Category Archives: Archie Comics

Jughead #87 Script to Page!

I just discovered my original script for a story called “The Old Ball Game.” It ran in Archie’s Pal Jughead Comics #87 (December, 1996). As it happens, this was actually one of my earliest Jughead stories. A few months later, my tenure as the regular Jughead writer would begin. (As of issue #89, I’d be teamed with new regular penciller Rex Lindsey for over 100 issues!)

I was especially glad to locate this particular script. I was able to see the pencils for the job before they were sent to the inker; a rare occasion for me. The great Stan Goldberg, who illustrated the story, had kindly gifted me with photocopies of his pencils.

I thought it might be interesting to show the progression of a story from script, to pencils, to the page, with inks by Mike Esposito, colors by Barry Grossman and letters by Bill Yoshida.

As you can see, I write (sketch) my Archie scripts in storyboard format as opposed to screenplay format. In my mind, this makes my intentions for each panel absolutely clear to the penciller, and reduces the risk for misinterpretation.

I never assume or expect that the penciller will follow my panel layouts, but they’re always welcome to.

Continue reading Jughead #87 Script to Page!

Please follow and like us:

Archie Comics Lunch!


Just about a year ago, I got together with several of my Archie Comics cohorts for an ad hoc summit meeting (really just a lunch) at the High Street Cafe in Hamilton, Ohio. It was a great place to eat, surrounded as we were by kitsch and pop culture memorabilia.

Here are the Kennedy brothers, Pat and Tim; Jeff Schultz (all top-tier Archie Comics cartoonists), and yours truly Craig Boldman.

Sadly, the pandemic took its toll on the Cafe during the past year, and they no longer offer sit-down dining, but have placed their emphasis on take-out, and catering service. They’re also leaning into memorabilia sales.

******

Convention appearance queries – Info here!

Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!

Please follow and like us:

National Cartoonists Society Art Auction! Oct. 27 – Nov. 3!

The National Cartoonists Society is taking the occasion of its 75th anniversary to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As many of you know, I’m a longtime creator for Archie Comics. I’ve worked on most of their titles, but am best known for my efforts on the Jughead comic book, and the Archie syndicated newspaper strip.

Here’s a video preview of a piece of original Archie art I created and have contributed to the National Cartoonists Society Art Auction. 

Since this year is also Archie’s 80th anniversary, I decided to pay homage to the cover of Archie Comics #1, cover dated Winter 1942. The original cover was drawn by the great Bob Montana. This update is a rare acrylic painting by me!

My auction art and the classic Archie cover that inspired it.

The online auction, which runs from October 27 through November 3, 2021, features original artwork from about 150 cartoonists, including such greats as: Cathy Guisewhite (“Cathy”), Dik Browne (“Hi and Lois”), Greg Evans (“Luann”), Jeff Keane (“The Family Circus”), Jerry Ordway (“Captain America”), Sergio Aragones (“Mad”), Jim Borgman (“Zits”), Joe Staton (“Dick Tracy”), Ron Ferdinand (“Dennis the Menace”), Marcus Hamilton (“Dennis the Menace”) — There really are too many to list. I may just come back and trade out a few names every day or two.

You can browse now! The auction is live at
NCS  Art Auction

This is your great opportunity to own a fun piece of art and to help a good cause. Christmas is coming, by the way, and this might be a perfect solution for that comics geek on your friend list.

Share this info around, please! Thanks and good luck!

INFO ABOUT THE AUCTION AT THE NATIONAL CARTOONISTS SOCIETY SITE

DIRECT LINK TO BID ON THIS ARCHIE ART

******

Convention appearance queries – Info here!

Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!

Please follow and like us:

Archie Comics 80th Anniversary!

I wrote the lead story for Archie 80th Anniversary Jumbo Comics Digest #3! Look for it on sale in stores on June 23, 2021. My story, titled “Happy MANYversary,” focuses on Betty’s penchant for remembering and celebrating events. Not only big events, but also, small, insignificant ones! I believe Bill Golliher does the art. If so, it will be our first collaboration in quite a while. Previously, Bill drew a mini-series I wrote starring Dilton — It was a digital comic which I’ve never yet managed to see!

Look for my new story behind a nice cover featuring Archie in a retro style, by Bill Galvin.

The rest of the issue is filled with classic stories from Archie Comics’s eight-decades history. I don’t have a list of contents, but chances are good that you will find work by Bob Montana, Frank Doyle, George Gladir, Dan DeCarlo, Samm Schwartz, Bill Vigoda, Harry Lucey, Joe Edwards, Bob Bolling and many other favorites.

In keeping with the Archie Comics 80th anniversary theme, editors Mike Pellerito and Stephen Oswald invited me to write a story having to do with anniversaries in some fashion. For your interest, in an upcoming post I’ll show a few pages from my script and layouts for this story, along with some commentary. 

Following that, I might even post an alternate script/story that I wrote for the issue. It’s a story I never submitted for reasons to be revealed!

Convention appearance queries – Info here!

Art commissions – contact me at craig@craigboldman.com .
Also see my caricatures page!

Please follow and like us:

Jetta Raye Adventures, out now!


Happy New Year!

I unbox my contributor copies of ‘Jetta Raye Adventures,’ featuring over 100 pages of new stories about Jetta, the ‘Sweetheart of the 22nd Century.’ This hardback volume includes stories and comic strips by me, along with an all-star line-up of contributors such as Chris Yambar, Jeff Shultz, Joe Sinnott, and many others!

Jetta originally came to life in 1952 her own comic book series drawn by the great Dan DeCarlo.

My apologies for mangling the names of some of the esteemed contributors in the video!

To order copies, jet on over to jettaraye.com

#makingcomics #comicbookartist #comiccollection #imagecomics #comiccover #igcomics #indiecomics #comics #comicbookart #comicbooks

Please follow and like us:

World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #101!

Good news for those who enjoy my work on the Jughead comic. ‘World of Archie Jumbo Comics #101,’ is a mini treasury of my past Jughead stories. In stores now!
I browsed this issue the way all of America does, while waiting in the grocery store checkout line.
The digest is billed as a ‘Special Jughead Issue.‘ It is heavily-weighted with fun summertime selections of my work from Jughead’s solo title. 
Look for the SPECIAL JUGHEAD ISSUE Seal of Quality. Accept no other!
Please follow and like us:

Cartoon Crossroads Columbus!

Meet me at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, the free, citywide arts festival hosted by people and places with a passion for cartoon arts. CXC 2018 is in Columbus, Ohio, and the dates are September 27-30.

I’ll be signing and selling books and art at the National Cartoonists Society table (table #55) at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, 96 S Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. I’m there on Saturday from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, and Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 pm.

http://www.cartooncrossroadscolumbus.com

Please follow and like us:

Cincinnati Comic Expo!

The Cincinnati Comic Expo is almost here! I’ve been a guest at every one since it launched and have great memories of the new and old friends I’ve encountered there. Off the top of my head, Murphy Anderson, the late great Russ Heath, and a bunch of my Kubert School pals. Anyway, click below: 

Please follow and like us:

On Exhibit – Middletown Arts Center

A show of my work is currently on display in the front gallery of the Middletown Arts Center in Middletown, Ohio.

Our opening reception, part of the Betty Hughes Memorial Exhibition, is scheduled for Friday, August 3, 2018, 6:00-8:00 p.m. I hope to see all of you there!

My work will remain on display through September 6, 2018 — A great opportunity to get copies of my books and comics, which will be sold through the center. All three volumes of my Tailipoe series, as well as copes of the Cap’n Catnip comic are available. 

Included for your enjoyment: Archie artwork; book illustrations; an art series based on classic games and toys; and the complete artwork from a 6-page Archie story with collaborator Stan Goldberg, from Archie Comics #540, “The Man of Mystery.”

Please follow and like us: