Today, in a special Monday edition of Archie Sundays, we look at when Archie first raced his car in a drag race.
This is Archie Sundays. Every week, I share a preview of the newest Archie Comics releases that week, plus occasional spotlights on the latest Archie news and whatever else I feel like discussing, Archie-wise.
Archie was releasing the info about its new drag racing one-shot on Monday, so I figured I’d delay Archie Sundays a day again this week.
Anyhow, this week, we take a look at the promotional material for the aforementioned Archie drag racing one-shot (including an all new drag racing character), a preview of this week’s Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #348 and a spotlight on Archie’s May 2024 solicitations, but first, we answer the question in the headline – when did Archie first race his car in a drag race in the comics?
The first time an Archie comic made ANY sort of drag racing gag was a cover gag by Bob White on Archie Comics #148’s cover in 1964…
However, the first time we actually saw Archie drag racing in the comics was in Archie’s Girls, Betty and Veronica #135 in 1967, in “Drag Drama,” by George Gladir, Dan DeCarlo and Rudy Lapick. Betty and Veronica are irked at the guys ignoring them because of the upcoming drag race. So the girls come up with different ways to get in on this drag racing deal. Veronica gets her dad to sponsor the trophy for the race so that she can get a date from the guy who wins, which isn’t Archie…
While Betty? She just WINS THE RACE HERSELF!
Awesome.
Okay, so this leads into the announcement of a new character in April’s Hot Rod Racing one-shot…
ARCHIE & FRIENDS: HOT ROD RACING (ONE-SHOT)
A BRAND-NEW STORY kicks off this NEED FOR SPEED issue! In “The Race to Save Face,” the first appearance of Daisy Thunder of the Southside Serpents, Daisy challenges Archie and his crew to a charity race throughout Riverdale. Can Archie’s souped-up jalopy best Daisy’s hot wheels? All that plus more racing fun!
Script: Craig Boldman
Pencils: Steven Butler
Inks: Lily Butler
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Vincent Lovallo, Steven Butler, Lily Butler, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 4/3
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
Here’s the design of Daisy Thunder by the father and daughter art team of Steven Butler and Lily Butler…
Craig Boldman is writing this one, so you KNOW it’s going to be good!
Okay, on to the preview of this week’s Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #148!
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #348
TWO BRAND NEW STORIES! First, Archie saves the day for Shield with the super-power of super-fandom! Then, Bingo Wilkin’s new song has gone viral! Unfortunately, the song is so popular that Bingo can’t go out in public without being swarmed by fans. How will he manage to celebrate his anniversary with Samantha? Maybe Archie and Jughead can help!
Script: Ian Flynn, Dan Parent
Pencils: Pat Kennedy, Dan Parent
Inks: Jim Amash, Bob Smith
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Bill Golliher, Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 2/28
192-page, full color digest
$9.99 U.S.
The first of the two brand-new stories is by Ian Flynn, Pat Kennedy, Jim Amash, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli, and it shows how Archie’s fandom of the Shield can come in handy sometimes…
Dan Parent, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli then deliver a brand-new Bingo Wilkin story (and don’t worry, Bingo isn’t harvesting souls in this one)!
Finally, let’s take a look at…
Archie’s May 2024 solicitations!
ARCHIE COMICS: JUDGMENT DAY #1 (of 3)
In a world overrun with demons, Archie Andrews is on a quest to cleanse Riverdale of all wicked-kind. Harnessing the destructive power of a captive fiend, he will have to destroy corrupted and possessed versions of the people closest to him. Questioning his own morality and forced to make difficult sacrifices, are Archie’s efforts truly good, or the work of pure evil? Traverse the most horrifying version of Riverdale yet in the first Archie Premium Event.
Script: Aubrey Sitterson
Art: Megan Hutchison
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Megan Hutchison
Variant Covers: Francesco Francavilla, Jae Lee, Reiko Murakami
On Sale Date: 5/22
32-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.
ARCHIE GIANT COMICS FRENZY (TPB)
Get ready for a FRENZY of humor, heart, and hilarity in this GIANT-sized collection of stories starring Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and all your favorites from Riverdale!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Dan Parent, Bob Smith, Rosario “Tito” Peña
978-1-64576-827-2
$10.99 US
4-7/8 x 6-9/16”
480 pp, Full Color
Direct Market On-Sale Date: 5/22
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #350
BRAND NEW STORY! Celebrate 350 issues of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest with a party! Moose is having a BBQ party, and everyone is reflecting on their relationship with the big guy… for better or worse!
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Dan Parent, Bob Smith
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Bill Golliher, Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 5/8
192-page, full color digest
$9.99 U.S.
ARCHIE MILESTONES JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #24: JUGHEAD SUMMER FUN
Join Jughead for a crave case of tasty tales filled with picnic parties, BBQ bashes, and tons more to satisfy your hunger for humor in this milestone collection!
Script: Various
Art: Various
Cover: Bill Galvan, Ben Galvan
On Sale Date: 5/29
192-page, full color digest
$9.99 U.S.
BETTY & VERONICA FRIENDS FOREVER: FAIRY TALES (ONE-SHOT)
BRAND NEW STORY: Once upon a time, there were two best friends, Betty & Veronica, who were the handsomest ladies in the land. One day a strange duckling (Cassie Cloud) enters their village with odd notions of popularity and fun and befriends a strange minstrel (Randolph) and proves that it’s what’s on the inside that counts!
Script: Goldie Chan
Art: Bill Galvan, Ben Galvan
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Bill Galvan, Ben Galvan
On Sale Date: 5/1
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
BETTY AND VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #324
BRAND NEW STORY! Veronica wants to prove Powerteen is the best superhero, but will dooming Riverdale really do the trick?
Script: Ian Flynn
Art: Steven Butler, Jim Amash
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Bill Golliher, Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 5/15
192-page, full color digest
$9.99 U.S.
WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #140
BRAND NEW STORY! It’s the first annual Riverdale Amateur Wrestling Rumble, a royal rumble for charity. No one can beat the masked wrestlers. Who is this mystery trio? And can they be beat?
Script: Dan Parent
Art: Dan Parent, Bob Smith
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Bill Golliher, Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 5/22
192-page, full color digest
$9.99 U.S.
WORLD OF BETTY & VERONICA JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #32
BRAND NEW STORY! Jaguar and Jughead are being held by a group of super-power squashing gangsters! Can Superteen and Powerteen rescue them without their powers?
Script: Francis Bonnet
Art: Rex Lindsey
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Rex Lindsey
Cover: Bill Golliher, Dan Parent, Rosario “Tito” Peña
On Sale Date: 5/1
192-page, full color digest
$9.99 U.S.
See you next week, everybody!
