A lot is going on with AI these days, as we all know. I use lots of AI for lots of reasons. In many cases, it improves my productivity and helps me do what I am trying to do—be better. I am never one to ask AI for something and then cut and paste whatever it spits out. Not that I sometimes don’t!
I often use them to create social media posts or descriptions for podcast episodes. Sometimes they churn out EXACTLY what I am looking for and use it. In other ways, like a column, where I usually do background research and provide clarifications. Then I gather what they churn out and put it all in my own voice.
Last year, I was doing the above, and up pops, “Would you like a podcast on [whatever]?” Out of curiosity, I said, “Sure!” What they popped out were two AI hosts talking about a topic that was not only flattering but also accurate. I know, because I sent what it churned out to the actual people to see what they thought.
I thought, well… for giggles, to do something AI on Archie. Here is what I both that I: “Of all of the special trade editions that Archie Comics has put out in the last five years, not comics, or trades where they collect past issues of a series—what trades would you recommend and why? Don’t make your answer too long.” So, here are the Top Three for the ones I went to for their esteemed recommendations.
Co-Pilot:
The Archie Encyclopedia — Why: The single best reference book Archie has ever produced. Clean design, character histories, creators, timelines — perfect for research, columns, and interviews.
Archie Decades Series (’40s–’90s)– Why: Curated, era‑specific collections with restored art and editorial framing. These are the closest thing to “Archie Masterworks” without being reprints of a single title. Best picks: 1940s, 1960s, 1970s.
Best of Archie Americana (Updated Editions)– Why: Strong curation, historically important stories, and a clean presentation. Great for contextualizing how Archie evolved decade by decade.
Gemini:
The Kevin Keller Celebration! (Deluxe Hardcover) Why recommend: This is arguably Archie’s most significant “Prestige” release of the last few years. It’s an oversized, 700-page deluxe hardcover that focuses on the character’s legacy and cultural impact rather than just reprinting issues.
Unique Factor: It includes a brand-new story by Dan Parent, along with creator commentary and pin-ups, making it a “celebration” book rather than just a budget trade.
Archie Modern Classics: Magic & Mania. Why recommend: These aren’t your typical 80-year-old reprints. They curate stories from the “New Riverdale” era (2015–present), focusing on themes such as the supernatural and slapstick humor.
Unique Factor: They use higher-quality paper stock and a “Modern Classic” trade design that feels more like an indie graphic novel than a grocery-store digest.
Archie: Love Showdown (30th Anniversary Edition)
Why recommend: Released for the 2024–2025 cycle, this is a special “Director’s Cut” style trade of one of Archie’s most famous storylines.
Unique Factor: It includes extensive “behind-the-scenes” material, original sketches, and a historical retrospective on how this specific 90s arc changed the company’s direction. It functions as much as a piece of comic history as it does as a story.
Okay, except for light editing, that’s what they gave for their picks. Why those two? I was working on things with each side project at the time. Now, at a glance—they DID have some interesting picks and had some good reasons for their picks.
Still, in this case, I used it as a toy, just for fun. Every day, as I delve into things, I get more annoyed by the potential misuse. Ethically, I have no problem using what they churn out for non-important things, like social media posts. The ethically wrong part is if I put those AI picks as my picks for the week. AI can be useful, yes, but if used in the right ways.
About Author
