Wow! 2008 was some year! It will go down in history as the year Archie Comics pulled out all the stops with one intriguing storyline after another. From Alex Simmons' thrilling mysteries in the pages of ARCHIE & FRIENDS, to Jughead's and Moose & Midge's forays into the "realistic style" in JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST and PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST respectively, to the readers voting for Cheryl's new boyfriend in BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST, and more... Archie readers were served a smorgasbord of stories that played up the classic personalities and relationships of everyone's favorite comic book teens!

Well, you don't think the year 2009 is about to let itself be outdone, do you? No? Didn't think so! Archie Comics certainly is NOT resting on its laurels in 2009. Instead, we're rolling right into the New Year with an exciting slate of stories sure to tickle the funnybone and give you goosebumps from suspense! Consider these stories our New Year's Resolution, and our way of giving you, our readers, our very best wishes for 2009!


ARCHIE & FRIENDS #127
THE SECOND PART OF A FUN-FILLED, FOUR-PART TALE FROM FAN-FAVORITE ALEX SIMMONS!
"The Cartoon Life of Chuck Clayton, Part Two": Continuing this special storyline, Chuck Clayton takes center stage. Feeling overwhelmed by all the commitments in his life, Chuck could sure use some help teaching his cartooning class... and he's about to get it from an unlikely source! Chuck's world of collecting, drawing, and teaching kids how to make their own comics takes on new meaning in this poignant tale. This new multi-part epic comes courtesy of someone who knows his way around both creating and teaching comics, namely acclaimed writer, children's art advocate, and organizer of the world's only "Kids' Comics" convention, Alex Simmons.
SCRIPT: Alex Simmons
ART: Fernando Ruiz
Shipping Date: January 7th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 14th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: January 27th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.


ARCHIE DIGEST #251
"A Time to Reflect": The gang meets Dilton's inventor uncle – and are soon whisked away on a journey to the future in his time machine! This literally "timely" tale is packed with both laughs and introspection as Archie and his friends explore the fragile nature of the Earth's environment and effects of global warming.
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Stan Goldberg
"Job Fair Flair": Obsessed with his new handheld video game, Archie forgets to bring his resume, references, and a proper wardrobe to the Job Fair. Will he be fired before he's even hired?
SCRIPT: George Gladir
ART: Jeff Shultz
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents.
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 28th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 4th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 17th, 2009
88-page, full color digest
$2.49 US.


BETTY #178
A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY ISSUE!
"My One & Only Valentine": Betty makes homemade Valentine's Day cards for Archie and Reggie, one declaring love and the other friendship... but will the cards reach the correct recipients? It's a comedy of romantic errors as only Archie Comics could deliver it!
SPECIAL BONUS: Betty shows her readers how to make homemade Valentines of their own!
SCRIPT: Barbara Slate
ART: Stan Goldberg
Shipping Date: January 28th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: February 4th, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 17th, 2009
32-page, full color comic
$2.25 US.


PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #128
THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO THE "NEW LOOK" STORY, "BREAKUP BLUES"
THE INTRIGUING TALE WHERE MIDGE & MOOSE'S ROMANCE HANGS IN THE BALANCE!
"Breakup Blues, Part 4": For the past three issues, Archie and his friends have been dealing with the unimaginable: the breakup of Midge and Moose! In the aftermath, Midge started seeing Reggie and Moose began dating Judy Johnson. The status quo of Riverdale High's circle of friends was severely shaken, but that didn't stop the former couple's friends from doing what they could to get the pair back together. Their efforts weren't always successful, but they still haven't given up hope. The fourth and final installment brings everything together as the kids convene at an exclusive dance club to boogie the night away... and hopefully bring Moose and Midge back together once and for all! And they're about to get some help from an unlikely source. Will true love persevere and save the day? Be sure to reserve your copy so you can find out! The romantic intrigue is served up in the "realistic" art style that made both Betty and Veronica's "Bad Boy Trouble" and Jughead's "Matchmakers" some of the most talked-about Archie stories in recent years! Veteran penciller Tod Smith and journeyman inker Al Milgrom carry on that popular style in what has surely been the most explosive Archie Comics story to date!
SCRIPT: Melanie J. Morgan
PENCILS: Tod Smith
INKS: Al Milgrom
PLUS: Other new and classic tales!
SCRIPT AND ART: Various talents
BONUS: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!
Shipping Date: January 14th, 2009
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: January 21st, 2009
On Sale on Newsstands: February 3rd, 2009
176-page, full color digest
$3.69 US.