Writers Ben Winters, Corinna Bechko, And Patrick Horvath Chat About Oni Press’ New Archie Slate
by Rachel Bellwoar
It doesn’t get more comforting than seeing familiar friends in new stories. Whether your preference is classic Archie, witchcraft (courtesy of Sabrina), or horror of the Afterlife with Archie variety, Oni’s upcoming Archie slate has a series for every Archie fan. For more from the writers behind these new outings, plus a first look at character designs by Kano (Sabrina) and Fábio Moon (Archie), check out this interview with Ben Winters, Corinna Bechko, and Patrick Horvath below:
Rachel Bellwoar: You wouldn’t know it to look at them, but Archie and his friends have been around for 85 years. What do you think keeps these characters relevant, and can Archie characters grow up, or is it better that they stay teenagers?
Ben Winters (Archie): They are relevant now for the same reason they were relevant when they first popped up in 1942: because they are both incredibly specific and incredibly universal. You look at Archie, you see the way he is torn between these two beauties, you see how he’s loyal to his friends, you see how he wants to do well at school but also kind of hates it, and you go: yeah. Yeah, I know that guy, or some version of that guy, you know? And I think they gotta stay teenagers, although I also think it’s interesting, now and then, to see how adulthood is looming, shadowing their lives, intriguing them, as it does for all kids.
Corinna Bechko (Sabrina the Teenage Witch): Yes, they must stay teens! I think that’s how they work best and why they stay relevant. There’s so much that’s new and dramatic and terrible and (even for the characters who aren’t Sabrina) magical about that age. I don’t think anyone wants to see a cynical Archie or Sabrina.
Patrick Horvath (Archie in Hell): Yep, I think the eternal teenager is the way to go. I think part of the universality of Archie and company is the fact that they always remain at that age. Whether it’s something to aspire to for really young readers or the nostalgia that older readers hold onto, it holds something for everyone. There’s also this sort of magic state of all possible realities that they exist in. They could literally grow up to be anything, and because they haven’t crossed some threshold that can’t be undone, it allows them to live on in this perpetual state of their defined character.
Bellwoar: Do you remember the first time you picked up an issue of Archie Comics or encountered the characters in other media?
Winters: It might have been in the classic 1969 single “Sugar, Sugar,” by The Archies, from the album Everything’s Archie. That song, like Archie, still holds up.
Bechko: I honestly am not sure! It seems like they were always around. Just an intrinsic part of being a kid. There’s something comforting about that.
Horvath: I’d seen them around forever, but I think the very first time I actually opened up a digest and read through it was at a public library.
Bellwoar: What interested you in telling an Archie story set in 2026?
Winters: Oh, man, it’s a no-brainer. It’s the kind of job offer you don’t say no to. To get to make new stories out of these characters, who’ve passed through the hands of so many other cool writers and artists? To get to put your hands on something that’s been part of the world’s cultural firmament for so long? And also to write anything that you know a lot of people will see is a humbling feeling. The whole experience is a delight.
Bechko: I couldn’t say no! I love how Sabrina can hold things that are goofy and things that are serious and things that have mind-bending implications in a single story. That sort of character never gets old. If anything, our world is stranger than it was last century. Writing about that through the lens of a teenage witch is an absolute joy. Plus, I get to work with Kano, an amazing artist who really understands Sabrina’s world.
Horvath: I honestly hadn’t thought about it until Hunter Gorinson from Oni called to discuss it. It just seemed like such a fun experiment for myself that I couldn’t say no.
Bellwoar: Will your story be primarily set in Riverdale/Greendale or will you be taking the characters to new locations?
Winters: Primarily Riverdale, although I’m having fun expanding it outward a bit, finding new locations in this town. Did you know there was a Mount Riverdale, for example, which is very high and kind of scary at the top, and has a Wise Man who sits cross-legged up there, answering questions? Well, there is!
Bechko: Given Sabrina’s magical nature, this is a “yes and” type of question. She’s anchored in Greendale, but there’s no end to where her powers can take her. Sometimes there’s a whole other world on the other side of a cat door.
Horvath: Oh, we’ll definitely be sticking around Riverdale for Archie in Hell, but the interesting part to all of that is where in time.
Bellwoar: Overall do you prefer slice of life Archie comics or the stories that drop these characters into fantastic situations?
Winters: Hm. Slice of life, I think. Although I dig slice of life stories that are just slightly surreal and unsettling, as actual life is for all of us, sometimes.
Bechko: For Sabrina, I think there is little difference. For her, everything is fantastical and also mundane. It makes writing her really fun.
Horvath: I enjoy my Archie stories with a decent helping of both. If there’s any way to have a story where the mundane is shuffled in with the chaos, that’s my happy place.
Bellwoar: Is there a character you prefer writing for or that you identify with the most?
Winters: Jughead all day. He’s a bit of an outsider, a bit of an oddball, a bit of a loner, with a deep well of knowledge that he expresses in surprising ways. I bet if you polled all the world’s writers and artists and asked them your question, you’d come out at least 80% Jughead.
Bechko: I’m afraid it says more about me than I want that I have to say Salem, Sabrina’s familiar. I love writing him. I also identify a bit with Sabrina’s aunts. Let’s hear it for the aunts of the world, both adopted and genetic! They get to have adventures that might be too much for some parents.
Horvath: It’s becoming a toss-up for me between Jughead and Sabrina.
Bellwoar: How has this experience been different or similar to other series you’ve written for?
Winters: You know, I’ve written a lot of books, and a lot of TV, but I’m still relatively young in the world of comics. So Archie is my favorite, both by default and on points. I can’t wait to keep going!
Bechko: I have this problem where every character I write becomes my favorite as I’m writing them. So right now, Sabrina, her friends, and her cat are my true loves. I’ve really enjoyed working with Oni, too. I can’t say enough good things about my editor, Megan Brown, and the other editorial teams I’ve worked with there.
Horvath: I’m still a newcomer to all of this, so it’s a brand new experience in terms of doing a nice little run within an extremely well-established world. That said, it’s been great so far. It’s also a new experience for me to write a whole run with another artist drawing it. Tyler Crook has been such a treat to work with!
Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview Ben, Corinna, and Patrick!
Archie #1 goes on sale September 2nd from Oni Press and Archie Comics. Sabrina the Teenage Witch is set to launch in October, while Archie in Hell will start in November. For an advanced peek at the character designs, scroll on:
Kano, on creating these character designs:
“Working on the redesigns for these iconic Archie characters was a real challenge, because the last thing you want to do is change them. They’re beloved, instantly recognizable, and hold a special place in fans’ hearts. My approach, both with the Archie cast and on Sabrina, was the opposite, while still celebrating and honoring their original essence. I searched for modern aesthetics that feel true to their classic styles and personalities, creating a richer visual toolkit for the other artists. My goal was to provide versatile references that allow them to enhance each character’s look and adapt their outfits as the stories demand, while staying faithful to who they are. I hope these designs become a helpful foundation for the whole relaunch team.”
On which character design is his favorite, Kano also revealed:
“And I probably shouldn’t say this … but Jughead’s design is my favorite! Archie is legendary, of course — but Jughead had the most exciting room to evolve while still celebrating everything that makes him special.”
Then with regard to his designs, Fábio Moon explained:
“My focus on these characters isn’t as much in what they look like — that was Kano’s job — but more in how they behave and how their body language and fashion choices can help us convey their distinct personalities.”
