posted May 05, 2003 03:41 PM            

As for Archie Archives (try typing that three times fast), I have to say that I'd rather not see a chronological reproduction of every story they ever published -- rather, a series of thick TPBs: "Best of 1941", "Best of 1942", etc. Each story would be selected not just for first apperances and comedic value, but for its representation of "current" society. Jughead likes burgers better than girls: Yawn. Betty tries to claim a date with Archie by sewing a patch on his butt: Priceless.

Besides, there's virtually no sense of continuity in Archie -- Veronica had three different origins within her first few years, and Mr. Lodge's first name has varied almost as much. Archie doesn't scream "completeness" to me -- it needs to be recorded as a history of teen society, and that's best done in small, appropriately selected, doses.

posted May 05, 2003 07:19 PM            

I know I didn't buy it, but somehow it came into our house without its cover. A big giant thing. And unlike the DC giants I read it was more than just a collection of stories.

It started out with Flyman and then unfolded an elaborate story in many chapters, involving other Crusaders, and a villain called the Spider. But if that wasn't enough, in addition to those chapters, there were other stories. A story of the Web--which was probably close to what Marvel comics were like, although I didn't read Marvel, but this seemed to go beyond even the realism of Marvel to absolute absurd extremes--and a couple of stories about The Shield and The Comet, and one about the Black Hood.

posted May 05, 2003 09:28 PM               

The comic you described must be SUPER HEROES VERSUS SUPER VILLAINS # 1, from 1966.

Beautiful squarebound giant with a feast of reprints, all in the order you just described.

FLY MAN--"The Creature From The Abyss"
"The Fly Man's Partners in Peril!" Part 1
"Battle Of The Super-Heroes!" Part 2
"The Wicked Web Of The Wily Spider!" Part 3
THE WEB--"The Mad Caper Of The Madman"
THE SHIELD--"Evilo, The Tempter" art by Sekowsky

I picked one of these up a few years back, and it's been the crown jewel of my Mighty Comics collection ever since.

posted May 06, 2003 03:14 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by BillNolan:
It also sounds like they're not producing the reprints in the most cost-effective manner. This is not 1989. There is no need to destroy the existing comics to produce reprints. Haven't these folks heard of computers?

- Bill

---

Why does everything that gets reprinted have to be a $50 hardcover to be "cost effective"? I have a soft spot in my heart for the Archie heroes, I bought the Shield tpb and I love the Archive series. That being said though, I'm not going to spend $50 per book to read about the MLJ Heroes and I have a feeling that I'm not the only one who feels this way. The Archie Heroes never kept and maintained an audience when their adventures were selling at comic book prices so what makes you think that MLJ is going to be raking in the money with them selling at archive prices?

If there is anyone in the comics field listening, not every fan requires every reprint to have all the bells and whistles on it to make it worthwhile.

posted May 06, 2003 04:09 AM            

What's next? Pat the Brat Archives #1? Where does it end?

posted May 06, 2003 10:17 AM               

Sorry, everybody.

posted May 06, 2003 12:27 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by BillNolan:
Looks like I got to bait the price-whiners one last time before the board switch.

Sorry, everybody.

- Bill

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Looks like you also resorted to cheap name calling too and yes that is very sorry of you.

posted May 07, 2003 04:12 AM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by REKLEN:
...I hate to see old comics destroyed, but Archie, if they own the books, take "NO" loss on the destroyed ones. They were paid for years ago, and the loss would be ten cents a story.
People will pick up the Archie Super hero books, at a cheap price, to see something new or different. I'm sure more people bought the first Shield paperback over any of the All-Star Archives.

Reklen

---

posted May 07, 2003 06:44 AM            

However, according to the Newsarama story, Victor Gorelick, the editor at Archie, says that they do not own all the comics. He says that they have to buy them for hundreds or thousands of dollars. That's definitely a loss.

However, I see no reason why Archie needs to Theakstonize their comics. If they don't need to destroy the comics, then they can rent or borrow and also reduce their expenses.

posted May 07, 2003 06:48 AM            

However, according to the Newsarama story, Victor Gorelick, the editor at Archie, says that they do not own all the comics. He says that they have to buy them for hundreds or thousands of dollars. That's definitely a loss.

However, I see no reason why Archie needs to Theakstonize their comics. If they don't need to destroy the comics, then they can rent or borrow and also reduce their expenses.

posted May 07, 2003 06:55 AM            

However, according to the Newsarama story, Victor Gorelick, the editor at Archie, says that they do not own all the comics. He says that they have to buy them for hundreds or thousands of dollars. That's definitely a loss.

However, I see no reason why Archie needs to Theakstonize their comics. If they don't need to destroy the comics, then they can rent or borrow and also reduce their expenses.

posted May 07, 2003 06:58 AM            

However, according to the Newsarama story, Victor Gorelick, the editor at Archie, says that they do not own all the comics. He says that they have to buy them for hundreds or thousands of dollars. That's definitely a loss.

However, I see no reason why Archie needs to Theakstonize their comics. If they don't need to destroy the comics, then they can rent or borrow and also reduce their expenses.