ARCHIE COMICS FOR APRIL

ARCHIE #584

Written by Angelo DeCesare and Craig Boldman, art by Stand Goldberg.

"Two Ring Circus": Talk about a bad connection - Veronica gives Archie one of her father's prototype phones, even though the matching phone is Mr. Lodge's! How long before Hiram calls 911? "The Blame Game": To get out of a jam with Veronica, Archie asks Jughead to take the blame. And in return, he'll do the same for Jughead. Need we mention this is one deal doomed to failure? "Outside the Box": Mr. Lodge learns rule #1 of the toy biz: kids almost always love the box the toys comes in best! "The Blob": Dilton tries to give Archie the ink blot test, but when his cards are replaced with photos of Veronica, he thinks Archie is certifiably obsessed!

32 pages, $2.25, in stoers on April 30.

ARCHIE & FRIENDS #118

Written by Alex Simmons, art by Rex Lindsey.

"Archie World Tour Part 2 of 4": Having barely escaped with their lives in the previous issue's trip to London, Archie and his friends are looking for a more traditional vacation spot... a place filled with history and romance... and Madrid, Spain is just the place! The key word is romance, as Veronica and Betty are wooed by their teen guide, leaving Archie feeling whoa-ed. Even Ms. Grundy becomes the object of someone's affection! But mystery and danger make a handsome couple too, as the villain they've been evading continues to pursue them from the city to the country. A meeting with a beautiful mystery woman provides Archie with his first clue... and a "first date" with a herd of angry bulls! The mystery continues to deepen and Archie must figure out what is going on before things get really dangerous! Acclaimed writer, children's art advocate, and organizer of the world's only "Kids Comics" convention, Alex Simmons, returns to handle the script chores, while fan-favorite Rex Lindsey is back with some of the best art of his career. It all adds up to one world tour you won't want to miss!

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on April 29.

ARCHIE DIGEST #243

Written by Barbara Slate and various, art by Jeff Shultz and various.

"No Worries": Archie doesn't have a single worry -- he has a double worry, namely whether to choose Betty or Veronica! The "eternal love triangle" lives up its billing as an ad infinitum entanglement! Plus: Other new and classic tales. Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups.

Digest format, $2.49, in stores on April 16.

ARCHIE DOUBLE DIGEST #188

Written by Mike Pellowski and various, art by Randy Elliott and various.

"Catch Phrase": Archie tries to be the "early bird" at the fishing hole, but as the fish are biting, it's sleep Archie's fighting! Plus: Other new and classic tales. Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups.

Digest format, $3.69, in stores on April 30.

BETTY & VERONICA #235

Written by Angelo DeCesare, art by Jeff Shultz.

A poignant tale destined to turn the town of Riverdale upside down! "Runaway Ronnie": In serious trouble with her parents for blowing a curfew and other responsibilities, Veronica longs for freedom... and gets it, when she leaves home to live in an apartment and takes on an... egads... part-time job! Will Veronica's bid for independence truly give her the "freedom" she seeks, or will she learn that nothing comes free? Will the love of her parents win out as they miss their only daughter? How will Veronica's friends react to the news?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on April 23.

BETTY & VERONICA DIGEST #183

Written by Mike Pellowski and various, art by Jeff Shultz and various.

"Double Take": Veronica is wearing a brand-new, exlusion, "original" designer dress... wait until she notices Betty is wearing the exact same thing! Plus: Other new and classic tales.Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups.

Digest format, $2.49, in stores on April 9.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #160

By Dan Parent and various.

"Who is Cheryl Blossom?": Intrepid reporter Tomoko doesn't know what she's getting into when she sets out to interview Cheryl Blossom for the school newspaper! Once Cheryl gets going, it's apparent to Tomoko that this is one newspaper article that is going to have to appear over the course of several consecutive editions! A recap of Cheryl's appearances in Archie Comics, including the milestone "Love Showdown" series! Plus: Other new and classic tales. Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups.

Digest format, $3.69, in stores on April 23.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #139

Written by Melanie Morgan and various, art by Joe Staton, Al Milgrom and various.

A follow-up to last year's most talked-about Betty & Veronica story, "Bad Boy Trouble" -- featuring riverdale's famous teens in a realistic style! "The Matchmakers Part 1": It's another tale of the teens from Riverdale High, done in a realistic style! This time, the romantic entanglements are reserved for Jughead, whom Archie, Betty, Reggie and Veronica agree needs a break from his "fifth wheel" status! Can the cunning matchmakers actually find a girl who will interest Jughead more than food and sleep? Another pillar of Archie Comics mythology hangs in the balance in this first installment of a 4-part epic, set to play out over the next few issues! Last year's "Bad Boy Trouble" set the comics world on its ear as the teens were depicted in a realistic style. Plus: Other new and classic tales. Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups.

Digest format, $3.69, in stores on April 9.

PALS-N-GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #121

Written by Mike Pellowski and various, art by Jeff Shultz by variousl

"Sunny Daze": When it comes to keeping the students' attention spans from wandering, the faculty is no match for a beautiful day! Plus: Other new and classic tales. Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups.

Digest format, $3.69, in stores on May 7.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #93

Written by Tanie Del Rio, art by Chan Thomas and Jim Amash and cover by Del Rio and Amash.

"Salem's Secret Part 1": Sabrina's loyal cat Salem is more than you might realize. Salem was a warlock who once tried to take over that the Magic Realm. His punishment was to spend the rest of his life as a cat. For the first time ever we will learn just what Salem did to earn this unique magical punishment... and what he did in the aftermath that affects Sabrina to this day, especially after her recent battle to become good again! For the first time in the history of the manga Sabrina series, a guest artist is featured: Chad Thomas takes on the penciling chores to tell the story of Salem's hidden past!

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on April 16.

SONIC SELECT VOLUME #1

Written by Mike Gallagher, Angelo DeCesare, Mike Kanterovich and Ken Penders, art by Dave Manak, Jon D'Agostino, Harvey Mercadoocasio, Rich Koslowski and Art Mawhinney, cover by Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante.

Archie follows up the speedily selling "Sonic Archives" series with a brand-new reprint collection: "Sonic Select", which will reprint many of the much-loved stories from the Sonic Super Specials! The best of the best will be featured in this series, including stories starring fan favorites Knuckles the Echidna, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Princess Sally Acorn, plus characters who don't often get to hit center stage in the main series. Not only that, but "Sonic Select" will also be filled with everything from both the classic era of Sonic super-team Mike Gallagher and Dave Manak, to the later stories with varying artwork from such Sonic legends as Art Mawhinney, Patrick "Spaz" Spaziante, Steven Butler, Ken Penders, and others! It also features the first appearances of many of the biggest fan-favorite characters! With reprints from "Sonic: In Your Face", "Sonic & Knuckles", "Triple Trouble", and "Sonic Live!", this is one Sonic compilation you will not want to miss!

Stories include:

"The Quest": Princess Sally journeys to the dangerous Forbidden Zone to seek out a mysterious treasure, and you'll be just as shocked as she is to discover its true nature! Features the first appearance of Sally's friend and hand-held computer, Nicole.

"The Mirror Zone": Sonic and Tails follow one of Robotnik's Swatbots into the Mirror Zone, a place where everything (including the very text on the page) is flipped backwards!

"Tails' Tallest Tale": Tails' very first solo story finds him facing off against Robotnik himself!

"Panic in the Sky": The Floating island is hijacked and runs off-course, leading to all sorts of infighting and false accusations! Based on the hit game Sonic & Knuckles featuring Knuckles the Echidna.

"Fire Drill": Knuckles' first solo story! Who is the new mysterious stranger on the Floating Island, and do or she pose a threat? "Lord of the Floating Island": Knuckles comes to the aid of a lost kangaroo, but that's just the beginning of the strange things happening on the Floating Island! "Triple Trouble": Bounty hunter Nack the Weasel makes his grand debut in this adaptation of the popular video game.

"Submersible Rehearsal": The first appearance of Tails' submarine, the "Sea Fox!" Wait until it encounters Octobot!

"First Contact": Knuckles must decide whether Archimedes is friend or foe as the mysteries of the Floating Island continue to unfold.

"The Substitute Freedom Fighters": When Robotnik captures the Freedom Fighters, Sally's trainees team-up with others to save the day!

Plus: Original pin-ups.

128 pages, $11.95, in stores on April 30.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #187

Written by Ian Flynn, art by Matt Herms and Jim Amash, cover by Tracy Yardley and Jason Jensen.

"Mister Popular": Sonic's immortal enemy Mammoth Mogul is back and their battle has taken on a whole new twist. Can Sonic find out who or what Mogul is going after? With hordes of villains from today as well as from Sonic's past emerging to attack the blue blur, does Sonic have a chance of defeating the massive power of Mammoth Mogul?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on April 9.

SONIC X #32

Written by Ian Flynn, art by Tracy Yardley and Terry Austin, cover by Pat "Spaz" Spaziante.

"Title Mismatch": It's tag-team trauma for Eggman! When Eggman finds himself an outsider in his own evil Empire, a team-up of unimaginable proportions takes place. El Gran Gordo and El Rapido Azule, the masked wrestling sensation must band together to save all of Station Square! Will this team be a slam or will this all end in a tag out?

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on April 23.

TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #28

Written by George Gladir and various, art by Fernando Ruiz and various.

"The Real Problem": When Mr. Lodge goes to a resort to de-stress, Archie decides to get a job there to "get on his good side." Yeah, that'll work! And in a way, it actually does... but you'll have to read the story to find out how! Plus: Other new and classic tales. Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups.

Digest format, $2.49, in stores on April 30.

VERONICA #188

Written by Dan Parent and Mike Pellowski and George Gladir, art by Parent.

"Prom Showdown!": Remembering all the lumps he's taken over the years by choosing one girl over another, Archie decides to cut his losses by asking Betty, Veronica and Cheryl to the prom all at once! Of course, with two deviously determined rich girls in the mix, this will be one prom Archie and Betty will never forget! "That Takes the Cake": Veronica decides to bake her mother a cake for her birthday. At least the gesture is "sweet!" "Keen Competition": To lure Archie over, Veronica ramps up her home theater with the latest movies (before they hit the theaters) and automated treats... but that just leaves Archie with more of his allowance to spend on Betty!

32 pages, $2.25, in stores on May 7.