Not to talk out of school, but a few months back I was sent a short, unlettered preview of Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1 from Oni Press which teased it as the Absolute Martian Manhunter of the Archie Comics relaunch the publisher is in the midst of (including September’s Archie, and November’s Archie in Hell). That’s a pretty high bar as Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez’s DC title is generally considered one of the most outstanding comics of the past few years. Basically, I crossed my arms and said “oh yeah? prove it,” to myself. Then I opened the preview and my follow-up reaction was “okay, fine, you win.”
It’s actually not a totally fair comp as AMM is a mind-bender that twists and turns and breaks the comic book form while reflexively reacting to the fractured society outside our window. Meanwhile, Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1, which I have now read in full (letters and everything!), is a delightfully magical and beautifully drawn book about a girl named Sabrina, who is a teenage witch. And that’s pretty much it! Maybe it’ll be going for more “what has society become” in future issues, but right now the first issue of StTW is a wonderful romp as the title character attempts to figure out how to use her new witchy powers.
Bechko, who you can listen to talk about the book on our podcast, delivers a script that is fast and funny, expertly laying out Sabrina’s world for newcomers and old fans alike. You’ve got a sassy cat Salem, teaching her magic. She’s got her doofus boyfriend Harvey. And of course there are her Aunts Hilda and Zelda, who have been aged down a la Aunt May from the original Ultimate Spider-Man, but are instantly recognizable nonetheless. All this is paced out perfectly in an issue that finds Sabrina not disposing of a dead rat creature properly, and then a horde of said rats wrecking Halloween for everyone in Greendale.
Unlike Archie #1, which aims more for the Double Digest versions of the characters with a more modern look, Sabrina hits a neat halfway point between the gag strips and the overwhelming darkness of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. I could spend a whole paragraph listing the influences Bechko seems to be pulling on, but the short version is this has the quippiness of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the teen drama of the Melissa Joan Hart series, and yes, some of the horror of Chilling Adventures. Basically, the script expertly mixes all that in a blender, and comes out with something that feels fresh, fun, and new.
But the AMM comparison was likely less about Bechko’s script than Kano’s art which is gorgeous. The lines are clean, the colors pop, and the layouts are eminently engaging. The clothing, too, is varied and fun, from a witch costume Sabrina wears for Halloween (she bought it before she realized she was a witch, don’t be gauche) to the varied costumes at the Halloween party, to the everyday wear of Zelda and Hilda. It looks modern, versus the stuck-in-amber approach that could have been taken with the residents of Greendale.
Kano’s art also isn’t really similar to Rodriguez’s; it’s closer to a mix between vintage pop art mixed with Erica Henderson, and a touch of the old Archie Comics style. There’s also a little Elsa Charretier in there, as well. Basically: it’s lovely and fun to look at, keeping things bright and perky even when you’re cutting to a deceased rat-thing with a semi-human face.
Recently, Oni announced they’re selling Sabrina #1 at Midnight on October 7, jumping on the similar midnight release of Marvel’s, er, new Midnight Universe line of books. And while I have not read Marvel’s three titles yet, having read Sabrina it seems like a smart play… Marvel is aiming for across the plate horror and gore; Sabrina is the perfect palate cleanser after that, a spooky good time for Halloween season that should delight fans of all ages.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1 hits stores on October 7, 2026 from Oni Press.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1 Rating:
Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1 Official Synopsis:
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 on Sabrina’s literal doorstep, she might not be able to keep her two worlds from smashing together like two busted pumpkins on All Hallow’s Eve. No time for fate. No time for destiny. No time for homework. Being a teenager is far from magical . . . even when you’re a witch!
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