EXCLUSIVE: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina to Return After Year Absence

The last time a new issue of Archie Comics horror series "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" was released, it was the faraway era of July 2016. But it's slated to return this July, and CBR has the first details.

The 40-page "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" #7, by writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, artist Robert Hack and letterer Jack Morelli, is scheduled for release on July 5, nearly a full year since the previous issue of the series went on sale. It's the origin of Edward Spellman, Sabrina's father, and sets up the next arc in the series, "Witch War."

"This issue ended up being our biggest one yet -- a double issue -- and really, it’s a pitch-black origin story," Aguirre-Sacasa said in a statement to CBR. "Edward Spellman, Sabrina’s father, is a major player in our universe and in the 'Witch War' storyline -- I mean, he had control of Harvey’s body! -- and Robert [Hack] and I sort of realized that… we didn’t really know who Edward was. We’d gotten glimpses of him here and there, but nothing in depth. How did he join the Church of Night? Why did he become a conjuror? How did he end up banished to hell -- who sent him there? All of this was unchartered territory. So we gave ourselves the room to really peel back the layers in -- what I think -- is our most gruesome and horrific issue yet; it’s a true horror story. And, by the way, it’s a great jumping on place for new readers -- a perfect primer. And hey, it allowed Robert to draw lots and lots of different demons, which is also a bonus!"

"Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" launched in October 2014, and has been marked by multiple delays. Of course, Aguirre-Sacasa has a busy schedule -- along with being Archie's Chief Creative Officer, he's the showrunner and executive producer of "Riverdale," The CW's Archie Comics-inspired TV show currently in its first season. It's not yet known if "Sabrina" getting back on track also means encouraging news for the other (and first) Aguirre-Sacasa-written Archie Horror series -- the Francesco Francavilla-illustrated "Afterlife with Archie," which last shipped a new issue in August 2016.

Aguirre-Sacasa and Hack have both made it clear that they're already at work on "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" #8, certainly suggesting that the gap won't be as long between issues going forward.

"Robert and I are really jamming on the book now, and issue #8, which is the first round of the 'Witch War' -- Spellman vs. Spellman -- is a few pages from being done, and then it’s straight into 9," Aguirre-Sacasa said. "We're getting our groove back!"

"I'm so excited for folks to finally see the craziness we've been cooking up," Hack said. "It's disturbingly awesome in the best ways possible. And personally, I think that 'Sabrina' #7 (and #8, which we are working on now) has some of my best work on the series so far -- and certainly has some of my favorite WTF moments."

"Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" #7 will be included in Archie's July 2017 solicitations, which should be revealed next week. The issue was originally solicited, with slightly different contents, for release in September, then moved to December, before the solicitation was canceled.

Here's the solicitation text for the issue -- which has a $4.99 cover price for the above average-sized issue -- along with the first look at Robert Hack's cover, plus the previously revealed Moritat variant cover and three unlettered pages from the issue.