ARCHIE COMICS' MAYHEM

Archie Comics is promising "mayhem" in May, shaking up several of its characters.

The publisher on Monday released early solicitations for three of its titles, showcasing Jughead, Cheryl Blossom and Salem.

BETTY & VERONICA DOUBLE DIGEST #161

Written and art by Dan Parent and various.

Featuring part 1 of a 5-part, interactive story where the readers decide the outcome! "And the Winner Is... Part 1 of 5": 2008 is an election year, and Archie Comics is no exception as we present a special election of our own: your chance to vote for Cheryl Blossom's new boyfriend! Ever since her return, Cheryl has been the bane of Betty and Veronica's existence, complicating their "eternal love triangle" with Archie into an awkward quadrangle! Even though Cheryl has been seeing Reggie lately, the girls would love nothing more than to see Cheryl completely preoccupied with someone other than a Riverdale high hunk! They get their chance when Reggie takes a nonchalant attitude toward his relationship with Cheryl -- prompting the red-headed vixen to seek a new boyfriend on the TV show, "The Lonely Hearts Club!" Wait until you see the hot contestants vying for the title! Best yet, over the next few months readers will have a chance to both witness each date in this digest series and vote on who they think Cheryl should choose online at www.archiecomics.com! Plus: Other new and classic tales! Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!

Digest format, $3.69.

JUGHEAD'S DOUBLE DIGEST #140

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

Continuing the follow-up to last year's Betty & Veronica story, "Bad Boy Trouble" -- featuring Riverdale's famous teens in a realistic style! "The Match Makers Part 2": Picking up where last issue left off, Archie, Betty, Reggie and Veronica carry out their plan to play "matchmaker" for Jughead and break him free of his "fifth wheel" status! The boys bring Jughead to the movies and the girls bring Sandy Sanchez in an elaborate scheme to have them "accidentally" run into one another! When Jughead and Sandy catch on to the scheme, they decide to turn the tables and pretend to be in loveŠ or are they?! It's another intriguing chapter in this 4-part epic! Last year's "Bad Boy Trouble" set the comics world on its ear as the teens were depicted in a realistic style. Comic book legends Joe Staton and Al Milgrom carry on that look, handling pencils and inks respectively, in what is sure to be one of the more intriguing Archie stories of the year! Plus: Other new and classic tales! Bonus: Puzzles, games and pin-ups!

Digest format, $3.69.

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #94

Written by Tania Del Rio, art by Chad Thomas and Jim Amash, cover by Del Rio and Amash.

"Salem's Secret Part 2": In one of the most intriguing Sabrina stories yet, the secret of Salem's past life is given the spotlight. Witness as Salem and Nocturna quest for the fallen unicorn horn on the Island of Elves. With selfish intent, Salem uses Queen Seles' magic to find the horn, and once in possession of the great power the wand brings, his motives come to light, leaving Nocturna only one choice, and lives that are changed forever!

32 pags, $2.25.