‘Archie vs. Sharknado’ Is a Real Comic That Is Being Published

Archie Comics has officially jumped the Sharknado.

In an move that is absolutely not an April Fools' joke, because that was more than two weeks ago, Archie will be teaming up with the filmmakers behind the intentionally cheesy Sharknado movie series for a 48-page one shot titled Archie vs. Sharknado. The issue, co-written by Archie stalwart Dan Parent and Sharknado trilogy director Anthony C. Ferrante, and featuring art by Parent and Rich Koslowski, will come out July 22, the same day Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! premieres on SyFy.

Here's the solicitation copy describing the wild events of the book:

It's that time of year in Riverdale! The end of the school year.  Time for beaches, barbecues, fun in the sun and... SHARKNADOS!?!  That's right, get ready as Archie and the gang brave the storm of a tornado full a sharks that riffs off the pop culture phenomenon known as Sharknado! The story unfolds as sharknados are spotted on the “Feast” Coast! Our heroines have to figure out how to get back to Riverdale, where the storm is about to hit next. Soon Archie and the gang go, go, go as they battle the Sharknado-ravaged Riverdale! Who will live? Who will die? Will this take a BITE out of the end-of-the-year prom? Uh....probably!

Also of note: The issue will be "concurrent" with the plot of Sharknado 3. You've got to get your continuity right in these kinds of things.

For Parent, this project is apparently a dream come true. Here's his quote from the Archie press release:

I can't tell you the thrill of working on Sharknado. I might be the biggest Sharknado fan, watching multiple airings of the movies, going to theatrical screenings. attending the Riff Trax versions and then buying the DVDs. So to be able to bring Sharknado into the world of Archie is a dream come true. And to be working on it with Sharknado director Anthony C. Ferrante is the icing on the cake! I promise to put my all into this project to make all the Sharknado - and Archie - fans proud!!!

Archie has developed a real penchant for tapping into the cultural zeitgeist as of late, not only with events like the death of Archie, but also through some genre experimentation with titles such as Afterlife with Archie, and crossovers such as Archie vs. Predator.

While I'm at it, I should note that Sharknado 3 includes cameos from Mark Cuban (who is playing the president), Ann Coulter, Michele Bachmann, Jerry Springer, NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick, and wrestler Chris Jericho. Will Archie meet any of them? Will he actually fight a sharknado? Only time will tell.