Archie has just released info on their new digital platform, and it is impressive indeed.
NewsWe're eagerly anticipating Dark Circle's new line of comics that launch later this month with The Black Hood.In advance of this new line (which also features The Shield and The Fox, to be released later this year), the company has unveiled their digital strategy, which will introduce classic comics featuring the MLJ superheroes, as well as an exclusive New Crusaders story.
From the press release:
Launching in the early 1990s, the Impact Comics imprint featured classic Red Circle characters such as The Black Hood, The Comet, The Shield, and included work by comic book luminaries such as Mark Waid, Tom Lyle, Mark Wheatley and more. THE BLACK HOOD was taken in exciting new directions by focusing on several different incarnations of the classic character under the guide of writer Mark Wheatley and Eisner-award winning artist Rick Burchett.
The 1980s Red Circle relaunch featured the classic characters getting a modern update foreshadowing the Dark Circle Comics relaunch in 2015. THE ORIGINAL SHIELD told new tales of Joe Higgins, an FBI agent with a secret identity as America’s fighting champion of justice. Selections from both Red Circle and Impact comics are available now digitally with more issues to be added periodically.
Launched in 2012 by fan favorite creators Ian Flynn and Ben Bates, The New Crusaders were a group of mostly teenage superheroes who teamed together to protect Impact City from threats such as The Brain Emperor and The Eraser. The New Crusaders will make their much-anticipated return in a digital exclusive NEW CRUSADERS - DARK TOMORROW SPECIAL. This digital-only one-shot picks up from the events of the NEW CRUSADERS – RISE OF THE HEROES series and moves the characters forward into the world of Dark Circle. Readers who are excited for more NEW CRUSADERS stories won’t want to miss this digital special!
This is a shrewd business move for Archie/Dark Circle, as it allows readers to get reacquainted with the classic MLJ superheroes before the new stories launch. We are especially eager to dig into Impact stories due to the jaw-dropping talent involved, many of whom were just beginning to make waves within the comics industry.
The titles debuting on February 25th will be the the first two issues of The Black Hood originally published by Impact Comics, the first three Red Circle Comics The Black Hood books, and issues 1 through 4 of Red Circle's The Original Shield. Sadly, no word yet on the underrated Thunder Bunny books being reissued digitally, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.
