Red Circle Comics
Encyclopedia
Red Circle Comics was an imprint
used by Archie Comics Publications, Inc. to publish non-Archie characters, especially their superheroes, in the 1970s and '80s.
(based on the movie of the same name) in July 1974. Shortly thereafter, Mad House
(a re-title of Mad House Glads) would also be published under the Red Circle Comics line starting with issue #95 (Sept. 1974). This would end after #97 (January 1975), when the title reverted back to being a standard Archie humor title.
In 1978 and 1979, Archie published two digests
collecting their superhero materials from the 1960s. The first was titled Archie's Super Hero Special. The second issue was titled Archie's Super Hero Comic Digest Magazine, and is notable for publishing the previously unpublished revamp of the Black Hood done by Gray Morrow
and Neal Adams
. There was nothing on their covers to indicate they were Red Circle titles; only the interior indicia indicated the publisher.
's JCP Features #1, in December 1981, which reprinted the new Black Hood materials that appeared in Archie Super Hero Comic Digest Magazine #2. In March 1983, the first issue of Mighty Crusaders
appeared, which led to many new titles under the Red Circle Comics banner. With the February 1984 issues, this line had been renamed the "Archie Adventure Series." By September 1985, the entire line had been cancelled. The next attempt at using the characters would have been the promised "Spectrum" line, but that line never came out because the proposed changes to the characters were considered too radical by Archie Comics' management. Archie's super-heroes were later leased to DC Comics
for use in its short-lived Impact
line. Since then, there have been only occasional appearances in Archie titles, probably to preserve their ownership.
imprint back in the 1990's.
Recently the entire catalogue of characters created by Red Circle have been licensed for use by DC Comics. The new licensing plan was to introduce them into the DC Universe
through the series The Brave and the Bold
in stories written by J. Michael Straczynski
. This plan changed and, with the same writer attached, they appeared in Red Circle line, a series of one-shots which lead into two ongoing Shield and Web titles, each of which was canceled after the publication of only ten issues. The characters were planned to be incorporated into the regular DC Universe, but in July 2011, it was revealed that DC no longer had the rights to them.
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
used by Archie Comics Publications, Inc. to publish non-Archie characters, especially their superheroes, in the 1970s and '80s.
Phase 1: 1970s
The Red Circle Comics line was first used to publish Chilling Adventures in Sorcery in October 1973, which for its first two issues was called Chilling Adventures in Sorcery as told by Sabrina. With the third issue, the title was renamed and published under the Red Circle Comics line. With issue #6 it was renamed Red Circle Sorcery and lasted until issue #11 (Feb. 1975). Red Circle published one issue of The Super CopsThe Super Cops
The Super Cops is a 1974 film starring Ron Leibman and David Selby, directed by Gordon Parks. The film is based on the book The Super Cops: The True Story Of The Cops Called Batman and Robin by L.H. Whittemore...
(based on the movie of the same name) in July 1974. Shortly thereafter, Mad House
Archie's Mad House
Archie's Mad House was a comic book published by Archie Comics from 1959 to 1982. The series went through a number of overhauls and name changes. Classic stories have occasionally appeared in digest magazines.-History:...
(a re-title of Mad House Glads) would also be published under the Red Circle Comics line starting with issue #95 (Sept. 1974). This would end after #97 (January 1975), when the title reverted back to being a standard Archie humor title.
In 1978 and 1979, Archie published two digests
Digest size
Digest size is a magazine size, smaller than a conventional or "journal size" magazine but larger than a standard paperback book, approximately 5½ x 8¼ inches, but can also be 5⅜ x 8⅜ inches and 5½ x 7½ inches. These sizes have evolved from the printing press operation end...
collecting their superhero materials from the 1960s. The first was titled Archie's Super Hero Special. The second issue was titled Archie's Super Hero Comic Digest Magazine, and is notable for publishing the previously unpublished revamp of the Black Hood done by Gray Morrow
Gray Morrow
Dwight Graydon "Gray" Morrow was an American illustrator of paperback books and comics.-Biography:Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Morrow is best known as art director of Spider-Man between 1967 and 1970 and as illustrator of the syndicated Tarzan, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and Prince Valiant comic...
and Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
. There was nothing on their covers to indicate they were Red Circle titles; only the interior indicia indicated the publisher.
Phase 2: 1980s
In the 1980s, Archie made a more concerted effort to reuse their superheroes. The first appearance was in JC ComicsJC Comics
JC Comics , was a short-lived comic book company owned by John Carbonaro . JC published a few titles in the early 1980s, most notably comics featuring the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents....
's JCP Features #1, in December 1981, which reprinted the new Black Hood materials that appeared in Archie Super Hero Comic Digest Magazine #2. In March 1983, the first issue of Mighty Crusaders
Mighty Crusaders
The Mighty Crusaders is a fictional superhero team published by Archie Comics. The team originally appeared in Fly-Man #31, #32 and #33 before being launched in its own title, Mighty Crusaders. Written by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel, the series lasted seven issues before being cancelled. The...
appeared, which led to many new titles under the Red Circle Comics banner. With the February 1984 issues, this line had been renamed the "Archie Adventure Series." By September 1985, the entire line had been cancelled. The next attempt at using the characters would have been the promised "Spectrum" line, but that line never came out because the proposed changes to the characters were considered too radical by Archie Comics' management. Archie's super-heroes were later leased to DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
for use in its short-lived Impact
Impact Comics
Impact Comics was an imprint of DC Comics that was aimed at younger audiences. It was begun in 1991 and ended by 1993....
line. Since then, there have been only occasional appearances in Archie titles, probably to preserve their ownership.
Characters
- Black Hood (nephew of original Black Hood)
- The Comet
- Darkling
- The Fly
- FlygirlFlygirlFlygirl is a super-heroine published by Archie Comics.Kim Brand was an actress rescued by The Fly from a fall from a hotel window in issue #13 of The Adventures of the Fly. Kim fell in love with the superhero...
- The Fox (son of original Fox)
- Hangman (son of original Hangman)
- The Jaguar
- Mr. JusticeTerrific ThreeThe Terrific Three was the name of a group of superheroes; it was an offshoot of the group known as The Mighty Crusaders, published by Archie Comics. The Terrific Three were Steel Sterling, The Jaguar, and Mr. Justice...
- Lancelot Strong: Shield (soon killed off)
- ManTech Robot Warriors
- Shield (son of original Shield)
- Steel Sterling
- The WebWEB (comics)The Web is a team of superpowered agents published under DC Comics Impact Comics line. The team is based on Archie Comics old superhero, The Web.Created by Len Strazewski and Tom Artis, its first appearance was in The Web #1 September 1991 .-Members:...
(son of the original)
Licensing by DC
DC had previously revamped the Red Circle characters under the Impact ComicsImpact Comics
Impact Comics was an imprint of DC Comics that was aimed at younger audiences. It was begun in 1991 and ended by 1993....
imprint back in the 1990's.
Recently the entire catalogue of characters created by Red Circle have been licensed for use by DC Comics. The new licensing plan was to introduce them into the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
through the series The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold
The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
in stories written by J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
. This plan changed and, with the same writer attached, they appeared in Red Circle line, a series of one-shots which lead into two ongoing Shield and Web titles, each of which was canceled after the publication of only ten issues. The characters were planned to be incorporated into the regular DC Universe, but in July 2011, it was revealed that DC no longer had the rights to them.