You have to give the current Archie Comics regime credit for more than just keeping the brand alive after 70 years. Archie Comics has become adept at getting press for its various publishing stunts. For their latest trick, Archie Comics is killing off its titular character, Archie Andrews himself!
Death is a revolving door in superhero comics. If this was Marvel or DC, Archie would probably be resurrected just in time for his new movie to come out. But there’s no need for a resurrection here. as Archie is only dying in the Life With Archie series. All other Archie incarnations live on, including the one in the zombie-infested world of Afterlife With Archie.
In 2009, Archie Comics introduced two flash forward storylines that saw Archie marry either Veronica or Betty in parallel timelines. Life With Archie continued that story with alternate tales of Archie and his supporting cast in both timelines.
Life With Archie is coming to an end with issue 37. But first, Archie will be killed off in both timelines in Life With Archie # 36 by writer Paul Kupperberg.
Now, I ask you: what better way is there to celebrate the violent death of America’s favorite teenager than multiple variant covers? Archie Comics has assembled some of the biggest artists in comics to say goodbye to Archie.
Life With Archie # 36 will be released in July.
The Death of Archie
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The Assassination of Archie?
Pat and Tim Kennedy's cover suggests that Archie took a bullet meant for someone else.
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Death By Milkshake?
Artist Mike Allred is getting weird again.
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The Wake
The Riverdale gang gives Archie a joyous sendoff in this cover by Ramón Pérez.
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The Icons
Alex Ross combines his photo-realistic style with the classic Archie style in this unique cover.
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The Big Goodbye
Cliff Chiang nails a beautiful image of Archie's best friend and his two girlfriends as they visit his grave.
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The Icon
Jeff Shultz makes Archie a larger than life figure in the cover for The Death of Archie collected edition.
