Archie Comics for May 2009

Archie Comics has sent Major Spoilers its rundown of cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in May 2009.

ARCHIE #597
“A Typical Day”:  In this issue-length epic, a documentary film crew follows Archie and his friends through a “typical” day.  But will the kids really act “typical” when they know they’re being filmed?  Will their true colors come out, or will the crafty film crew conspire to conceive contrivances for the “candid” kids?  Don’t miss this anything-but-typical issue!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Stan Goldberg
Shipping Date: May 2Oth, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 27th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: June 9th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US

ARCHIE DIGEST #254
“The Last Day of School”: The last day of school has arrived, and the teens may be surprised to find that the faculty is looking forward to their “vacation” as much as the kids are!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Tim Kennedy
“Swing Time”: Archie, Reggie and Jughead reminisce about how they used to swing from and through the trees as little kids, but when they attempt to try it again, they learn just to “leaf” some memories alone!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: May 13th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 20th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: June 2nd, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.69 US.

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #199
“Thinking of Sinking”: Archie is given a boat that’s a real fixer-upper, but will this rickety-raft be enough to float Betty and Veronica’s boats?
SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare
ART: Jeff Shultz
“Old Fashioned Guy”: Tired of a world addicted to high-tech gadgets, Archie “takes a hike” – literally – to get away from it all!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Pat Kennedy
“The Report”: The local newspaper sends its newest interns, Archie and Jughead, to cover girls’ sports and safety, but the only ones out of the safety zone are Archie and Jughead!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
176-page, full color digest
$3.99 US.

BETTY #180
“The Prom Crashers, Part 2”: Picking up from VERONICA #194, the prom crashing continues!  Betty and Veronica have both endured their fair share of memorable proms since Archie’s debut in the 1940s.  A constant source of drama and mayhem, the school prom has long sent the eternal love triangle of Veronica, Archie and Betty to the brink.  Now, Betty and Veronica form an alliance to face the source of much of their past prom grief: Cheryl Blossom!  They’ve crashed Pembrooke’s prom, and Archie has followed along for damage control – but what if the girls don’t want Archie to save them?  Do they have designs on Cheryl’s date and the other eligible Pembrooke pals?  Will Archie take his chances with a Pembrooke gal?  And what’s happening back at Riverdale’s own prom?  Grab your tux, gown, cummerbund and corsage and join the fun!
SCRIPT: Dan Parent
ART: Stan Goldberg
Shipping Date: May 27th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 3rd, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: June 16th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US

BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #89
GET SET TO WAX UP YOUR BOARD AND RIDE THE WAVES IN THIS SURF-TACULAR ISSUE!
“Surf’s Up”: When a reality show about a hunky surfer hits Riverdale, guess which rich girl is first in line to be an extra?  “Catch the Wave!”: Rainy days don’t put a damper on Betty and Veronica’s surfing – not when they can “surf indoors” with their interactive “Whee” gaming system!
SCRIPTS AND ART: Dan Parent
PLUS: Summer fun fashions and quizzes!
Shipping Date: May 6th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 13th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 26th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #194
“Class Action!”: The girls think summer means a break from education, but little do they realize just how educational their recreational plans are!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Jeff Shultz
“All at Sea”: Veronica is happy to have Archie to herself for the maiden voyage of her dad’s new cruise ship, but when circumstances cause Archie to stay behind with Betty, he’s cruising for a bruising!
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: May 6th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 13th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 26th, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.69 US.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #171
“My Father’s Betrayal, Part 2”: The latest “New Look” saga has rocked Riverdale, with Veronica and her friends facing off against Mr. Lodge and his constituents as the teens try to keep a beloved nature preserve from becoming an industrial park!  Last issue, the problem came to light.  This issue, it’s time for action!  Petitions…posters…publicity…public meetings…it’s all part of a multi-tiered strategy by the teens to bring the plight of the forest to the public.  They even enlist a botany professor to join their protest!  But when people on both sides of the issue debate, the problem is grayer than ever.  Who will prevail?  Can a compromise be reached before the trees all come down?  It’s the story you just can’t afford to miss, served up in the “realistic” art style that made Betty and Veronica’s “Bad Boy Trouble,” Jughead’s “Matchmakers,” and Moose and Midge’s “Breakup Blues” some of the most talked-about Archie stories in recent years!  Famous superhero art team and Eisner Award nominees Rick Burchett and Terry Austin lend their formidable penciling and inking talents to this intriguing tale, brought to you by “New Look” scribe Melanie J. Morgan.
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
ART: Rick Burchett and Terry Austin
PLUS: Other new and classic tales
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: May 2Oth, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 27th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: June 9th, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.99 US.

JUGHEAD #195
“The Milkweed Lament”: Who is Pop Tate’s best and steadiest customer?  Everyone would say Jughead, of course, but they’ve somehow overlooked the mysterious Mr. Milkweed!  What lengths will Jug go to in order to ensure that he is number one?  “The Sandman”: Jug’s pals build a sand sculpture worthy of the big award.  They just should have looked more closely before building it on top of Jughead!  “Appetitement Excitement!”: Jughead gets more thrills, chills and spills at the theme park’s snack stand than the rest of the gang does from the rides!
SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman
ART: Rex Lindsey
Shipping Date: May 13th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 20th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: June 2nd, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US

JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #150
150th ISSUE SPECTACULAR
“Rip Van Juggie”: After gorging himself in a hot dog eating contest, Jughead falls into a deep sleep…and envisions a future that can cause more nightmares than even too many hot dogs!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Pat Kennedy
“Meat of Champions”: Reggie is certain that Jughead’s choppers have finally met their match when Jughead accepts the new steakhouse’s “eat a 72 ounce steak in 60 seconds” challenge!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Fernando Ruiz
“Family Resemblance”: Put on your hazard gear – it’s an Andrews family reunion, and clumsiness runs in the family!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: May 6th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 13th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 26th, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.99 US.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #102
“Finders Keepers, Part Two”: The thrills and spills continue as we look back on Salem’s life as a young wizard!  Salem and his Uncle Mort are deep inside the cavern fortress of the evil Lizarmyn in search of treasure – and nothing is going right!  Can Salem change the frog-wizard Todicus back to normal, or will they wind up on a Lizarmyn dinner table?!  This dilemma is more than the pair can “digest,” but they’re determined to be removed from the menu!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
PENCILS: Chad Thomas
INKS: Jim Amash
Massively magical cover by Chad Thomas!
Shipping Date: May 6th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 13th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 26th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US

SONIC UNIVERSE #4
THE LATEST HIT SONIC SERIES RETURNS WITH ITS FOURTH ACTION-PACKED ISSUE!
“The Ultimate Lifeform”: The all-out battle-turned-alliance between Shadow and Rouge takes a new twist… and there may be no turning back!  Transported from G.U.N.’s secret base to the surreal Special Zone, the reluctant allies meet the zone’s mega-powerful master, Feist.  What will Feist require of them?  Can they successfully complete the challenge as well as their other missions and tasks for G.U.N.?  What would failure mean to Shadow, who considers himself the “ultimate lifeform?”  This action-packed issue co-stars Hope Kintobor and Omega, and features the first assembly of “Team Dark.”  It also paves the way for the next intriguing saga, which promises to bring back everyone’s favorite red echidna!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Tracy Yardley!
Shipping Date: May 2Oth, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 27th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: June 9th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #200
200th ISSUE SPECTACULAR
“Turnabout is Fair Play”: The epic anniversary issue you’ve been waiting for is finally here!  Back in Sonic #50, Sonic managed to win against his arch-rival, Dr. Robotnik.  In Sonic #175, the doctor got his revenge!  Now they duel for the fate of the world!  Will freedom come to Mobius?  Or will the Eggman Empire rule forever more?  Place your bets – but be ready for the startling conclusion!  Don’t miss this cranium-creasing, brain-bending, mind-blowing saga!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
PENCILES Tracy Yardley!
INKS: Jim Amash
Dimension-crossing cover by Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante
Shipping Date: May 6th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 13th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 26th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES VOLUME ONE: HEROES IN A HALF SHELL
25th ANNIVERSARY SHELL-EBRATION
Cowabunga!  It’s the 25th anniversary “Shell-ebration” of the fabulous phenomenon that changed comics forever!  Almost single-handedly kicking off the independent comic book boom of the mid ‘80s, the titanic Turtles went on to become pop culture megastars with a hit animated series, a long-running line of action figures, box office-smashing feature films and of course, their very own Archie comic book series based on their TV show.  Now you can relive the very first Archie Turtles comic, a 3-issue adaptation of the original television mini-series, “Heroes in a Half Shell!”  This thrilling story has it all: the origins of the Turtles, Splinter, Bebop and Rocksteady; the first Archie appearances of April O’Neil, Shredder and Krang; plus Krang’s robot army, the Neutrinos from Dimension X, and the Technodrome!  Thrill as the reptilian quartet uses all their “turtle power” to stop Shredder from getting a body for Krang!  Watch Shredder’s attempts to entice the Turtles to join the Foot Clan fail because “Turtles fight with honor!”  Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo are anxious to reacquaint themselves with you, so what are you waiting for?  Order this turtle-riffic graphic novel today!
SCRIPT AND ART: Michael Dooney
Shipping Date: May 6th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: May 13th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: May 26th, 2009
104-page, full color trade paperback
$11.95 US

via Archie Comics