3 Years After Riverdale's End, Archie Is Finally Ready For His Next Major Reboot

Published Aug 5, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT An experienced Editor representing Canada via ScreenRant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com. His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023. Despite a crew of characters virtually unchanged in their archetypes, while drastically being reinvented more than once both on the page and onscreen, Riverdale and Archie is far from out of ideas in 2026. 84 years of history and enduring popularity will do that for any iconic comic book, and in the case of the adventures of Archie Andrews, this same enormous legacy will make the latest return since Riverdale's conclusion that much sweeter. As previously confirmed, Oni Press is taking Archie both into the present and teasing a story that'll branch both into the past and future of Riverdale for Archie #1's official debut on September 2, 2026. The series will potentially scratch the itch fans have been having for six years since the previous comic's conclusion in September 2020, and the progressively absurd teen soap opera antics of Riverdale's finale in 2023. Featuring an exceptional creative team and a promising array of variant covers out the gates, Archie #1's big return to Riverdale may just be the win longtime comics fans have been craving. Archie Returns To Riverdale This September Written by Ben H. Winters (Benjamin) and Fábio Moon (Casanova: Acedia), Archie's big comics return is setting up a time-traveling adventure that upends Archie Andrews' cozy and seemingly wholesome life so far. It teases a conflict-free existence devoid of drama that drastically changes, pointing to the inciting incident of a local film festival. With glimpses of an impressive assortment of variant covers honoring Archie's legacy while pushing on to celebrate 85 years of the character and his friends, Archie #1 and Oni Press hype his return with an appropriately impressive red carpet rollout: A new day is dawning in Riverdale as New York Times bestselling writer, Edgar Award and Philip K. Dick Award winner, and Eisner Award nominee Ben H. Winters (EC’s Cruel Universe, Benjamin) joins multiple Eisner Award–winning artist Fábio Moon (Daytripper, Casanova) to reintroduce America’s favorite teenager — and begin a star-studded countdown to Archie’s 85th anniversary — with a 21st-century testament to teenage idealism and the limitless joy of Archie Comics! For his entire life, 17-year-old Archie Andrews has had it all: adoring friends, football glory, and a natural charm that always seems to make him the center of attention. Now, through his eyes, experience the warmth and wonder of Riverdale and its near-infinite roster of residents — the popular kids, the endearing oddballs, and everyone in between — as Archie embarks on a whirlwind, all-star adventure through his town's past, present, and future… beginning with a local film festival that's about to turn everything upside down! And, at the center of it all, lies an enigmatic paradox that only Archie's pal Jughead Jones can possibly unravel… Plus: Puzzles! Pin-ups! Bountiful bonus stories! And a veritable sweet shop of surprises that all link to the same inextricable mystery… Finally, your antidote for postmodern malaise has arrived. Welcome to the all-new ARCHIE #1! While Jughead is the only overtly mentioned character to feature in this reboot, don't be surprised by obvious returning favorites like Betty, Veronica, Reggie, and likely newcomers like Kevin Keller. Other Riverdale residents will surely feature, from extended relatives to Pop Tate to many others, although it remains to be seen whether characters like Ethel will retain past glow-ups going into the series. With the issue's title, "Rude Awakening", it's clear Archie's idyllic life will change forever, for better or for worse, with monthly installments and multiple other new series stoking the hype even further into Fall 2026. Archie's Comics Return Is Growing Each Month In Fall 2026 In addition to continuous classic releases like Archie Comics Digest #7: Halloween Special's August 19, 2026 release date, the Archie universe will venture into familiar, yet spookier territory with each passing month. Next up is Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1 ahead of Archie's next issue, featuring Corinna Bechko (Green Lantern: Earth One) as its writer, with Kano (Daredevil) and Nick Cagnetti (Spirit of the Shadows) on its artwork, as its titular spellcaster adjusts to her new double-life, with an unexpected guest causing her regular and magical worlds to collide. But things go from magical and spooky, to downright desolate with the next comic coming later this fall. Set for release on November 4, 2026, Archie in Hell #1 will feature some of the bonkers plotlines fans may have craved, or at least derived some guilty pleasure, from the Riverdale TV series. Archie's no stranger to dark or even just depressing plotlines, like in the case of Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again, and Archie in Hell's plot involving cultists targeting Archie as their human sacrifice to bring a demon lord to the world, with none other than Sabrina Spellman standing in the way of their plans. It calls back to the franchise's rich history, from Archie's Weird Mysteries, to Riverdale's stories of gargoyle kings, Edgar Evernever, time travel, vampires, werewolves, and superpowers. Archie in Hell will feature Patrick Horvath and Tyler Crook as its writer and artist, respectively. Archie's big comics return is thus a multifaceted one, with its broad September flagship launch looking at all facets of its illustrious timeline, and no shortage of weird stories just in time for the spooky season. Oni Press is showing plenty of promise with this slate commemorating Archie's big return to Riverdale, and with any luck, his pals will soon get stories of their own once again, too. Writer Bob Montana, John L. Goldwater Penciler Various Inker Various Colorist Various Letterer Various Publisher(s) Archie Comic Publications Archie is a long-running comic book series that started in 1942 after Archie himself debuted in Pep Comics #22 in 1941. Archie was rebooted in 2015 to include updated character designs and a more mature storyline. The Archie franchise has expanded into other mediums as well, including The CW’s Riverdale TV show starring KJ Apa. Riverdale Release Date 2017 - 2023-00-00 A darker take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends from the Archie Comics series, Riverdale is a CW supernatural mystery series that sees the group trying to illuminate the truth surrounding various strange occurrences and murders in the titular town. When a teenage girl is found dead in the once-quiet town, the event starts a series of ever-growing mysteries that ultimately lead to darker secrets in the town's history. Led by Archie, the Riverdale gang will attempt to navigate their new normal while dealing with all of the drama that comes with being high school teenagers.