Archie vs. Predator: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:40, 19 August 2019

Revision as of 04:07, 1 October 2019

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===Development===

Since Archie Comics partnered with [[Marvel Comics]] for the 1994 [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] comic ''[[Archie Meets the Punisher]]'', the Archie characters have had a tradition of [[team-up]]s with characters from other [[fictional universe]]s.<ref name="announcement">{{cite web | last=C.|first=Ron|url=http://archiecomics.com/archie-comics-and-dark-horse-unveil-the-unthinkable-archie-meets-predator/ | title=Archie Comics And Dark Horse Unveil The Unthinkable: Archie Meets Predator| date=October 9, 2014 |accessdate=August 6, 2015 |website=Archie Comics}}</ref><ref name="HCintro">[[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa|Aguirre-Sacasa, Roberto]] (introduction). {{ Cite comic | writer=Alex de Campi | artist=Fernando Ruiz | title=Archie vs. Predator | date=2015 | publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]] | ___location=[[Milwaukie, Oregon]] | id={{ISBN|1616558059}} }}</ref> Following the success of ''Archie meets [[Kiss (band)|KISS]]'' in 2012 and ''Archie meets [[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'' in 2013, the Archie Creative Summit held in March 2014 included a brainstorming session for new crossovers.<ref name="dailydead">{{cite web |url= http://dailydead.com/comic-con-2015-interview-alex-de-campi-talks-archie-vs-predator/ |title= Comic-Con 2015 Interview: Alex de Campi Talks Archie VS. Predator |last= Anderson |first= Derek |date= July 14, 2015|website=Daily Dead |publisher= |access-date=March 4, 2016 |quote=}}

</ref><ref name="CA int"/> [[Godzilla]] and ''[[Friday the 13th (franchise)|Friday the 13th]]'' were considered, but the [[Predator (alien)|Predator]] received the most support. Artist Fernando Ruiz was at the summit and liked the premise, but did not believe it would actually be made, or that he would be involved if it was.<ref name="CA int">{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/fernando-ruiz-archie-vs-predator-interview/ |title='I'm Drawing Archie Fighting A Freakin' Predator': Fernando Ruiz Talks 'Archie Vs Predator' |last=Sims |first=Chris |date=March 6, 2015 |website=[[Comics Alliance]] |publisher= |access-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311162152/http://comicsalliance.com/fernando-ruiz-archie-vs-predator-interview/ |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |deadurl=yes |dfurl-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="HCafter">Wright, Brendan (afterword). {{ Cite comic | writer=Alex de Campi | artist=Fernando Ruiz | title=Archie vs. Predator | date=2015 | publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]] | ___location=[[Milwaukie, Oregon]] | id={{ISBN|1616558059}} }}</ref>

Archie Comics proposed the crossover to [[20th Century Fox]], who owns the Predator character, and [[Dark Horse Comics]], who had licensed the character for comic books.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cbr.com/exclusive-richardson-looks-to-dark-horses-2015-future/ |title= Exclusive: Richardson Looks to Dark Horse's 2015 Future |last= Sunu |first= Steve |date= November 26, 2014 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |publisher= |access-date= February 21, 2017}}</ref> Both quickly agreed. Dark Horse approached Alex de Campi to write based on her work on the horror comic book ''Grindhouse'' and the humorous comic book ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (comic book)#Friends Forever|My Little Pony: Friends Forever]]''.<ref name="dailydead"/><ref name="HCafter"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wickedhorror.com/interviews/alex-de-campi-talks-horror-comics/ |title= Exclusive Interview: Alex de Campi on Horror Comics |last= Emm |first= Fox |date= January 7, 2016 |website= Wicked Horror |publisher= |access-date= March 4, 2016 }}</ref> Dark Horse editor Brendan Wright, who was already editing the regular ''Predator'' comic book and had previously coordinated with Archie Comics on Dark Horse's ''Archie Archives'' reprints, was chosen as editor. Ruiz was the first and only artist considered to [[Penciller|pencil]] the series, and [[inker]] Rich Koslowski was selected based on his work with Ruiz on a [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] parody in ''Archie'' #648.<ref name="HCafter"/> The project was originally titled ''Archie meets Predator'', but it was changed to ''vs.'' because the people involved in production kept calling it that unintentionally, and to parody the ''[[Alien vs. Predator]]'' franchise.<ref name="comicbook">{{cite web |url= http://comicbook.com/2015/04/14/archie-vs-predator-writer-alex-de-campi-promises-horribly-gory-v/ |title= Exclusive: Archie Vs. Predator's Alex de Campi Promises "Horribly Gory, Very Wrong, and Funny" Story |last= Siegel |first= Lucas |date= April 14, 2015 |website= ComicBook.com |publisher= |access-date= March 4, 2016 }}</ref>

To prepare for the project, de Campi read over 4000 pages of Archie comic books.<ref name="dc int">{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/alex-de-campi-archie-vs-predator-interview/ |title=They're all a little unbalanced: Alex de Campi talks 'Archie vs. Predator' |last=Sims |first=Chris |date=April 28, 2015 |website=Comics Alliance |publisher= |access-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219192056/http://comicsalliance.com/alex-de-campi-archie-vs-predator-interview/ |archive-date=February 19, 2016 |deadurl=yes |dfurl-status=dead }}</ref> She drew inspiration for the story from the 1940s era of the series, when she says [[Archie Andrews]]' girlfriends [[Betty Cooper]] and [[Veronica Lodge]] had "more edge".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/10/09/archie-meets-predator-comic-book-exclusive/16954799/# |title= Archie Meets Predator a mash-up for the ages |last= Truitt |first= Brian |date= October 9, 2014 |website=[[USA Today]] |publisher= |access-date= February 17, 2016 }}</ref> Her scripts were subject to notes and tweaks from Archie Comics and Fox, but de Campi described both licensors as "extremely mellow, pleasant and easy to work with".<ref name="dc int"/> Fox's primary concern was why the Predator, who is known for choosing challenging prey, would be interested in teenagers, but a suitable explanation was included in the story.<ref name="HCafter"/> She expected some of the notes, such as being told, "Alex, you can't make jokes about [[Child sexual abuse|child predation]] in an Archie book".<ref name="comicbook"/> Other times, she was surprised when she did not receive notes, such as her use of [[emoji]]s for the Predator's speech.<ref name="comicbook"/> She was pleased when she got to add depth to [[Dilton Doiley]], a character she feels is often overlooked in regular ''Archie'' comics.<ref name="dailydead"/><ref name="dc int"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://emertainmentmonthly.com/2015/07/15/sdcc-2015-archie-vs-predator-writer-alex-de-campi-on-the-onslaught-in-riverdale/ |title= SDCC 2015: Archie vs. Predator Writer Alex de Campi on the Onslaught in Riverdale |last= Moccio |first= Michael |date= July 15, 2015 |website=Emertainment Monthly |access-date= March 4, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160310182904/http://emertainmentmonthly.com/2015/07/15/sdcc-2015-archie-vs-predator-writer-alex-de-campi-on-the-onslaught-in-riverdale/ |archive-date= March 10, 2016 }}</ref> The choice of whether Archie Andrews would survive the series or not was changed several times during scripting, and a final decision was not made until the last draft of the script.<ref name="HCafter"/>

Ruiz experimented with drawing the whole series in a more realistic manner, but from the beginning the plan was to use the traditional Archie design style for the book, which Archie veteran [[Dan DeCarlo]] popularized in the classic comics since the 1960s.<ref name="CA int"/><ref name="HCafter"/><ref name=ddc>{{cite web | url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=688 | title = Dan DeCarlo Dead at Age of 82: Artist Defined Archie Comics Style for Decades | publisher= [[Comic Book Resources]] | date= December 20, 2001 | accessdate = March 19, 2013 | archivedate = October 10, 2012 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20121010073114/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=688 | deadurlurl-status = nolive}}</ref> The editorial team felt this would make the story feel more "bizarre and unsettling". Although most modern comic art is created using digital tools and scans to accelerate the creation process, the art team for ''Archie vs. Predator'' chose to use traditional methods and used [[FedEx]] to get the physical copy of each page to the person who would complete the next step in the process.<ref name="HCafter"/>

Archie Comics and Dark Horse Comics jointly announced ''Archie vs. Predator'' and its creative team at the 2014 [[New York Comic Con]].<ref name="announcement"/> Soon after, many media outlets carrying the news used a headline indicating the bizarre announcement was not a joke.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsarama.com/22349-archie-vs-predator-no-really.html |title= Archie vs. Predator ... No, Really |last= Arrant |first= Chris |date= October 9, 2014 |website=[[Newsarama]] |publisher= |access-date= March 2, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hngn.com/articles/60108/20150114/archie-vs-predator-is-a-real-thing-and-its-coming-soon-see-it.htm |title='Archie vs. Predator' Is a Real Thing and It's Coming Soon |last= Bonner |first= Jerry |date= January 14, 2015 |website=Headlines and Global News |publisher= |access-date= March 2, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicsbeat.com/archie-vs-predator/ |title= Archie vs... Predator? |last=[[Heidi MacDonald|MacDonald]] |first=[[Heidi MacDonald|Heidi]] |date= October 9, 2014 |website= The Beat |publisher= |access-date= March 2, 2016 }}</ref> Wright described it as his "most nutso project" and was continually surprised by the scale of positive reaction to it.<ref name="HCafter"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/09/01/brendan-wright-editor-of-mind-mgmt-grindhouse-archie-vs-predator-leaves-dark-horse/ |title= Brendan Wright, Editor Of Mind MGMT, Grindhouse, Archie vs Predator, leaves Dark Horse |last= Means-Shannon |first= Hannah |date= September 1, 2015 |website=[[Bleeding Cool News]] |publisher= |access-date=March 2, 2016}}</ref>

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The first issue was the best-selling issue for both publishers in April 2015, and the 74th best selling comic book among other releases that month.<ref>By units sold. {{cite web |url= http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015/2015-04.html |title= Comic Book Sales Figures for April 2015 |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |date= |website= [[The Comics Chronicles]] |publisher= |access-date= February 17, 2016 }}</ref> Sales numbers fell just under 30% through the fourth issue, which was the 102nd best selling issue in July.<ref>By units sold. {{cite web |url= http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015/2015-07.html |title= Comic Book Sales Figures for July 2015 |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |date= |website= The Comics Chronicles |publisher= |access-date= February 17, 2016 }}</ref> When the hardcover was released in November, it was the 36th best-selling comics collection of the month according to [[Diamond Comic Distributors]].<ref>By units sold. {{cite web |url= http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015/2015-11.html |title= Comic Book Sales Figures for November 2015 |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |date= |website= The Comics Chronicles |publisher= |access-date= February 17, 2016 }}</ref>

The first issue garnered an average review rating of 7.9 out of 10 according to the [[review aggregator]] [[Comic Book Roundup]].<ref>Based on 42 reviews from critics. {{cite web|url=http://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dark-horse-comics/archie-vs-predator/1 |title=Archie vs. Predator #1 Reviews |last= |first= |date= |website=[[Comic Book Roundup]] |publisher= |access-date=February 16, 2016 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308060008/http://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dark-horse-comics/archie-vs-predator/1 |archivedate=March 8, 2016 }}</ref> Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Graeme Virtue said the "appealingly strange" series fit with Archie Comics' reputation for pushing comics forward and praised it for remaining true to both the Archie and Predator properties.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/18/the-month-in-comics |title= Archie Vs Predator, Convergence, The Infinite Loop: the month in comics |last= Virtue |first= Grame |date= April 18, 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]] |publisher= |access-date= March 2, 2016 }}</ref> The book's "deeply funny dark humor" was a selling point for Robin Parrish at ''Tech Times'',<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.techtimes.com/articles/46487/20150415/new-comic-book-day-april-15-2015-archie-battles-predator.htm |title= New Comic Book Day April 15, 2015: Archie Battles Predator And DC's 'Convergence' Continues |last= Parrish |first= Robin |date= April 15, 2015 |website= Tech Times |publisher= |access-date= March 2, 2016 }}</ref> and [[IGN]] reviewer Jeff Lake described the first issue as "pretty darn great".<ref name=ign1>{{cite web|last=Lake|first=Jeff|authorlink=|title=Archie vs. Predator #1 Review|url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2015/04/16/archie-vs-predator-1-review|work=[[IGN]]|accessdate=November 9, 2015|date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> The use of the traditional cartoon art style to depict gruesome scenes was described as "a visual [[Innocence#Loss of innocence|loss of innocence]]" by ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/04/archie-vs-predator-1-by-alex-de-campi-fernando-rui.html# |title=Archie vs. Predator #1 by Alex de Campi & Fernando Ruiz Review |last=Brown|first=Billy |date=April 15, 2015 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=September 25, 2018}}</ref> Comic Bastards' Dustin Cabeal called the miniseries "a hoot".<ref name=CB4>{{cite web|last=Cabeal|first=Dustin|authorlink=|title=Review: Archie vs. Predator #4|url=http://comicbastards.com/comics/review-archie-vs-predator-4/|work=Comic Bastards|accessdate=November 9, 2015|date=July 22, 2015}}</ref> The series won the 2015 [[Ghastly Award]] for Best Limited Series.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ghastlyawards.com/2016/03/2015-ghastly-award-winners.html |title= Ghastly Award Winners |last= Royer |first= Decapdan |date= March 2016 |website= Ghastly Awards |publisher= |access-date= March 8, 2016 }}</ref>

== References ==