Archie Comics reveals plans for new spinoff series featuring Josie and Sam Hill
Who would have thought that Riverdale's very own teenagers Archie and friends who used to be a staple for comic book lovers in their younger days would inspire gripping television-worthy content that even get adults raving about? Taking a cue from the comic publisher's horror series, 'Afterlife With Archie', Netflix has, in fact, spun an entire universe replete with terror, thrills, suspense, and a masked murderer in the past two seasons of their show, 'Riverdale'.
And a major part of the credit undoubtedly goes to showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa who also happens to be the Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics. Ever since taking the spot, it is believed that Aguirre-Sacasa has been instrumental in infusing the comics with elements of horror and thriller. And keeping with this trend the comics — just like it's small-screen counterpart — is also getting a makeover (kind of) with new creative teams.
A good thing that is going to come out of all this overhaul, however, would be more spinoffs and TV shows inspired by characters from the original Archie comics. According to Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics publisher/CEO everything is coming to everything is “one big circle”. With the comics drawing inspiration from the series, there are plans to use other popular characters like Josie (the Pussycat) and Sam Hill, the private detective for small screen adaptations.
While Josie might be aimed for a horror-themed animated series and Sam Hill for a live-action adaptation, there is also a much lighter and humorous animated show, based on the Archie characters, under development. The numerous iterations although exciting poses a serious question will it all work on the small screen.
“If you keep the DNA of the characters intact, you can take them anywhere: TV, publishing, whatever the medium,” said Goldwater, explaining why the interpretations of the popular characters won't fail.
While exciting new Archie spinoffs are at work for TV, at the comics' end too several new changes are being expected, beginning with comic book Archie No 700 that is slated for November. “Archie Comics has a long, proud history. I don’t want to blow things up or do anything that would upset the long-term audience. It’s more like finding some conflicts that have some stakes, upping the drama level a little bit,” Nick Spencer, a part of the new creative team of the comics, told New York Times.
He added, "There is no mature reader’s label on this book. I have a pretty decent sense of what I can get away with.”