Archie Comics is getting in on the YA Graphic Novel business model, and will offer its first round of titles in 2020.
“At Archie, our goal is always to present the best story in the best format to reach the most readers,” said Archie Comics Co-President Alex Segura. “Launching a YA-centric line of original graphic novels with Blue Ribbon and partnering with Little Bee to create graphic novels geared toward kids is a natural next step to give fans compelling, unique, and meaningful stories involving our iconic characters.”
At launch, Blue Ribbon will launch Betty & Veronica: The Bond of Friendship by Jamie L. Rotante with art by Brittney Williams, and Riverdale: The Ties the Bind from Micol Ostow and Thomas Pitilli. Each volume will be 144 pages in length.
“Betty and Veronica are two best friends despite being opposites — many people can relate to that,” Jamie said about THE BOND OF FRIENDSHIP. “Sometimes your first, closest friend ends up being totally different from you as you both mature, and it can be scary thinking of how that dynamic might change further in the future.”
Part of the Archie Blue Ribbon rollout, will be a line of middle grade books from Little Bee Books’s licensing imprint Buzz Pop.
Little Bee’s debut Archie graphic novel will be THE RIVERDALE DIARIES: HELLO, BETTY! by Sarah Kuhn with art by J. Bone. The “Riverdale Diaries” middle grade series will follow young Archie comics characters, new and old, as they brave middle school and embark on plenty of adventures throughout their storied town.
More information about these titles will be revealed during the Archie Comics panel at the New York Comic Con.