Archie Comics Solicitations for June 2008

Archie Comics has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles shipping in June 2008.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #185
A VERY SPECIAL ISSUE CELEBRATING BETTY & VERONICA’S VERY FIRST ISSUE!
First, Archie reprinted PEP COMICS #22 and ARCHIE COMICS #1 to celebrate Archie’s 65th anniversary in ARCHIE DIGEST #236. Then, Jughead got the same treatment in JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #138. Now, to commemorate the anniversary of ARCHIE’S GIRLS BETTY & VERONICA #1 from 1950, Archie is pleased to present this very special issue that reprints that first issue in its entirety. And just like in the ARCHIE and JUGHEAD issues, it also includes a brand-new tale that finds the girls facing the past in a way they never expected! Yes, in “Betty & Veronica Meet Betty & Veronica,” the Betty & Veronica of 2008 find themselves face to face to face to face with the Betty & Veronica of the 1950s!
SCRIPT: Fernando Ruiz. ART: Jeff Shultz!
PLUS: Classic stories! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
It’s one historic issue you just don’t want to miss!
Shipping Date: June 11th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 18th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 1st, 2008
Full color digest format
$2.49 US.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #162
PART 2 OF A 5-PART, INTERACTIVE STORY WHERE THE READERS DECIDE THE OUTCOME!
“And the Winner Is… Part 2 of 5”: 2008 is an election year, and Archie Comics is no exception as we present a special election of our own: your chance to vote for Cheryl Blossom’s new boyfriend! Last issue, Reggie and Cheryl broke up, and Cheryl wound up on the TV show, “The Lonely Hearts Club” in search of a new beau. Three hot contestants have stepped up for the challenge, and you the reader will witness each of their dates with Cheryl and vote for who you think Cheryl should choose online at www.archiecomics.com! In this issue, Cheryl goes on a date with Austin. He’s quite a hunk, but perhaps too much of a nutrition and fitness fanatic for Cheryl’s health… unless your votes decide otherwise! Don’t miss out on the Archie Comics event of the summer – be sure to reserve every issue!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
PLUS: “Choose or Loose”: Betty and Veronica just can’t decide which outdoor activity to partake in on such a beautiful day. Can they decide before the rain clouds set in?
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: June 25th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 2nd, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 15th, 2008
Full color digest format
$3.69 US.

JUGHEAD’S DOUBLE DIGEST #141
THE EPIC SAGA OF JUGHEAD’S NEW LOVE LIFE… AND NEW, REALISTIC LOOK… CONTINUES!
“The Matchmakers Part 3”: After “setting up” Jughead and Sandy, matchmakers Archie, Betty, Reggie and Veronica are surprised at how well their plan is working. Especially when studious, athletic Sandy starts neglecting both her studies and her girls’ softball team in favor of spending time with Jughead. Make that Forsythe, as he now prefers to be called. Exchanging his trademark “crown” hat for a typical baseball cap, it seems like Sandy is having quite the influence on the once unique soul. Unless of course it’s all a big put-on. The gang isn’t so sure when they see how well Jughead and Sandy interact as partners in the couples’ competition at the school picnic! It’s another intriguing chapter in this 4-part epic! Last year’s “Bad Boy Trouble” set the comics world on its ear as the teens were depicted in a realistic style. Comic book legends Joe Staton and Al Milgrom carry on that look, handling pencils and inks respectively, in what is sure to be one of the more intriguing Archie stories of the year!
SCRIPT: Melanie Morgan. ART: Joe Staton.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: June 11th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 18th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 1st, 2008
Full color digest format
$3.69 US.
ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE SIXTIES BOOK 2
By popular demand, we’re pleased to serve up a second helping of 1960s fun and frolics for the many readers who enjoyed the original ARCHIE AMERICANA SERIES: BEST OF THE SIXTIES!  Witness Archie’s awkward entanglements in the eternal love triangle!  Behold Archie incurring the wraths of Mr. Weatherbee and Mr. Lodge!  Feast your eyes on Betty and Veronica’s sensational sixties’ fashions and hair styles!  Learn yoga, catch up on the latest beatnik beat and join the peace rally with Archie and his friends!  You’re sure to “make the scene” with these comedy classics!  Each story is meticulously restored and re-colored to match its original brilliance.
SCRIPT AND ART: Various.
Shipping Date: June 18th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 25th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 8th, 2008
96-page, full color square-bound paperback
$10.95 US.

ARCHIE #586
“One Click Away”: Archie decides to date other girls while Veronica’s out of town, but while Archie flirts away, Veronica’s spies click away on their camera phones!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman.  ART: Stan Goldberg.
“Teen Tycoon”: Mr. Lodge has a dream… make that a nightmare… about Archie becoming a millionaire!
SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare.  ART: Stan Goldberg.
“No Parking Zone”: Archie finds the beach has gone to the dogs… especially when a little puppy follows him there.  Trouble is, it’s a “no dogs allowed” beach!
SCRIPT: Angelo DeCesare.  ART: Stan Goldberg.
Shipping Date: June 18th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 25th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 8th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #120
THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO THE FOUR-PART EPIC!
“Archie World Tour Part 4 of 4: The Who Stole My Girl Affair”: When Archie and his friends set out on their quest to see five cities in ten days, they looked forward to getting as many sightseeing thrills as possible.  Little did they know they’d get a heaping helping of suspense and intrigue as well!  Now, Veronica’s been kidnapped and the race is on to find and rescue her before it’s too late.  This leads to a whirlwind trek from Rome to Zurich in pursuit of the mysterious “Green Man” and his minions.  Along the way Archie and friends will befuddle the Italian police, trash a movie set, stowaway on a jet, frustrate the Zurich police, storm a fortress, confound half the criminal underworld – and somehow still come off as good ambassadors of the United States!  Don’t miss this hysterical, fast-paced, action-packed salute to super-spy films everywhere, as Archie finally unravels the Green Man’s plans and discovers a plot that could bring Europe to its knees (and imagine how much that will hurt)!
SCRIPT: Alex Simmons.  ART: Rex Lindsey.
Shipping Date: June 4th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 11th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: June 25th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

ARCHIE DIGEST #245
“Bare Essentials”: Things get “hairy” for Archie and Jughead when Reggie convinces them they’ll go bald just like their fathers!  Can Dilton’s hair growth formula or the internet’s “cure” help our heroes tackle their “mane” concern?
SCRIPT AND ART: Pat Kennedy.
“The Big Chase”: When Archie agrees to umpire a girls’ softball game, his eye is on more than the bats and ball!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.  ART: Tim Kennedy.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!  SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: June 18th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 25th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 8th, 2008
Full color digest format
$2.49 US.

BETTY & VERONICA #236
“Past Problem”: It’s déjà vu all over again for Veronica when she flirts with a lifeguard only to find he’s interested in Betty!  It’s shades of Nick St. Clair, the mysterious stranger who caused so much “bad boy trouble” for Veronica in last year’s epic story of the same name.  And speaking of Nick, wait until you read the surprise ending of this story!
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.  ART: Jeff Shultz.
“The Switch”: When pretty exchange students from Norway invite Betty and Veronica to their country, Veronica turns the girls down to avoid all the mountain climbing… until she learns they’ve asked Archie and Jughead to go in their place!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.  ART: Jeff Shultz.
“On the Outs”: When the gang congregates in the Lodge’s entertainment room to play the latest video game, Mr. Lodge enlists Betty to use her smarts… and her knowledge of her friends… to lure them all outside!
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb.  ART: Jeff Shultz.
Shipping Date: June 11th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 18th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 1st, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #122
“Bowled Over”: When a gang of street toughs try to intimidate Archie and his friends from using the local bowling alley, the two sides square off in a bowl-off for the right to play in the alley!  Will Archie and his friends “strike” out in victory, or end up in the “gutter?”
SCRIPT: Stephen Oswald.  ART: Pat Kennedy (pencils) and Joe Giella (inks).
“Cry Me a River”: Ginger’s cousin Martina wears her emotions on her sleeves… and on her slacks… and on her shoes…. etc.!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
“Mr. Big”: Reggie proves once again that his ego puts the “I” in “The Archies!”
SCRIPT: George Gladir.  ART: Fernando Ruiz.
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!  SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
COLLECTORS ALERT: The cover and select interiors of this issue are inked by legendary artist Joe Giella, who worked on such Golden Age characters as Fawcett’s Captain Marvel, Timely/Marvel’s Captain America, Sub Mariner and the Human Torch, DC’s Silver Age Batman, Green Lantern and Adam Strange, and newspaper comic strips including Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and Mary Worth, which he draws to this day.
Shipping Date: June 4th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 11th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: June 25th, 2008
Full color digest format
$3.69 US.

SONIC X #34
“Fool Party”: When Chris’ father holds a charity auction with the top prize being a personal pool party at Thorndyke Manor, guess what egg-shaped no-goodnik places the highest bid?  Sonic and Tails make the scene to make sure Eggman doesn’t steal it… or more precisely, doesn’t steal one of Grandpa Chuck’s special motors!  Hopefully Eggman won’t find out that Sonic can’t swim!  SCRIPT: Ian Flynn. ART: David Hutchison and Terry Austin.  Splish-splashin’ cover by  Pat “Spaz the Pool Boy” Spaziante!
Shipping Date: June 18th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 25th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 8th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #189
“A Bold New Moebius Part 1: Unwelcome Guests”: The Freedom Fighters face an unexpected challenge when the Suppression Squad drops by… and they haven’t come over for tea!  Meanwhile, Sonic, Knuckles and the Chaotix are in New Megaopolis keeping Eggman’s New Dark Egg Legion at bay.  Includes an appearance by Anti-Rotor, now known as “Boomer” – a name that will be familiar to long-time Sonic comic fans!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn.  ART: Tracy Yardley (pencils) & Jim Amash (inks).
Explosive cover by Tracy Yardley & Josh Ray.
Shipping Date: June 4th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: June 11th, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: June 25th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.

VERONICA #189
“Carrying the Torch”: Veronica agrees to carry the torch at the “Riverdale Games,” but the only thing “burning” is Veronica when she spots Archie with his “old flame,” Cheryl Blossom!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent.
“No Contest”: Veronica ponders how Betty can be so rich in spirit when she’s so not-rich in wealth!
SCRIPT: George Gladir.  ART: Dan Parent.
“Dream Vacation”: Veronica finds the yellow-brick road is paved with gold as she falls asleep reading “The Wizard of Oz!”
SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski.  ART: Dan Parent.
Shipping Date: June 25th, 2008
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 2nd, 2008
On Sale on Newsstands: July 15th, 2008
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.