Four one-shot horror comics anthologies by some of the industry's top creators will roll out in October, courtesy of Archie Comics.
The press release follows:
Media Release -- Archie Comics is taking over Spooky Season with four all-new horror comics launching in October, also known as Archie Horror's Month of Mayhem! Headlined by a sequel to last year's CHILLING ADVENTURES IN SORCERY, the rest of the lineup includes campfire tales for kids, an '80s-tinted solo adventure for Sabrina's cat Salem, and a Twilight Zone-esque flight into the sci-fi side of horror.
Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante said, "Who ever thought Archie Comics and horror would go so well together? We did—but it definitely took a lot of other folks by surprise! Since AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE's debut way back in 2013, we've been consistently delivering on unique horror stories featuring our cast, and we have no plans on stopping that any time soon! We're so excited to bring everyone 'Archie's Month of Mayhem' for the Halloween season. We've got something for everyone—three brand new horror one-shots and a middle grade horror anthology!"
Leading the initiative in late September, CHILLING ADVENTURES PRESENTS . . . WEIRDER MYSTERIES is a trio of dark sci-fi tales kicked off by writer Frank Tieri (Deadpool) in a welcome return to the universe of his previous hit Archie Horror series, with art by Federico Sabbatini (Moon Knight). Tieri said, "In 'Betty Cooper: Alien Hunter,' a spine-tingling tale set in the JUGHEAD: THE HUNGER universe, we'll find the fan-favorite werewolf hunter trade in her silver bullets for a UFO detector as she tries to uncover a mystery that's not of this world. But in typical Betty Cooper fashion, she may be the bigger threat to the good folks of Riverdale than anything any E.T. can dole out."
The issue is rounded out with two stories written by Joanne Starer (Sirens of the City) and Ron Robbins (Archie Digest Library) with art by Juan Bobillo (Fantastic Four) and Ryan Jampole (Sonic the Hedgehog), featuring rare appearances by Bingo Wilkin, star of the '70s comic series THAT WILKIN BOY, and Alexandra Cabot, a foil for Josie and the Pussycats.
CHILLING ADVENTURES PRESENTS... WEIRDER MYSTERIES (ONE-SHOT)
Riverdale is known to be a hotbed of strange happenings and paranormal activity… always has been and always will be. Take a look as a few extra-special case files are opened that highlight the weird occurrences that happen in the small, quiet town, in a one-shot anthology that's equal parts The X-Files and Black Mirror.
Script: Frank Tieri, Joanne Starer, Ron Robbins
Art: Federico Sabbatini, Juan Bobillo, Ryan Jampole
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Adam Gorham
Variant Cover: Aaron Lea
On Sale Date: 9/21
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
[gallery type="grid" columns="2" size="full" ids="184926,184925"]
Archie Comics' beloved teenage witch Sabrina Spellman is no stranger to Archie Horror, having headlined her own comic, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, that spawned a Netflix streaming series. Like any good witch, Sabrina has a magical feline familiar named Salem, and now, horror-loving cat fanciers will have something to celebrate on October 12 when he stars in his first solo title, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM! Written by comics horror master Cullen Bunn (Harrow County) with evocative nostalgic "horror paperback" art by Dan Schoening (Ghostbusters), the one-shot follows Salem as he helps neighborhood animals exact revenge on those who've caused them harm.
CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM (ONE-SHOT)
Salem the Cat has always been known as Sabrina's familiar, but what happens when Sabrina's not around to protect him (or, as is more the case, when he doesn't have to protect her)? This special one-shot explores a different side of Salem's life, one in which he acts as an anti-hero enacting vigilante justice on those who hurt others like him… animals, in a horror story that's equal parts Pet Sematary and Hereditary.
Script: Cullen Bunn
Art: Dan Schoening
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Dan Schoening, Matt Herms
Variant Cover: Francesco Francavilla
On Sale Date: 10/12
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
[gallery type="grid" size="full" ids="184918,184919,184920,184921,184922,184923"]
Archie Horror's first foray into middle grade chills debuts October 19 with FEAR THE FUNHOUSE! Inspired by genuinely scary children's horror like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, the one-shot anthology features a framing sequence in which younger versions of the core Archie Comics cast tell each other increasingly terrifying stories by a campfire. It boasts three stories written by Micol Ostow (Riverdale), Magdalene Visaggio (Eternity Girl), and Michael Northrop (Teen Titans Go!) with art by Lisette Carrera (Lore Olympus), Ryan Caskey (The Spooky Tarot), and Diana Camero (Five Nights At Freddy's).
FEAR THE FUNHOUSE (ONE-SHOT)
A night camping at the treehouse in the woods leads the pre-teen Archie and his friends to do what any kid their age would do in that scenario: tell scary stories! But each story grows creepier and creepier as the kids realize that maybe, just maybe, there is some truth to these tall tales in an anthology that’s equal parts Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps.
Script: Micol Ostow, Magdalene Visaggio, Michael Northrop
Art: Lisette Carrera, Ryan Caskey, Diana Camero
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Lisette Carrera
Variant Cover: Sweeney Boo
On Sale Date: 10/19
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
[gallery type="grid" columns="2" size="full" ids="184929,184928"]
Rounding out Archie Horror's inaugural Month of Mayhem on October 26 is THE RETURN OF CHILLING ADVENTURES IN SORCERY, a direct sequel to last year's smash hit one-shot starring the iconic Sabrina villain, Madam Satan! Our titular anti-hero has escaped Hell and is on the loose, but not for long; Satan is on the hunt and she's now hiding in Baxter High, posing as the school's principal. Each classroom seems to be a portal back to Hell -- and our window into a new scary story -- culminating in a climactic showdown. Original framing sequence writer Eliot Rahal returns to pick up the thread here, along with writers Sina Grace (Iceman) and Casey Gilly (Dungeons & Dragons), and artists Vincenzo Federici (TMNT: The Armageddon Game), Corin Howell (Transformers), and Liana Kangas (Star Wars Adventures).
RETURN OF CHILLING ADVENTURES IN SORCERY (ONE-SHOT)
Madam Satan escaped Hell a fugitive and hated woman by Satan and his thralls. She’s now principal of Baxter High and Hell has come to Earth. With each classroom acting as a portal to the different circles in Hell, Madam Satan must recruit similar tortured souls if she has any chance of survival… all leading up to a Madam Satan and her army vs. Satan and his in this highly-anticipated follow-up to last year’s hit Chilling Adventures in Sorcery!
Script: Eliot Rahal, Sina Grace, Casey Gilly
Art: Vincenzo Federici, Corin Howell, Liana Kangas
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Julius Ohta
Variant Cover: Francesco Francavilla
On Sale Date: 10/26
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
CHILLING ADVENTURES PRESENTS... WEIRDER MYSTERIES is available for pre-order now from only the most haunted comic shops, and the rest of the Month of Mayhem lineup will be open to order at the end of July!
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