CBR has the exclusive first look at the solicitations copy for Archie Comics' Dark Circle series' June issues, featuring a first look at covers by Matthew Dow Smith, Howard Chaykin, David Mack and more!

EXCLUSIVE: Archie Grows Dark Circle Line with "The Hangman" by Tieri & Ruiz

But first, Dark Circle editor Alex Segura addresses the delay of "The Shield" #1 from its originally solicited launch date of May 15 to June 17, as part of the titles listed below.

"Of the three launch titles, 'The Shield' was going to be the most challenging. I'd handed Adam [Christopher], Chuck [Wendig] and David [Williams] the unenviable task of reimagining the most iconic hero in the Dark Circle library. I was blown away and happy to find out they'd knocked it out of the park -- from page one of this new series, you know this character was, is and will always be THE Shield. Adam and Chuck have managed to craft a story that flips superhero conventions and creates something new, energized and awesome. They have nailed this character in a way that I never expected and I'm completely floored by.

"As you can imagine, reviving an icon takes time -- and once we realized we needed a bit more, we wanted to be transparent on the front end, as opposed to surprising readers and retailers with late books. We wanted to ensure that we not only made a splash with issue #1, but regularly for the run of this series -- which is going to be something special. So, we've pushed the launch of 'The Shield' #1 to June. The returnability we gave retailers with 'The Black Hood' #1 and 'The Fox' #1 remains, as do the subsequent incentives.

"Most importantly, we'll have a kickass, jaw dropping and wholly new Shield debut in June. Mark your calendars. While it's trite to say the issue will be worth the wait, it's completely true -- and we'll be in a solid position to deliver the rest of this series on time and of the highest quality. I'd like to thank the fans and retailers for understanding. We're excited to show more from the series soon."

THE SHIELD #1

NEW ONGOING SERIES FROM DARK CIRCLE! "Daughter of the Revolution, Part 1" Since the dawn of the republic, whenever her country faces its blackest days, she returns: a spirit of the revolution sent to fight for what is right. But when she reappears for the first time in a generation with no memories-not even of her own identity-and encounters an evil force expecting her arrival, all the Shield can do is... run!

Script: Adam Christopher and Chuck Wendig

Art: David Williams, Gary Martin, Rachel Deering, Kelly Fitzpatrick

Cover: David Williams

Variant Cover: Wilfredo Torres

Variant Cover: Andrew Robinson

Variant Cover: Rafael Albuquerque

Dark Circle Movie Throwback Variant Cover: Robert Hack

On Sale Date: 6/17

32-page, full color comic

$3.99 U.S.

THE BLACK HOOD #5

CONCLUDING THE FIRST, NOIR ARC OF THE FLAGSHIP DARK CIRCLE COMICS SERIES! "Bullet's Kiss, Part 5":The Black Hood finally corners the mysterious "Connection" on the abandoned seventh floor of City Hall. No cops, no witness-just the two of them, ready to throw down. But when the Connection finally reveals his identity, Greg realizes the game was rigged from the beginning. And it's going to take all of the Black Hood's strength to walk out of this building alive...

Script: Duane Swierczynski

Art: Michael Gaydos, Rachel Deering, Kelly Fitzpatrick

Black Hood #5 CVR A Reg: Francesco Francavilla

Black Hood #5 CVR B Variant: David Mack

Black Hood #5 CVR C Variant: Howard Chaykin

Black Hood #5 CVR D Variant: Dennis Calero

Black Hood #5 CVR E Variant: Matthew Dow Smith

On Sale Date: 6/24

32-page, full color comic

$3.99 U.S.

THE FOX #4

NEW ONGOING SERIES FROM DARK CIRCLE! "Fox Hunt, Part 4": The FOX has been punched, thrown, stabbed, crushed, shot at and smothered by a virtual army of super villains-but nothing is stopping Paul Patton, Jr. from finding his son! But that was just for starters-get ready for intense action and psychedelic paranoia as The Fox straddles the line between reality and a world of NIGHTMARE! Who is behind all of this madness? Will Fox's son, the Ghost Fox, make it out of the city alive? Find out as the hunt continues! Featuring cover art from Dean Haspiel, Irvin Rodriguez, Dirk Shearer and Jay Shaw!

Plot: Dean Haspiel

Art: Dean Haspiel, John Workman and Allen Passalaqua

Script: Mark Waid

The Fox #4 CVR A Reg: Dean Haspiel

The Fox #4 CVR B Variant: Irvin Rodriguez

The Fox #4 CVR C Variant: Dirk Shearer

The Fox #4 CVR D Variant: Jay Shaw

On Sale Date: 7/8

32-page, full color comic

$3.99 U.S.