MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
PTO/PTA!
So what could be cool enough that teachers, parents and kids can agree it rocks? What could make money for schools and save parents money? What can actually be fun for kids and help them to read - even help them learn English as a second language? And was it mentioned that it was cool? Any ideas what this wonder-product could be?
Comic books. More precisely: Archie Comic books. 
Here we are back again on another Tuesday with only a day before new comic day. Another new comic day that will hopefully introduce new kids and people to the world of comics. Archie Comics has probably introduced more people to the world of comics than any another company. As of 2006 Archie has been doing All Ages comics for 65 years. Think about that: according to a generation chart on Wikipedia.com Archie comics history spans 6 generations. The tail-end of the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Baby Busters, Generation X, Generation Y, and the newest Generation Z all fall within the life of Archie comics.
All through those years Archie has quietly been leading the charge in All Ages entertainment generation after generation. How many other companies let their editors, (me) free of influence; write a column like this one? A column that not only promotes the best their company has to offer (Archie Comics, of course) but also other All Ages comics? Nobody but Archie. 
Here is another good move on Archie’s part: with all those generations of Archie readers growing up and helping populate the following generations you develop a certain amount of readership loyalty. Almost daily letters and phone calls flow in from teachers and principles that grew up reading Archie Comics and how they use Archie comics to teach their students. Stories of comics, in particular Archie comics, used as teaching aides to teach English as a second language to both kids and adults. Stories from parents who pick up an Archie Comic at the supermarket check-out line in hopes their kid will be amused long enough to get out of the store in some sort of peace and quiet. Those parents are usually surprised how their kid who "never reads" can’t stop reading Archie stories. The letters are almost identical regardless of year or location; the results are the same, and their kids learn to love reading.
So a ways back the publisher of Archie, Michel Silberkleit, catches me on the way out and calls me to get into his office immediately. Usually, means big trouble like a book printed upside down or came back in shreds. Michael has a few scattered papers on his desk among the piles and sharply hand me a piece of paper from his printer “Here! Read this! Tell me what you think!” 
I totally thought I was going to get burned. My only thought was “What could have gone wrong?” The answer was nothing was wrong. Here was this idea to set up a program for Parent Teachers Organizations to help raise money for schools with Archie Comics.
Most of us remember our schools days and having to buy a certain amount of wrapping paper, other junk that kids never want to help our schools raise money. But here is a chance to help fund school programs and the kids actually get something out of it they want: Archie Comics. This was a really good idea and best of all I wasn’t in trouble. 
Here’s how Archie Comics Fundraising works with PTO/PTA and schools: each student picks from several options offered, which will be explained in a bit. All the amounts are nice round numbers, no tax to add up no shipping or handling costs. Archie absorbs both costs. Say a student orders $10.00 dollars of comics. Archie only bills the school for half that. The remaining $5.00 goes straight to the schools PTO/PTA. So if a thousand students in a school order $10.00 each the school earns $5,000. 50% of every dollar goes back into the schools.
Even better with this fundraising program is what is offered. Basically everything Archie produces is available, not unmovable stuff, but the choice material currently being published. Three different varieties of Archie Fun Packs, and the full line of graphic novels are all available. Theoretically if you order several of - say - Digest Fun Packs, each Fun Pack will be different from the next.
The first variety of Fun Packs each consist of three different Archie Digest issues; one of Betty and Veronica, one of Archie and one of Jughead. These are the smaller sized 96-page comics usually found at the supermarket racks. These run a $7.00 per Fun Pack. That’s 288 pages
The second variety of Fun Packs consist of three different Archie Double Digest featuring Betty and Veronica Double Digest, Archie’s Pals N’ Gals Double Digest, and Jughead's Double Digest. These are the smaller sized 200-page comic also found at the Supermarket checkout line. These run at $11.00 each which gives you 600 pages total comic pages. 
The third Fun Pack Variety consist of ten issues of the 32-page size comics. These are the traditional size 6x10 comic size. The five options are Betty and Veronica, Archie, Jughead and Friends, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch at $16.00 a Fun Pack.
Next up are ten different Archie 96-page Graphic Novels each at $10.00 each. And last but not least: Archie’s Love Showdown (the story that finally answers the question Betty or Veronica . . . sort of) for just $5.00.
This may seem somewhat self-serving, but promoting this offer is the same reason that leads to writing this column: comics matter to me.
Apparently they matter to the Archie Comics publisher too. Michael Silberkleit, when learning about this week's column, offered his phone number 914-381-5155, ext-213 and his personal e-mail: MikeS@ArchieComics.com (subject: Archie PTO/PTA Fundraiser) to answer any questions. Leave your school's name and address and contact phone number or email address and the number of orders you need.
I told you kids, parents and teachers would love this weeks column.
See ya next Tuesday for two of the best “little” characters around and will make you wish for the days when you were a kid!
As always thanks for reading, and feel free to send your comments and recommendations to: MikeP@SilverBulletComicbooks.com
In the meantime here are some new All Ages reads on sale this week:
JUL060210 SCOOBY DOO #112 $2.25
MAR061856 LIONS TIGERS & BEARS VOL 2 #3 (OF 4) $2.99
JUL062883 BETTY #159 $2.25
JUL063158 DONALD DUCK AND FRIENDS #344 $2.95
JUL062887 JUGHEAD AND FRIENDS DIGEST #14 $2.49
JUL063159 MICKEY MOUSE AND FRIENDS #293 $2.95
JUL062889 PALS N GALS DOUBLE DIGEST #106 $3.69
UL062976 SIMPSONS COMICS #122 $2.99
JUL062892 SONIC X #12 $2.25
JUL060201 KRYPTO THE SUPER DOG #1 (OF 6) $2.25
Entertainment for Every Age is © Mike Pellerito 2006-
Logo Designed by Joe Pep