Sabrina the Teenage Witch's New Era Is Here With Wicked First Look (Exclusive)

Oni Press' relaunch of Archie's icons continues with the return of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and ScreenRant is bringing fans a first look.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch returns later this year, and ScreenRant is pleased to bring fans a wicked first look. One of the most popular characters in the Archie stable, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, has transcended the comics page to become a pop culture icon, thanks to two popular television shows, one airing in the 1990s and a darker-themed revival on Netflix in the 2010s.

The character’s comic book roots go back much further. Debuting in 1962’s Archie’s Mad House #22, and created by George Gladir and Dan DeCarlo, the character proved popular out of the gate, making appearances across the Riverdale universe before eventually spinning out into her own title. Sabrina’s earliest adventures were very much in the Archie tradition, but when the publisher began its Horror imprint, her stories took on a darker edge, as befitting someone who works in the supernatural corners of the universe.

Recently, Archie Comics announced a deal with Oni Press that will see the Portland, Oregon-based publisher breathe new life into Archie, Sabrina and the rest of the Riverdale gang. Previously, Oni released an advanced look at September’s Archie #1 by Ben H. Winters and Fabio Moon, the opening salvo in the relaunch. Now, hot on the heels of Archie, Oni has shared a first look at Sabrina, the Teenage Witch #1.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Returns This Fall

Sabrina's New Adventures Are More Whimsical Than Her Previous Outings

Set to release this October, just in time for Halloween, Oni’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1 will be written by Corinna Bechko and drawn by Kano. Oni had previously released a solicitation for the issue, which reads as follows:

Your local teenage witch is conjuring up mischief!

Just in time for Halloween, Hugo Award–nominated writer Corinna Bechko (Green Lantern: Earth One, EC's Blood Type) and Eisner Award–nominated artist Kano (Daredevil, EC's Cruel Universe) summon a new spell of magic and mischief in a brand-new ongoing series hell-bent on launching comics' most iconic sorceress-in-training into a spectacular new era for Archie Comics!

Who'd ever want to be ordinary when you could be a teenage witch instead? Still reeling from the surprise revelation of her secret birthright, and with Halloween just around the corner, high schooler Sabrina Spellman is honing her craft one hex at a time and figuring out how to balance her magical new life with the crushing responsibilities of being 16 years old. But when her feline familiar, Salem, drops a mythical trickster onto Sabrina's literal doorstep, she might not be able to keep her two worlds from smashing together like busted pumpkins on All Hallow's Eve. No time for fate. No time for destiny. No time for homework. Sabrina's about to find out that being a teenager is far from magical... even when you're a teenage witch!

Plus, a special trick (and treat): Explore the inner workings of Sabrina's secret guide to familiars, featuring the spellbinding artwork of Nick Cagnetti (Spirit of the Shadows)!

Oni also released a look at the bevy of covers the book comes with, but now ScreenRant can exclusively reveal the “Pyre Satanic” variant cover by Chloe Brailsford. The cover is described by Oni as: "a new subset of surprise variant covers echoing a unique chapter of Archie Comics history in a playfully subversive way." Finally, Oni provided ScreenRant with a handful of preview pages, which reintroduce Sabrina, her familiar Salem and her aunts to a new generation.

In an exciting development, Oni Press is helping revive a venerable pop culture tradition: midnight release sales. The book goes on sale October 7, and fans will be available to purchase copies at 12:01 AM at participating retailers. Oni will also be offering retailers deep discounts on the first issue, matching those Marvel is giving for the launch of its new Midnight line. Oni Press is throwing down the gauntlet for its Archie relaunch, and the debut of Sabrina the Teenage Witch shows they mean business.

A New Generation of Readers is About to Be Enchanted by Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Archie Comics’ lineup of characters has been some of the most endearing in pop culture, continuing to find new fans even after 85 years. While Sabrina the Teenage Witch is a late-comer to the scene when compared to Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica, she is equally popular as them. Sabrina appeals to various generations, be it those who grew up watching Melissa Joan Hart in the 1990s, or those terrified by Kiernan Shipka’s horrifying adventures in the 2010s. Gladir and DeCarlo created magic with Sabrina.

And now Oni Press, one of comics’ preeminent indie publishers, will be bringing Sabrina the Teenage Witch into a new era. In the preview pages provided, it is clear Bechko and Kano are forging a new path for Sabrina, eschewing the darkness of the Archie Horror reboot in favor of a more whimsical approach. However, as also seen in the preview, all is not well, as Salem killed a small demon looking for Sabrina. Sabrina is just learning her craft, and now it appears she is being thrown off the deep end in a first look at her brand-new book.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1 goes on sale October 7 from Oni Press! FOC is August 31.