Archie Comics for January 2009

What better way to prepare yourself for 2009, than with good fun from Archie and his friends.  Archie Comics has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in January 2009.

ARCHIE NEW LOOK SERIES VOLUME 2: JUGHEAD “THE MATCHMAKERS”
Now, together under one cover for the very first time, the complete “Matchmakers” saga!  The story that began in JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #139 and concluded in JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #142 caused quite a stir, as it brought back the “new look” of Riverdale’s fabled teens, first seen in the landmark “Bad Boy Trouble,” the epic 2007 tale that appeared in several high-profile issues of BETTY & VERONCIA DOUBLE DIGEST.  The flagship characters of Archie Comics have once again gotten an extreme makeover, and the buzz has been deafening!  Add to that the intrigue of Jughead actually showing interest in a girl and you’ve got a recipe for a tale of combustible proportions!  It all starts when Archie, Betty, Reggie and Veronica agree that Jughead needs a break from his “fifth wheel” status.  They hatch a scheme to find a girl who will interest Jughead more than food and sleep… never realizing they would actually succeed!  Or have they?  Comic book legends Joe Staton and Al Milgrom bring their years of experience to the Archie “new look,” handling pencils and inks respectively, and help you relive the most talked-about Jughead story of 2008 in this special collection!
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
PENCILS: Joe Staton
INKS: Al Milgrom
Shipping Date: January 14th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 21st, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 3rd, 2009
112-page, full color squarebound paperback
ISBN #: 978-1-879794-38-2 / OLD # 1-879794-38-1
$10 .95 US.

ARCHIE #593
“Wreck-ommendation”: To get Archie out of his hair… and his mansion… Mr. Lodge agrees to write him a letter of recommendation.
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg
“Changing Times”: Feeling passed by, useless and “fossilized” by rapidly advancing technology, Mr. Weatherbee considers retiring. Will the students be able to convince him otherwise?
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
“It’s Downhill from Here”: When Jughead and Archie agree to move a piano for Betty, will they hit a high note or be horribly out-of-tune?
SCRIPT: Bill Golliher
ART: Stan Goldberg
“Dancing Lesson!”: When the parents of Riverdale’s teens chaperone the dance, they wow their kids with dance moves from the past!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Stan Goldberg
Shipping Date: January 21st, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 28th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 10th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #127
THE SECOND PART OF A FUN-FILLED, FOUR-PART TALE FROM FAN-FAVORITE ALEX SIMMONS!
“The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton, Part Two”: Continuing this special storyline, Chuck Clayton takes center stage.  Feeling overwhelmed by all the commitments in his life, Chuck could sure use some help teaching his cartooning class… and he’s about to get it from an unlikely source!  Chuck’s world of collecting, drawing, and teaching kids how to make their own comics takes on new meaning in this poignant tale.  This new multi-part epic comes courtesy of someone who knows his way around both creating and teaching comics, namely acclaimed writer, children’s art advocate, and organizer of the world’s only “Kids’ Comics” convention, Alex Simmons.
SCRIPT: Alex Simmons
ART: Fernando Ruiz
Shipping Date: January 7th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 14th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: January 27th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE DIGEST #251
“A Time to Reflect”: The gang meets Dilton’s inventor uncle – and are soon whisked away on a journey to the future in his time machine!  This literally “timely” tale is packed with both laughs and introspection as Archie and his friends explore the fragile nature of the Earth’s environment and effects of global warming.
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
“Job Fair Flair”: Obsessed with his new handheld video game, Archie forgets to bring his resume, references, and a proper wardrobe to the Job Fair.  Will he be fired before he’s even hired?
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Jeff Shultz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 28th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 4th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 17th, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.49 US.

ARCHIE’S DOUBLE DIGEST #195
“The Model Z”: Mr. Lodge decides to enter the classic car he bought from Archie’s grandfather in ARCHIE DIGEST #239 in an antique auto competition… but the car is stolen before the contest begins!  Who did it, and what was their “motor-vation?!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
“The Grommet”: Archie dreams of winning gold in the cold by becoming an Olympic snowboarder… but wait until he sees how many hills he has to climb to get there – literally!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy.
“Quiet Riot”: Archie and his dad decide to let Mrs. Andrews sleep in after a busy week… now if only they can keep quiet!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Tim Kennedy
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 7th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 14th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: January 27th, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.69 US.

BETTY #178
A SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY ISSUE!
“My One & Only Valentine”: Betty makes homemade Valentine’s Day cards for Archie and Reggie, one declaring love and the other friendship… but will the cards reach the correct recipients?  It’s a comedy of romantic errors as only Archie Comics could deliver it!
SPECIAL BONUS: Betty shows her readers how to make homemade Valentines of their own!
SCRIPT: Barbara Slate
ART: Stan Goldberg
Shipping Date: January 28th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 4th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 17th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #87
BETTY & VERONICA TRADE FASHIONABLE CHIC FOR INTREPID MYSTIQUE IN THIS ACTION-PACKED ISSUE!
“Where the Action Is!”: In perhaps the most aptly-titled tale of the year, Betty and Veronica deliver high-octane action and adventure as the most super secret agents ever to tackle a viperous spy… not to mention the most beautiful!  Equipped by Dilton with the latest high tech crime-fighting gadgets, the girls are on the case as Archie goes missing… and the usual suspects are quickly rounded up.  But will the real suspect be someone a bit more unusual?  You’ll never guess!  All this plus “Action Fashions,” an action movie quiz, gadget pages and more!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent
Shipping Date: January 14th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 21st, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 3rd, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #191
“Flying High”: A tribute to the brave female pilots and stunt performers who helped pioneer the early years of aviation!  This “what if” story casts Betty as a stunt flyer, with Archie as her trusty mechanic and Veronica as a flashy movie star looking for a secret stunt double for her latest high-flying feature film.  Fans of antique airplanes and Hollywood’s golden age will love this story’s authentic attention to detail in both its script and art!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Bob Bolling
“DesignERR!”: Trying to ease a guilty conscience, Veronica finds a designer store that rents clothes and accessories for her friends who can’t afford such luxuries.
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Tim Kennedy
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 21st, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 28th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 10th, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.49 US.

JUGHEAD #193
“The Jughead List”: Jughead decides to follow in Mr. Lodge’s footsteps by creating a list of goals he simply must accomplish in his lifetime.  But can Jughead cram a lifetime of goals into one week the way he’s crammed down a lifetime of burgers in one sitting?
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Rex Lindsey
Shipping Date: January 14th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 21st, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 3rd, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

JUGHEAD & FRIENDS DIGEST #31
“Banana Split Decision”: It’s a split decision, and it’s decided by the readers as they get a chance to choose the direction of this story!  Jughead simply doesn’t want to pay up on the empty promise he made to Ethel to take her out on a date.  Readers can alternate between pages depicting two separate directions for the story: one where Jughead ducks into Dilton’s laboratory to avoid Ethel; the other where Jughead toughs it out and actually goes on the date with Ethel!  Each choice leads to another and another… and is of course packed with laughs and adventure!
SCRIPT AND ART: Fernando Ruiz.
“Mystery Man”: Amateur investigators Chuck and Archie have a genuine mystery on their hands: not only has Jughead gotten a top-secret job, he’s stopped wearing his trademark crown hat, too!  Can this mother of all mysteries be solved?!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 14th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 21st, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 3rd, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.49 US.

JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #147
“The Big UFO Scare”: The truth is out there… and it has something to do with a sky full of bright glowing orbs.  Is Riverdale being invaded?  Jughead and Archie aim to find out!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Rex Lindsey
“Pet Set”: Veronica takes Jughead to the “Doggie Heaven Boutique” to show him and Hot Dog “how the other canines live!”  But the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the doghouse!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
“The Intruder”: Snowed-in by sub-zero temperatures, Jughead warms up his imagination by reading classic adventure novels, and imagining himself in the heart of the action!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 21st, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 28th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 10th, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.69 US.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #128
THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO THE “NEW LOOK” STORY, “BREAKUP BLUES”
THE INTRIGUING TALE WHERE MIDGE & MOOSE’S ROMANCE HANGS IN THE BALANCE!
“Breakup Blues, Part 4”: For the past three issues, Archie and his friends have been dealing with the unimaginable: the breakup of Midge and Moose!  In the aftermath, Midge started seeing Reggie and Moose began dating Judy Johnson.  The status quo of Riverdale High’s circle of friends was severely shaken, but that didn’t stop the former couple’s friends from doing what they could to get the pair back together.  Their efforts weren’t always successful, but they still haven’t given up hope.  The fourth and final installment brings everything together as the kids convene at an exclusive dance club to boogie the night away… and hopefully bring Moose and Midge back together once and for all!  And they’re about to get some help from an unlikely source.  Will true love persevere and save the day?  Be sure to reserve your copy so you can find out!  The romantic intrigue is served up in the “realistic” art style that made both Betty and Veronica’s “Bad Boy Trouble” and Jughead’s “Matchmakers” some of the most talked-about Archie stories in recent years!  Veteran penciller Tod Smith and journeyman inker Al Milgrom carry on that popular style in what has surely been the most explosive Archie Comics story to date!
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
PENCILS: Tod Smith
INKS :Al Milgrom
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 14th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 21st, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 3rd, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.69 US.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #196
“Hedgehog Havoc, Part Two”: The “New Moebius” saga comes to an explosive end as hero and villain alike tremble at the power of Super Scourge!  The fate of two worlds hangs by a thread, but what can Sonic do against his invincible evil twin?  You can’t miss this epic climax to the biggest Sonic story of the year!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Tracy Yardley!
Earth-shattering cover by Tracy Yardley!
Shipping Date: January 7th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 14th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: January 27th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

via Archie Comics