Press Release
Popular comic book characters Betty, Veronica, Archie and Jughead will be featured in a new series of middle grade novels and humor books, Penguin Young Readers Group and Archie Comics announced today. The middle grade novels will feature all-new stories starring Betty and Veronica. The humor books will feature Archie and Jughead and will be aimed at kids aged 7-10. The series is slated to launch in early Summer 2011. The announcement was made Friday by Rob Valois at the New York Comic-Con during a panel discussion.
Francesco Sedita, Vice President and Publisher of Grosset & Dunlap, said “These classic Archie comics have developed a new life and relevance in the 21st century. Never did we think that Archie would get married or that a gay character would enter his world. To be a publisher of Archie is to be a publisher of smart, relevant and exciting material. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to create books that appeal to tweens and teens, as well as die-hards and collectors.”
“We at Archie Comics are very excited to be expanding Archie’s presence among young readers through new mediums with Grosset & Dunlap as a part of Penguin Young Readers Group,” said Jon Goldwater, Co-CEO of Archie Comics.
Archie Comics sells millions of comic books and graphic novels annually, distributed worldwide. The company has recently expanded with enormous success to include their “Archie Comics App,” one of the top comic reader apps available on iTunes today. In August 2010 Archie Comics also released “Life with Archie,” a brand new full-sized magazine following Archie’s married lives to Betty and Veronica, which has continued to receive overflowing praise and acclaim since its debut.
