EXCLUSIVE: Archie's "New Crusaders" To Print

[rasx]

And yet one more voice of assent about this. Glad to see it'll be available for us Luddites who have no interest in digital comics.

Agreed, if I buy a digital comic I may have to print it first with my printer before reading it. Nothing beats old paper.

[positronic1]

I have been a big fan of these characters since the Silver Age. It was the first superhero universe I discovered after Marvel and DC. I'm also a big fan of the "DC Kids" line (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Green Lantern: TAS, Young Justice) and think it's just nice to see a superhero universe comic in that style that is really accessible to the entry-level comic reader (8-12 year old kids). Nowadays the median age of a comic reader is something like 30-35. No wonder that the average comic book's sales have been shrinking for 20-30 years. Comics for adults are great, but there needs to be somebody cultivating the next generation of comic book readers. Doesn't mean these comics need to be "childish", just suitable for all ages (as comics were in the 1960s).

Plus I love the fact that they're incorporating the continuity of their older comics from the 1940s, 1960s, and 1980s. DC tried to "re-imagine" these characters twice (once in the 1990s, once in the 2000s) but I don't think either reboot was particularly successful.

To those that asked about reprints, Archie already did trade paperbacks a few years back for The Shield (1940s), The Fly (1960s), and the Mighty Crusaders (1960s). Not sure if they're still in print, but they can still be found on Amazon and eBay. But I agree, a nice deluxe hardcover series of reprints (ala Marvel Masterworks or DC Archives) would be welcomed by this fan.

Wasn't too excited at first about this, but the more I read about preserving continuity and characters' histories and legacies, the more excited I am for this. Those are the things I liked best at the old DC that were wiped out in the New 52 reboot.

[Professor Moriarty]

i really dig The Web & Jaguar's costumes.

i didn't like the artwork at work but now i really like it.

[idkidd]

So far, every announcement about this project has been what I've wanted to hear -- very excited! If you want new reprints of the old stuff, the best bet is to support the NEW in every way possible. I hope this is available via subscription too!

[Jeremy A. Patterson]

New Crusaders Vs. Before Watchmen: http://charltonvsmlj.blogspot.com/20...-watchmen.html

J.A.P.

[Jeremy A. Patterson]

Are the earlier Crusaders series really derivative? http://charltonvsmlj.blogspot.com/20...ginals-or.html

Jeremy.

[Alton]

Technically, all of the golden-age versions of the characters are public domain and available (doesn't help you with the Jaguar or the concepts of the Black Hood being a multi-generational legacy hero ala the Phantom, helmet wearing Comet, Wizard and Hangman becoming bad guys, and the Web being a hen-pecked husband). Archie didn't renew the copyrights to any of their 1940s comics. Just have to be careful concerning the trademarks and changes from 1960s on up.

Thanks for the info. So even if we leave out the Simon characters most of this could potentially be in the hands of someone that could take the characters into adulthood in the vein of DC's Red Circle which is what I prefer to see done.Sorry to be cranky about it because I was probably the only one who liked that spin and I know some of you guys have been waiting for any version to be launched.Well maybe if this doesn't get mired in a Dynamite/ERB trademark/Public Domain fracas, and The Fly rights can be secured before the Mayan calander runs out........

[Zak213]

Are the earlier Crusaders series really derivative? http://charltonvsmlj.blogspot.com/20...ginals-or.html

Jeremy.

Actually, I thought of the might crusaders as being the avengers of the dcu but thats just me.