Mark Waid on The Archie Reboot: It's Faithful Without Being Slavish

The relaunch of Archie Comics' flagship title Archie is imminent, with writer Mark Waid and artist [...]

By Russ Burlingame - June 11, 2015 11:29 am EDT

The relaunch of Archie Comics' flagship title Archie is imminent, with writer Mark Waid and artist Fiona Staples taking on a character whose series has run uninterrupted and un-rebooted since 1941.

It's part of a bold, broad publishing initiative that will see the publisher reinvent the public face of the company -- even with their acclaimed Dark Circle superhero titles and their best-selling horror titles, Archie's image remains tied almost completely with Archie Andrews and the Riverdale gang -- who will be seeing the launch of a TV series from The Flash producer Greg Berlanti soon.

Waid joined ComicBook.com to talk about the pressures of rebooting one of the most iconic characters in comics (again, for him), and his plans for the title.

Today is the final order cutoff for Waid and Staples' Archie #1. If you want a copy, be sure to tell your retailer...well, probably now. You can see the solicitation information at bottom, below the interview.

You're a guy with a very strong sense of history, but you've been instrumental in reinventing some properties for Archie lately. What attracts you to what are essentially reboots, when to an outsider that might seem anathema to Mark Waid

It's exactly that sense of history. I'm fascinated by these iconic characters and love, love, love taking them apart to see what makes them tick and why they're so long-lived. To me, this is a way of preserving that history without drowning in it.

Obviously, Fiona is an incredible talent. The last time you undertook an overhaul this big on a corporate property, it was arguably in Superman: Birthright with Lenil Yu. How important do you think it is to put together a creative team that's kind of beyond reproach when you're reworking a classic?

It's critical. And I'll be straight-up honest with you--it takes a team. It's not false modesty to say that if the Archie relaunch were helmed by me and A New Artist, as good as he or she might be, this would run every risk of being ignored. Readers have to be seized immediately by the new look. We have to show them instantly a view of these established characters that they've never seen before if they're to take us seriously.

Also, what do you plan to bring that is fresh but not gimmicky to a character that has existed in perpetual boyish youth for decades?

A little more depth--that's all Archie needs. And I'm not even magically inventing it so much as pulling it out of what we already know. The secret with all projects like these is simply to drill deeper on the characters. Get to know them, get to thinking about why they do what they do, and then let them tell you what the stories are.

For those who haven't read Archie before, or haven't in years, is there anything at all you actually need to know going into the new series?

Nope. Zip. Zero. We take nothing for granted. Every characters is introduced clearly, every conflict and personality is cleanly established. Archie himself is your guide to Riverdale.

You're running a backup story of Golden Age Archie. What parallels can you draw between the two, in terms of what makes Archie tick?

When you strip away all the nostalgia, that Andrews kid has always been likable and relateable. His relationship with the opposite sex starts the same way everyone's does, 1941 or 2015--by doing something stupid trying to make an impression.

He's trying to connect with his dad. He's awkward and clumsy. He's brave to a fault when he's in the spotlight. Y'know, like he's always been. It's kind of fascinating to see how Archie himself came out of the creative womb almost fully realized.

You have worked almost everywhere in the mainstream American comics industry. What's drawing you to Archie at the moment?

Being able to write flat-out comedy--or, more specifically, the kind of comedy I love most, the kind with heart. Did you like IMPULSE when Humberto Ramos and I were doing it? You'll LOVE Archie.

How involved you were and Fiona in creating the new status quo, the new looks, etc.? Were the basics already laid down by the publisher when you came along, or did you guys do most of the heavy lifting?

The High Sheriffs of Riverdale asked us to surprise them. Nothing was laid down as a given. And they were incredibly supportive. I still can't believe they let us establish that Jughead was [SPOILER ALERT! REDACTED!]

What can we expect from yours and Fiona's run? Will the stories be more stand-alone or ongoing? Will we see guest stars from Rivardale's history?

It is an ongoing series, but like a good TV or long-running comics series, each installment can stand on its own. No fake-drama cliffhangers needed--readers should WANT to come back every month, not feel like they're being FORCED to come back to get a complete story. And we'll walk plenty of established Riverdale townsfolk through, but we're starting small and expanding the cast slowly. Heck, you won't even seen Veronica Lodge until issue three--or will you?

Archie has become a destination for memorable crossovers with people like The Punisher and The Predator. If there was one character from your back catalogue that you could team up with Archie, who would it be?

How do you dream up these questions? Have you seen a therapist? Actually, that IS a good question, and my answer would be that I think Archie would make the most memorable Robin of all time. Thirty minutes in that cave is all it would take to destroy it.

What do you most want fans to know about this project, going in?

That it's faithful without being slavish. That it has heart. That Fiona and I both love Archie and his gang, and all we want to do is show you why we love them so you will, too.

ARCHIE #1
COMIC SUPERSTARS MARK WAID AND FIONA STAPLES REIMAGINE AN ICON! Change is coming to Riverdale in this can't-miss kick-off to Archie's new ongoing series! Familiar faces return in new and unexpected ways in this must-have #1 issue! As the new school year approaches, you'd think Archie Andrews would be looking forward to classes and fun—but nothing is as it seems in the little town of Riverdale. But is this a one-off or a sign of bigger changes awaiting for America's favorite teens—and the entire town? Find out in this exciting and remarkable first issue!

Script: Mark Waid
Art: Fiona Staples
Archie #1 CVR A Reg: Fiona Staples
Variant Covers: J. Scott Campbell, Colleen Coover, Tania del Rio, Joe Eisma, Francesco Francavilla, Genevieve F.T., Michael Gaydos, Sanford Greene, Robert Hack & Steve Downer, Dean Haspiel, David Mack, Moritat, Mike Norton, Jerry Ordway & Jose Villarubia, Ramon K. Perez, Ron Salas, Greg Scott and Steve Downer, T. Rex & Andre Szymanowicz, Brittney Williams, Chip Zdarsky
Blank Sketch Cover Also Available
On Sale Date: 7/8
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

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