While best known for their slice-of-life humor books, Archie Comics have dabbled in many genres over the years. This year, they will close out 2024 with a new superhero series, Archie Is Mr. Justice. The four issue miniseries will find America’s Favorite Teenager given great power and struggling with its many responsibilities.
The comic, which launches in November, is set in an alternate Riverdale where Mr. Justice rises to be the city’s defender. Each issue will be told through the eyes of a different Riverdale resident, who recalls how the hero rose to prominence. The first issue will center on Jughead Jones, who helps his best friend discover his powers and subsequently designs his costume.
The first issue will be written by Tim Seeley, with art by Mike Norton. Seeley is a prominent writer, who has worked extensively on Dark Horse Comics‘ Masters of the Universe line. Similarly, Mike Norton is most famous for his work on the series Battlepug. Every issue will feature a different creative team, to emphasize the different perspectives on Archie’s rise to heroism.
Archie and Mr. Justice have a long history
Longtime comic readers may recognize the name of Mr. Justice. The moniker was first used by one of the Mighty Crusaders. This Golden Age superhero team was published by MLJ Comics, before they changed their name to Archie Comics. This is a nod to the company’s history, and the original character, who exists in this fictional universe. It is their example that significantly inspires Archie to adopt their name after discovering his powers.
“This is a much more modern take on the ‘Archie as a superhero’ idea,” Norton explained. “It’s an examination of an incorruptible soul in a corrupt world. Archie is the perfect character to put in that environment because he’s the original ‘good guy.’ It’s been fun to read and even more fun to draw!”
“This isn’t just another superhero story,” notes Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante. “This is a story about hope in a world that feels increasingly hopeless. And in this timeline, Archie is our beacon of hope.”
“Mr. Justice plays with the absolute sincerity of the Archie cast of characters, through the filter of a much more cynical superhero world,” notes Seeley. “I think, understandably, we’ve spent years being jaded by the idea that someone with power would be good. But that’s totally who Archie Andrews is.”
Archie is Mister Justice #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on November 20, 2024.
