Archie Comics Is Bringing Back One of Its Classic Superheroines

Archie could be finest recognized for the world of Riverdale and its inhabitants, however the comics firm has finished far more style twisting than sometimes turning Jughead right into a werewolf, or the exploring the magical escapades of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. In the times of its Red Circle imprint, the writer was as a lot within the superhero recreation as DC or Marvel—and now, it’s bringing a type of classics again.

io9 can solely reveal a primary look contained in the return of Darla Lang—aka the magical heroine Darkling—for a brand new one-shot set to launch in November. Penned by YA writer Sarah Kuhn, and that includes artwork from Carola Borelli and colours from Ellie Wright, the brand new guide transposes Darla right into a The Magicians-esque darkish academia thriller, as she investigates Ivy Hollow University to uncover its darkest secrets and techniques… and discover just a few of her personal, just like the magical teleporting cloak she wields because the Darkling!

“Our version of Darkling—aka Darla Lang—is a lonely outcast college student who longs to be free of what she sees as her ‘curse.’ Said curse takes the form of the voluminous black cape she wears everywhere, which gives her special powers and a connection to the supernatural world,” Kuhn instructed io9 over electronic mail. “We wanted to take Darla on a journey—from feeling alone in the world to making her first-ever friend, from fearing her powers to embracing her unique gifts, from shy loner to empowered superheroine. Those types of themes and arcs are some of my favorites to explore in stories.”

“I have always loved magic. I grew up with the Sabrina TV show and fantasy novels, so when I had the chance to give life to a project like this, I used all my knowledge and all the love I have for Gothic architecture and its aesthetics,” Borelli added. “These pages gave me the opportunity to experiment with blacks and effects, with atmospheres and details, as well as being able to play with outfits and draw meaningful female characters. I hope that you can see all the fun and love that I put into every panel!”

“We also got to surround Darla with some irresistibly haunted dark academia vibes—hidden passageways and secret libraries and a mysterious forest surrounding campus,” Kuhn continued. “We got to show her opening up, becoming vulnerable, and learning how to connect with other extremely cool weirdos. And we got to tell a story about a young woman learning to love and fully embrace the incredible power that lives within her.”

Click by means of to see just a few pages contained in the Darkling one shot, which is about to hit cabinets November 22.