COMIC NEWS: Dan DeCarlo's Archie Is Back

IDW to launch hardcover, first-ever collection entirely dedicated to
this seminal Archie artist

Beginning in May


Starting in May 2010, a dean of Archie artists will be showcased in his very own series, kicking off an extraordinary series of important Archie collections from IDW Publishing. Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo Volume One offers the very best of this classic and influential artist, gathering strips from the mid 1950s through the early 1970s.

“As a long-time DeCarlo fan, I am very excited about this series, as well as the rest of IDW’s Archie books,” said IDW chief operating officer, Greg Goldstein. “This is an amazing property that has influenced generations of people around the world, and this is the first book to specifically showcase Dan’s amazing art.”

Coming of age in World War II era-America, Archie captured the hearts of young and old alike. Archie and his friends remain hugely popular today through an appealing blend of timeless, humorous stories and classic Americana.

Dan DeCarlo spent nearly 50 years with the characters of Riverdale High, drawing every character at one time or another. Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo Volume One contains dozens of stories handpicked by DeCarlo connoisseurs, all newly scanned from rare original art and recolored to capture the flavor of the original comics.

This is the first in IDW’s “Best Of” series, which will grow to include collections of Bob Montana, Harry Lucey, and Stan Goldberg, among others.

“It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I am a great fan of Dan DeCarlo’s work,” said IDW Special Projects Editor, Scott Dunbier. “His classic style inspired and influenced scores of artists and entertained countless fans.”

Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo, Volume One ($24.99, full color, hardcover, 156 pages) will be available in stores in May 2010. Diamond order code MAR10 1052. ISBN 973-1600106545.



About IDW Publishing
IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry including: Hasbro's The Transformers and G.I. JOE, Paramount's Star Trek; Fox's Angel; the BBC's Doctor Who; and television's #1 prime time series CBS' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints; Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studios; and is the print publisher for ComicMix.

IDW's original horror series, 30 Days of Night, was launched as a major motion picture in October 2007 by Sony Pictures and was the #1 film in its first week of release. More information about the company can be found at IDWPublishing.com.

About Archie Comics
For more information about Archie Comics go to www.ArchieComics.com Read more...

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COMIC REVIEW: G.I. Joe Origins #13 (IDW)

G.I. Joe Origins focuses on one of the lesser known Joes this month, Ripcord. In the old Marvel run, Rip had a few good issues, mostly focused around the Cobra Island storyline, but he could hardly be termed a major player. Whether that's going to change or not in this new IDW continuity is uncertain, but the character has certainly changed (and that's ok). Fanboys will probably argue over whether IDW is trying to cash in on lingering recognition of last summer's movie, or whether Hasbro has declared that Ripcord, across all media, is now the wise-guy/sidekick who wants to be a pilot. Ultimately it doesn't matter; that's who Wallace "Ripcord" Weems is now in the IDW Joe universe as well as the Rise of Cobra Joe universe. If you, as a Joe fan or comic reader, don't like that, steer clear.




If you don't fear change, this issue of origins is a solid return to being a military action comic, something the last issue certainly can't claim. And while I enjoyed that Baroness issue and its utterly-un-GI Joe-like art, it was a pretty big departure from the usual Joe fare, so it's probably a good move by IDW to return the reader to more familiar ground. Instead of a wealthy socialite joining the Revolution, paratroopers are jumping out of planes, Spy Drones are being deployed, and a bad-ass, highly motivated soldier is continuing his mission despite setbacks that should have completely scrubbed it.

What more does any Joe fan want? That was always the dominant theme of the Joe team; continuing against all odds, finding a way to get the job done, out-thinking and out-working an enemy that's been given the advantage. G.I. Joe Origins #13 delivers a really old-school G.I. Joe comic feel, and that's a good thing. It helps that Ripcord's wisecracking in this book is almost certainly better than in his film incarnation. Lest you think it is all about the writing though, a word on the art; it's not outstanding, but it gets the job done. The inks, by Walden Wong, are particularly evocative in a series of night-in-the-jungle scenes. One slight problem is that, occasionally, some of the faces become a little too similar, so that when a group of soldiers are standing close together, it is slightly difficult to pick out who is who. This is a minor quibble, though, with what is otherwise a book any Joe fan (provided they're willing to accept the changes to Ripcord's background, which I am) should enjoy. It isn't breaking any new ground, but it is telling the first part of a solid military action story, G.I. Joe style.

Dan Ford
Staff Reviewer Read more...

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