MAMARONECK, NY – September 10, 2007

ARCHIE COMICS CONTINUES TO INTRODUCE NEW TALENT: MEET ARCHIE COLLECTOR/HISTORIAN-TURNED-WRITER JEFFREY C. BRANCH!

Archie Comics is at it again! In 2003, after winning a cherished slot in Tokyopop’s “Rising Stars of Manga” anthology, Archie hired writer-artist phenomenon Tania del Rio to give Sabrina the Teenage Witch a manga makeover…

In 2006, Archie held a “try-out contest” at the San Diego Comic-con, and a young man named Bill Galvan – wearing a homemade Jughead t-shirt and wielding a pencil full of talent – soon found himself becoming Archie’s newest artist-extraordinaire…

This year, Archie gives another deserving talent a big break. The recipient this time is longtime Archie Comics collector and historian, Jeffrey C. Branch. Jeff has been championing Archie Comics in print for years – with text articles in such diverse outlets as grass roots fanzines, established magazines like Comic Book Marketplace, and even the official Archie Comics website. He made his most recent splash with an introduction to ARCHIE DIGEST #236, a very special issue that reprinted the original ARCHIE COMICS #1 from 1941 in its entirety.

With his reverence for and encyclopedic knowledge of Archie Comics, who better to write new Archie tales to vie for their own place alongside the classics? Judge it for yourself when you read “From the Ground Up,” in ARCHIE & FRIENDS #115. Inspired by TV’s home makeover shows, Archie and his friends endeavor to restore historic Pickens General Store and turn it into a museum. But can they overcome their lack of construction experience, not to mention opportunistic politicians who want to exploit the situation for their own gain and fame? It’s a poignant addition to the fabled canon of Riverdale lore, rendered with panache by Archie fan-favorite Rex Lindsey.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #115

“From the Ground Up”: Inspired by TV’s home makeover shows, Archie and his friends endeavor to restore historic Pickens General Store and turn it into a museum. But can they overcome their lack of construction experience, not to mention opportunistic politicians who want to exploit the situation for their own gain and fame? Don’t miss the first story written by longtime Archie collector/historian Jeffrey C. Branch – a poignant addition to the fabled canon of Riverdale lore!

SCRIPT: Jeffrey C. Branch. ART: Rex Lindsey.

Shipping Date: December 19th, 2007

On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: December 26th, 2007

On Sale on Newsstands: January 8th, 2008

32-page, full color comic

$2.25 US.

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