Media Contact:
Allan Grafman
Archie Comics Entertainment, Inc.
488 Main Avenue, Suite 300
Norwalk, CT 06851
(203)846-2277

ARCHIE COMICS LAUNCHES FAMILY ORIENTED ENTERTAINMENT ARM

Archie Comics, whose corporate credo is synonymous with family oriented entertainment, gears up for its 60th anniversary celebration in 2002 with plans for a full slate of family oriented entertainment projects.

Mamaroneck, NY, September 4, 2001 - Archie Comic Publications, Inc. ("ACP"), internationally renowned comics publisher of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and their Riverdale friends, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sonic the Hedgehog, Josie and the Pussycats, and a host of other character properties, announces the launch of ARCHIE ENTERTAINMENT, the company's new entertainment arm that will pursue opportunities for family oriented motion pictures, television shows and videos, music, musical groups and stage productions, videogames, themed food and fun centers, digital publications, online communities and other Internet activities, and merchandising.

"There is now (and, frankly, as long as there are children there will always be) an incredible amount of interest in family oriented entertainment," explains Michael Silberkleit, ACP Chairman, "and Archie Comics has an exciting stable of well known and interesting properties tailor-made to be exploited in appealing family oriented formats." "In addition," Silberkleit observed, "we are regularly approached by the owners of other properties who seek out our assistance in effecting exploitation of their properties." By way of example, Silberkleit referred to ACP's work with Eastman and Laird, owners of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Cartoon Network, owners of Scooby Doo and The Flintstones, and Sega of America, owners of Sonic the Hedgehog. According to Silberkleit: "With the launch of Archie Entertainment, we put in place the infrastructure needed to bring to life a full slate of family oriented entertainment projects."

"We are pleased with the number of entertainment industry professionals who continuously express an interest in working with us," commented Richard Goldwater, ACP President, "but we realize that no one understands better than we do how to bring properties such as ours to life in family oriented productions." "By launching Archie Entertainment, we can work with these other professionals and combine our collective talents to continue and build upon the success that we've previously achieved."

In launching Archie Entertainment, Silberkleit and Goldwater indicate they seek to build upon the success achieved through their active involvement in other projects, such as the animated Archie, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Josie and the Pussycats television series that were fan favorites when they first aired in the 70's, and are still popular in reruns today, the music of The Archies, a studio record group that had a number of hit songs, including "Sugar, Sugar", the song of the year in 1969, the touring Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead characters, which delivered family oriented entertainment to countless millions in a variety of different venues, and the hugely successful and critically acclaimed Archie Comics Online website, at www.archiecomics.com, that is a favorite of millions of fans around the world.

"Archie Entertainment is actively proceeding with plans for an exciting new slate of projects that will be announced shortly and that will come out over the next year as Archie Comics celebrates its diamond jubilee 60 year anniversary during 2002" according to Chuck Grimes, Archie Comics' vice president, business affairs.

Archie Entertainment will be run by Michael Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater, whose vision will be implemented with the assistance of Chuck Grimes. When deemed appropriate, professionals from relevant industries will be selected by Archie Entertainment's management team to work with them on individual projects. Negotiations will shortly commence with a number of key individuals.

Initial projects upon which the Archie Entertainment management team is focusing are an Archie movie, an Archie stage production, Archie and Josie musical groups and tours, Archie videogames, digital comic publishing based upon ACP's full line of comics and third party properties, creation of online communities for families as part of the ongoing enhancement of the Archie Comics website, and publication of new family oriented comics based upon the properties of ACP and others.

About Archie Comics

The saga of Archie, everyone's favorite comic book teen, began way back in December, 1941, with Archie's very first appearance in a story in PEP COMICS #22 (December, 1941). A mere year after his auspicious debut, the red-headed wonder was awarded his own title with ARCHIE COMICS #1 (Winter, 1942). And he's still going strong 60 years later! Is it any wonder?

Archie and his friends have entertained six generations with timeless tales of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of growing up! Along the way, they've represented the fads, fashions and attitudes of contemporary youth. And without preaching, the characters have been role models to the millions of kids the world over who have grown up reading Archie Comics. The characters have taught kids to respect their parents and their teachers, and more importantly, to respect each other. Archie Comics stories have addressed head on everyday issues that confront young people, and have helped them understand that there are positive and constructive ways to deal with such issues. The characters have introduced young fans to the intricacies of friendships and relationships, shown them the compassion and empathy that should be exhibited when approaching issues such as physical and mental handicaps, and acquainted them with social morays needed to be observed to build and maintain a healthy life and to be a positive force within their community. The characters have alerted teenagers to the dangers of drugs, alcohol and smoking. And last, but by no means least, Archie Comics have helped countless numbers of kids learn to read (and, yes, they have been a major force in creating long-term comic book fans).

The comic titles of Archie Comics are some of the longest-running, continuously published comi