The publisher Archie Comics has been entertaining readers for 80+ years with a whole host of comics set in the world of a fictional town called Riverdale, an oasis of wackiness and hilarity for thousands of readers throughout the years. Countless phenomenal creatives have chronicled the romps of teenagers Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, and Reggie, as they get into hijinks, find themselves in the middle of a medley of misadventures, and navigate the minefields of love.
And just this past month, Archie Comics and Oni Press have teamed up to debut the first wave of a brand-new line of comics set in that greater universe of characters, starting with Archie #1, naturally. From writer Ben Winters, artist Fábio Moon, and a whole host of creators, issue #1 sets up the world of the Riverdale and its residents that feels both current and undeniably Archie and is sure to be a delight to fans old and new.
I’ve been a fan of the Archie-verse for years and this new series is already demonstrating that it is in the upper echelon of those stories stretching back through nearly 90 years of publication. As Ben Winters suggests in the interview, the important thing to land is for it to feel timeless but also not static. And the first issue never feels like it’s trying to ape or copy Archie tales of old; it’s unique in and of itself, but also recognizably set in that universe. Winters and the entire creative team are creating something special that will be infinitely re-readable and stand the test of time.
FreakSugar: Before we get into the comic itself, what is your personal relationship with the Archie franchise?
Ben Winters: Well, for one thing, I have a dog named Archie, and he is a very good boy. In fact, since I’ve gotten this gig our home Google calendar has been filled with Archie deadlines, Archie meetings, Archie podcasts, and etc, which has been very confusing for my wife.
FS: Where do we find the citizens of Riverdale in issue #1?
BW: That’s part of the magic of this whole enterprise, I might argue: Archie and his pals and their families simply are where they are, and have ever been, and every shall be– going to Riverdale High, hanging out, eating at Pop’s. Time observes its own rules in Riverdale, and one of those rules is that it doesn’t pass all that much. As for this first issue, Archie is late for school; there’s a film festival that is consuming a lot of teenage energy; and Jughead has a brush with a strange thing called the future…
FS: There have been several iterations of Archie over the years. Do you have a particular mission statement as to how you approach the comic?
BW: My goal is to not to reinvent or reboot, but rather to do right by this franchise that we all know and love. The word iconic is thrown around a lot these days, but Archie – the character and the book – truly fits that bill, and it’s my job to tell new stories that bring the same kind of goofy joy, the same nostalgic sigh of recognition, and the same sense of fun and adventure, that Archie has always brought.
FS: Following up on that, how much or how little inspiration are you taking from those other iterations?
BW: I’m taking inspiration from across all the decades that Archie has existed. I’ve got a huge tottering stack of Archies from all eras, anD ‘m just trying to balance reverence for what came before with my own sensibility. I don’t want my Archie to feel like anyone else’s…and I want it to fit perfectly in this long lineage. It’s a real dance!
FS: I’ve loved Fábio Moon for years since Two Brothers. The art in the first issue is so gorgeous and quirky and kinetic. What has your collaboration been like with Fabio and the rest of the creative team?
BW: Fábio isn’t just a genius—he’s also a pro, and a good guy. I do my best to describe the panel I’m imagining without being overly prescriptive, and I don’t need to be: he consistently finds aspects of my own ideas that I hadn’t even considered. It is the mark of a great artist, and a great collaborator.
FS: Has there been a character that you’ve enjoyed working on more than you expected? Or found an angle on writing the character that surprised you?
BW: Right now I’m really into Reggie. Obviously the character originally exists as a foil to Archie; every great hero needs a great enemy. But I’m finding some gentle comedy in his narcissism, and his genuine bafflement that anyone could possibly like this Archie guy better than him. If we’re honest, I think everyone has felt that way sometimes about someone they know. In a future story I’m going to dig in more to the Reggie psychological profile.
FS: The first issue contains stories that seem to have a healthy balance of classic and new elements to the Archie universe. How do you balance that in your storytelling?
BW: Thanks! It’s not something you can think about too much – like, no one sits down and goes, here’s the proportion of new to classic I’m shooting for. To me, stories of adolescence, of anxiety and homework and crushes and all of it, have a certain timeless quality anyway. So even the stuff that feels “new” I want to still feel “old,” in that way, and vice versa. If there’s a joke in there that couldn’t have existed 20 years ago, but a feeling that could have existed 2000 years ago, I’m doing my job.
FS: Following up on that, what do you think is essential for a good Archie story?
BW: Honestly? Friendship.
FS: The Archie franchise has been going for over 80 years. Why do you think his world has such longevity?
BW: Pretty simple: the combination of the universal and the specific. There’s nobody quite like Jughead, but everybody was a teenager at some point.
FS: Off topic: Have you seen the Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again TV movie? It’s… not great at all, but worth watching for a few minutes for some laughs.
BW: I have not! I just read the Wikipedia however and holy shit.
FS: What are you reading right now?
BW: I just finished Robert Hilburn’s biography of Johnny Cash and cried when Cash died. True story! As if I didn’t see it coming.
FS: Are there any other projects you’re working on you’d like to discuss?
BW: Writing a TV pilot, hoping it gets made; writing a book, hoping it gets published. I do have a “creator-owned” comic series called THE EGO KNIFE that will appear at some point in 2027.
FS: If you had a final pitch for Archie, what would it be?
BW: It’s sugar, baby. A shot of sugar right to the veins. In times like ours, that can’t be bad.
Archie #1 is on sale now from Oni Press and Archie Comics. Issue #2 goes on sale Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
From the official description of issue #1:
BEING YOUNG NEVER GETS OLD! THE MILESTONE COMICS PUBLISHING EVENT OF THE YEAR STARTS HERE AS ONI PRESS AND ARCHIE COMICS PROUDLY PRESENT A GROUNDBREAKING NEW ONGOING SERIES FOR THE MOST JOYOUS COMIC BOOK ICON OF ALL! A new day is dawning in Riverdale as New York Times bestselling writer, Edgar Award and Philip K. Dick Award winner, and Eisner Award nominee Ben H. Winters (EC’s Cruel Universe, Benjamin) joins multiple Eisner Award–winning artist Fábio Moon (Daytripper, Casanova) to reintroduce America’s favorite teenager—and begin a star-studded countdown to Archie’s 85th anniversary—with a 21st-century testament to teenage idealism and the limitless joy of Archie Comics! For his entire life, 17-year-old Archie Andrews has had it all: adoring friends, football glory, and a natural charm that always seems to make him the center of attention. Now, through his eyes, experience the warmth and wonder of Riverdale and its near-infinite roster of residents—the popular kids, the endearing oddballs, and everyone in between—as Archie embarks on a whirlwind, all-star adventure through his town’s past, present, and future . . . beginning with a local film festival that’s about to turn everything upside down . . . And, at the center of it all, lies an enigmatic paradox that only Archie’s pal Jughead Jones can possibly unravel . . . Plus: Puzzles! Pin-ups! And a veritable sweet shop of surprises that all link to the same inextricable mystery . . . Finally, your antidote for postmodern malaise has arrived. Welcome to the all-new ARCHIE #1!
And from the official description of issue #2:
IT’S A RIVERDALE HIGH REUNION . . . AND JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS ARE ABOUT TO BRING THE HOUSE DOWN! The groundbreaking return of the most joyous comic book icon of all continues as New York Times bestselling writer and Eisner Award nominee Ben H. Winters (EC’s Cruel Universe, The Last Policeman Trilogy) and multiple Eisner Award–winning artist Fábio Moon (Daytripper, Casanova) reveal the interlocking past lives of Riverdale’s elder generation—and just what they might mean for Archie Andrews’s future—in a party for the ages! It’s reunion weekend at Riverdale High, and Archie is playing waiter—all while gathering wisdom from returning alumni about how to lead a life well lived. “You always have to make sure you’re living in the moment and having fun. You don’t want to look back on what you missed! But also! Don’t forget, you need to work hard or you’ll never get anywhere.” Thanks for delivering the ultimate contradiction! With a looming date night and a crushing academic deadline, Archie’s newfound ideals will soon be put to the test. Does he have what it takes to make the next step toward adulthood? Will Jughead eat all the hamburgers before they make it to the guests? Will Josie and the Pussycats play an encore?! These are the pressing questions of our generation . . . and all will be answered as the year’s must-read new ongoing series greets a new day!
