IDW to publish 'Archie' collections

IDW Publishing is to reprint compilations of classic Archie comic books in hardcover and trade paperback format.

The series of releases begins in May 2010 with Archie: The Best Of Dan DeCarlo Volume One, a collection of the popular artist's work on the title. Hardcover collection Archie: The Classic Newspaper Comics, Volume One will follow in June, before a trade paperback of Archie: Pureheart the Powerful arrives in July.

"Archie is one of the most influential comics on popular culture and we are really looking forward to starting our collections by offering these new books to fans," said IDW executive Greg Goldstein. "Each book offers a new and different way for fans to enjoy or even rediscover this classic comic, with many more to come."

Star of the series Archie Andrews was created by Bob Montana in 1941. As well as his own long-running comic book, the character has appeared in a cartoon series, a radio show and a feature-length animation.