From Archie Comics
Aug. 16, 2011
First Look: 'Archie & Friends' #157
ARCHIE & FRIENDS #157
"THE MAN FROM R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. – THE NOSE KNOWS!" & "ENTER THE DEMON"
P.O.P. operatives A.R.C.H.I.E., R.E.G.G.I.E., and J.U.G.H.E.A.D. face off against the infamous C.R.U.S.H. agent Dr. Nose after he subdues Pop and captures V.E.R.O.N.I.C.A. In this thrilling story, the gang must battle explosive robots and corporate espionage to save the day! Dr. Demon is up to no good again in "Enter the Demon," but can he get to Lodge Industries’ secret weapon before P.O.P. does?
SCRIPT: Frank Doyle
ARTIST: Bob White, Mario Acquaviva, Sal Contrera
COVER: Bob White
Shipping Date: 8/3/2011
On Sale at Comic Shops: 8/17/2011
Newsstands: Week of 8/23/2011
Comic, 32 pages, 40 lb. glossy stock, Full-Color
$2.99 US
click for larger image
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Replies
Philip Portelli said:
This has got to be a reprint from the 1960s, because the art is by Bob White, who is deceased. Also, turning every common word into an acronym was a joke back when Man from U.N.C.L.E. and James Bond's S.P.E.C.T.R.E. were popular -- and now it probably just raises eyebrows.
White actually began working for Archie in the 1950s, as he is the creator (or co-creator) of Cosmo the Merry Martian.
Yeah, but nothing tops H.U.R.R.I.C.A.N.E.* and C.O.U.S.I.N. F.R.E.D.** from Inferior Five. Groovy, man!
* Heinous, Unscrupulous Rats and Rogues Initiating Criminal Anarchy and Nefarious Evil
** Competent Organization Utilizing Scientific Investigation for National Fiend, Ruffian and Evildoer Defense
Luke Blanchard said:
A lot of the Digests are cover-featuring the super-hero versions of the characters, but those seem to be new stories as a lead-in to the regular reprints. They also did that new R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. story that was collected and got good reviews.
I don't know how well it sold, as those initial-groups aren't quite the rage they were then, but it's a start, and hopefully the response means more will be coming..It would be cool if they later do a reprint collection of the new super-hero stories. If they're as good as the RIVERDALE revival, they'd be great to read, but I don't buy new digests--too many are available way too cheap other places.
BTW, the new Best of Archie Comics compilation (http://archiecomics.stores.yahoo.net/hotitofmode2.html) is a pretty cool collection for the money. It's a mini-sized SP volume (400 pages, $9.99) with groupings by decade with intros and comments by various people on the stories. Archie is doing a much more varied line of stuff these days that is well worth keeping an eye on.
-- MSA
IDW has done a collection. The Captain reviewed it here.
According to the GCD, in the first R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. stories (the very first one appeared in Life with Archie #45) Reggie and Veronica were agents of C.R.U.S.H. #49 was the first issue to have two R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. stories. The first was originally prepared with Reggie and Veronica as C.R.U.S.H. agents, but their figures were redrawn, and they appeared as P.O.P. agents in the second. So the reprinted issue might be the first where they appeared as P.O.P. agents all the way through.
...I'd like the " pre-Filmation Archies " collected , the stories showing the Archies as a three-man group , with magical/funny abilities , often written in doggerel/rhyme , that appeared in LIFE WITH ARCHIE more of less (??) overlapping the Super Teens tales which also appeared there !!!!!
As I said , this was before the Filmation/CBS " Archie " TV series led to the Archies being finalized as a five-person group ( And Hot Dog . ) , wearing Sears Roebuch psych/Carnaby Street grab , these Archies more matching suits , with yies , somewhat like what we now think of as the " garage/frat band " look...