New Releases by Batton Lash

"Freshman Year - The Missing Chapters: Chuck": For years, fans of Archie Comics have wondered what happened in the years before the fabled teens of Riverdale entered high school. How did everyone meet? Were the teachers always at the high school? Did all of Archie''s friends always live in Riverdale? Just when did the "eternal love triangle" first start? In the "Freshman Year" saga, originally presented in the pages of ARCHIE #587-591, readers finally learned the back-story behind Riverdale''s fabled cast of characters. But that wasn''t the whole story! In this follow-up series of stories, writer Batton Lash fills in the blanks, giving readers an even bigger glimpse of what went on with Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Reggie, Chuck, and Pencilneck G. In this story, Chuck''s cartoons of the past come back to haunt him when word gets back to him that a tough kid took exception to Chuck''s none-too-flattering caricatures. The subject of Chuck''s doodles isn''t happy about being "dissed" and has held a grudge for three years! Now Chuck must look back at the copious comics he did in freshman year to see what he did to diss his classmate!

"Freshman Year - The Missing Chapters: Chuck": For years, fans of Archie Comics have wondered what happened in the years before the fabled teens of Riverdale entered high school. How did everyone meet? Were the teachers always at the high school? Did all of Archie''s friends always live in Riverdale? Just when did the "eternal love triangle" first start? In the "Freshman Year" saga, originally presented in the pages of ARCHIE #587-591, readers finally learned the back-story behind Riverdale''s fabled cast of characters. But that wasn''t the whole story! In this follow-up series of stories, writer Batton Lash fills in the blanks, giving readers an even bigger glimpse of what went on with Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Reggie, Chuck, and Pencilneck G. In this issue, Reggie''s first year of high school is revealed... and you won''t believe just how far he''ll go to win the attention of the ''cool upperclassmen.'' But are they really Reggie''s friends, or just using him? Is the trouble Reggie faces worth hanging out with the ''cool kids?'' Will he realize who his true friends are?

"Freshman Year - The Missing Chapters: Jughead": For years, fans of Archie Comics have wondered what happened in the years before the fabled teens of Riverdale entered high school. How did everyone meet? Were the teachers always at the high school? Did all of Archie''s friends always live in Riverdale? Just when did the "eternal love triangle" first start? In the "Freshman Year" saga, originally presented in the pages of ARCHIE #587-591, readers finally learned the back-story behind Riverdale''s fabled cast of characters. But that wasn''t the whole story! Starting with this issue and running through four consecutive issues, writer Batton Lash fills in the blanks, giving readers an even bigger glimpse of what went on with Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Reggie, Chuck, and Pencilneck G. In this issue, we follow Jughead as his family moves out of Riverdale. What is life like in his new town? Can he make a friend as loyal as Archie? Who is Sadie - just a friend, or something more? You won''t want to miss the thrilling answers - reserve your copy today!

"Freshman Year - The Missing Chapters: Chuck": For years, fans of Archie Comics have wondered what happened in the years before the fabled teens of Riverdale entered high school. How did everyone meet? Were the teachers always at the high school? Did all of Archie''s friends always live in Riverdale? Just when did the "eternal love triangle" first start? In the "Freshman Year" saga, originally presented in the pages of ARCHIE #587-591, readers finally learned the back-story behind Riverdale''s fabled cast of characters. But that wasn''t the whole story! In this follow-up series to the best-selling ''Freshman Year'' saga, writer Batton Lash gives readers an even bigger glimpse of what went on during the Freshman year of the entire gang. Pencilneck''s circle of friends adjust to their own move from middle school to high school. Along the way, Pencilneck''s obsessive nature drives the school''s librarian crazy, his pal Zane develops a crush on Veronica, Penelope considers Betty her new ''BFF,'' and Connie tries to make Zane jealous by going after Reggie!

"Freshman Year - The Missing Chapters: Betty & Veronica": For years, fans of Archie Comics have wondered what happened in the years before the fabled teens of Riverdale entered high school. How did everyone meet? Were the teachers always at the high school? Did all of Archie''s friends always live in Riverdale? Just when did the "eternal love triangle" first start? In the "Freshman Year" saga, originally presented in the pages of ARCHIE #587-591, readers finally learned the back-story behind Riverdale''s fabled cast of characters. But that wasn''t the whole story! Starting the previous issue and running through four consecutive issues, writer Batton Lash fills in the blanks, giving readers an even bigger glimpse of what went on with Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Reggie, Chuck, and Pencilneck G. In this issue, we follow Betty and Veronica through their freshman year, solidifying their friendship as they bond over their love of the Young Broz boy band. Just wait until they bond-or NOT-over their love for Archie!

"Freshman Year: Winter Term" In the tradition of Batman: Year One and Marvel''s The Ultimates comes the biggest Archie Comics event since the "Love Showdown!" Archie reflects on the term just past, pining over Veronica and lamenting how she went away during the holiday break. Hoping to stay close to Veronica, Archie joins the drama club - the perfect indoor activity during the frosty winter months. But being part of such a large club is hardly the way to gain exclusive quality time with Veronica. Will their reunion be everything Archie hopes, or will the eternal love triangle get off to a rollicking start with friction between Betty and Veronica instead? And will Moose ever be introduced to Midge? Other surprises in store for the gang this second term include some new faculty members as well as the departure of the expelled school bully, Jared McGerk. It''s the funniest first year of high school ever, courtesy of fan-favorite writer Batton Lash of Wolff & Byrd and Archie Meets the Punisher, along with Scrapyard Detectives creator Bill Galvan!

The first year of high school has been an eventful one for Archie and his friends, and it''s all leading towards a whirlwind finale! But the teens still have some time to go yet. In this latest installment, they are evaluated by their teachers who report their progress to their folks on "parent-teacher" night. How will they fare once their parents learn how they''re doing? Meanwhile, in social life, love triangles abound, and so do pranks - some playful, some nasty. But none nastier than the bikers who have been bedeviling the town. All this, plus a surprise or two! It''s the greatest "first year" of high school ever, courtesy of fan-favorite writer Batton Lash of "Wolff & Byrd" and "Archie Meets the Punisher" fame, along with "Scrapyard Detectives" creator and popular Archie artist/writer Bill Galvan.

"Freshman Year: Part Two" The first full-length issue of the "Freshman Year" saga finds Archie and his friends just starting the fall semester. Having survived a summer that saw the departure of Jughead and bickering parents, the gang arrives at high school... to find elementary school Principal Mr. Weatherbee has now become the high school Principal! But it''s not just about reunions at Riverdale High. Archie also makes a new friend in Pencilneck G., although he prefers his more laid-back buddy Jughead. He also makes some new enemies in Jared McGerk and his band of bullies! Along the way the other classic faculty members are introduced, as well as Pop Tate and his Choklit Shop!

The Summer Before: Travel back in time with this five-issue tale that takes Archie and his friends back to their very first year in high school. It all starts with this poignant prologue which finds the gang wondering just what that first year will be like, while reflecting fondly on the past as well. Along the way, the gang must deal with the pending departure of one of their closest friends, as well as their bickering parents. And while the kids count the days until they enter their new school home, someone else is joining Riverdale High, too: Principal Waldo Weatherbee! All this, plus allusions to Captain Pureheart, The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Veronica''s worldwide travels, and more!