Free Comic Book Day preview: Archie’s Summer Splash #1
Archie Comics has provided the following preview of “Archie’s Summer Splash” #1, one of the company’s offerings for Free Comic Book Day 2010, which is Saturday, May 1.
Archie Comics to introduce its first openly gay character
Archie Comics is introducing its first openly gay character to the town of Riverdale – Kevin Keller will appear in Veronica #202, set for September release. When Veronica has a crush on the new hunk in town, she can’t figure out why isn’t interested in dating her.
“The introduction of Kevin is just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive. Archie’s hometown of Riverdale has always been a safe world for everyone. It just makes sense to have an openly gay character in Archie comic books,” said Archie Comics Co- CEO, Jon Goldwater, in a news release.
Click past the cut for the full release from Archie, and a page of artwork from the issue in which Kevin reveals to Jughead that he is gay.
- Matt Price
C2E2: SpongeBob Squarepants, Archie to join Comics4Kids app for iPad, iPhone, more by comiXology
Archie Comics on the iPad
At the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), comiXology announced a Comics4Kids app for the iPhone, iPad and other mobile devices. Designed for children 9 and older, the app will feature titles from publishers including Archie Comics and Nicktoons. Comics4Kids is set to launch by the end of April; Archie Comics are available now via the Comics by comiXology app.
Archie, Sonic the Hedgehog, and, for a limited time, Spongebob Squarepants will join the app. Nearly 50 comics aimed at kids will be available via the app, as will a retail locator to help parents find more kid-friendly comics in print.
“Comics were a staple of my life growing up. I lived and breathed Archie as a kid, so I know how big of a role these books can play in children’s development. Now, as an adult, I’m doing everything I can to ensure that today’s generation of tech-oriented kids has the same opportunity through comiXology,” said Jon Goldwater, CEO of Archie Comics, in a release.
Comics4Kids is aimed at creating engaging resources to strengthen child development, according to comiXology’s news release.
“Comics have always been read by kids,” said comiXology CEO David Steinberger in the news release. “What we noticed though was the lack of appropriate digital comics made specifically for kids. Since most of the comic apps out there now are 17 and over because of the content they provide, we knew we needed to make an entirely new app for the kids who want to discover and explore comics; an app that parents could feel good about.”
comiXology‘s Comics4Kids app will be available for free download in Apple’s iTunes App Store at the end of April.
- Matt Price
Click past the cut for more images.
RIP Henry Scarpelli
An Archie strip by Henry Scarpelli.
Archie Comics has announced that longtime Archie Comics artist Henry Scarpelli has died at age 79. Obituary from Archie Comics below:
LONGTIME ARCHIE COMICS ARTIST HENRY SCARPELLI DIES AT 79
It is with deep regret and sorrow that Archie Comics acknowledges the loss of longtime artist, Henry Scarpelli, of Grasmere, Staten Island who passed away on Sunday, April 4 after a long illness. He was 79.
“Henry was an invaluable part of the Archie Comics family,” said Archie Comics Co-President and Editor-in-Chief, Victor Gorelick. “He will truly be missed.”
Scarpelli studied at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan where he honed his pencil and inking skills. He would go on to pencil and/or ink several comic strips and comic book features over the years and even wrote a few as well.
Scarpelli’s first professional comic book work was a back-up feature for one of DC’s funny animal titles of the late 1940s. In the 1950s, he joined a newspaper syndicate as assistant artist on the “Little Sport” strip and soon had a cartoon panel of his own, “TV Tee Hees.” This single panel gag strip built around the inner workings of TV broadcasting proved so popular that it ran in 150 newspapers from 1956 to 1975.
“The TV Tee Hees” strip led to TV comic books when Scarpelli ended up at Dell working on several comic books based on 1960s TV shows. Scarpelli was adept at capturing the features of the popular TV stars of the day, and among the programs he adapted to comics were “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Bewitched,” “Get Smart,” “Hogan’s Heroes” and “McHale’s Navy.”
Scarpelli’s Dell work led to assignments from several publishers including Marvel, DC, Charlton and Archie. While he inked and occasionally penciled both superhero and romance comics, the majority of Scarpelli’s output consisted of depicting humorous characters. He continued to work on comic books based on real life personalities like Jerry Lewis and Abbott & Costello. Henry also had opportunities to work on some of the ground-breaking DC humor titles like “Angel & the Ape” and “Stanley & His Monster.”
Ultimately, Scarpelli found himself getting more and more work in the genre that would define his career, teenage humor comics. Scarpelli’s most notable contributions in this area included “Millie the Model” for Marvel; “Date with Debbi,” “Leave it to Binky,” “Swing with Scooter” for DC Comics; and Charlton’s “Sinistro, Boy Fiend” – a humorous teenage super-villain.
All of these titles were stepping stones for what would become Henry’s crowning achievement, to become one of Archie Comics’ lead artists. Henry penciled and inked for most of the Archie Comics titles. Among Scarpelli’s more notable accomplishments for Archie, and one he was very proud of, was drawing the daily and Sunday Archie newspaper strip for over fifteen years.
Those who knew Henry Scarpelli personally, will no doubt remember his good humor and how much he loved to laugh. “It’s no wonder his first published work was a strip titled, ‘Henry the Laughing Hyena,’” said Paul Castiglia, an Archie Comics historian who wrote a few stories drawn by Scarpelli.
Scarpelli is survived by his wife Claire, son Glenn Scarpelli, sisters Rose, Louise and Maryann; brothers Louis, George and Ralph; and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins.
Archie’s Married Life comes to magazine format
Life With Archie - The Married Life
Archie Comics is bringing Betty and Veronica together. The two announced comic-book series “Archie Loves Betty” and “Archie Loves Veronica” are being brought together in on magazine titled “Life With Archie – The Married Life.”
Archie Comics says in a release that the more mainstream magazine format will allow wider distribution of the storylines.
Each story will cover a possible future of Archie: One in which he’s married to the socialite Veronica, and the other in which he marries girl-next-door Betty.
“The feedback from the press release announcing ‘Archie Loves Betty’ and ‘Archie Loves Veronica’ was so spectacular we were immediately charged with the task of finding a way to make sure everyone would be able to get to it,” said Archie Co-CEO, Jon Goldwater, in a news release. “A magazine can be found anywhere!”
“Life With Archie” is scheduled to be available August 2010. Cover price will be $3.99 US and $4.49 CAN.
- Matt Price
Archie Comics announces Hero Initiative benefit book, auction
George Perez Archie 600 sketch
George Perez, John Romita and others join with Archie Comics and the Hero Initiative for a new fundraising effort: “Archie Covers: Fifty Times an American Icon.”
An auction featuring 50 new Archie covers by 50 great artists will benefit Hero Initiative, with plans for a book including the covers to come.
The Hero Initiative is the charity dedicated to helping comic creators in medical or financial need.
Archie Comics has printed 50 blank-covered copies of the landmark issue “Archie” #600, and Hero will have 50 stellar artists do original Archie covers on the special edition books.
The originals will be auctioned off at a later date to benefit the Hero Initiative, and a book will be published, collecting all 50 covers.
Artists including Neal Adams, Darwyn Cooke, Sam Kieth, Jerry Ordway, George Pérez, John Romita and Tim Sale are slated to contribute.
“Hey, Archie Comics is one of the very few companies I’ve never worked for and any opportunity to draw the lovely Betty and Veronica is one I can’t possibly pass up, especially as it also benefits the Hero Initiative,” said Perez, a Hero Initiative board member, in a release. “And, considering my reputation as a super-team artist, how could I resist drawing the Riverdale gang in their superhero persona?”
Archie Comics co-CEO Jon Goldwater shared his excitement about working with the Hero Initiative.
“Archie Comics is committed to supporting those who have spent their lives as the cornerstone of the comics industry. We are thrilled to be working with the Hero Initiative on this project,” said Jon Goldwater in a news release. “The covers have been remarkable and we can’t wait to see what the remaining artists have in store for their edition of the Hero covers for Archie #600.”
- Matt Price
-
- George Perez Archie 600 sketch
-
- Ben Dewey cover
-
- John Romita cover
Archie Comics to launch two ‘Married Life’ series: Archie Loves Betty and Archie Loves Veronica
-
- Married Life: Archie Loves Veronica 1
-
- Married Life: Archie Loves Betty 1
Spinning out of the two possible futures revealed in the pages of Archie Comics last year, Archie has revealed two new comic book series. This July, Archie Comics will launch The Married Life: Archie Loves Betty and The Married Life: Archie Loves Veronica. Each title is an entirely new ongoing series.
Each title will cover the events of Archie as an adult; in one comic series, married to the rich socialite Veronica Lodge; in the other, married to the friendly girl next door, Betty Cooper.
“Everything about The Married Life series for both titles has exceeded our exceptionally high expectations,” said Archie Comics Co-CEO, Jon Goldwater, in a news release. “The new direction of Archie Comics will be defined with the introduction of these two new titles, ‘Archie Loves Betty’ and ‘Archie Loves Veronica,’ and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Given the huge increase in direct-market sales seen by “Archie” No. 600 and the subsequent “marriage” issues, it seems like a good move for Archie to keep those fans interested.
- Matt Price
Jughead 200 variant revealed
Shown is the variant cover to “Jughead” No. 200, written by “Robot Chicken” writer Tom Root. This is Archie Comics’ first-ever variant cover, and is drawn by Rex Lindsey.
Jughead 200 goes on sale March 17.
- Matt Price
Robot Chicken writer Tom Root to pen Jughead 200
Looks like Archie’s trying to keep the hits coming. After massive sales on the “Archie Gets Married” storyline, Archie Comics looks like it’s reaching out to Hollywood.
Archie Comics announced today that Robot Chicken writer/producer Tom Root would write the 200th issue of “Jughead.” Jughead is Archie’s snack-loving best friend.
“The Archie Comics characters are comedy icons,” said Root in a release. “Each character’s personality has been so well-defined over the course of nearly 70 years that it was a lot of fun to shake them up and present them with new challenges. Mostly, though, I just wanted to write a funny issue. I hope Archie fans like it!”
In the story “Something Ventured, Something Gained,” Jughead trades his body’s metabolism to a witch in exchange for an irresistible mega cheeseburger, according to Archie Comics’ news release.
“Tom Root infuses his scripts with wild humor and great storytelling that perfectly fits Jughead,” said Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater in a release.
Archie Comics will also create its first ever variant cover for “Jughead” 200; the variant cover will be drawn by Rex Lindsey.
“Jughead” 200 retails for $2.50 and will be available March 17.
- Matt Price
NewsOK Comics Podcast: Reviews of Archie 603, Blackest Night 5, Superman Secret Origin 3, World’s Finest 2 and Image United 1
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price flash back to the 1990s with Image United No. 1. We also take a look at Clark Kent’s first day at the Daily Planet, a Guardian-Robin team up by Sterling Gates, Archie’s second marriage, and the blockbuster hit of the year, Blackest Night.
