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Exclusive: ARCHIE Variant Covers by Tim Seeley, Jill Thompson & Phil Jimenez

Check out the upcoming Archie variant covers plus some of the recent ones by the industry's top artists.

When it comes to variant covers, some people love them and others don't like them. For those that do enjoy them, it can become a matter of wanting to collect the different covers. It's a chance to get another great piece of art and often gives a different interpretation by today's great artists.

With variant covers, people might not immediately think about Archie comics but in case you're unaware, there have been many great variant covers released. Archie Comics has given us the exclusive first look at three new ones from Tim Seeley, Jill Thompson and Phil Jimenez along with their thoughts on their approach and interpretation.

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ARCHIE #645 by Tim Seeley

Sure I like drawing monsters and superheroes and all that, but one of the greatest honors I've had was drawing the lovely ladies of Archie! Betty & Veronica are two of the most enduring and important female characters in the history of comic books.
== TEASER ==
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BETTY AND VERONICA #266 by Jill Thompson

It's an honor to be able to draw characters that I have loved since I was a little girl and follow in the footsteps of some of my favorite Archie artists, Harry Lucey, Bob Bolling, Dan DeCarlo....their art shaped my childhood and are some of the main influences on my decision to become a comic book creator!
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LIFE WITH ARCHIE #30 by Phil Jimenez

Sure, I may be better known for drawing super-heroes and transforming robots, but when an opportunity to draw the Archie gang -- especially in my own "style" -- presented itself, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Talk about cultural icons! And talk about a universe of characters everyone knows, and if they don't, they should -- some of Archie's adventures and cast are more sophisticated and relevant to young people (and old) than half the material being printed by other publishers. I simply couldn't get over how cool Archie and his gang turned out to be, and how much fun they always are to draw!

Here's a list of past variant covers:

Archie Meets KISS 1-4

Archie #627-630

Variant Cover Artist: Francesco Francavilla

Archie #635 – Occupy Riverdale

Variant Cover Artist: Jill Thompson

Betty and Veronica #264 – Rapunzels

Variant Cover Artist: Alitha Martinez

Betty and Veronica #265 – Betty and the Beast

Variant Cover Artist: Renae De Liz

Life with Archie #23 – Afterlife with Archie

Variant Cover Artist: Franceso Francavilla

Life with Archie #24 – Josie and the Pussycats

Variant Cover Artist: Fiona Staples

Life with Archie # 26 – Super Teens

Variant Cover Artist: Jamal Igle

Life with Archie #27 – Grill of Thrones

Variant Cover Artist: Mike Norton

Life with Archie #28 – Americana

Variant Cover Artist: Ramón Pérez

Life with Archie #29

Variant Cover Artist: Jon Gray

Life with Archie #16 - Convention Exclusive Cover

Variant Cover Artist: Phil Jimenez

Here's a gallery of those covers:

Let your comic shop know if you're interested in the variants.

25 Comments

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Donovan Montgomery

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@mk111 said:

@TheHood said:

Anyone else notice Jughead's cameo?

Whoah, now I see him. The sneak! How did I miss that?

I caught his crown....then I saw this comment.....to funny.

I still love reading Archie mainly because even if I don't pick up the newest issues I can re-read my old ones as they rarely get old to read. I can only read my Marvel and Dc's so much but Archie just keeps entertaining.

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CapFanboy

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Edited By CapFanboy

@LarryDavis: I'm saying it better not be for touching kids.

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Trodorne

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Edited By Trodorne

I love Life With Archie: Married life.

@Bluefox170 said:

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This is what I think of when I seen that.

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impossibilly

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Edited By impossibilly

@mattitude22 said:

i always think of betty and veronic as sweet and inocent but what that first cover shows us is that there sweet and innocent but there sexy in a classy way and thats pretty cool

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sinestro_GL

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Edited By sinestro_GL

@Reignmaker said:

If Archie comics actually looked like that 1st variant, I'd be a reader. Shallow maybe, but true.
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gmanfromheck

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Edited By gmanfromheck

@jesusdisciple001 said:

If only an archie cud get 100 comments

Quite a bit of Facebook likes there. Also, there's been a bunch of RT's on Twitter. Comments do not represent views at all on articles here.

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LarryDavis

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Edited By LarryDavis

@CapFanboy said:

@mattitude22 said:

i always think of betty and veronic as sweet and inocent but what that first cover shows us is that there sweet and innocent but there sexy in a classy way and thats pretty cool

you saying you want to crush their heads with a salt lick?

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reignmaker

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Edited By reignmaker

If Archie comics actually looked like that 1st variant, I'd be a reader. Shallow maybe, but true.

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RedheadedAtrocitus

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That #645 variant cover is the best! Totally awesome I say.

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micangel

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Edited By micangel

Fiona and Phil, Wow!

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cbishop

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Edited By cbishop

Archie has been some interesting stuff to draw attention to their books the last few years. They're almost sneaky about it, but man, it seems to be working. Good for 'em.

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lifeboy

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Edited By lifeboy

i do lve these covers especially the grill of thrones, the super teens and i love the clothing of jimenez and jill thompson! thumbs way up ;-)

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lifeboy

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Edited By lifeboy

i would like to read this if the writing follows some of the themes the artist on here have set out. but i doubt that archie would ever change somany decades of cheesyness 2 girls chasing 1 boy strategy. just in case though, i think i will start skimming them at the checkout at walmart to see if it has become a good comic.

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mk111

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@TheHood said:

Anyone else notice Jughead's cameo?

Whoah, now I see him. The sneak! How did I miss that?

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thehood

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Edited By thehood

Anyone else notice Jughead's cameo?

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ARMIV2

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Edited By ARMIV2

These are some fantastic variants!

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NightFang3

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@jesusdisciple001 said:

If only an archie cud get 100 comments

If only : (

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Hermatt

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Edited By Hermatt

That seagull is up to something

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Bluefox170

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Edited By Bluefox170
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SavageDragon

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Edited By SavageDragon

Ive never thought of Betty or Veronica as "hot" characters. That 1st cover is very strange to me.

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weaponxx

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Edited By weaponxx

nice art.

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CapFanboy

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@mattitude22 said:

i always think of betty and veronic as sweet and inocent but what that first cover shows us is that there sweet and innocent but there sexy in a classy way and thats pretty cool

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jesusdisciple001

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Edited By jesusdisciple001

If only an Archie article could get 100 comments.

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impossibilly

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Edited By impossibilly

That Jimenez cover to Life With Archie 30 is tremendous. No one draws people in regular clothes like Phil Jimenez does. He's one of the few artists that pays attention to fashion and current trends.

That Fiona Staples Josie and the Pussy Cats cover is awesome as well.

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Matt102255

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Edited By Matt102255

i always think of betty and veronic as sweet and inocent but what that first cover shows us is that there sweet and innocent but there sexy in a classy way and thats pretty cool