Archie vs Minor Threats: Patton Oswalt And Jordan Blum Lead Riverdale's Wildest Crossover Yet (Exclusive)
It has been a year of thrilling crossovers for comic book fans so far, and now readers have another big one to get excited about, as Archie and the iconic Riverdale Gang get mixed up in the world of Minor Threats, the series co-created by comedian and author Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum.
Screen Rant is honored to share the exclusive announcement of Archie vs. Minor Threats #1, written by Oswalt and Blum, along with Timmy Heague, and featuring art by Scott Koblish, an epic amalgamation that smashes together the worlds of Archie Comics, a pop culture staple for over eighty years, and Minor Threats, which has quickly established itself as a fan-favorite series, after debuting in 2023.
The four-issue miniseries will bring together “Twilight City’s favorite villains and Riverdale’s favorite teenagers,” in an arc that publisher Dark Horse Comics promises will have “lasting ramifications.”
Exclusive: The Next Chapter Of "Minor Threats" Brings Its Characters Face-To-Face With The Archie Comics Gang
Archie vs. Minor Threats #1; Written By Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, And Timmy Heague; Art By Scott Koblish; Color By Hi-Fi; Lettering By Nate Piekos
As revealed by the initial synopsis for the crossover, the worlds of Minor Threats and Archie will collide thanks to Riverdale’s resident magic-wielder, Sabrina; tonally, it sounds like the series will lean into the darkly comedic violence of Oswalt and Blum’s series, making it a “fish out of water” story for Archie and company. Curiously, the synopsis teases that Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica won’t all end up on the same side of the dangerous conflict at the heart of the series. Dark Horse’s preview for Archie vs. Minor Threats reads:
It's your favorite high schoolers forced to fight your favorite costumed villains in a story that will have lasting ramifications for all involved! Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and friends are on their way to Twilight City for a field trip when the magical meddling of Sabrina the Teenage Witch lands them in the seedy underbelly of Redport, the most villainous part of town, which is controlled by Frankie Follis, aka Playtime, and her gang of Minor Threats. Archie and the others suddenly find themselves drafted into both sides of the war Playtime is waging against magic users on her turf. One thing is for sure: blood and milkshakes will be spilled!
Based on this, readers can already get a sense of how the Archie Comics characters can play a role in furthering the overarching narrative of Minor Threats, making this more than a frivolous non-canon crossover. There is a promise of real stakes in Archie vs. Minor Threats; given Archie’s reputation, and the seeming incongruities between Archie Comics and Minor Threats, fans might take this for a novelty, but it appears that will be far from the case when the series commences.
Patton Oswalt And Jordan Blum's "Minor Threats" And "Archie" Are An Odd Couple Crossover Match-Up
What Makes The Match-Up Low-Key Genius
Minor Threats co-creator Jordan Blum himself noted that the disparity between Archie Comics and his series is a foundational part of the excitement of the series; for the creators, it was a question of how to make the two franchises fit together, and similarly, readers will enjoy watching the puzzle pieces fall into place over the course of Archie vs. Minor Threats’ four issues. Further, the series is designed to have serious narrative consequences. As Blum put it:
Some of my favorite comic crossovers have been the ones where you go "how the hell is that gonna work?!" Which, by the way, is the appropriate response to pitting the all-American teenagers of Archie against the down on their luck supervillains of Minor Threats. What was born out of this unlikely pairing was a story that dramatically affects the events of Frankie's journey and super crime for years to come, while also exploring unique character dynamics that challenge the Riverdale gang's status quo like we've never seen. This is one of the funniest, most action-packed, most violently unhinged stories we've ever done and one that can only exist in the medium of comics. Put on your domino masks and raise your milkshakes... this one is gonna be a barn burner!
Interview: Minor Threats Team Dives Into the Family Dynamics of THE BROOD
With Dark Horse’s hilarious Minor Threats gaining another spin-off, Screen Rant sits down with The Brood’s creative team to see what’s on the horizon.
In other words, Blum, Patton Oswalt, and their co-creators have ambitious plans for Minor Threats, and this is a pivotal next step.
All of that is to say, the creators of Archie vs. Minor Threats have great designs for their series, in which they will deliver, as Blum said, a story “that can only exist in the medium of comics.” Patton Oswalt, meanwhile, was more concise than his co-creator in hyping the series, yet even more effusive, stating:
Not since Alan Moore’s WATCHMEN crossed over with Bazooka Joe has there been a comics match-up as made in heaven as this one! Prepare to be TRANSPORTED.
Hyperbolic and tongue-in-cheek as this might be, it still serves to set a high bar for what the authors intend to achieve with this miniseries. Based on what they have done with Minor Threats so far, they can be expected to succeed.
The All-Star Creative Team Behind "Archie Vs. Minor Threats" Wants You To Be As Hyped As They Are
Archie vs. Minor Threats #1; Covers By Mike Allred, Scott Hepburn, Patrick Horvath, Scott Koblish, Dan Parent, And Joe Quinones
Joining Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt to write Archie vs. Minor Threats is Timmy Heague, whose experience writing Archie Comicswill be an integral ingredient in the mash-up. Heague also has written action before, making him an even more perfect fit as a collaborator for the minds behind Minor Threats, and he is understandably thrilled to have landed the assignment, opining:
"When I write comics set in the town of Riverdale, it's like hanging with my friends. Now I'm writing the adventures of my favorite fictional friends with my best friends Jordan and Patton, where their comic book creations get to crossover with some of my all-time favorite characters in all of comic book history. For my first four issue mini-series, I couldn't ask for anything more. Also, Scott Koblish on art?! Riverdale and Twilight City are not ready for the mind-blowing awesomeness that he is cooking on these pages! Archie and the gang are NOT ready. Anyway, someone got a milkshake and a burger? All this comic stuff makes a guy hungry!"
Overall, the series sounds like it is going to go off the rails in the most spectacular way possible.
Also added to the mix is artist Scott Koblish, whose long tenure in the comic book industry is just one more reason for readers to be confident that Archie vs. Minor Threats is going to fire on all cylinders. Like everyone else associated with the series, Kublish had nothing but praise for the experience of working on the book, at the end result, stating:
“This is one of the most challenging and rewarding projects I’ve ever attempted! I’m really excited to be working with Patton, Jordan, Timmy, Hi-Fi and all the incredibly supportive folks at Dark Horse and Archie who are encouraging me to take my art to the next level on something truly unique!! Strap in, the thrusters are set to reach the stars on this one!!!”
Ultimately, if fans weren’t stoked for Archie vs. Minor Threats upon first hearing about it, these comments from the creators should reiterate that it will be a must-read.
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It is also worth remembering that a Minor Threats adaptation is currently in development at Netflix; without question, the franchise has the potential to be the next great comic book adaptation, and that means every entry into the series’ comic book canon is important, because it provides a blueprint for future incarnations of these characters. Now, Archie and his friends will make a definitive mark on Minor Threats moving forward, and it seems they won’t escape from the ordeal unscathed themselves, either.
Archie vs. Minor Threats #1 (of 4) will be available August 6, 2025 from Dark Horse Comics.
- Writer
- Bob Montana, John L. Goldwater
- Penciler
- Various
- Inker
- Various
- Colorist
- Various
- Letterer
- Various
- Publisher(s)
- Archie Comic Publications
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