PRESS RELEASE
The powerhouse Halloween horror film franchise celebrates its 45th year of non-stop terror this year, and to commemorate the occasion, Archie Comics is partnering with Trancas International Films and Compass International Pictures on two limited edition prints by artist Matt Talbot. The prints, depicting the notorious slasher Michael Myers and Archie’s heroines Betty, Veronica, and Sabrina, will be sold exclusively at the H45 convention in Pasadena, CA on September 30.
In the first print, Michael lurks behind a hedge as the girls from Riverdale walk away unaware, though Sabrina senses the danger, much like Laurie Strode (portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis) did in a similar scene from the first Halloween film in 1978. In the second, an homage to the cover of SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #1, published by Archie Comics in 1971, Michael stands menacingly outside of Sabrina’s window.
“Every so often, if you’re really fortunate, a dream project comes along—and this was one of those times,” Talbot said. “The Archie gang meeting up with Michael Myers? When I was asked if I was up for drawing what that might look like, I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough. Working on this with the team at Archie was so much fun. I love that we ended up with one piece paying homage to an iconic scene from Halloween, and another paying homage to an equally iconic Archie comic cover.”
“A huge thank you to the fine folks at Trancas International Films and Compass International Pictures for allowing us to make this a reality,” said Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante. “It’s an absolute honor and honestly surreal to see this blending of worlds, and recreating the classic SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH cover with The Shape is absolute perfection. We’re so grateful to work with a talent like artist Matt Talbot, who brought these wild fantasies to vivid, gorgeous life, and we’re excited to make our first-ever horror convention debut at H45. Archie Horror is ready to cement its place in the horror community.”
Archie Comics is no stranger to horror, having launched its Archie Horror imprint with the best-selling AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE comics series in 2013. The imprint continues today with new comic books and graphic novels featuring horror takes on its roster of globally recognized characters, including titles like BETTY: THE FINAL GIRL, WELCOME TO RIVERDALE, POP’S CHOCKLIT SHOPPE OF HORRORS, and many more. Sabrina in particular, first appearing in Archie’s classic humor comics in 1962, has become a horror stalwart in her own right with a critically acclaimed comic series and a Netflix streaming series both called CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA.
“When we launched the Archie Horror line of comics ten years ago, we knew there was a strong bond between Archie fans and horror fans — both are such integral parts of American pop culture, with beloved tropes and iconic characters. And it’s hard to think of a more iconic character in horror than The Shape himself, Michael Myers,” said Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater. “Working with our partners at Trancas International Films and Compass International Pictures to have Michael menace our own final girls — Betty, Veronica, and Sabrina — is a dream come true for all of us at Archie Comics.”
H45 will be held September 30 through October 1 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA, where the 11″ x 17” art prints — limited to a print run of 200 each — will be sold exclusively. H45 is presented by Trancas International Films, Convention All Stars LLC, Horror Hound Magazine, and Compass International Pictures.
