Archie prequel "Freshman Year" gets in full-swing

From Archie Comics

In the tradition of such famous comic book series and miniseries as John Byrne’s Superman: the Man of Steel, Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One and Marvel’s Ultimate line comes the latest comic book icon to get the “prequel” treatment: Archie! That’s right, now you, the reader can travel back in time with Archie and his friends to their very first year in high school in this five-part epic storyline we’re calling THE FRESHMAN YEAR SAGA!

It all began last issue (Archie & Friends #587) with a poignant prologue called “The Summer Before,” exploring how the famous friends who just graduated junior high would deal with their pending positions as high school seniors. Now, in issue #588’s “Freshman Year: Fall Semester,” Archie and his friends are starting the fall semester of their first high school year. Having survived a summer that saw the departure of Jughead and bickering parents, the gang arrives at high school … to find elementary school Principal Mr. Weatherbee has now become the high school principal! But it’s not just about reunions at Riverdale High. Archie also makes a new friend in Pencilneck G., although he prefers his more laid-back buddy Jughead. He also makes some new enemies in Jared McGerk and his band of bullies! Along the way the other classic faculty members are introduced, as well as Pop Tate and his Chok’lit Shop! It’s the funniest first year of high school ever!

This special storyline is brought to you by none other than fan-favorite writer Batton Lash. No stranger to Archie Comics, the famed writer of the “Wolff & Byrd” series turned the comic industry upside down in 1994 when he penned the unlikely Archie/Marvel crossover comic, Archie Meets the Punisher. Many thought it would never work, but Batton’s ingenious script won over even the toughest skeptics, and the comic wound up being not only one of Archie’s biggest-selling issues ever, but also one of the most highly-acclaimed. Batton returned the following year with another well-received story arc appearing across several Archie titles. The “House of Riverdale” was a loving tribute to the type of serio-comic, spooky mysteries so prevalent in the vintage Life with Archie series. Handling the art chores is “Scrapyard Detectives” creator and popular Archie artist/writer Bill Galvan. This is one “year” you can’t afford to miss!

ARCHIE #588
SCRIPT: Batton Lash.
ART: Bill Galvan.
Shipping date: August 13, 2008
On sale at comic specialty Shops: August 20, 2008
On sale on newsstands: September 2, 2008
32-page, full-color comic
$2.25 U.S.