Archie Comics has released solicitations information and images for products scheduled to ship in August 2020. Archie’s output for this month will be solely in the classic style, with a majority of the offerings being digests and collections. In fact, only one of the twelve titles from Archie, a one-shot celebrating the summer, is a traditional single-issue comic. Several of the series are also double-shipping in August, including the Archie Jumbo Comics, Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics, and B&V Friends Jumbo Comics digests.
It makes sense that, if Archie is going to reduce their output (as it sounded like they might be when they said they would be “re-examining any new product launches” back in March), they would continue to put out the product that’s available not just in comic shops, but to a wider audience via mass market checkout lines as well.
Check that out, as well as the rest of the Archie titles coming in August 2020, in the full solicitations info and images below.
(Click images to enlarge)
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #311
BRAND NEW STORY: “It’s Who You Mow!” When Archie lands a summer gig mowing lawns, Reggie’s determined to steal his business away! But is the grass greener on Reggie’s side of the street?
Script: Bill Bettwy
Art: Bill Galvan, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore, Jack Morelli
Cover: Pat and Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/5
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
ARCHIE & FRIENDS: FOREVER (TR)
When Archie and his friends get together, there’s always an adventure to be had! From musical endeavors to epic beach parties, from school shenanigans to travelling the globe, there’s never a dull moment with Archie and his Riverdale pals ‘n’ gals!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Dan Parent, Bill Galvan, Pat and Tim Kennedy, Jeff Shultz, Bill Golliher, Jim Amash, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore, Jack Morelli
Cover: Jeff Shultz, Rosario “Tito” Peña
978-1-64576-942-2
$12.99 US/$15.99 CAN
6 x 9”
TR
120 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 8/5
ARCHIE & FRIENDS: ENDLESS SUMMER #1
Celebrate summer vacation with Archie & Friends! And this summer promises to be a wild one—complete with spooky island resorts, camp tales, a sunny Florida road trip, and a fun beach trip with a very unexpected guest!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Bill Galvan, Pat and Tim Kennedy, Jeff Shultz, Dan Parent, Jim Amash, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore, Jack Morelli
ARCHIE & FRIENDS: ENDLESS SUMMER #1 CVR A Reg: Jeff Shultz, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/12
24-page, full color comic
$2.99 U.S.
ARCHIE’S EXPLORERS OF THE UNKNOWN (TR)
Monsters! Giant robots! Maniacs and masterminds! When evil rears its ugly head, you can be sure that the Explorers of the Unknown will be there to save the day! Join the team of heroes, who look a lot like our favorite Riverdale teens, as they battle a rogue cyclops, a giant crab monster, and the diabolical Doctor Gloom! Will these soldiers of fortune be able to triumph over the forces of evil? Find out in over 160 pages of action and adventure!
Script: Rich Margopoulos
Art: Rex Lindsey, Jon D’Agostino, Barry Grossman, Mindy Eisman
Cover: Rex Lindsey
978-1-64576-971-2
$8.99 US/$11.99 CAN
5 1/4 x 8”
TR
168 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 8/5
BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #285
BRAND NEW STORY: “What If Betty & Veronica Were Guys?” Meet Beau and Vernon—two very different best guy friends with something in common: their mutual love of the beautiful Archina! Who will win her heart—and be her date to the school dance?!
Script: Bill Golliher
Art: Dan Parent, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore, Jack Morelli
Cover: Pat and Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/12
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
B&V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #282
BRAND NEW STORY: “Hansel and Gretel Incorporated” Hansel and Gretel are two home improvement business partners who hit the home renovation jackpot: improving a home made entirely out of sweets! This classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale gets a delicious Archie-style makeover!
Script: Bill Golliher
Art: Dan Parent, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore, Jack Morelli
Cover: Jeff Shultz, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/5
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #101
BRAND NEW STORY: “Burger Bonanza” When Pop’s holds its first-ever competitive burger eating contest, it’s a no-brainer that Jughead’s going to sign up. But can anyone really compete with the burger-loving teen?
Script: Bill Golliher
Art: Jeff Shultz, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore, Jack Morelli
Cover: Bill Galvan, Ben Galvan, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/12
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #312
Check out the exciting adventures of Archie Andrews in this super-size book! With a blend of modern and classic stories, puzzles, games, and more special features, you can’t go wrong!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Bill Golliher, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/19
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
ARCHIE 1000 PAGE COMICS SPARK (TR)
This collection of 1000 pages worth of classic and hilarious stories is sure to spark joy in every Archie fan’s life!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Dan Parent
978-1-64576-946-0
$14.99 US/$17.99 CAN
4 7/8 x 6 9/16”
TR
1000 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On Sale Date: 8/12
BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #286
Nothing’s better than 100+ pages of laughs and love triangles! Read some of the best stories from BFFs Betty and Veronica!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Jeff Shultz, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/26
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
B&V FRIENDS JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #283
Being the most popular girls at Riverdale High means that Betty & Veronica have a lot of friends! Check out tons of stories, games, puzzles, and more!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Pat and Tim Kennedy, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/19
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #102
There’s a whole world of Archie comics out there, and you can find them all right here! Check out over 190 pages of fun, with special guest appearances from the extended Archie cast—this issue places a special focus on Archie’s BFF, the ever-hungry Jughead Jones!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Bill Golliher, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 8/26
192-page, full color comic
$7.99 U.S.
That one “traditional single-issue comic” (Archie and Friends #1: Endless Summer) is actually a reprint title that reprints, at full size, the new stories that originally appeared in recent digests.
I wonder if, for those digests that don’t advertise a new story, there are no new stories in them. There’s usually one new story (sometimes two) at the beginning of the digests. If some of these ongoing digests are all-reprint, then Archie Comics must really be hurting, if they can’t afford to pay their classic writers and artists to do a new 5-page story.
Guess the Riverdale-like books don’t pay the bills, so these digests are what we get. Their placement at checkout racks is ideal, and has apparently worked well enough for Archie, but I wish there was more variety at a lower price. Pre-tween and tween boys would love some Baltazar/Franco DC digests (an ongoing Superman of Smallville?) — they’d sell double or triple what Archies do. And where’s the next Raina? Just imagine if someone with her talent had digest comics on checkout racks.
Ditto Mike Moore’s comment. I wonder if they haven’t just announced any of those new stories yet or if the company just wondered if would be substantially cheaper to go all reprint.
Sorry, MARK Moore. (sorry Mark)
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