Women Wednesday: Goodnight Dolly Parton

I know the news about Dolly Parton dying at 80 was yesterday's news, but I decided to post about it today. I have enjoyed her music, tv appearances and movies since the 1970s.

Dolly Parton
(January 19, 1946 - August 25, 2026)

Dolly Parton with Archie and Reggie from Archie Comics

Archie Comics Celebrates America's 250th #1

Happy 250th Birthday, America! Archie Comics Celebrates America’s 250th #1 was released this week in time for the Fourth of July. There is a total of six covers with cover A featuring Betty, Archie, Veronica, Jughead and three other friends. Here is the official summary:

"America is celebrating its 250th birthday, and who better to ring in the occasion than the beacons of Americana — Archie Andrews and all his friends and family in Riverdale! Take a walk down memory lane (no, not THAT Memory Lane), as we revisit some of the best U.S. and U.S. history stories from Archie’s 85 years!"

Cover A of Archie Comics Celebrates America's 250th #1

Cover Gallery of Archie Comics Celebrates America's 250th #1

Archie Comics 85th Anniversary Presents: Archie’s Movie Mania #1

Archie Comics released Archie Comics 85th Anniversary Presents: Archie’s Movie Mania #1 this week. This issue features two new stories. The cover features Archie, Jughead, Reggie, Betty and Veronica. Here is the offical summary:

"Summertime is here and blockbuster movies are already starting to heat up movie theater screens all over the globe! Of course, Archie and his extended group of friends are going to get in on the action! First, the Superteens and the Power Pets take on some souped up zoo animals in an all-out brawl! But who’s the evil mastermind behind all the chaos? Then, Veronica Lodge and Ginger Lopez battle it out to be the next best fashion critic! Inspired by upcoming movies like: Masters of the Universe, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and The Devil Wears Prada 2, plus plenty more homages to notable movies throughout Archie’s history, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got extra popcorn before diving into this fun-filled issue!"

Cover of Archie Comics 85th Anniversary Presents: Archie’s Movie Mania #1

Science Fiction Saturday: Archie and Friends: Space Adventures #1

Archie Comics released Archie and Friends: Space Adventures #1 earlier this week. The cover features Archie, Veronica, Betty and Jughead on another planet. This one-shot issue features a brand-new story featuring the return of Cosmo the Merry Martian (I wish he was on the cover). Here is the official summary:

"Archie and his friends go INTERGALACTIC in this BRAND-NEW Space-Age story! When Archie and the gang gets ready to head into space on a rocket Dilton built, everything goes smoothly, until the spacecraft enters a realm where it becomes lost. With the teens LOST IN SPACE, it’s going to take someone out of this world to save them — someone like COSMO THE MIGHTY MARTIAN! All that plus over 30 pages of intergalactic adventures!"

Cover of Archie and Friends: Space Adventures #1 from Archie Comics

Women Wednesday: Archie Comics Digest Spring Break

Archie Comics released Archie Comics Digest Spring Break today. The cover features Betty and Veronica posing with ice cream cones while Archie and Jughead peek out from behind them. The copyright page states that the title is Archie (Comics) Double Digest Volume 2, issue 4, April 2026. Here is the official summary:

"The birds are chirping and flowers are in bloom. That can only mean one thing… SPRING BREAK is here! Sunnier days are ahead with Archie and the Gang, and with it comes plenty of flowery fun, dating dilemmas, and picnic pandemonium!"

Cover of Archie Comics Digest Spring Break (2026) from Archie Comics

Countdown to Valentine's Day 2026 Day 1: Archie's Valentine's Spectacular #1

I'm kicking off this year's Countdown to Valentine's Day with Archie's Valentine's Spectacular #1 that Archie Comics released on January 21, 2026. The cover features Archie and Sabrina hugging at the top with Dalton and Reggie watching Sabrina, Betty, Veronica and Josie singing on stage as the Spirit Slayers. There is also an alternate cover with Betty and Veronica kissing Archie's cheeks.

Here is the official summary:

"The OFFICIAL COMIC BOOK OF VALENTINE’S DAY returns with a BRAND NEW STORY! A-POP is a vibrant world fueled by music and love—and when Sabrina, Betty, Veronica, and Josie form a band (managed by Archie!) to spread joy and compassion, they catch the eye of a dark spirit that’s threatened by their positivity. Can they rise above his dark influence? Find out in this fun KPOP DEMON HUNTERS-style story, along with even more romance-filled tales than ever!"

Cover of Archie's Valentine's Spectacular #1 from Archie Comics

Countdown to Christmas 2025 Day 19: Archie Comics Digest #3 Cover

Archie Comics Digest #3 was released by Archie Comics this week and it's the winter special. The cover features Archie, Betty and Veronica skiing. Not only are there Christmas stories but there is also one for Valentine's Day. Here is the official summary:

"Our brand-new digest line continues to heat things up… even in the winter, including a BRAND-NEW STORY! Archie’s ski lodge speed dating event isn’t going the way he planned—could Sabrina magically whip up the rizz he needs to find a cold-weather companion? Plus, get ready for snowball fights, cozy romance stories, and the puzzles, fashion pages, and pin-ups you know and love, all loaded with winter fun!"

Cover of Archie Comics Digest #3 from Archie Comics

Countdown to Christmas 2025 Day 6: Archie's Christmas Spectacular #1

Archie's Christmas Spectacular #1 was released earlier this week from Archie Comics. The cover features Jughead, Archie, Veronica, Betty and Hot Dog decorating a giant Christmas tree. Here's the official summary:

"Celebrate the season Archie style, now packed with over 30 PAGES of content, including a BRAND-NEW STORY! The ultimate Christmas bash is happening at the North Pole, and SANTA’s helpers SUGARPLUM and JINGLES are competing to be the best dancers on the ice. But when they bring ARCHIE, BETTY, and VERONICA in to hype up the game, their hasty mash ups could put the entire party in peril!"

Cover of Archie's Christmas Spectacular #1 from Archie Comics

Countdown to Halloween 2025 Day 2: Archie's Halloween Spectacular #1

Archie Comics continues to celebrate 80 years and the spooky season with Archie's Halloween Spectacular #1. This one-shot comes out today and the cover by Dan Parent features Archie as a vampire, Jughead as a mummy, Veronica as a witch, Betty as a prom queen and Medusa Doom (she doesn't appear in any of the stories inside this issue). There is an alternate cover featuring Archie along with Frankenstein's Monster, Dracula and the Mummy. The original story is "Trick or Treat" featuring the South Side Serpents (Toni, Weasel, Termite, Fangs and Daisy). Other stories include "One Prank Too Far" with the Archie gang and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Betty and Veronica in "That's the Spirit!", "Ruff Halloween", "It Ghost to Show You", "The Ghostest with the Mostest".  Here is the official summary:

"Archie’s Halloween Spectacular #1 (2025) : This ain’t no trick, we’re TREATing you with a Halloween spectacular that’s BIGGER than ever! Now packed with over 40 PAGES of content, including a BRAND NEW STORY! The South Side Serpents are trying to recruit new members — and what better time to start their initiation than Halloween? This story is filled to the brim with tricks! Featuring fan-favorite characters and returning new faces like MEDUSA DOOM!"

Cover of Archie's Halloween Spectacular #1 from Archie Comics

Cover Gallery for Archie's Halloween Spectacular #1 from Archie Comics

Archie is Mr. Justice #1-3 Cover Galleries

If you haven't been reading Archie is Mr. Justice series, then you should. Each issue spotlights the different relationships that being a superhero brings. The first issue focuses on Jughead and Archie's relationship. There is also a cool alternative cover paying homage to the very first Superman cover on DC Comics' Action Comics #1.

Cover Gallery from Archie is Mr. Justice #1

Archie is Mr. Justice #2 focuses on Veronica becoming Visionary and there is a cool alternative cover that pays homage to DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths #17 (death of Supergirl).

Cover Gallery from Archie is Mr. Justice #2

The third issues focuses on Betty's relationship with Archie as Mr. Justice. There is also a cool alternative cover paying homage to Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man #50.

Cover Gallery from Archie is Mr. Justice #3

The next issue is going to be spotlighting Reggie as Kid Wicked and will be the final issue of this mini series from Archie Comics.

Countdown to Halloween 2022 Day 24: Fear the Funhouse #1

Pre-teen Archie and his fellow Adventure Scouts are telling scary stories while camping in Fear the Funhouse #1 from Archie Horror. The first story is "Suburban Legend" while the second story is "Snack Attack". The final and best story is "Whatever Happened To Dilton?".

Fear the Funhouse #1 Front Cover A from Archie Horror

There are two different covers with Archie, Jughead, Reggie, Betty and Veronica being on both covers (they look older on Cover B):

Fear the Funhouse #1 Cover Gallery from Archie Horror

I like the fact that Archie Horror treats the back cover as if it was just as important as the front cover:

Fear the Funhouse #1 Back Cover from Arhie Horror

Countdown to Halloween 2022 Day 10: Afterlife With Archie Magazine Covers

Afterlife With Archie Magazine ran for four issues in 2014 and 2015. It collects the original comic book series where several residents of Riverdale turn into zombies along with all new special features. All four covers are by Franceso Francavilla and either have Archie, Jughead or both featured on them.

Afterlife With Archie Magazine #1 Cover

Afterlife With Archie Magazine #2 Cover

Afterlife With Archie Magazine #3 Cover

Afterlife With Archie Magazine #4 Cover

Ollie's Comic Book Grab Bag

On my first visit to Ollie's last month, I discovered a bunch of comic book grab bags. I couldn't resist picking up a ten pack for $6.99 that supposedly has a retail value of $35. The front of the bag has the following text:

"A variety mix of 10 classic comic books!"

"Featuring Marvel, DC, Archie, Mirage, etc."

"Supreme Marketing 126 Shove St Box 9 Fall River, MA 02724"

The picture below shows the back of one of the comics that features an ad for warnerarchive.com (the site redirects to warnerbros.com now) that shows Batman now on blu-ray, Batman: The Brave and the Bold the complete first season now on blue-ray (Aquaman shown), Legends of the Superheroes tv special from 1979 (I still need to get that one) and Batman: The Brave and the Bold the complete second season coming soon (Batman is shown with Green Arrow and Blue Beetle). The comic didn't actually come that way in the bag but I didn't want to show the cover just yet. I will be posting the comic covers over the next ten days.

Front of Ollie's Comic Book Grab Bag

There is nothing on the back of the bag. I don't know when I'll be back at Ollie's again but I will pick up at least another comic book grab bag if they still have them.

Countdown to Halloween 2021 Day 20: World of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #9

Here's the cover of World of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #9 featuring Betty, Veronica, Archie and Jughead in costumes that was released last week (I do wish all of the stories inside were Halloween related but only about four are):

Cover of World of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #9

Countdown to Halloween 2020 Day 23: Madam Satan #1

I'll admit that I have yet to read all of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina or watched any episodes of the Netflix's series with the same name. However, I had to read Madam Satan #1 and I'm so glad that I did. This is a very good one-shot issue from Archie Horror and I highly recommend picking it up while you can. Madame Satan #1 was released on October 21, 2020 so you might still find a copy at your local comic book shop.

For those who don't know, Madam Satan actually made her first appearance on the cover of Pep Comics #15 (May 1941) published by MLJ Comics, which eventually became Archie Comics. She didn't actually appear inside until #16 and her series lasted until #21. A certain teenager named Archie Andrews replaced her in Pep Comics #22. A second version of her with the name Madame Satan appeared in The Fox #1 (October 2013) from Dark Circle Comics (formerly Red Circle Comics). She returned a year later with the original spelling of her name in the last pages Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #1 (October 2014). Michelle Gomez portrays her on the Netflix series.

There are actually two different covers. The regular cover is by Julius Onta while the variant cover is by Robert Hack (I'm partial to Onta's cover):

There is Madam Satan pinup by Francesco Francavilla:

Even the back cover of Madam Satan #1 will make you shiver:

In case your wondering, 2020 marks the fifth anniversary of Archie Horror.

Archie Slots at Hit It Rich

I have been playing the new Archie slots game this week at Hit It Rich on Facebook. Reggie and Veronica are standing on the sides. Here is the loading screen:

Here is a big Betty win after getting eight small squares with Betty (the big wins are all animated and pretty cool):

Here is a big Archie win (I also won a big Jughead but I wasn't quick enough to capture the screen):

Here is the Pick Me game screen with Archie and the gang in a convertable:

Christmas Countdown 2014 Day 2: Archie & Friends Double Digest #22

Archie & Friends Double Digest #22 (January 2013) is a Christmas-themed issue. There are only a handful of actual holiday stories along with some New Year's Eve stories. Here is the cover:

Here is the entire five page story "Kissless Christmas" that features Archie, Jughead, Moose, Reggie, Ethel, Betty, Veronica and few of their other friends:

Archie Andrews To Die In July

Life With Archie #36 is set to be released on July 16, 2014 and will feature Archie Andrews sacrificing his life to save a friend according to Newsarama's Archie Comics to kill ARCHIE ANDREWS in July. The series has featured two timelines where he grew up and married each of the girls, Betty and Veronica. His fate will be the same in both parallel worlds. Life With Archie #37 will be the final issue and will take jump a year later and focus on how his friends are living without him.

Women Wednesday: Archina

Archie and the entire town of Riverdale switches genders in Archie #636. You can view the covers and a five page preview here.

Goodnight Mike Esposito

The comic world is mourning the passing of Mike Esposito. The cover artist/inker/penciller/writer passed away on October 24, 2010 at the age of 83. He did work for DC, Marvel and Archie including the cover of Marvel Chillers #6 (August 1975) featuring Tigra the Were-Woman that he did with William F. Buckler.