In 1940, MLJ Comics, the company that would later become Archie Comics, published Pep Comics #1 and introduced America's first patriotic superhero, The Shield. Over the decades, MLJ and Archie created a rich pantheon of superheroes, including fan favorites such as The Black Hood, The Comet, The Hangman, The Jaguar, and many more, collectively known as the Mighty Crusaders. These heroes have enjoyed a remarkable legacy, with their stories reprinted in England, France, Germany, and Brazil, while also crossing over into radio, film, and pulp fiction. Moderator Rik Offenberger (The MLJ Companion) and panelists Lily Butler (Archie Comics), Steven Butler (Archie Comics), Tim Chizmar (Spooky Ninja Kitty), Ronald Fleming (Fantastic Comic Fan), Ray MacKay (G-Man Comics, Big Bang Comics), and Chris Squires (Archie Comics) explore the 80-plus-year history of the greatest superheroes in the Archie Universe.
