"Originally published by Archie Comic Publications as Archie's Joke Book issues #1-11"--Prelim.

The true story of the artist whose high school years in Massachusetts inspired Riverdale. Bob Montana, creator of the Archie comic strip and one of America’s greatest cartoonists, always considered himself a true New Englander. Filled with the antics of the rambunctious teenagers of the fictional Riverdale High, Montana’s comic strip was based on his high school years in Haverhill, Massachusetts. At the height of his career, he lived as a beloved resident in the quaint, picturesque town of Meredith in the heart of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. For nearly thirty years, he was considered an extraordinarily respected contributor to the community. Drawing from the Yankee humor he saw around him, Montana deftly included local scenes, events, and characters in the puns and pranks of Archie’s comic-strip life. Join Lakes Region historian Carol Lee Anderson as she takes readers beyond the comic strip and tells the story of the remarkable New England life of Bob Montana.

Continuing the Eisner Award-winning series of the rare Archie newspaper strips by Bob Montana, we turn our attention to his remarkable, full-color Sunday pages. Archie''s Sunday Best is the first-ever collection of the late 1940s and early 1950s Sundays. Montana is approaching the peak of his creative juices in these pages, which feature classic Archie themes and characters.

Archie in “Welcome to Mirrordale”—A date night with Betty turns into an inter-universe collision when the Madhouse Carnival comes to Riverdale! Archie has a lot to reflect on when he takes a trip to the House of Mirrors, but little does he know those mirrors are more than they appear! He’s catapulted into a world where everything seems familiar to home—just a bit different! Can Archie make it back to his date in Riverdale, or is he doomed to switch places with his mirror-world counterpart forever? There’s only one way to find out!

"A chronicle of the life and career of famous cartoonist and New Englander Bob Montana from birth to death (1920-1975), with a particular focus on his life in Meredith, New Hampshire"--

COMIC SUPERSTARS MARK WAID AND FIONA STAPLES REIMAGINE AN ICON! Change is coming to Riverdale in this can’t-miss kick-off to Archie's new ongoing series! Familiar faces return in new and unexpected ways in this must-have #1 issue! As the new school year approaches, you'd think Archie Andrews would be looking forward to classes and fun—but nothing is as it seems in the little town of Riverdale. But is this a one-off or a sign of bigger changes awaiting for America's favorite teens—and the entire town? Find out in this exciting and remarkable first issue!

Long before Archie Andrews had to finally choose between Betty and Veronica, cartoonist Bob Montana guided Archie and his gang into a series of outlandish antics and gags on a daily basis for nearly 30 years. Starting with these very first strips from 1946-1948, Montana's brilliant storytelling and animated flair for humor comes to life in strips that have never been reprinted previously. Fans can now marvel at the laughable love triangle, sexy women, bumbling sidekicks, and overbearing educators, and rediscover, or discover for the first time, the genius of Bob Montana in this award-winning collection. Winner of the 2011 Eisner Award for Best Archival Collection/Project-Strips.