SOLICITATIONS: Archie Comics for February 2014

Archie Comics sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in February 2014.

THE FOX #5
The fantastically-foxy finale IS HERE in Freak Magnet pt 5: “Future’s End”! Emmy Award winning writer/artist Dean Haspiel (Billy Dogma, HBO’s Bored to Death) is joined by acclaimed writer J.M. DeMatteis (Abadazad, Justice League 3000) to conclude the “Freak Magnet” saga of the pulp-style hero The Fox! Our hero has won the day and defeated his evil adversaries, so why does he now find himself trapped 70 years in the past, side-by-side with the legendary hero of WW2 known as THE SHIELD?! And what does the Shield’s arctic battle-royale have to do with the diamond realm?! And will SOMEONE please tell The Fox, aka Paul Patton Jr., why he can’t just have the simple, freak-free life he wants?? Don’t miss the finale to end-em-all, and don’t miss out on collecting all five “FOX FIVE” Variant Covers to this issue! With art from Dean Haspiel, Howard Chaykin, Mike Cavallaro, Mike Norton and a special ALEX TOTH throwback edition!
Art: Dean Haspiel
Plot/Script: J.M. DeMatteis
Art: Dean Haspiel, Allen Passalaqua, and John Workman
Cover: Dean Haspiel
FOX 5 Variant Cover 1: Dean Haspiel
FOX 5 Variant Cover 2: Howard Chaykin
FOX 5 Variant Cover 3: Mike Norton
FOX 5 Variant Cover 4: Mike Cavallaro
FOX5 Variant Cover 5: Alex Toth Throwback
Shipping Date: 2/19
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US

ARCHIE #653
The Archiesí Rocking World Tour pt 4 ñ “Close to the Borderline”óThe Archies, Bingos, Pussycats and Madhouse Gladsí tour concludes in the great white north, Canada! The bands enjoy the end of their time together as they trek across the country from Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. †What will happen to the bands once the tour is over? Will the Bingos and the Glads use their newfound fame from the Archies tour, or will they go the smaller, indie route? †What will become of Archieís relationship with Valerie? And his relationship with Amisha? And, of course, his relationship with Betty and Veronica? There’s still a few surprises left as Archie and the gang return to schoolÖ Riverdale High, watch out!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Dan Parent, Rich Koslowski and Digikore Studios
Cover: Dan Parent
Sugar, Sugar Spectacular Variant Cover: Ramon K. Perez
On Sale at Specialty Comic Shops Date: 3/5
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US

ARCHIE COMICS SPECTACULAR: SPORTS TIME (TPB)†
It’s Sports Time at Riverdale High, and that can mean only one thingóslapstick cartoon sports comedy galore featuring Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and friends, all in a great pocket-size edition! This collection features 128 pages of hand-picked, favorite stories about the romantic ups and downs of Riverdale, presented in high-quality, bright white paper with a cardstock cover!
Script: Various
Art: †Various
Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Rich Koslowski, Rosario ìTitoî PeÒa
978-1-936975-84-6
$5.99/$6.99CAN
4 7/8 x 6 9/16î
Trade Paperback
128 pp
Direct Market On-sale: 2/26

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #249
Thereís something strange about Archieís Uncle Albert! What is it about him thatís bugging both Archie and his dad? It could be that heís a little bit crookedÖ See what we mean in ìOn the Level,î the wacky lead story to this fun-filled double digest!
Script: Mike Pellowski
Art: Fernando Ruiz, Rudy Lapick, Bill Yoshida, Barry Grossman
Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith, Rosario ìTitoî PeÒa
Shipping Date: 2/19
On Sale at Specialty Comic Shops Date: 3/5
160-page, full color comic
$3.99 US

ARCHIEíS FUNHOUSE DOUBLE DIGEST #3
Meet Ultra-Teen: Chuckís new superhero creation. Heís super fast, super strong, and heís got x-ray vision! He only uses his powers for goodóbut can too much good be a bad thing? Find out if Ultra-Teenís goody two shoes behavior can save the dayóand save his friendshipsóin this super lead story!
Script: George Gladir
Art: Fernando Ruiz, Al Nickerson, Jack Morelli, Barry Grossman
Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith, Rosario ìTitoî PeÒa
Shipping Date: 2/26
On Sale at Specialty Comic Shops Date:: 3/12
160-page, full color comic
$3.99 US

THE BEST OF ARCHIE COMICS: BETTY & VERONICA (TPB)
In the tradition of the smash hits Best of Archie Comics vol. 1, 2 and 3 comes another great full-color volume jam-packed with over 400 pages of the funniest and most iconic stories of the past 70 years featuring Archie’s girl friends Betty and Veronica, hand-selected by Archie creators, editors, fans and historians from 200,000 pages of material. A must-have edition for anyone who has ever enjoyed the Betty and Veronica comics as well as a great introduction to the history of Archie and his gals!
Script: Various!
Art: †Various
Cover: Norm Breyfogle
978-1-936975-88-4
$9.99/$10.99CAN
5 1/4 x 7 1/2î
Trade Paperback
416 pp
Direct Market On-sale: 3/12

BETTY & VERONICA #270
Excited for a new Betty & Veronica story? How about FOUR new B&V tales? First, in ìThe Minds of Betty and Veronica,î we get an inside look at what the two BFFs REALLY think of each otheróand their thoughts may surprise you! Then in ìThe Wish,î find out what happens when Betty FINALLY gets Archie all to herself! Next in ìThe Shopping Scene,î can Veronica turn her shopping haul into profit? This time her spending spree may just help Daddykinsí wallet! Finally, in ìThe Winning Float,î itís girls vs. boys! Find out if the gals of Riverdale have what it takes to make the best float at the Homecoming game!
Script: Angelo DeCesare, George Gladir
Art: Jeff Shultz, Bob Smith, Jack Morelli, Digikore Studios
Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith, Rosario ìTitoî Pena
Chibi Tea Party Variant Cover: Ryan Jampole, Gary Martin, Rosario ìTitoî PeÒa
On Sale at Specialty Comic Shops Date: 2/19
32-page, full-color comic
$2.99 US

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #221
Betty and Veronica are always in competition with one anotheróbut that gets kicked into high gear when the two enter the Miss Riverdale Teen Contest! But thereís another contestant that really steams things up. Enter: Cheryl Blossom! May the best woman win in ìSheís a Beautyî !
Script: Bill Golliher
Art: Fernando Ruiz, Rudy Lapick, Bill Yoshida, Barry Grossman
Cover: Jeff Shultz, Bob Smith, Rosario ìTitoî PeÒa
On Sale at Specialty Comic Shops Date: 2/26
160-page, full color comic
$3.99

MEGA MAN #34
This is it! The issue every Mega-fan has been demanding! The debut of MEGA MAN X! But first, in “Shadow of the Moon” Part One: Mega Man joins a research team seeking the truth behind Dr. Wily and Ra Moon. †But how far will they get when Shadow Man goes on the attack?! Then, in ìThe X Factorî Part One ñ jump 100 years into the future as Dr. Cain discovers Dr. Light’s final, greatest creation ñ Mega Man X! Featuring pencils by the returning Mega Man art legend PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE! The road to the next big mega-crossover starts here, featuring an exclusive MEGA MAN X variant cover by superstar artist Ben Bates!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Tyson Hesse, Patrick Spaziante, Gary Martin, John Workman and Matt Herms
Cover by PATRICK “SPAZ” SPAZIANTE
“Mega Man X” Variant cover by Ben Bates
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 2/19
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US.

BEST OF SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2: VILLAINS (TPB)†
Sonic’s ultimate comic collection is BACK with Best of Sonic the Hedgehog Villains paperback edition! This deluxe new installment to the smash-hit “Best of Sonic” series celebrates twenty years of comics, specials and mini-series with the baddest baddies the Sonic comics have to offer! Heroes are only as good as their villains, and Sonic’s world hosts some of the most fearsome and loathsome characters you love to hate! †Root for the bad guy (just this once) in this Best of Villains collection featuring DR. EGGMAN, IXIS NAUGUS, the BABYLON ROUGES and many more in a must-have for any Sonic fan! Plus all-new cover art from Ben Bates with acclaimed painter Dave DeVries, and insights from the Sonic creative team!
Script: Ian Flynn & various
Art: Patrick “SPAZ” Spaziante, Tracy Yardley!, Steven Butler, Jamal Peppers, Terry Austin, Jim Amash, John Workman and Matt Herms
Cover: Ben Bates and Dave DeVries
978-1-936975-87-7
$14.99/$17.99CAN
6 5/8 x 10 3/16î
Trade Paperback
144 pp
Direct Market On-sale: 3/5

SONIC SUPER-SIZED SUPER DIGEST #6
It’s a special super-sized edition of the Sonic Super digest! Sonic the Hedgehog’s adventures are now available in the popular digest format ñ but that’s just not enough Sonic for all you hungry Sonic fans out there! By popular demand, get ready for a SUPER-SIZED issue filled with even more Sonic the Hedgehog goodness, stretching back to the beginning of the comics’ 20 year history! Blast through to your local comic store at SONIC SPEED to find out the origins of everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog! Can Sonic and the heroic Freedom Fighters save the world from the evils of Dr. Robtnik? Discover all the thrills, chills and spills for yourself with classic Sonic comics as only Sonic Super Digest can provide! Featuring a special FOIL CARDSTOCK cover with all-new CGI cover art from Rafa Knight inspired by Patrick “SPAZ” Spaziante!
SCRIPT and ART: Various
Cover by Rafa Knight
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 2/19
224-page, full color comic
$6.99 US.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #258
The SHATTERED WORLD CRISIS continues! “The Chase” Part One: Uncle Chuck and Professor Pickle–CAPTURED by the nefarious Dr. Eggman! Itís up to Sonic and the Freedom Fighters to secure the precious kidnapped cargo from the Egg Train! But they’re going to be in for the surprise of their lives when they discover that there are more than just badniks guarding it! Featuring a special CGI “Return of Princess Sally” variant cover by Rafa Knight!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Evan Stanley, Terry Austin, John Workman and Steve Downer
Cover: Tyson Hesse
Return of Princess Sally Variant cover: Rafa Knight
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 3/12
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US.

SONIC UNIVERSE #61
“Shadow Fall” Part Three: Shadow ñ agent of the brutal Black Arms?! Itís up to Rouge and Omega to bring their former friend to his senses ñ if he doesnít destroy them all first! Meanwhile, the vicious alien race have stolen G.U.N.ís tactical nuclear device for ñ and that can only spell trouble! Will Team Dark survive the mission with the deadly and devious ECLIPSE lurking in the shadows? Find out in the penultimate chapter to this expansive space epic, featuring cover art from Tracy Yardley! and a special SEGA variant cover!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Jamal Peppers, Jim Amash, Jack Morelli and Matt Herms
Cover by Tracy Yardley!, Jim Amash and Matt Herms
Shadow Variant cover art provided by SEGA
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 2/26
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US.

WORLD OF ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #37
Itís time for the student-faculty bowling night! It’s teachers vs. students and, while the teachers may be older and have plenty of years of bowling experience on their side, some changes to the game might lean in the kids’ favor! †Find out who gets the most strikes in ìFor Whom the Bowl Tollsî !
Script: George Gladir
Art: Fernando Ruiz, Rudy Lapick, Bill Yoshida, Barry Grossman
Cover: Jeff Shultz, Bob Smith, Rosario ìTitoî PeÒa
On Sale at Specialty Comic Shops Date: 2/19
160-page, full color comic
$3.99