27 Facts About MLJ Comics

MLJ Comics is known for its long-running Sonic the Hedgehog comic series, which it published from 1992 until 2016.

Archie MLJ Comics was the title of the company's longest-running publication, the first issue appearing with a cover date of Winter 1942.

MLJ Comics name was derived from the initials of the partners' first names.

MLJ Comics's efforts were focused on the business, printing, separating, distribution and financial ends of the company.

In November 1939, Pep MLJ Comics debuted with the Shield, the first USA patriotic comic book hero, created by writer and managing editor Harry Shorten and designed by artist Irv Novick.

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Archie MLJ Comics found their appearance still too close to its copyrighted properties, and threatened another lawsuit.

Archie MLJ Comics held onto the copyright and refused to allow the story to be republished.

MLJ Comics revived that imprint in the 1980s for its brief line of superheroes comics.

Later in the 1980s, Archie planned to publish superheroes again with the Spectrum MLJ Comics imprint, featuring a number of high-profile talents, but it cancelled this attempt before publishing a single issue.

The day before the play was scheduled to open, Archie MLJ Comics issued a cease and desist order, threatening litigation if the play proceeded as written.

Archie MLJ Comics thought if Archie was portrayed as being gay, that would dilute and tarnish his image.

Archie MLJ Comics sued music duo The Veronicas for trademark infringement in 2005 over the band's name, which Archie MLJ Comics alleges was taken from the comic book character.

MLJ Comics sued Silberkleit in July 2011, and Goldwater filed another lawsuit against her in January 2012, alleging she was making bad business decisions and alienating staff; she in turn sued him for defamation.

Archie MLJ Comics saw its graphic novel and collected edition output increase from 11 book titles that year to 33 in 2012, and 40 in 2013.

At the New York Comic Con in October 2011, Archie MLJ Comics announced that its superheroes would return as an all-digital line under the Red Circle imprint, a subscription model with back-issue archive access.

In October 2013, Archie MLJ Comics launched its first horror title, Afterlife with Archie, depicting Archie and the gang dealing with a zombie apocalypse that begins in their hometown of Riverdale.

MLJ Comics stated that the three titles would still be published at a later time.

In December 2014, Archie MLJ Comics announced that its flagship series Archie would relaunch with a new first issue in July 2015.

In February 2017, Marvel had licensed Archie MLJ Comics to publish Marvel Digests collections for the newsstand market starting in November 2017.

In January 1940, Pep MLJ Comics debuted featuring the Shield, America's first patriotic comic book hero, by writer and managing editor Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick.

Later revivals of the MLJ superheroes occurred under a number of imprints: Archie Adventure Series, Mighty Comics, Red Circle Comics and one aborted attempt, Spectrum Comics.

Archie's Silver Age relaunch of its superheroes under the Archie Adventure Series imprint and then the Mighty MLJ Comics imprint began with a new version of the Shield and two new characters the Jaguar and the Fly.

Archie planned to publish superheroes again in the late 1980s with an imprint called Spectrum MLJ Comics, featuring a number of high-profile talents, including Steve Englehart, Jim Valentino, Marv Wolfman, Michael Bair, Kelley Jones, and Rob Liefeld.

In 2012, Archie MLJ Comics relaunched its superhero imprint, Red Circle MLJ Comics, as an all-digital line under a subscription model with back issues archive access starting with New Crusader.

In 2015, Archie MLJ Comics rebranded its superhero imprint under the new title Dark Circle MLJ Comics.

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In 2007, Archie MLJ Comics launched a "new look" series of stories, featuring Archie characters drawn in an updated, less cartoony style similar to the characters' first appearance.

In 2015, Archie MLJ Comics announced that they would be bringing Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the rest of the Riverdale gang to Broadway with an all-new musical.