The eternal teenagers of Riverdale High make their long-awaited entry into
the world of collectible statues with the debut of a new line of licensed
statues and busts from Diamond Select Toys.

Busts will be the cornerstone
of the first year of DST’s Archie program. The new Archie line will debut in
August 2006 with the release of a bust of a modern-era Archie. Each month
thereafter, a new bust will arrive, with the rest of the five core characters
rounding out 2006. Following Archie, in sequence, will be Jughead,
Veronica, Betty, and Reggie.

In the first wave of
releases, a total of 18 busts will be produced, with some of them being
exclusives for various specialty venues. Planned pieces include
“Classic” 1940s versions of the “Big 5” characters
listed above, as well as other alternate representations of the Riverdale teens.
Expect to see modern-era Archie and Reggie in baseball and
football uniforms, along with a blonde Veronica, redheaded Betty,
Jughead in earmuffs and scarf, and Jughead in a Hawaiian shirt
with an Eskimo Pie. All 18 busts will be sculpted by DST veteran Rocco
Tartamella. Each bust will be approximately 6” tall, and retail for
$45.

In addition to the line of busts, DST will also be producing a
series of “wall sculptures”, 3-D relief images designed to be
mounted and displayed on the wall like a picture. These wall sculptures will be
approximately 10” high by 12” wide by 3” deep, with retail
price TBD. Wall sculptures will be sculpted by industry veteran (but DST
newcomer) Bill Mancuso, and will be available beginning in late Fall. The wall
statues will feature Archie, Betty, and Veronica in classic poses, rendered in
both “classic” and “modern” versions.

Other
product lines are not in the works as yet, but may be added to the product mix
at a later time. Unfortunately, the current license does not include rights to
produce a diecast replica of Archie’s legendary
“jalopy.”

While the “Big 5” will be the focus for
2006, products featuring such supporting characters as Miss Grundy,
Mr. Weatherbee, Midge, Moose, Big Ethel, Pop
Tate, and the Archies may be explored in the future if consumer
interest warrants.

“Working with Archie Comics Entertainment has
been wonderful! They share our passion for their cannon of characters and they
are excited about the possibilities presented by this new line of
collectibles,” said Michael Leavey, DST’s Marketing and Sales
Supervisor.