Blue Ribbon Comics – Archie Publications / Red Circle – (1983–1984) – Volume 1 – Limited Series - #1–14

Blue Ribbon Comics – Archie Publications / Red Circle – (1983–1984) – Volume 1 – Limited Series - #1–14

📘 Series Summary

During the early 1980s, Archie Publications attempted to revive its Golden Age superhero stable under the Red Circle and Archie Adventure Series imprints. Blue Ribbon Comics served as the premiere anthology for this revival, featuring a "who's who" of legendary comic book talent. The series provided a platform for iconic characters like The Fly, Black Hood, The Fox, and Steel Sterling, blending classic reprints with brand-new stories designed for a modern audience.

This 14-issue run is a treasure trove for fans of the "Big Two" creators, boasting contributions from Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (revisiting their co-creation, The Fly), Steve Ditko, Neal Adams, and Carmine Infantino. The anthology even branched out to include other properties, such as the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and the debut of Marty Greim's Thunder Bunny. From street-level crime-fighting in "The Black Hood" to the cosmic adventures of "Lancelot Strong," this series remains a definitive capsule of Archie’s boldest superhero experiment.

⭐ Why This Series Stands Out

  • Features incredible Kirby & Simon content, including a brand-new cover by Jack Kirby for Issue #5.
  • Showcases rare work by Steve Ditko and Al Williamson on characters like The Fly and NoMan.
  • Includes the first appearance and origin of Thunder Bunny in Issue #13, a fan-favorite indie icon.
  • Notable for its "Bronze Age" re-imaginings of classic MLJ characters by writers like Marv Wolfman and Robert Kanigher.
  • Contains rare T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents stories (Issue #12), licensed during the period Archie attempted to build a shared universe.
  • A complete 14-issue limited series that captures the experimental spirit of the 1980s superhero boom outside of Marvel and DC.

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