Archie Comics May 2015 Solicitations

Archie Comics and their Dark Circle imprint are bringing some exciting comics this year and to make sure you place your order with your local comic book shop in time here's what's brewing in May.  THE SHIELD #2 NEW ONGOING SERIES FROM DARK CIRCLE!  “Daughter of the Revolution, Part 2” Running out of places to hide, the Shield discovers she is not without allies. Detective Nicole Simmons seems to know exactly who—and what—the Shield is, but with the enigmatic government agent Walter Chase closing the noose, the pair face two difficult questions: why is the Shield back now… and whose side is she really on? Script: Adam Christopher and Chuck Wendig Art: David Williams, Gary Martin, Rachel Deering, Kelly Fitzpatrick Cover: David Williams Variant Cover: Wilfredo Torres Variant Cover: Evan Shaner Variant Cover: Steve Rude On Sale Date: 5/20 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S.

THE BLACK HOOD #3   NEW ONGOING SERIES FROM DARK CIRCLE! “Bullet’s Kiss, Part 4” The Connection’s lieutenants have discovered the identity of the new Black Hood. And now Greg Hettinger has only 24 hours to unmask their boss—the man who set Greg up!  As the badly-injured Black Hood struggles to piece together the puzzle, he’s forced to put his faith in a woman who could end up saving him… or sending him straight to the slammer! Script: Duane Swierczynski Art: Michael Gaydos, Rachel Deering, Kelly Fitzpatrick Cover: Francesco Francavilla Variant Cover: David Mack Variant Cover: Howard Chaykin Variant Cover: Bill Sienkiewicz On Sale Date: 5/27 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S.

THE FOX #3 NEW ONGOING SERIES FROM DARK CIRCLE! “Fox Hunt, Part 3—The Devil You Know”: Just as The Fox was through being a superhero, his son was putting the final touches on a gift for his dad—a sidekick. Enter: Kitsune—the Ghost Fox! But unbeknownst to father and son, a criminal mastermind has just put a million dollar bounty on the Fox's head. Now our hero must make sure his son isn't killed by an entire city filled with villains, including some familiar faces out for vengeance! Emmy award-winning artist Dean Haspiel and Eisner Award-winning writer Mark Waid bring you the next chapter in Dark Circle's most twisted tale yet! Featuring variant cover art from Chris Samnee and Steve Rude! Plot: Dean Haspiel Art: Dean Haspiel, John Workman and Jose Villarubia Script: Mark Waid Cover: Dean Haspiel Fox-Hunted Variant Cover: Steve Rude Prowling Variant Cover: Chris Samnee Hunter and Prey Variant Cover: T.Rex On Sale Date: 6/10 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S.

ARCHIE #666 On the eve of the game-changing ARCHIE #1, an all-star cast of Riverdale's finest creators join forces to celebrate one of the longest-running comic series ever in the much-loved Archie style! Take a look back at Archie's wonderful life and the many lives he's lived in a zany, heartfelt and hilarious adventure that will be a must-have for fans old and new—and a can't-miss, one-of-a-kind collector's item. A dazzling journey through the world of Archie with plenty of winks and nods to what's come before, ARCHIE #666 caps off a legendary run of comic excellence while opening the door to the next thrilling chapter—featuring six covers celebrating Archie’s vibrant history. Script: Tom DeFalco Art: Dan Parent, Fernando Ruiz, Pat and Tim Kennedy Cover: Dan Parent Connecting Variant Cover Part 1 (Betty): Dan Parent Connecting Variant Cover Part 2 (Veronica): Dan Parent Connecting Variant Cover Part 3 (Jughead): Dan Parent Connecting Variant Cover Part 4 (Kevin): Dan Parent Connecting Variant Cover Part 5 (Reggie): Dan Parent On Sale Date: 6/3 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S.

ARCHIE COMICS DOUBLE DIGEST #261 Summer’s here and that means it’s time for some summer camp adventures! Archie and his friends are all counselors at Camp Witwicky—but Archie’s determined to be the BEST one this year! Of course, Archie can only be as good as his campers—and they’re not nearly as excited about summer camp as Archie is! Will Archie impress all his campers and be the best counselor Camp Witwicky has ever seen—or will his summer be a wash out? Find out in “All Camped Out!” the all-new, all-fun lead story to this comics double digest! Script: Gorf Art: Fernando Ruiz Cover: Dan Parent On Sale Date: 6/3 160-page, full color comic $4.99 U.S.

ARCHIE GIANT COMICS COLLECTION (TR)   Expand your Archie collection with the newest installment of our Giant series! This fun-packed, laugh-a-minute volume collects 480 pages of the wild humor and teenage tomfoolery that have made Archie comic stories popular for over 70 years! Script: Various Art: Various Cover: Various 978-1-62738-949-5 $7.99/$8.99CAN 4 7/8 x 6 9/16” TR 480 pp, Full Color Direct Market On-Sale Date: 6/10

ARCHIE COMICS SPECTACULAR: ROCK ON! (TR) Are you ready to ROCK? Well party on down to the concert of the century with The Archies as they create musical memories and mayhem in this melodic collection! This fun, pocket-sized collection features 128 pages of hand-picked, favorite music-themed stories, presented on high-quality, bright white paper with a cardstock cover. Script: Various Art: Various Cover: Various 978-1-62738-947-1 $5.99/$6.99CAN 4 7/8 x 6 9/16” TR 128 pp, Full Color Direct Market On-Sale Date: 5/20

ARCHIE'S FUNHOUSE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #15 It’s a perfect summer day: Archie and Betty are on a date at the amusement park while Jughead is prepping for a pie-eating contest. What could possibly ruin this fun day? Throw in a furious female, a fanatical funhouse and you’ve got the recipe for a fun-filled day turned upside down! Get ready for wacky adventures in “Funhouse Frolic!” the crazy new lead story to this JUMBO comics digest! Script: Tom DeFalco Art: Various Cover: Dan Parent, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña On Sale Date: 5/27 288-page, full color comic $6.99 U.S.

JUGHEAD AND ARCHIE COMICS DOUBLE DIGEST #13 At a garage sale, Jughead and Archie make an interesting purchase: a large statue of an elephant! But Archie hasn’t decided to give his room a circus-style revamping: he knows that Mr. Lodge has started collecting vintage carousel horses and Archie believes this elephant would be a perfect addition to that collection. The problem now is getting this heavy beast to the Lodge Estate. Will they get it there in one piece? And just what will Mr. Lodge think of this new addition to his collection? Find out in “The Crass Menagerie,” this hilarious new lead story to a fun-filled comics double digest! Script: Fernando Ruiz Art: Fernando Ruiz Cover: Fernando Ruiz, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña On Sale Date: 6/10 160-page, full color comic $4.99 U.S.

MEGA MAN 9: DAWN OF X (TR) The complete MEGA MAN/MEGA MAN X Crossover is now available in graphic novel form! Set the stage for the upcoming WORLDS UNITE epic with the crossover that kicked things into gear for the blue bomber! Mega Man has dedicated his existence to helping humanity. One hundred years in the future, the super-advanced robot “X” has bridged the gap between man and machine. A weapon built by Dr. Wily, long thought lost, threatens to arise and cause mass chaos! It's an adventure that spans a century as Mega Man and X struggle to stop the mechanical menace and save the day! Don't miss the action and adventure in this historic crossover event! MEGA MAN VOL. 9 collects MEGA MAN #37-40. Script: Ian Flynn Art: Jamal Peppers, Ryan Jampole, Gary Martin, John Workman and Matt Herms Cover: Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante 978-1-61988-965-1 $12.99/$14.99CAN 6 5/8 x 10 3/16” TR 104 pp, Full Color Direct Market On-Sale Date: 5/27

MEGA MAN #49 On the eve of SONIC/MEGA MAN: WORLDS UNITE comes "Prisoners of War": Dr. Wily built his Robot Masters as tools of war—but when war is over, what happens to these mechanical servants? Mega Man has hopes that they can become tools of peace!  Of course, not everyone agrees with Mega Man’s positive point of view. Will his optimism lead to his destruction?  Meanwhile, who is the mysterious Mr. X, and what connection does he have to the past, present and future of Mega Man?  This story leads into the next mega cross-title crossover “WORLDS UNITE!” so don't miss a moment of the action! Featuring cover art from Mega Man rising star Edwin Huang and a "Renaissance Man" variant cover from Jason Piperberg! Script: Ian Flynn Art: Ryan Jampole, Gary Martin, John Workman and Evan Stanley Cover: Edwin Huang Renaissance Man Variant Cover: Jason Piperberg On Sale Date: 5/20 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S

SONIC UNIVERSE #76 THE SONIC/MEGA MAN CROSSOVER EVENT BEGINS HERE! It's the epic first chapter of the biggest story in Sonic/Mega Man comic book history with "Worlds Unite" Part One! Get ready for cross-world treachery as the wicked Sigma escapes the world of Mega Man X and arrives in Dr. Eggman’s secret Lost Hex base!  When Sigma promises new power to the Deadly Six, how long do you think they’ll stay loyal to Dr. Eggman? We’re not betting for long!  And just where exactly are our heroes during all this?  Looks like Sonic and Mega Man are right in the middle of an ambush!  The sense-shattering sequel to “Worlds Collide” starts right now! Featuring cover art from the legendary Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante, Rafa Knight, and part 1 of the epic 12-part connecting variant cover series by artist Ben Bates! Script: Ian Flynn Art: Dan Schoening, Jack Morelli and Luis Delgado Cover: Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante CROSSOVER KICK-OFF Variant Cover: Rafa Knight Epic Poster Variant (pt1 of 12): Ben Bates On Sale Date: 5/27 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S

SONIC BOOM #8 It slices! It dices! It joins line-wide crossover events: it's SONIC BOOM! "Sonic/Mega Man: Worlds Unite" Part Two: It was just another day at the races—y’know, the ones with the giant spider-mechs?  Things start to get weird, even for the lovable, paranoid Sticks, when X and the Maverick Hunters arrived!  Meanwhile, the epic bromance of the century is rekindled as the captured Drs. Eggman and Wily are forced to turn their life-long nemeses—Sonic and Mega Man—into minions for the terrifying Sigma! After the history-making "WORLDS COLLIDE" crossover event, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man unite once more—and this time Sonic Boom and Mega Man X are joining the fray! Featuring cover art from the legendary Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante, a special "happy fun time crossover" variant by Ryan Jampole and part 2 of the epic 12-part connecting variant cover series by artist Ben Bates! Script: Ian Flynn Art: Dan Schoening, Tracy Yardley, Terry Austin, Jack Morelli and Luis Delgado Cover: Patrick "SPAZ" Spaziante "Happy fun-time crossover" Variant Cover: Ryan Jampole, Gary Martin and Steve Downer Epic Poster Variant (pt2 of 12): Ben Bates On Sale Date: 6/3 32-page, full color comic $3.99 U.S