Archie is partnering with Oni Press for new ongoing titles -- and collections!
I didn't get a press release, but The Hollywood Reporter has an exclusive. Here's the gist:
"Oni and Archie Comics [will] begin rolling out what is being described as a distinctly original and stylistically reimagined slate of monthly comic series, original graphic novels and prestige collections. These books will feature Archie, Betty and Veronica, Jughead, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Josie and the Pussycats, and the rest of Riverdale’s cast of characters. It is also the first time that Archie’s iconic characters will be released in a partnership with another publisher."
The three new titles will be Archie (of course), Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Archie in Hell. The latter, I presume, will continue in the "Archie Horror" vein of Afterlife with Archie and Vamperonica.
I'll probably sample those books, maybe even read them regularly. But what really excites me is the word "collections."
"Oni will also work on releasing a wave of brand-new collections giving all eras of Archie’s history a showcase via a variety of formats, including compact digest editions, deluxe hardcovers and omnibi, and comprehensive box sets.
Will I finally get comprehensive runs of Dan DeCarlo, Samm Schwartz and Harry Lucey? Heck, I'd settle for a series of "Best Of." Anything to get these classic stories -- and many of them are genuinely classic -- back in print.
Which is not to say that Archie Comics is giving up on publishing. They'll continue digests and facsimile editions, according to their latest solicitaitons, and will launch a new magazine in March. I don't think it's a comic book -- I think it's an actual magazine. Although The Beat says the digests are dead.
Here's ICv2:
ARCHIE COMICS TO CONTINUE PUBLISHING NEW MATERIAL
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"It is also the first time that Archie’s iconic characters will be released in a partnership with another publisher."
...if you don't count the "Archie Archives" series published by Dark Horse.
According to ICv2, at least one Archie digest will continue:
“Our current classic Archie publishing plan remains the same, and we're psyched to see it dovetail with everything Oni has planned,” Archie’s Jesse Post told ICv2. “Archie's ongoing series include the facsimile editions, the bi-monthly Archie Comics Digest, and standard-sized comics with new material like Archie and Friends, Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever, and the Spectacular annuals. Archie has had a great run of licensed publishing with partners like Dynamite Entertainment, Little Bee, and Scholastic, all unique opportunities to expand our reach.”
They also talk about the new magazine. Here's the STORY.