The kind folks at Archie Comics have supplied ComicList with their solicitations for comics and other products featured in the May 2009 Previews, scheduled to ship July 2009.


ARCHIE #599
"Return to Riverstock": It's peace, love and rock 'n roll as Archie Comics commemorates the 40th anniversary of the original Woodstock concert/cultural happening! Join The Archies and all their friends as they enjoy the "Riverstock Festival!" When those friends include Riverdale's resident "flower child" Mustang Sally, you know you're in for a groovy time! The kids use their concert as an opportunity to promote environmental issues, and their parents see the event as a chance to relive and reminisce about their own experiences at the original Riverstock. In addition to all the music, fun and positive vibes, this story is filled with the best the '60s had to offer - from peace symbols to colorful fashions to the favored rock instruments of the decade, it's all here in this tuneful tale! It's all brought to you by no less an authority than Hal Lifson, author of the swingin' sixties pop culture tome, "Hal Lifson's 1966!"
SCRIPT: Hal Lifson
ART: Stan Goldberg
"Mower Madness": Archie cuts lawns to raise the entry fee for the big go-kart race, but can he "cut it" against his speedy competitors?
SCRIPT: John Rose
ART: Stan Goldberg
"Beach Brouhaha": Archie learns summer jobs are no day at the beach, even when those jobs are ON the beach!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
Shipping Date: July 15th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 4th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


ARCHIE & FRIENDS #133
"Archie is History Part 2 of 2": Last issue, Archie and his friends went to Washington, D.C. to take part in a living history festival - where everyone dons costumes of their favorite historical figures! But now Archie's wallet is history - it's been mysteriously stolen and everyone's return bus tickets are inside! Meanwhile, Reggie tries making political power plays while Veronica tries making a real estate deal of historic proportions - literally! Before story's end, a valuable lesson about Honest Abe Lincoln is learned... and just wait until you see who's disguised as Ben Franklin! It's a trip through history filled with laughter and learning, as only the Archie gang can deliver!
SCRIPT: Arie Kaplan
ART: Pat Kennedy
Shipping Date: July 1st, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 8th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 21st, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


ARCHIE DIGEST #256
"Reel Funny": Archie and Reggie bet one another a free meal for whoever can catch the most fish... now if only they can get the fish to cooperate! "Just Imagine": Whether he realizes it or not, Archie's summer job as kiddie pool lifeguard bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Weatherbee's position as principal!
SCRIPTS: Mike Pellowski
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 29th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 11th, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.69 US


ARCHIE'S DOUBLE DIGEST #200
SPECIAL MILESTONE 200th - AND THE LATEST IN THE "NEW LOOK" SERIES!
"Goodbye Forever": Archie's dad finally receives the promotion he's been working a lifetime for, but it comes at a price: the family must relocate and leave Riverdale! How will this affect Archie's two best girls, Betty and Veronica, not to mention his best friend, Jughead? Who will rise to bedevil Mr. Lodge and Mr. Weatherbee in Archie's absence? Can a hamburger and fries really taste the same if Archie isn't there to share Pop Tate's delectable dishes? Why even Reggie will miss having Archie around to play pranks on. It's the most poignant "New Look" story yet , rendered in the "realistic" art style that made Betty and Veronica's "Bad Boy Trouble" and "My Father's Betrayal," Jughead's "Match Makers," and Moose and Midge's "Break-up Blues" some of the most-talked about Archie stories in recent years! Multiple award-winning and nominated artist Norm Breyfogle brings his fine-tuned talents to this heart-tugging tale, brought to you by "New Look" scribe Melanie J. Morgan.
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
ART: Norm Breyfogle
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: July 1st, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 8th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 21st, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.99 US


BETTY #181
"The Diva Wore Yada": A summer internship at "Harmon's Bazzar" fashion magazine brings Betty face-to-face with a demanding diva of a boss. Imagine Betty's surprise when the boss demands she model for the magazine's spring fashion spectacular! Celebrity news columnist Hal Lifson brings his fashionable first-hand perspective to this "tongue-in-chic" tale!
SCRIPT: Hal Lifson
ART: Stan Goldberg
"The Big Pitch": The "Good Will Girls" are back and their charity baseball game is a grand-slam success... especially with Betty pitching strikes from the mound and Archie pitching snacks in the stands!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
"Applause for Paws": Hot Dog makes a "splash"... by "catching a wave"... at the dog surfing contest!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
Shipping Date: July 29th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 5th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 18th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #90
SEE MORE STARS THAN ARE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM IN THIS CELEBRITY-PACKED ISSUE!
"Star Struck": It's a boy band brouhaha, as Betty and Veronica get jobs as reporters for Ginger Lopez's "Glitz Magazine" and have a controversial run-in with The Juneau Brothers! "Paparazzi Problem": To gossip or not to gossip... that is the rumor! "Sign Me Up": Mr. Lodge reveals a sensational secret from his past: he once dated a celebrity! All this, plus pop-culture extras like a Hollywood quiz, celebrity fashions, and more!
SCRIPTS AND ART: Dan Parent
Shipping Date: July 8th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 15th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 28th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #196
"The Past Will Haunt You": By popular demand, secret agents Betty & Veronica (last seen in BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #87) return! Last time, those super secret spies with the chic mystique, Betty and Veronica saved Archie with the help of some high tech gadgets from Dilton, not to mention a mystery operative. Just who was she, and what is her connection to Archie? Don't miss the mysterious answer!
SCRIPT AND ART: Dan Parent
"A Bad Attitude": The gang learns if there's one thing that spreads faster than bad news, it's a bad attitude!
SCRIPT: Kathleen Webb
ART: Bob Bolling
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: July 15th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 4th, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.69 US


BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #173
THIS IS IT - THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO THE MOST EXPLOSIVE "NEW LOOK" STORY YET!
"My Father's Betrayal Part 4": The latest "New Look" saga has rocked Riverdale, with Veronica and her friends facing off against Mr. Lodge and his constituents as the teens try to keep a beloved nature preserve from becoming an industrial park! This issue, the debate reaches a fever pitch, and someone may just get hurt! Can the two sides resolve their differences peacefully and constructively? Is there a compromise yet to be considered or will the opponents stay deadlocked forever? It's the explosive conclusion you just can't miss, served up in the "realistic" art style that made Betty and Veronica's "Bad Boy Trouble" Jughead's "Match Makers," and Moose and Midge's "Break-up Blues" some of the most-talked about Archie stories in recent years! Famous superhero art team and Eisner Award nominees Rick Burchett and Terry Austin lend their formidable penciling and inking talents to this intriguing tale, brought to you by "New Look" scribe Melanie J. Morgan.
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
ART: Rick Burchett and Terry Austin
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: July 29th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 5th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 18th, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.99 US


JUGHEAD #196
"Tortoise vs. Hare": A charity run at the zoo brings a challenge from Ethel: if she wins, Jughead owes her a month's worth of dates watching chick flicks. If he wins, she owes him dinner. But each faces a major obstacle - Ethel's job wearing mascot costumes finds her saddled in a turtle suit while Jughead must resist the lure of all the food vendors along the trail! Who will win? Will Jughead sacrifice mile marker snacks for a full course dinner? Will Ethel's cumbersome costume put the kibosh on canoodling at the multiplex? Don't get left behind in the pack... lace up your running shoes and race to reserve this issue today!
SCRIPT: Craig Boldman
ART: Rex Lindsey
Shipping Date: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 29th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 11th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #152
"Theme Park Lark": Mr. Lodge asks Jughead for suggestions on his new amusement park... and is highly amused by all of those suggestions! But are those suggestions really just in jest?
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Jeff Shultz
"Beach Bot": It's sand, surf and circuitry when Dilton unveils his amazing new robot at Riverdale beach!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Bob Bolling
"Picture Perfect": Can Jughead shift his "focus" from food long enough to enter the photo contest?
SCRIPT AND ART: Jeff Shultz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: July 15th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 4th, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.99 US


PALS 'N' GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #133
First, Archie reprinted PEP COMICS #22 and ARCHIE COMICS #1 to celebrate Archie's 65th anniversary in ARCHIE DIGEST #236. Then, Jughead got the same treatment in JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #138. That was followed by BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #185, a special issue commemorating the anniversary of ARCHIE'S GIRLS BETTY & VERONICA #1 from 1950. Now, one of Archie's most (in)famous characters, Reggie Mantle is celebrated in this special edition of ARCHIE'S PESTS... er... ARCHIE'S PALS 'N GALS DIGEST! Archie Comics is pleased to present this vintage material once more, including one of Reggie's earliest appearances in JACKPOT #5 as well as the entire first issue of ARCHIE'S RIVAL REGGIE in its entirety.
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
"Reggie Meets Reggie": In addition to the classic tales, Reggie gets the same opportunity Archie, Jughead and Betty and Veronica received in the aforementioned issues: the opportunity for his present self to meet his past self! And since there's no one Reggie loves more than himself, we can't think of anyone he'd rather meet! It's all courtesy of a trip down "memory lane," that magical road that leads to all sorts of space-time continuum chaos! Will modern Reggie's jokes and pranks be "new" in the 1950s? Will he even have time to crack wise when he angers the '50s Moose? It's a Reggie story for the ages... literally!
SCRIPT: Fernando Ruiz
ART: Rex Lindsey
Shipping Date: July 15th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 4th, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.99 US


SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #104
THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO YOUNG SALEM'S TALE!
"Finders - Keepers Part Four": Our look back at young Salem concludes in grand fashion! Our boy wizard must brave the dank caves and vicious Lizarymn to rescue his Uncle Mort from the evil wizard Todicus. Can Salem match up to Todicus's magic? Can he out-wit his leathery foe? Will the young wizard-in-training prevail in the most treacherous trial yet? There's only one way to find out - don't miss this fantas-magical finale!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Chad Thomas
Massively magical cover by Chad Thomas!
Shipping Date: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 29th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 11th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


SONIC THE HEDGEHOG ARCHIVES #11
The Sonic Archives series has emerged as one of Archie's best-selling trade paperbacks, as fans both new and old can relive the glory days of Sonic the Hedgehog in these high-quality, digitally-restored graphic novels, complete with all the classic Sonic stories from the 1990's! Now with Sonic Archives Volume 11, Sonic lovers can add to their collections issues 41-44, stories which are almost impossible to come across now. And best of all, the colors are completely re-mastered to give the issues a brand-new look! Stories include: "... And One Shall Save Him" - Sally, Sonic and Geoffrey attempt to save King Acorn, but will they survive the Zone of Silence as past and future collide? "In Every Kingdom There Must Exist a Little Chaos" - the epic "Sword of Acorns" storyline begins here, as Knuckles searches for the fabled sword against staggering odds! "The Dream Zone" - the story that introduces the "Dream Watcher" device that will play a major role in the "Endgame" saga! "Black & Blue & Red All Over" - Evil Sonic is back... and it looks like Knuckles is helping him!
SCRIPT: Ken Penders, Kent Taylor
ART: Kyle Hunter, Art Mawhinney, Manny Galan, Patrick Spaziante, Harvey Mercadoocasio, Andrew Pepoy
Shipping Date: July 29th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: August 5th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 18th, 2009
122-page, full color graphic novel
$7.49 US


SONIC UNIVERSE #6
THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THE EPIC "SONIC 30 YEARS LATER" SAGA!
"Dark Seige": In this second installment of "Mobius: 30 Years Later," the stakes are raised to pulse-pounding proportions! King Sonic has received dire news from Silver: something that will doom the future is right around the bend! Things go from bad to worse when Lien-Da and her Dark Presence invades the castle! Who will escape, and who will be the first to fall? All this, plus another surprise returning character revealed!
SCRIPT: Ian Flynn
ART: Tracy Yardley
Shipping Date: July 15th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 22nd, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 4th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #202
"Dangerous Territory": Sonic and Monkey Khan storm the city of New Megaopolis to nip an evil invasion in the bud... but have our heroes bitten off more than they can chew? And will a shocking betrayal save them - or doom them?
"A Lonely Girl's Story": Learn the guarded secrets of the Eggman Empire's new empress in this intriguing tale!
SCRIPTS: Ian Flynn
ART: Steven Butler
Shipping Date: July 1st, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 8th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 21st, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.50 US


TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #34
"Texting Trouble": Betty hopes her week spent at tennis camp will "serve" her well on the court. But will her tendency to text give her a case of tennis wrist?
SCRIPT: John Rose
ART: Pat Kennedy
"Archie & Me": Mr. Weatherbee contemplates how peaceful early retirement could be... until he realizes how boring it would be without Archie around!
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Fernando Ruiz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: July 8th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: July 15th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: August 28th, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.69 US