Archie to become superhero in November title

Midweek update: Revival of "Mr. Justice" character will feature Archie Andrews

America’s favorite teen since the ‘40s is going to become a superhero.

The series “Archie is Mr. Justice,” launching in November, will reimagine flagship character Archie Andrews as a hero who has left his mark on Riverdale and gone away, leaving his friends to remember his selfless and incredible exploits, according to a news release from Archie Comics.

“This isn’t just another superhero story," said Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante in the release. "This is a story about hope in a world that feels increasingly hopeless. And in this timeline, Archie is our beacon of hope.”

“Local Man” and “Hack/Slash” writer Tim Seeley is joined by artist Mike Norton (“Battlepug”) for the first story in the four-issue miniseries, in which Jughead recalls how he and Archie discovered Archie’s hidden skills.

"MR. JUSTICE plays with the absolute sincerity of the Archie cast of characters, through the filter of a much more cynical superhero world," Seeley said in the release. "I think, understandably, we've spent years being jaded by the idea that someone with power would be good, but that's totally who Archie Andrews is. However, his world is full of people who care a lot more about money and power than he does."

Each issue will feature a different point-of-view character from the Archie mythos, and a new creative team, including Amanda Diebert, Blake Howard, Kenny Porter, Maria Laura Sanapo, and Brent Schoonover.

The character Mr. Justice is a Golden Age hero that’s been featured in Archie Comics’ “Mighty Crusaders” superhero line. In the “Archie is Mr. Justice” world, the MLJ Comics exist and inspire Archie and Jughead.

Archie has appeared as the superhero Pureheart the Powerful before, and characters including Bob Phantom have interacted with the Archie Comics characters in recent years. But this take, according to the creators, will be more involved.

“This is a much more modern take on the ‘Archie as a superhero’ idea,” Norton said in the news release. “It’s an examination of an incorruptible soul in a corrupt world. Archie is the perfect character to put in that environment because he’s the original ‘good guy.’ It’s been fun to read and even more fun to draw!” 

“Archie Is Mr. Justice” #1 goes on sale Nov. 20.

Speeding Bullet Comics’ Labor Day weekend sale runs Thursday-Monday

Speeding Bullet Comics’ Labor Day sale returns! The store at 614 N. Porter Ave. in Norman, OK, will have sales starting Thursday, Aug. 29, continuing through the weekend, and wrapping up with special Monday hours from noon to 3 p.m. on Sept. 2!

THURSDAY and FRIDAY: Selected back issues for just $2! Plus, all bin comics priced at $3.99 or under are $2!

SATURDAY and SUNDAY: Selected back issues for just $1! Plus all bin comics $3.99 or under are $1!

MONDAY: Selected back issues for just 50 cents! Plus all bin comics $4.99 or under are $1!

Additionally, dozens of graphic novels will be buy 2 get 1 free all weekend!

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewLprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.