PRESS RELEASE ARCHIE COMICS

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.

325 FAYETTE AVENUE

MAMARONECK, NY 10543

ITS MIRTH AND MAYHEM AS THE TEEN DREAM QUEENS REACH A MILESTONE!

They say that some people are defined by the company they keep, and in the world of comic, books, perhaps no one is more defined by his company than Archie! Archie is dearly the object of Betty and Veronica's affections, the catalyst, pawn and lynchpin in the longest-running love triangle in fiction... or fact, for that matter!


It all started over 60 years ago, when Veronica Lodge moved to Riverdale and forever upset the status quo of Betty having Archie all to herself. A decade of misadventures followed, firmly establishing not only the eternal love triangle, but Betty and Veronica's unique personalities as well: Betty, the true blue girl-next-door; Veronica, the pampered, always-get-my-way rich girl.


The pair proved so popular that they were among the first of Archie's supporting cast to graduate to their own comic book series. The series began in 1950 and ran an incredible 341 issues before Archie Comics decided to renumber several of their titles and started the series back up again at # I. Now, the incredible run continues and Betty and Veronica have nearly matched their first run- but first they have to pass the major milestone of a 200th issue. And what an issue it is-in fact, it could very well be the last issue!


In this very special 200th issue anniversary edition, Betty and Veronica's friendship is on the line in the story, "Things I Like About You." Can it be true-have Betty and Veronica ended their friendship for good?! Not if Nancy can help it, and help is what she intends when she issues the gal pals this challenge: find 100 reasons apiece- 200 reasons total- to stay best friends! Of course, they're too steamed to come up with reasons on their own, so Nancy has them interview their friends and family- to show just how their breakup will affect everyone. It's a hilarious and poignant issue-length epic you won't want to miss!

BETTY & VERONICA #200,
ships 3/31. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Jeff Shultz.

TITLES SHIPPING MARCH 2004

ARCHIE # 547,

ships 3/10. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "A Gaggle of Grief": Archie's goose is cooked when he decides to order Mr. Lodge a concrete goose for his lawn! SCRIPT: Craig Boldman. ART: Stan Goldberg. "View from Above": Watch out Riverdale High-“Big Bee" is watching you on the school's new webcam... but who's watching him?! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #82,

ships 3/11. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Lance Colby, L.A.U.G.H. Agent": New kids transfer to Riverdale High everyday, but it's not every day that a "spy kid" does! There's a good reason he's come to quiet, peaceful Riverdale- Major Payne, an evil Weatherbee look-alike, is out to take over the town, using its own mind-controlled teens as his minions! Can Lance stop Major Payne before he stops the free wills of America's favorite comic book teens?! SCRIPT: Bill Golliher. ART: Dan Parent.

ARCHIE'S MYSTERIES #34,

ships 3/11. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "The Case of the Missing Mentors": When forensic experts Matt and Mary mysteriously disappear the same morning they're to deliver damaging testimony in a criminal case, it's up to Archie and the Teen Scene Investigators to fly solo and find their mentors! SCRIPT: Barbara Jarvie and Paul Castiglia. ART: Fernando Ruiz

ARCHIE DIGEST #206,

ships 3/10. Full color digest format, $2.39 US. The adventures of America's favorite teen continue with new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent including Stan Goldberg, Henry Scarpelli, Jon D'Agostino, etc.

ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST # 151,

ships 3/31. Full color digest format, $3.59 US. What's better than a digest full of those teen dream queens Betty & Veronica? A double digest full of them! Featuring new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.

BETTY # 131,

ships 3/11. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Givers and Takers": When Betty ponders her relationship with Veronica, she realizes she does all the giving and Veronica does all the taking. The question is, just how much more "taking" will Betty take?! SCRIPT: Barbara Slate. ART: Stan Goldberg.

BETTY & VERONICA # 199,

ships 3/3. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Drive-In Drama": When Mr. Lodge backs a new drive-in, it's a chance for him and his wife to relive nostalgic memories- and for Veronica to relive recent memories of Archie spending time with Betty! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Jeff Shultz. "Best Foot Forward": A boot-zipper mishap leaves Betty wearing one boot and one sneaker-an embarrassing predicament, until Veronica convinces everyone it's the latest European fad! SCRIPT: Mike Pellowski. ART: Jeff Shultz. "A Blooming Friendship": A poignant tale highlighting the special relationship of those gal pals, Betty and Veronica. SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Jeff Shultz. "Yet Again": With a title like that, we're sure you can guess the plot: Archie has asked Betty and Veronica out to the same dance again! Will he ever learn any new steps?! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Jeff Shultz.

BETTY & VERONICA #200,

ships 3/31. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. DON'T MISS THIS VERY SPECIAL 200th ISSUE ANNIVERSARY EDITION!!! "Things I Like About You": Can it be true- have Betty and Veronica ended their friendship for good?! Not if Nancy can help it, and help is what she intends when she issues the gal pals this challenge: find 100 reasons apiece- 200 reasons total- to stay best friends! Of course, they're too steamed to come up with reasons on their own, so Nancy has them interview their friends and family- to show just how their breakup will affect everyone. It's a hilarious and poignant issue-length epic you won't want to miss! SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Jeff Shultz.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST # 146,

ships 3/3. Full color digest format, $2.39 US. Bright and brassy, bold and beautiful, blonde and brunette- teen dream queens Betty & Veronica romp through this collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST # 123,

ships 3/17. Full color digest format, $3.59 US. What's better than a digest full of those teen dream queens Betty & Veronica? A double digest full of them! Featuring new stories and classic tales. SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.

JUGHEAD # 157,

ships 3/31. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "The Big Wheel": The whole town takes a tumble when Jughead decides to finally learn how to do cartwheels-and has everyone else demonstrate how it's done (or not done)! "The Elevenaire 11": Jughead sings the praises of being penniless and worry-free- until a mysterious stranger gives him eleven dollars! "The All-Seeing Eye": Who's been snack-napping snacks while Jughead's napping? Read this tale and you'll know what happened! "The Big Bash": Jughead is living out "The Most Dangerous Game"- with Ethel's candy-filled piñata as the prey! SCRIPTS: Craig Boldman. ART: Rex Lindsey.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST # 102,

ships 3/3. Full color digest format, $3.59 US. It's double-decker sandwiches and double-trouble as the irrepressible Jughead tilts the laugh-o-meter in this uproarious collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent.

LAUGH DIGEST # 192,

ships 3/24. Full color digest format, $2.39 US. The timeless high school hijinx of the entire Riverdale gang are highlighted in this hilarious collection of new stories and classic tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent including Henry Scarpelli, Stan Goldberg, Jon D'Agostino, etc.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #51,

ships 3/24. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. Let the magic of Sabrina cast a spell on you with these all‑new tales! SCRIPT AND ART: Various talent.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG # 134,

ships 3/3. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. "Home, Epilogue: Say You Will" : The poignant aftermath to this epic tale's climactic finale. With the present crisis abated last issue, Sonic finally has the chance to catch up to those near and dear to him, especially one Princess Sally Acorn. SCRIPT: Karl Bollers. ART: Jon Gray (pencils) and Michael Higgins (inks). ALSO: "In Transit": the "Mobius, 25 Years Later" series continues as lord Rotor returns to the Kingdom of Knothole, while Knuckles consults with the Brotherhood of Guardians at Haven II. SCRIPT: Ken Penders. ART: Steven Butler (pencils) and Ken Penders (inks).

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG # 135,

ships 3/31. 32-page, full color comic, $2.19 US. Three titanic tales in one issue! "Anonymous": Dr. Robotnik has a new enemy to contend with, and it isn't Sonic. This enemy has left a special present for Robotnik and signed it... you guessed it... "Anonymous"! SCRIPT: Romy Chacon. ART: Art Mawhinney (pencils) and Jim Amash (inks). "Agent from K.N.O.T.H.O.L.E.": Sonic receives a mysterious message prompting him to travel incognito to meet someone in the middle of the Eggman Empire... someone who should be dead! Can this be a trap? SCRIPT: Romy Chacon. ART: Ron Lim (pencils) and Nelson Ribeiro (inks). "Dealing With the Devil": The next exciting installment of our popular series of tales depicting "Mobius: 25 Years Later" continues! SCRIPT: Ken Penders. ART: Steven Butler (pencils) and Ken Penders (inks).

VERONICA # 151,

ships 3/10. 32-page, full color comic, $1.19 US: "Revenge of the Nerds": Realizing dating a "nerd" like Randy isn't so bad, Veronica decides to give other nerds a chance... but how long can she take science facts, science fiction and computer talk? SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb. ART: Dan Parent. "You're Out Of line": Veronica rushes to the scene when her cousin Marcy promises "the social event of the season"- only to learn the "event" is camping out overnight for "Rings of the Gods" movie tickets! SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent