Archie vs. Predator

Since Archie Comics partnered with Marvel Comics for the 1994 one-shot comic Archie Meets the Punisher, the Archie characters have had a tradition of team-ups with characters from other fictional universes.{{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| access-date=August 6, 2015| website=Archie Comics| archive-date=July 13, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713072605/http://archiecomics.com/archie-comics-and-dark-horse-unveil-the-unthinkable-archie-meets-predator/| url-status=live}}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}} }} Following the success of Archie meets KISS in 2012 and Archie meets Glee in 2013, the Archie Creative Summit held in March 2014 included a brainstorming session for new crossovers.{{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 |access-date= March 4, 2016 |archive-date= March 8, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160308224848/http://dailydead.com/comic-con-2015-interview-alex-de-campi-talks-archie-vs-predator/ |url-status= live }} Godzilla and Friday the 13th were considered, but the 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.{{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=ComicsAlliance |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 |url-status=dead }}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}} }}

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.{{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 |access-date= February 21, 2017 |archive-date= February 22, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170222195325/http://www.cbr.com/exclusive-richardson-looks-to-dark-horses-2015-future/ |url-status= live }} 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: Friends Forever.{{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 |access-date= March 4, 2016 |archive-date= March 8, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160308232039/http://www.wickedhorror.com/interviews/alex-de-campi-talks-horror-comics/ |url-status= live }} 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 pencil the series, and inker Rich Koslowski was selected based on his work with Ruiz on a Thor parody in Archie #648. 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.{{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 |access-date= March 4, 2016 |archive-date= March 9, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160309014836/http://comicbook.com/2015/04/14/archie-vs-predator-writer-alex-de-campi-promises-horribly-gory-v/ |url-status= live }}

To prepare for the project, de Campi read over 4000 pages of Archie comic books.{{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=ComicsAlliance |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 |url-status=dead }} 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".{{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 |access-date= February 17, 2016 |archive-date= June 26, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200626223200/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/10/09/archie-meets-predator-comic-book-exclusive/16954799/ |url-status= live }} 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". 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. She expected some of the notes, such as being told she "can't make jokes about child predation in an Archie book". Other times, she was surprised when she did not receive notes, such as her use of emojis for the Predator's speech. She was pleased when she got to add depth to Dilton Doiley, a character she feels is often overlooked in regular Archie comics.{{cite web |url= https://emertainmentmonthly.org/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 |url-status= live |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 }} 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.

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.{{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 | access-date = March 19, 2013 | archive-date = October 10, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121010073114/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=688 | url-status = live}} 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.

Archie Comics and Dark Horse Comics jointly announced Archie vs. Predator and its creative team at the 2014 New York Comic Con. Soon after, many media outlets carrying the news used a headline indicating the bizarre announcement was not a joke.{{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 |access-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-date= November 12, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181112141451/https://www.newsarama.com/22349-archie-vs-predator-no-really.html |url-status= live }}{{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 |access-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-date= April 22, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190422015336/http://www.hngn.com/articles/60108/20150114/archie-vs-predator-is-a-real-thing-and-its-coming-soon-see-it.htm |url-status= live }}{{cite web |url= http://www.comicsbeat.com/archie-vs-predator/ |title= Archie vs... Predator? |last= MacDonald |first= Heidi |author-link= Heidi MacDonald |date= October 9, 2014 |website= The Beat |access-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-date= September 6, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150906071753/http://www.comicsbeat.com/archie-vs-predator/ |url-status= live }} Wright described it as his "most nutso project" and was continually surprised by the scale of positive reaction to it.{{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 |access-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-date= March 8, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160308090809/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/09/01/brendan-wright-editor-of-mind-mgmt-grindhouse-archie-vs-predator-leaves-dark-horse/ |url-status= live }}

A promotional ashcan comic was released a couple of months before the first issue. It featured eight pages from the first issue and some of Ruiz's character designs, including some of his initial, more lifelike Predator sketches. The four issues were published monthly beginning April 15, 2015, and ending July 22, 2015. Each issue had two variant covers, and the first issue had some additional store-exclusive and convention-exclusive covers.From the Variant Cover Gallery. {{ Cite comic | writer=de Campi, Alex | artist=Fernando Ruiz | title=Archie vs. Predator | date=2015 | publisher=Dark Horse Comics | location=Milwaukie, Oregon | id={{ISBN|1616558059}} }} All of the issues also included a one-page, humorous bonus strip written by de Campi featuring crossovers of other Archie and Dark Horse characters: Sabrina Meets Hellboy (art by Robert Hack), Little Mask and his Pals (art by Art Baltazar), Jughead Meets MIND MGMT: "S" is for Sleeper (art by Matt Kindt), and Josie and the Pussycats Meet Finder (art by Carla Speed McNeil).{{cite web |url= http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2015/11/05/archie-vs-predator-hc-review/ |title= Is It Good? Archie vs. Predator HC Review |last= Silber |first= Gregory Paul |date= November 5, 2015 |website= Adventures in Poor Taste |access-date= May 25, 2016 |archive-date= May 23, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160523192214/http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2015/11/05/archie-vs-predator-hc-review/ |url-status= live }} A 128-page hardcover collecting the series and bonus content was released November 4, 2015,{{cite press release |url= https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/28-168/Archie-vs-Predator-HC |title= Archie vs. Predator HC |publisher= Dark Horse Comics |access-date= February 18, 2016 }} followed by a 104-page softcover edition on August 21, 2019.{{cite press release |url= https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/3004-388/Archie-vs-Predator-TPB|title= Archie vs. Predator TPB|publisher= Dark Horse Comics |access-date= August 19, 2019 }}

When Archie and his friends take a spring break trip to Los Perdidos Resort, an alien, trophy-hunting Predator touches down in the nearby jungle. Betty and Veronica get into a fight during a contest and attract the attention of the Predator, who follows them home to Riverdale.{{cite comic|title=Archie vs. Predator|issue=1|story=Part 1|publisher=Dark Horse Comics, Archie Comics|writer=de Campi, Alex|artist=Ruiz, Fernando|date=April 2015}} While targeting Veronica, the Predator also kills several armed people. The creature's picture is taken by Betty. Kevin Keller's father, a US Military General, identifies it as a teenager from a race of nearly unstoppable alien hunters. The Kellers organize Archie's friends, and Jughead Jones is used as bait to lure the Predator, but the trap fails and the Predator kills most of the ambush party.{{cite comic|title=Archie vs. Predator|issue=2|story=To Live and Die in a Small Town|publisher=Dark Horse Comics, Archie Comics|writer=de Campi, Alex|artist=Ruiz, Fernando|date=May 2015}}

Some members of the group decide to split up in hopes the Predator will continue to pursue Veronica, allowing them to escape, while Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Dilton stay with Veronica. When the Predator attacks again, it kills Dilton and Jughead and critically wounds Archie.{{cite comic|title=Archie vs. Predator|issue=3|story=Part 3|publisher=Dark Horse Comics, Archie Comics|writer=de Campi, Alex|artist=Ruiz, Fernando|date=June 2015}} Betty and Veronica take refuge at Lodge Manor, where they hook Archie to an experimental healing machine. When the Predator attacks, Archie is killed and Veronica and Betty are critically wounded, which causes the Predator to show regret since it was motivated by a crush on Betty. Veronica recovers to find that Betty has used the healing machine to restore them both to full health and is now using it to transform the Predator into an Archie look-alike.{{cite comic|title=Archie vs. Predator|issue=4|story=Guess Who's Coming To Dinner|publisher=Dark Horse Comics, Archie Comics|writer=de Campi, Alex|artist=Ruiz, Fernando|date=July 2015}}

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.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 |website= The Comics Chronicles |access-date= February 17, 2016 |archive-date= July 16, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150716235731/http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015/2015-04.html |url-status= live }} Sales numbers fell just under 30% through the fourth issue, which was the 102nd best selling issue in July.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 |website= The Comics Chronicles |access-date= February 17, 2016 |archive-date= May 28, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200528025306/https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015/2015-07.html |url-status= live }} When the hardcover was released in November, it was the 36th best-selling comics collection of the month according to Diamond Comic Distributors.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 |website= The Comics Chronicles |access-date= February 17, 2016 |archive-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160302195553/http://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2015/2015-11.html |url-status= live }}

The first issue garnered an average review rating of 7.9 out of 10 according to the review aggregator Comic Book Roundup.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 |website=Comic Book Roundup |access-date=February 16, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308060008/http://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dark-horse-comics/archie-vs-predator/1 |archive-date=March 8, 2016 }} 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.{{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 |access-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-date= June 26, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200626215040/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/18/the-month-in-comics |url-status= live }} The book's "deeply funny dark humor" was a selling point for Robin Parrish at Tech Times,{{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 |access-date= March 2, 2016 |archive-date= August 11, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180811195735/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/46487/20150415/new-comic-book-day-april-15-2015-archie-battles-predator.htm |url-status= live }} and IGN reviewer Jeff Lake described the first issue as "pretty darn great".{{cite web|last=Lake|first=Jeff|title=Archie vs. Predator #1 Review|url=http://ca.ign.com/articles/2015/04/16/archie-vs-predator-1-review|work=IGN|access-date=November 9, 2015|date=April 15, 2015|archive-date=August 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811052618/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/16/archie-vs-predator-1-review|url-status=live}} The use of the traditional cartoon art style to depict gruesome scenes was described as "a visual loss of innocence" by Paste magazine.{{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 |access-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925180535/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/04/archie-vs-predator-1-by-alex-de-campi-fernando-rui.html |url-status=live }} Comic Bastards{{'}}s Dustin Cabeal called the miniseries "a hoot".{{cite web|last=Cabeal|first=Dustin|title=Review: Archie vs. Predator #4|url=http://comicbastards.com/comics/review-archie-vs-predator-4/|work=Comic Bastards|access-date=November 9, 2015|date=July 22, 2015|archive-date=February 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219192840/http://comicbastards.com/comics/review-archie-vs-predator-4/|url-status=live}} The series won the 2015 Ghastly Award for Best Limited Series.{{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 |access-date= March 8, 2016 |archive-date= May 5, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160505173003/http://www.ghastlyawards.com/2016/03/2015-ghastly-award-winners.html |url-status= live }}

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