Whack Attack”
In “The Junkman Cometh,” lightning strikes Dilton’s failed invention of a robotic brain. Suddenly it begins to transform with other inventions into a giant robot! Then, in “Don’t Mind Me” Dilton falls for the new student. As he plans on how to introduce himself, he plays out how Archie, Reggie and Moose would do it, when all he needs to do is be himself. Finally, in “Whack Attack,” the gang takes on the challenge of paddle ball, but the best player may surprise you!
SCRIPT: BILL GOLLIHER, MIKE PELLOWSKI
ARTIST: STAN GOLDBERG, BOB BOLLING, MARK McKENNA, TIM KENNEDY, JIM AMASH
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ, BOB SMITH
Shipping Date: 4/6/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 4/13/2011
Newsstands: Week of 4/26/2011
Digest, 160 pgs, 30 lb newsprint, Full-Color
$3.99 US

Anyone who reads the various things I write knows two things. I love digital comics, and I love sharing all ages comics with the younger people in my family. Now, thanks to comiXology, I can combine those two passions thanks to the Comics4Kids App! Teaming up with a plethora of publishers, comiXology has created a one-stop app where you can easily find age-appropriate material. This way, you can feel safe handing your child you iDevice and not having to worry they’re going to accidentally see your digital copy of Eviscerate Man #12.  David Steinberger, comiXology’s CEO says it more succinctly.

“Comics4Kids is specifically designed for a new generation of tech-savvy kids and teens. We have parents writing us all the time that they love our apps, and want to share comics with their kids, but they’re afraid they’ll pick up one of our mature titles. I couldn’t even hand my iPad off to my own young niece so I knew we needed to make an app for the kids who want to explore comics in an environment that makes their parents comfortable.”

It’s no surprise that Archie Comics is headlining the app. They are, after all, known for their all-ages appropriate material. The full list of companies contributing books to the app is nothing to sneeze at either. You’ll be seeing titles like Atomic Robo (a personal favorite), Secret of Kells, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Take a look at the list of publishers already on board for a general idea of what you’ll be seeing.

• Alterna Comics
• Antarctic Press
• Arcana Comics
• Archie
• Bluewater Comics
• GKids (Secret of Kells)
• Devil’s Due
• Dunamite
• Eigo Manga
• Image
• Keenspot
• Markosia
• NBM
• Red 5
• Shadowline

That’s pretty impressive already, and I am sure once the word gets out, other publishers will be adding their age-appropriate books as well.

So now you’ve been given the pitch, where can you find the app? We’ve got you covered with the iTunes store link, as well as a QR code (if you want to be fancy).

I’ll admit that I haven’t actually read Little Archie since my own kid-hood, but after looking at this preview for Archie & Friends #154, it certainly looks like the sort of story I can share with young ones in the family and enjoy it with them. You can’t go wrong with kids and their pets. I’m not suprised at all to see Reggie has a pet lizard. Throw this, an amusement park, and throw in Sabrina, the pre-teen witch, and you have a recipe for a fun story. Check it out when it hits the shop later this month!

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #154
“Buck-bucking the System” Part One
Starring Little Archie and the Power Pets, plus Little Sabrina and Salem! As Archie and the gang enter their pets in the Power Pet Pageant, how will they fare against some stiff competition, including Sabrina’s cat Salem? And if you ever wondered what animals thought, thanks to some of Salem’s magic tricks, you will!
SCRIPT: ANGELO DECESARE
ARTIST: FERNANDO RUIZ
COVER: FERNANDO RUIZ
Shipping Date: 4/6/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 4/27/2011
Newsstands: Week of 4/26/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US