Hunting Season
Team Archie Meets Team Predator
After taking on the UNDEAD IN Afterlife With Archie, Archie Andrews will be taking on an even more formidable foe in April’s Archie Vs Predator. Co- published by Dark Horse and Archie Comics, the four- issue miniseries will, according to writer Alex De Campi, not actually emulate the Archie Horrorverse’s darker, more noirish tone.
“I refer to it as the ‘ Archie Splatterverse’, where there’s more comedy, and more gore,” says De Campi. “Teen drama and comedy is one of my favourite things to write, and everyone loves a good teen slasher, don’t they? The gig was like, ‘ Let’s put all the awesome things in a box and hit puree!’”
With De Campi drawing on the first Predator film for “the rules of the franchise”, Archie and friends cross paths with the alien hunter after Jughead wins a crisp packet competition for a spring break in Costa Rica. “The tour guide says ‘ don’t go into the jungle!’ But, of course, what happens when you tell a teenager not to do something?” teases De Campi.
Apart from Archie himself, expect appearances from many other regular characters including Kevin Keller and Sabrina. “She has one of the most delightful and crazy subplots in the whole book,” says De Campi. “And I’m having so much fun with Betty and Veronica, with the rivalry and the snark.”
De Campi is also full of praise for artist Fernando Ruiz. “He’s tweaked his style to be a bit more in the old EC Comics/ Warren tradition,” she says. “When bad things happen – and they do, a lot – Fernando really brings the horror!”
Archie Vs Predator is published on 15 April.