JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS GO MANGA

**MattBrady** · 03-03-2005, 09:50 AM

It started with Sabrina in June of last year, and this June, Archie’s Josie and the Pussycats get a manga makeover courtesy of Tania del Rio, who did the honors for Sabrina. Thanks to what Archie calls “unprecedented success” of del Rio’s take on Sabrina, Josie and the Pussycats new team will be del Rio writing, Chris Lie penciling, and Andrew Pepoy on inks. Nelson Ribeiro and Victor Gorelick will edit.

The move confirms what Archie Comics Chairman Michael Silberkleit told Newsarama in late 2002 (link above) about the upcoming change in Sabrina: “There are plans to experiment with manga among other characters in the Archie universe. But as the saying goes, we have to crawl before we walk. Let’s see how Sabrina manga does.”

Apparently, it's done pretty well.

Unlike Sabrina, however, the manga versions of Josie and the Pussycats will appear in both of the formats offered by the publisher: digests and monthly issues. The new versions of the characters will appear in their own stories within the issues, as Josie and the Pussycats do not currently have their own title.

del Rio and company will first tackle Josie and the Pussycats, with an introductory story, “Opening Act” in Tales from Riverdale Digest #3 on June 8th. In it, according to Archie, the girls decide that a steady opening act will be good for business – but can their eardrums survive the try-outs?

The new looks lands in the band’s own series the following, as the band appears in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch #68 in a story entitled, “It’s in the Cards.” In it, the band is hired to play at the birthday party of a playing card mogul’s eight year old daughter.

MicroZone · 03-03-2005, 10:03 AM

wow. testing out a new idea in other titles before giving it it's own ongoing series. who'da thunk that anyone would remember how to do that.

Mr Wesley · 03-03-2005, 10:30 AM

I'm not really surprised that Archie's experimenting with this. Their cartoons have been showing a manga/anime influence in style for 10-15 years.

Kirk Kushin · 03-03-2005, 10:41 AM

Very cool - I know a certain couple of discriminatin' readers in my life who are going to be VERY excited at more Josie! Good move!

UX-Gal · 03-03-2005, 10:43 AM

Ewwww Manga. How long before Archie gets manganized too?

Alex Segura Jr. · 03-03-2005, 11:03 AM

Hi guys!
Thanks for the kind words. We're all really excited about this project and hope you give it a read. You'll be in for a treat.

Libby · 03-03-2005, 11:15 AM

Oh, wow. The interior art is so adorable!!!

So why does the cover look like such CRAP? The first time I saw that cover, my eyes cried for mercy, and I still want to scrub the image from my head. So awful!!!!!!!! I really, really, really hope that is not the final cover, because there is no way anyone will give the inside a chance. And that would be a terrible shame, because I love the style of the interior art! It's all willowy and pretty and WAAAAAAAAAI!!!! (I love the little girl with the Sabrina backpack!

)

PLEASE GET DIFFERENT PROMO ART!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR THE SAKE OF MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex Segura Jr. · 03-03-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Libby
Oh, wow. The interior art is so adorable!!!

So why does the cover look like such CRAP? The first time I saw that cover, my eyes cried for mercy, and I still want to scrub the image from my head. So awful!!!!!!!! I really, really, really hope that is not the final cover, because there is no way anyone will give the inside a chance. And that would be a terrible shame, because I love the style of the interior art! It's all willowy and pretty and WAAAAAAAAAI!!!! (I love the little girl with the Sabrina backpack! )

PLEASE GET DIFFERENT PROMO ART!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR THE SAKE OF MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Libby.

Sorry you don't like the promo art (it's not a cover, FYI). If you like the pages sampled above you, you'll certainly like the two issues featuring our new look-Josie and co. Give 'em a shot.

Libby · 03-03-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex Segura Jr.
Hi Libby.

Sorry you don't like the promo art (it's not a cover, FYI). If you like the pages sampled above you, you'll certainly like the two issues featuring our new look-Josie and co. Give 'em a shot.

Oh, I definitely will. You've really got a great artist in Chris Lie! I just think it's too bad his talent wasn't showcased in the promo art. I hope the new Josie and the Pussycats is a huge success! (My 8-year-old cousin will love this -- her name is Josie, too!

)

Alex Segura Jr. · 03-03-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Libby
Oh, I definitely will. You've really got a great artist in Chris Lie! I just think it's too bad his talent wasn't showcased in the promo art. I hope the new Josie and the Pussycats is a huge success! (My 8-year-old cousin will love this -- her name is Josie, too! )

Great! Tell young Josie all of us from Archie Comics say hi!

RichieD · 03-03-2005, 11:50 AM

Ok, I have an honest, though slightly wierd question.

In the interior art, which one of them is the black/African American girl?

Alex Segura Jr. · 03-03-2005, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichieD
Ok, I have an honest, though slightly wierd question.

In the interior art, which one of them is the black/African American girl?

Valerie is on the top left panel of the first page of interiors, playing guitar.

djm72 · 03-03-2005, 12:26 PM

Well, my daughter will be happy. She loves the Manga Sabrina. I do, however, get strange looks from fellow customers when it gets handed to me along with the rest of the comics on my pull list.

Posco · 03-03-2005, 12:27 PM

I have to agree with the poster who dislikes the promo art. I really think it does a disservice to the new Pussycats style. The interior art mixes traditional Archie / US art style with Manga influences for a very good result that should appeal to both more traditional Archie readers as well as to Manga fans. The promo piece is looking entirely ´manga´(and in a certain manga style I personally don´t care about) and therefore might alienate potential buyers who might be quite happy with the interior art. Hopefully inhouse ads and esp. covers will be done by the interior artist.

BTW: Is Chris Lie a new discovery or has he done other books before?

Christian

Alex Scott · 03-03-2005, 12:48 PM

No, no, it's not that the promo art is "more manga" than the interior art. It's that the promo art is god awful compared to the interior art. I could draw better than that in my notebooks in high school. Seeing the interior art made me feel much better about this project.

(And "alienating potential buyers"? Don't Archie and shoujo manga pretty much serve similar audiences anyway? If kids--especially girls--were put off by manga artwork, they wouldn't be buying it, would they?)

Knightmaresbane · 03-03-2005, 01:46 PM

Heh. Woulda figured ths would have been tested out sooner seeing as how catgirls and manga go so well together not to mention the rabid fans they have, y'know the ones who wear cat ears EVERYWHERE!!! And no I'm not one of them, WHAT? Stop loking at my sig! Thats different, thats er.. aw crud.

Heh.

Seriously best of luck!

\m/ \m/

Jed Saxon · 03-03-2005, 02:34 PM

I tried the Manga Sabrina because of the art (that reminded me of one of my favorite comic books - Blue Monday), but while the art was pretty good, the story was just too childish for me (or just not my cup o' tea), so I dropped it after 4 issues or so.
Still a nice title but really nothing for me. I think I stay on the books from the crazy minds of Chynna Clugston-Major, Serena Valentino and Foo Swee Chin.

<-- not the targeted audience anyway.

Pete2525 · 03-03-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex Scott
No, no, it's not that the promo art is "more manga" than the interior art. It's that the promo art is god awful compared to the interior art. I could draw better than that in my notebooks in high school. Seeing the interior art made me feel much better about this project.

(And "alienating potential buyers"? Don't Archie and shoujo manga pretty much serve similar audiences anyway? If kids--especially girls--were put off by manga artwork, they wouldn't be buying it, would they?)

Completely agree with you!

The interior art is a good blend of American and Japanese influences, while the promo art looks like an American trying to do a generic "manga style" (if there is such a thing - maybe generic shounen style?) and failing badly.

AdamYJ · 03-03-2005, 02:46 PM

Well, I figured it wouldn't be long until the "Manga" approach was tried on other Archie characters. I don't really read Archie comics though, so good luck on that.

Now, on a closing note . . . sing along everybody!

Josie and the Pussycats
Long tails and ears for hats
Guitars for sharps and flats . . .

(fill in the rest of the lyrics from memory if you can).

Kusanagi · 03-03-2005, 03:00 PM

Manga......hmm.....
Josie and the Pussycats.....

Ah well, it can't be worse than that real life movie

Batmite79 · 03-03-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kusanagi
Manga......hmm.....
Josie and the Pussycats.....

Ah well, it can't be worse than that real life movie

Actually, I kinda dug that movie. While not being "Josie and the Pussycats" per se, it was still anenjoyable movie (and remains a guilty plesure). Much like what Constatine is to Hellblazer.

Though, I'll definately be picking these up. I'm not a huge Manga fan, but I dig the Pussycats, and the interiors do look great. So, there'll be an extra sale on my end!

NeroMan · 03-03-2005, 07:15 PM

they need to manga-ize the Sonic comics.
Yes.
All my ideas = totally awesome.

wraith · 03-03-2005, 07:32 PM

This is good news. Tanya is a great writer and artist, not to mention, a heck of a nice person. I wish her luck on this new series.

Now if only Archie will bring back their superhero line, and hire creators like Darwyn Cooke,Priest, Tom Defalco,Larry Hama,Byrne,Roger Stern,Dan Jurgens,MD Bright,LOuise Simonson,Walter Simonson,June Brigman,Dwayne Mcduffie,Peter David, Claremont,BUziek,Scott Lobdel, Fabian Nieceiza,Tony Bedard,Akira Yoshida,Tom Lyle,Ron Lim,Ron Frenze, Dwayne Turner,Chuck Dixon,and JM Demateus to work on them, then all will be right with he world. The reason I chose the above creators to work on the Archie superhero line, is because these creators are both capable of and willing to write all ages superhero comics.

the Other · 03-03-2005, 07:50 PM

Quote:

they need to manga-ize the Sonic comics.

actually, they did. James Fry took over in issue #76 and went til #90. Then Ron Lim popped up and did something i think was supposed to be manga-influenced. They have to artists now that can be said to be fringe-anime, J.Axer and Jon Gray, definitely good looking.

-the_Other

Hypestyle · 03-03-2005, 07:52 PM

there needs to be a new JOSIE cartoon on the air, and the old show needs to come out on DVD!!