The characters of Archie comics have a history of having some truly off-beat crossovers and guest appearances. From classics like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Punisher, along with recent fare such as Obama and Palin, the gang from Riverdale has certainly met their fair share of characters. Add to that list, the foursome of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, collectively known as KISS. Is this story destined to go down in history as one of the more memorable, or does it seem like a stunt? Read on for my opinion!

Archie meets KISS is a 4-part story, and as such, that usually means that the first issue is purely setup. That’s the case here as well, but the setup is compelling enough that I forgave a lot. KISS themselves don’t actually appear until page 11, in fact. Those first pages are spent establishing that Archie and friends (including Sabrina, which is important) have started the Riverdale Monster Society. It starts off innocuously enough with the gang wanting to help out their community with a simple protection spell. Luckily, they have a friend in Sabrina, the teenage witch who is uniquely equipped to do such a thing. All is well and good then, right? Wrong. Veronica and Reggie’s egos come into play and wreak their usual havoc. Soon, Riverdale is infested with monsters, and the only people who can turn the tide are the members of KISS!

Once the band actually makes their presence known, the awesomeness dials is turned up to 11! Taking a page from the classic Marvel KISS tales, writer Alex Segura casts the band not as their real-life counterparts, but as their stage personas, complete with supernatural powers. Their greatest power is of course the power to ROCK, leading to the best panel in the issue. As part 1 concludes, we’re left with a shocking cliffhanger of the town full of mindless zombie-like denizens! Never has anything made me laugh and simultaneously creeped me out as a zombie-fied Li’l Jinx. I’m eageraly awaiting to see how the story plays out. Surely an Archie/Kiss team up will have the two bands rocking together, which is truly something to anticipate.

Dan Parent’s art style lends itself especially well to the crossover. I find the way he draws faces especially appealing. The teens have rounded, fresh faces, whereas KISS has a much more angular, square-jawed style that just plain works. Everyone is instantly recognizable, which is doubly important, given the iconic nature of the guest stars. As for the writing, I praised Alex Segura on his first Archie outing a few months ago, and I just want to reiterate it here. I would love to see Mt. Segura on a monthly book.

In closing, if you’re even the least bit curious, it behooves you to pick up Archie Meets Kiss. Check out the preview below if you’re unsure, but trust me, this is the best KISS team up since KISS Saves Santa!

More preview images at this link.

By Kristie Griffith
Photo: Erik Kabik

Celebrities ranging from Big Bird to Robin Leach took part in the “These Boots are Made for Rockin’” photo campaign to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, a favorite charity of the band KISS.

The photo campaign features celebrities wearing KISS boots, and the photos will be auctioned off at the grand opening of KISS by Monster Mini Golf, a rock n' roll amusement destination opening in Las Vegas in January 2012 that’s centered around KISS.

The 15,000-square foot facility will have an 18-hole black-light, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course, a private party room, a VIP room, the biggest KISS gift shop ever, arcade games, a KISS all night rock 'n' roll cafe, and the Hotter Than Hell Wedding Chapel.

"Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] have been very involved," says Christina Vitagliano, owner of KISS by Monster Mini Golf. "We've worked hand-in-hand with them from the ground up. Everything...has to be approved by them."

The "These Boots are Made for Rockin'" photo fundraiser features boots from the KISS Destroyer Tour, and a myriad of celebrities enjoyed their moments of rockin' out in true kiss fashion.

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons celebrated the release of 'ARCHIE MEETS KISS' with an autograph session at Golden Apple Comic in Los Angeles last night. They were joined at the signing by writer Alex Segura and artist Dan Parent. This issue is the first of four in the 'ARCHIE MEETS KISS' comic book series.

_{Photos by Dean Snowden for KISSOnline.}

ARCHIE #627

'Archie Meets KISS Part 1: Riverdale Rock City.' The biggest band in rock history invades Riverdale! When the Archies find their town overrun by monsters because of a spell gone wrong, can the KISS gang save the day? Find out in part one of this four-part epic featuring KISS! Features a regular cover by Dan Parent and a variant cover by Francesco Francavilla.

Script: Alex Segura
Art & Cover: Dan Parent
Variant Cover: Francesco Francavilla

On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 11/30/11
32-page, full color comic - $2.99 US.

Collect the entire 4-issue arc when you Subscribe to ARCHIE MEETS KISS!

Here are some photos from the KISS Fan Expo in Enschede, Holland. What a great event! This past Sunday, over 500 fans from around Europe gathered to celebrated all things KISS! Eric Singer spent the entire day signing autographs and posing for photos, fans shopped for KISS kollectibles and merchandise, and KISS on the Rocks ended the evening with an explosive set of KISS classics!

KISSonline had a wonderful time talking with old and new friends! Thanks to everyone for stopping by to say hello! Thanks to Rutger, Rikk, KISS on the Rocks, and of course, KISS Army Europe for making this a great fan event!

YOU WANTED THE BEST YOU'LL GET THE BEST: THE ITALIAN KISS EXPO!!

Following the success of the "One Nite KISS, Waiting for the Boom" in 2009, to celebrate the forthcoming KISS Monster album and related new Tour, DeuceNews proudly presents: "The Italian KISS Expo 2011" featuring the mighty KISS drummer Eric Singer!!

Eric will be the special guest at the 2011 Italian KISS Expo at the Dancing La Montagnola in Campogalliano (MO) on December 2.

Our friend Keith Leroux from KISSOnline will be also attending the event with the greatest Official KISS merchandise!

Tribute bands Live4Win and JulietKiss will perform the hottest KISS songs, KISS dealers and Washburn Guitars booth will be there for you and more...See you all there!!

A special thanks to our partner in crime Enrico Ronzoni

Tickets pre-order and detailed info at www.DeuceNews.com

The 2011 Italian KISS Fan Expo is a fan produced event. By the fans, for the fans!

KISS Army member Joe shares this video of his son, Jace, age 5, attending his first KISS concert in Atlanta. He writes, "Right before your eyes... in just seconds he becomes a KISS FAN!"

Here is my KISS ticket stub from a concert that happened 36 years ago. The best concert from the best band in the world!!

Jason DeLong
Elsie, Michigan

LETTERS

Thanks to John Wicker for sending KISSOnline this KISS page from the 1980 JC Penney Christmas Catalog. Check out all those vintage KISS items!

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Check out this clip from the University of Central Florida / East Carolina University football game this past week. KISS' "Rock And Roll All Nite" is playing on the PA in the arena. But when the music stops... the crowd doesn't!

Google's got it covered: Rock 'n' roll history is just a click or two away as Street View captures the locations of iconic album photos

Dressed To Kill, Kiss

Anyone walking along 8th Avenue in New York City might get a sudden jarring feeling that they are being watched by some slightly leery goons in face paint and ill-fitting suits. That's because the corner of 23rd Street and 8th is the location for Kiss's third studio album cover.

The idea originally came from a photoshoot for Creem magazine - depicting Kiss as superheroes, who would eventually swoop down to save an audience from the perceived 'horrors' of a John Denver concert.

One picture required the band to dress in their mild-mannered 'Clark Kent' suits, and photographer Bob Gruen took this picture as they were heading back to their car from the studio.

The only member of the band to actually own a suit was drummer Peter Criss, left, which explains why the rest of the band can barely fit in their borrowed threads (Gene Simmons, right, also borrowed the photographer's wife's pair of clogs).

Here's the cover of the new Hello Kitty KISS Style Guide. The guide features band approved images that licensees can use to make their Hello Kitty KISS items.

BY Josh Rosenthal

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Stacie "Mack" McIntosh is not your typical stylist. This is not your typical salon.

About one year ago, two of Mack's friends gave her a shrine dedicated to the band KISS as a gift. It sits in her salon and is about the size of an old-fashioned arcade game, covered in KISS pictures and memorabilia. The shrine's centerpiece is a mock KISS stage, complete with a light show.

Mack says her friends gave it to her, "because we all love KISS, they loved me, and it was a way for them to take their memorabilia and let the world share in all of our love for KISS."

Just one problem: Verizon says the shrine is interfering with their signal. They issued a statement, saying in part: "the interference is minimal and localized ... the device interferes with the spectrum for which we are licensed." Verizon wants Mack to get rid of the machine or at least leave it unplugged.

In the attached picture: (Left to Right) Susie Dinkel WTHI-TV, Scott Steele 105.5 The River and Ed Zeppelin….

WTHI-TV and 105.5 The River LOVE KISS!

On Saturday, November 12th, 105.5 The River won a 1st place Spectrum Award for its coverage of the KISS Army 35th Anniversary Special! (Both Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons participated in this special event by phone and KISS Army Founder Bill Starkey served as a special co-host for the hour long LIVE radio show! The Mayor even proclaimed the day KISS Army Day in Terre Haute!)

The award recognized excellence in Special Interest & Cultural Programming!

It was given by the Indiana Broadcasters Association.

The Spectrum Awards recognize broadcast excellence for outstanding achievement in broadcasting by Indiana Radio and Television stations. The competition is established to encourage the highest standards of reporting, community service and production creativity.

Click here to view WTHI-TV's archived video library of the 35th Anniversary of the KISS Army coverage .

Thanks to Daniel Iasbeck for sending KOL this great video clip of his recording of "Under The Rose" from the 1981 album "(Music From) The Elder".