When "Archie" comes to a conclusion with June's #666, it's not really the end of the road for the Riverdale Gang, but the beginning of a new era.
"Archie" relaunches on July 8 with an all-new #1, along with an all-new look and storytelling approach courtesy of the creative team of writer Mark Waid and artist Fiona Staples. And with a new #1 comes a host of variant covers featuring the iconic redhead's new look as interpreted by an all-star roster of artists. Today, CBR News has the exclusive debut of five of these covers, by J. Scott Campbell, Michael Gaydos, Dean Haspiel, David Mack and Ramón Perez.
RELATED: Mark Waid Gives "Archie" a "Blank Slate Fresh Start" with Relaunched Series
"I had honestly never given any thought to how to reimagine the Archie characters, because I simply assumed they were going to be frozen in amber until the end of time," Waid told CBR News when the new series was first announced. "The potential here is boundless and limited only by imagination -- when I began, I sat down intending to start with a brief document explaining how I saw all the characters in Riverdale, but four hours and 3,000 words later, I realized I'd gotten only to Archie, Betty and Jughead, and I could have kept writing through the night. It's just a matter of drilling down on well-constructed characters -- and the more I write about them, the more I find to write."
Check out all five of CBR's
ARCHIE #1
COMIC SUPERSTARS MARK WAID AND FIONA STAPLES REIMAGINE AN ICON! Change is coming to Riverdalein this can't-miss kick-off to Archie's new ongoing series! Familiar faces return in new and unexpected ways in this must-have #1 issue!As the new school year approaches, you'd think Archie Andrews would be looking forward to classes and fun-but nothing is as it seems in the little town of Riverdale. But is this a one-off or a sign of bigger changes awaiting for America's favorite teens-and the entire town? Find out in this exciting and remarkable first issue!
Script: Mark Waid
Art: Fiona Staples
On Sale Date: 7/8
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.