Archie Comics
Maurice Coyne, Louis Silberkleit, and John L. Goldwater formed M.L.J. Magazines, Inc., in September 1939. Their first comic book appeared that same month with a November cover date titled Blue Ribbon Comics. This issue featured Rang-a-Tang the Wonder Dog as its lead character. A second issue introduced Bob Phantom, marking the company's shift toward superhero content. By January 1940, Pep Comics debuted featuring the Shield, America's first patriotic comic book hero created by Harry Shorten and Irv Novick. The Shield was published thirteen months before Captain America became a household name. Archie Andrews himself did not appear until December 1941 inside Pep Comics #22. Writer Vic Bloom and artist Bob Montana crafted this debut story alongside Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones. Publisher John Goldwater hoped to appeal to fans of the Andy Hardy films starring Mickey Rooney.
Archie soon became M.L.J. Magazines' headliner, which led to the company changing its name to Archie Comic Publications in 1946. In the early 1970s, Archie Enterprises Inc. went public on the stock market. Just over ten years later, Louis Silberkleit's son Michael and John Goldwater's son Richard returned the company to private ownership. Michael Silberkleit served as chairman while Richard Goldwater acted as president. Following Richard Goldwater's death in 2007 and Michael Silberkleit's passing in 2008, Nancy Silberkleit and Jon Goldwater became co-CEOs in 2009. A bitter legal battle erupted between them starting in July 2011. Goldwater filed another lawsuit against her in January 2012 alleging bad business decisions. New York Supreme Court Judge Shirley Kornreich fined Silberkleit $500 for violating a court order barring her from headquarters. These proceedings were resolved by February 2012 with no receiver appointed.
In 1992, Archie partnered with Sega to create a four-part Sonic the Hedgehog comic book miniseries based on the video game series. This continued into a full series launch in 1993 that incorporated elements from the 1993 animated series by DiC Entertainment. The series ran for over twenty years, becoming the longest-running comic series based on a video game by 2008. In October 2013, Archie Comics launched its first horror title, Afterlife with Archie. Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and drawn by artist Francesco Francavilla, this series depicted a zombie apocalypse beginning in Riverdale. It was also the first Archie Comics title sold exclusively to comic shops with a Teen+ rating. The success of this title led to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina launching in October 2014 from Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Robert Hack. This story took place in the 1960s within the neighboring town of Greendale.
The February 1962 issue of Harvey Kurtzman's Help! magazine featured his parody Goodman Goes Playboy which was illustrated by Will Elder. Help! publisher Jim Warren received a letter on the 6th of December 1961 accusing them of copyright infringement. Warren paid Archie Comics $1,000 and ran an apology note in a subsequent issue. A request from Denis Kitchen in 1983 to include the story in his reprint collection was turned down until Gary Groth had it reprinted in The Comics Journal #262 in September 2004. In April 2005, Archie Comics sued music duo The Veronicas for trademark infringement over their band name. Kevin Keller, Archie Comics' first gay character, debuted in Veronica #202 in September 2010. The issue sold out at the distributor level prompting Archie Comics to issue a second edition for the first time. A bimonthly Kevin Keller series launched with writer-artist Dan Parent in early 2012 received a GLAAD award for Outstanding Comic Book the following year.
In 1968, CBS began airing episodes of The Archie Show produced by Filmation. This cartoon lasted only one season but aired in reruns for the next decade. Sabrina the Teenage Witch got her own animated series in 1970 also produced by Filmion. Josie and the Pussycats received Saturday morning treatment in 1970 produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. By October 2014, Greg Berlanti was developing a drama series for Fox titled Riverdale. It would feature all parents and children from the comic book universe. The pilot was ordered by The CW network in January 2016 with filming set to begin that spring. KJ Apa portrayed Archie Andrews on screen. In December 2017, the project moved to Netflix under a new title for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Kiernan Shipka signed on to play the lead role of Sabrina Spellman in January 2018. As of August 2025, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were bringing Archie Comics to the big screen through their production company Lord Miller.
Common questions
When did Archie Comics publish its first comic book?
M.L.J. Magazines, Inc. published their first comic book in September 1939 with a November cover date titled Blue Ribbon Comics.
Who created the character Archie Andrews and when did he debut?
Writer Vic Bloom and artist Bob Montana crafted the debut story for Archie Andrews which appeared inside Pep Comics #22 in December 1941.
What happened to the ownership of Archie Comic Publications after 2008?
Following Richard Goldwater's death in 2007 and Michael Silberkleit's passing in 2008, Nancy Silberkleit and Jon Goldwater became co-CEOs in 2009.
Which Archie Comics title was the longest-running based on a video game by 2008?
The Sonic the Hedgehog series ran for over twenty years becoming the longest-running comic series based on a video game by 2008.
When did Kevin Keller become Archie Comics' first gay character?
Kevin Keller debuted in Veronica #202 in September 2010 and received a GLAAD award for Outstanding Comic Book the following year.