I thought the big news coming out of Archie Comics was their "Archie Meets Glee" storyline. Nope -- though that is big. The big news coming out of Archie Comics this week is that they will be releasing a brand-new ongoing series in late 2013 that will merge two of my favorite things -- Archie Comics and the Zombie Apocalypse! We're talking AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE!!:
Archie Comics, the leading mass market comic book publisher in the world and home to some of the most recognizable pop culture characters, is proud to announce a brand new ongoing series being added to Archie’s line-up entitled: AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE.It's unclear at this time who will be doing the art for this project.
What if the zombie apocalypse began in Riverdale? This horror-infused comic answers that question when it kicks off in late 2013, spearheaded by one of Hollywood’s hottest writers, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who will be fresh off the high profile crossover, ARCHIE MEETS GLEE.
AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE will provide readers with zombie-filled mayhem like only Archie can, taking the Riverdale gang where they’ve never been before – to the grave and back.
In addition to his Archie credits, Aguirre-Sacasa has made a name for himself in the world of television (writer/producer on GLEE), Broadway musicals (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), and movies, penning the remake of Stephen King’s Carrie, which premieres this fall...
It was suggested elsewhere that this might be an April Fools Joke. Somehow I don't think so. For one, they missed their mark by nearly a month. Second, news about this new comic book has really grabbed the attention of pretty much every comic book website -- not to mention several broader entertainment sources. This is media attention that could have been focused on "Archie Meets Glee". If this is a big joke, then it's a big bad joke on Archie Comics' behalf if only for that one reason!
I'm going with the assumption that this is all real. This is what we know so far:
The Zombie Apocalypse begins with Hot Dog. Reggie will accidentally hit Jughead's sheepdog with his car. Despondent, Jughead with turn to our favorite Teenage Witch, Sabrina, to help out with a spell. The resurrected Hot Dog will pay them back by biting Jughead. And the Plague will spread from there! The first story arc will be titled "Escape From Riverdale" and the second story arc will be titled "Betty RIP."
Everyone is assuming that AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE will be played for laughs -- and it's very possible that this particular apocalypse will come with a softer tone. Then again, the current LIFE WITH ARCHIE title is often quite serious. Archie almost divorcing Veronica. Betty getting lost in her work routine at the risk of her marriage. Mr. Lodge having a nervous break-down. Clay getting shot. Cheryl getting breast cancer. Mrs. Grundy dying from whatever she died from. There are light moments, too, but it's certainly not a joke book. I'm not sure that AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE will be either.
By the way, do you remember when I made my 2013 Pledge to Archie Comics? Guess what? I will buy this book!