Please join us on Wednesday, November 8, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., in Willis Library 130, for an “Into the Archieverse” Research Day!

In anticipation of the 2024 “Into the Archieverse” virtual conference, sponsored by the Digital Cultural Studies Cooperative, the UNT Libraries would like to share some of our exciting library resources that can help you get started learning about the long history of Archie comics and their spinoffs in television shows like Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, cartoons like Josie and the Pussycats or The New Archies, or films like The Archies (2023), as well as in games, toys, fashion, art, and collectibles during its nearly 80 year history.

Specifically, we’ll be offering an introduction and demonstration of one of our recently acquired research databases: The World of Archie Comics Archive, featuring backfiles of over 100 comics titles from the 1940s-2020 featuring characters and stories from the Archie universe. 

Check out this wonderful resource compiled by Bart Beaty, University of Calgary: The World of Archie Comics Archive: A Resource Guide. 

These materials can be used for your personal research, teaching, or creative work or just to satisfy your own curiosity!

A representative from Alexander Street publisher will be sharing a little of the background of the archive and how it was created.

Other resources we may share and talk about, given time and participant interest, include:

• Our Underground and independent comics, comix, and graphic novels database and other useful research databases.
• Our Comics Studies Guide which includes resource links, information on other collections, communities, and events.
• The Texas Fashion Collection—an invaluable resource to look at the history of fashion in and outside of the comics.
• A variety of print resources in our collections, some of which will be available to browse during the session.

You can come for part or all of the scheduled time, but computers will be available for attendees to browse do their own research for the full two hours. After that, you’re welcome to explore the library and its collections on your own.

Note: While available remotely only to UNT users, all of our electronic databases may be used in the library on one of our “Guest” computer terminals (on the 3rd and 4th floors). Print materials may be checked out by anyone with a valid UNT id card or TexShare card from a participating institution.

Please come take a look at these unique resources and share some of your own research interests and ideas with us!

If you have questions, contact the Comics Studies subject librarian, john.martin@unt.edu