As the character of Archie Andrews approaches his seventy-fifth year of consecutive publishing in 2016, publisher Archie Comics announced this week a relaunch for their flagship title and character, as an all-new Archie #1 hits next year from writer Mark Waid (Kingdom Come, Superman:Birthright) and artist Fiona Staples (Saga) which will “reenergize the story of Archie and his friends, presenting for the first time ever the origins of everyone’s favorite redheaded teen and his friends while showcasing the beginnings of the historic love triangle between Archie, Betty and Veronica.”

Based on the preview image of Fiona Staples’ art, it looks we are also getting a very contemporary look for all of the Riverdale gang, including iconic characters like Betty and Jughead, both of whom really seem to like the ripped jeans look. Archie Comics have already undergone a radical reinvention these past few years of course, with books like the horror-themed Afterlife With Archie and the Kevin Keller books, featuring the first openly gay character in the Riverdale world. But this all-new version seems to be taking it all a step further.

According to Archie Comics Publisher/CEO Jon Goldwater “the Archie characters aren’t in need of a tune-up, ‘shocking change,’ or revision. These characters have stood the test of time and resonate to this day – we’ve proven that over the last six years; What ARCHIE #1 will do, though, is bring together two of the most talented creators in comics in Mark Waid and Fiona Staples and create a surprising and definitive take on Archie’s origin – a story that has never been. The book will bring back some of the bite of Archie’s original tales in a modern, forward-looking manner, while still retaining the character’s all-ages appeal. What better way to celebrate 75 years of Archie Andrews?”

The first issue of the all-new Archie will be hitting your local comic shop in the early part of 2015.