ARCHIE COMICS FIRST LOOKS: CHAD THOMAS

Artist Chad Thomas talks about Sabrina the Teenage Witch #103, due in stores on June 17.

Question:: What is redeeming about Salem?

Thomas: I think if anything right now it's the fact that we're seeing him so young. Of course I'm more interested in what really sends him over the edge. As for being redeemed...he's still in cat form right? I guess he's still got a lot to pay for.

Question:: As a Young Wizard what is Salem trying to accomplish?

Thomas: At the moment he's just a mischievous kid whose greed more or less in driven by the desire to help family. I think his desire for "power" is for the purpose of making a better place for his mother and uncle, and for some recognition from others who may have written him off.

Question:: What does Uncle Mort bring to the story?

Thomas: A positive role model for an impressionable young kid. Which makes his turn to villainy that much more interesting and tragic. He's also a character who is at the same time wise and a bit off the rails himself. Who better to get into a fun adventure with?

Question:: Is there any connection between Todicus starting out as a frog and Salem ending up as a Cat?

Thomas: I don't think so. I never really thought of it in that way but it's interesting to see the first big villain Salem encounters as a young kid is kind of a foreshadowing to his unfortunate destiny. Good call!

Question:: Who is a bigger thereat to Salem, Lizarmyn or Todicus?

Thomas: Easily Todicus. As you'll see the Lizarmyn are JUST as scared of Todicus as Salem is if not more. THEY know what he can do.

Question:: After this 4 issue story, will there be any more Salem stories?

Thomas: Man I hope so. This was just an inkling of what Ian has planned. If it ends here all I can say is that people will miss out on some fun plots and characters that Ian has cooking from his original pitch. This was a great project to work on. Mike really let me be ME on this book and has been a fantastic editor. And Jim Amash and Jason Jensen did a bang up job on my pencils. It would be something I couldn't pass up if the opportunity arose.

Question:: I underdstand fans can get a free copy of the first part of the story.

Thomas: Sort of. You can find your local comic shop using www.comicshoplocator.com and you can get a traditional comicbook there but it's not free. We have now teamed up with iVerse, they are offering the first part of the story for free on the iPhone at www.iversecomics.com/archie/young-salem-new. So if you have an iPhone there is a free copy there.

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