America’s Favourite Teenager Gets a Genre-Bending Makeover
Hold onto your letterman jackets, comics fans. Archie Comics and Oni Press just announced a publishing partnership so ambitious it’s basically the comics equivalent of Riverdale going from sock hops to supernatural horror – which, let’s be real, already happened on The CW.
Starting Fall 2026, Oni Press will unleash a completely reimagined slate of Archie titles that promises to throw everything you thought you knew about Archie Andrews, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and the gang into absolute creative overdrive. We’re talking monthly series, original graphic novels, prestige collections, and a creative roster that reads like a who’s-who of modern comics brilliance.
Three Series That Already Sound Absolutely Unhinged
The partnership kicks off with three monthly series that frankly sound like fever dreams pulled straight from the most adventurous corners of indie comics:
ARCHIE #1 (September 2026)
Written by W. Maxwell Prince (Ice Cream Man, Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum)
Art by Fábio Moon (Daytripper, Casanova) and Nick Cagnetti
SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #1 (October 2026)
Written by Corinna Bechko (EC Comics’ Blood Type, Green Lantern: Earth One)
Art by Kano (EC Comics’ Cruel Universe, Gotham Central)
ARCHIE IN HELL #1 (November 2026)
Written by Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees)
Art by Tyler Crook (Harrow County, Out of Alcatraz)
Yes, you read that correctly. Archie. In. Hell.
If that title alone doesn’t make you sit up and pay attention, check your pulse.
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What the Hell Is Happening in Riverdale?
According to Oni Press Editor-in-Chief Sierra Hahn, this isn’t your grandfather’s Archie Comics – or even your older sibling’s Riverdale reboot. This is something else entirely.
“Life in the 21st century isn’t all milkshakes and sunshine. What does it mean to be ‘America’s Favorite Teenager’ in 2026? Behind the scenes, for the better part of a year, we’ve been challenging ourselves to re-conceptualize a Riverdale that’s at once informed by all eras of Archie’s past, while also defining an utterly unique path into the future.”
Translation: Expect weird. Expect bold. Expect Archie Andrews at a crossroads between “then and now, daydream and reality, the heat of the moment and the vast expanse of eternity.” (Their words, not ours – but damn if that doesn’t sound fascinating.)
Hahn went on to describe the vision as forging an “All-Star Superman moment” for Archie’s constellation of characters. If you know, you know. If you don’t? Buckle up.
Why This Partnership Is a Big Damn Deal
Oni Press – the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning indie powerhouse behind hits like Ice Cream Man and the recent EC Comics resurgence – is now the first outside publisher in Archie’s nearly nine-decade history to get the keys to Riverdale.
David Steward II, Chairman of the Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, summed it up perfectly:
“From the world of comics – where Archie’s stories led so many to pick up their very first comic book – to the long-running success of RIVERDALE, Archie’s cherished cast of characters have few rivals in terms of their visibility or influence on global pop culture. This new partnership is one of the most significant moments in Oni Press’ three decades as a leading publisher of independent comics.”
Meanwhile, Jesse Goldwater, Senior Vice President of Creative at Archie Comics, made it clear this collaboration has been years in the making:
“From our very first conversations with Hunter, Sierra, and the Oni team, we knew that these were the ideal partners to write a new chapter for Riverdale – one that’s faithful to the past, while unafraid to chart new territory for the future.”
But Wait, There’s More
The monthly series are just the beginning. Oni Press will also be rolling out a massive wave of archival collections spanning all eras of Archie’s history – think compact digests, deluxe hardcovers, omnibi, and comprehensive box sets featuring work from legends like Dan DeCarlo, Mark Waid, Fiona Staples, Chip Zdarsky, Tom King, and dozens more.
In 2027, the line expands further with an all-new slate of middle grade and young adult graphic novels set in their own continuity, featuring top-tier talent aimed directly at younger audiences. More details on those titles drop mid-2026.
Oh, and if you’re keeping score at home, Archie’s also got a live-action horror series (Afterlife with Archie) headed to Disney+ and a live-action feature film written by Tom King and produced by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller coming to Universal Pictures. Riverdale is officially everywhere.
The Bottom Line
Timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of Archie’s first appearance in PEP Comics #22 back in 1941, this partnership represents a seismic shift in how one of comics’ most iconic franchises approaches storytelling.
Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson put it best:
“Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, and the rest of Riverdale’s most memorable teenagers aren’t just some of the greatest comic book characters ever created – they’re also full-blown American icons. It’s the privilege of a lifetime to be able to build upon their rich legacy with this incredibly talented cast of creators to push the storytelling conventions of what an Archie comic can be.”
From sock hops to hellfire, Riverdale’s about to get a lot more interesting. Mark your calendars for Fall 2026, because this is one reinvention you absolutely won’t want to miss.
Expect to hear more as Oni Press and Archie roll out their unified marketing campaign ahead of ComicsPRO and San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Until then? Start mentally preparing yourself for whatever the hell (literally) these creative teams have been cooking up.
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