The entry vestibule at Archie Comic Publications here is a glass portal to childhood innocence, sunny summer days and endless nostalgia: The back end of a vintage white Cadillac, with its killer shark-fin fenders and leather interior intact, has been retrofitted to function as a sofa. Two salvaged audio hookups from an extinct drive-in movie theater complete the Memory Lane montage. Framed posters of Archie, the gullible Riverdale High School redhead, and his equally colorful entourage invigorate the walls.
But to gain access to the company’s administrative offices, you must pass through a reminder of its troubled present: double-locked doors and security cameras primarily installed to keep out a designated intruder, the company’s co-chief executive, Nancy Silberkleit, who since January has been under court order to stay away from Archie.
But to gain access to the company’s administrative offices, you must pass through a reminder of its troubled present: double-locked doors and security cameras primarily installed to keep out a designated intruder, the company’s co-chief executive, Nancy Silberkleit, who since January has been under court order to stay away from Archie.
At this, the last of the privately run Mom-and-Pop comic book dynasties,
Ms. Silberkleit, 59, the daughter-in-law of a company founder, Louis H. Silberkleit, is deadlocked in a court battle for control of the company with Jonathan Goldwater, 52, a son of another founder, John L. Goldwater. Like Betty and Veronica, the two are feuding over Archie’s future, but there is nothing comic — or friendly — about their rivalry. Each accuses the other of endangering the family legacy, Mr. Goldwater by wanting to expand Archie into a megabrand with help from outside investors and the Hollywood uber-agent Ari Emanuel, Ms. Silberkleit by vowing to keep the company’s traditions intact and preserve family ownership, ostensibly leading to stagnation.
The hostilities are withering. She says he defamed her and conspired with their employees against her in order to steal control of the company. He says she poisoned the workplace by threatening longtime employees with termination and spewing sexual insults. Meanwhile, they both claim to love Archie dearly, almost like a son — a son who is pushing 71 yet retains a head of lush red hair, abundant freckles and the top spot in a famous love triangle.
The hostilities are withering. She says he defamed her and conspired with their employees against her in order to steal control of the company. He says she poisoned the workplace by threatening longtime employees with termination and spewing sexual insults. Meanwhile, they both claim to love Archie dearly, almost like a son — a son who is pushing 71 yet retains a head of lush red hair, abundant freckles and the top spot in a famous love triangle.
Competing lawsuits filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan and State Supreme Court in Westchester County lay out a litany of bitter allegations. He punctured her car tires, destroyed her Web site and claimed that she sexually harassed employees. She ordered him to fire several longtime employees because they were too old, too fat or too buxom, and let her dog, Willow, roam the offices and defecate in the art department.
In a suit where Archie Comic Publications was co-plaintiff, Mr. Goldwater sought and obtained a restraining order against Ms. Silberkleit in fall 2011 that limited her contact with Archie employees. When she failed to comply with its terms, the plaintiffs sought and obtained a preliminary injunction, and in January she was banned outright from her own memorabilia-filled office by Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich of State Supreme Court.
At stake is the future of a company that was established in 1939 and became renowned for emphasizing family values and enduring friendships. Archie’s fan club was a parent-endorsed bastion for children: even a 9-year-old Amy Carter, then the first daughter, sent in her quarter to join, listing the White House as her address. Over the decades Archie expanded into an international teenage symbol: in 2008, the company published 10 million Archie-related comics in 12 languages. Its app has been downloaded four million times, suggesting that Archie, besides inspiring nostalgia, has 21st-century cred.
In a suit where Archie Comic Publications was co-plaintiff, Mr. Goldwater sought and obtained a restraining order against Ms. Silberkleit in fall 2011 that limited her contact with Archie employees. When she failed to comply with its terms, the plaintiffs sought and obtained a preliminary injunction, and in January she was banned outright from her own memorabilia-filled office by Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich of State Supreme Court.
At stake is the future of a company that was established in 1939 and became renowned for emphasizing family values and enduring friendships. Archie’s fan club was a parent-endorsed bastion for children: even a 9-year-old Amy Carter, then the first daughter, sent in her quarter to join, listing the White House as her address. Over the decades Archie expanded into an international teenage symbol: in 2008, the company published 10 million Archie-related comics in 12 languages. Its app has been downloaded four million times, suggesting that Archie, besides inspiring nostalgia, has 21st-century cred.
Last week, the two sides began court-approved mediation, but it seems unlikely they will resolve their differences quickly or easily — if at all. If mediation fails, Mr. Goldwater will resume his quest to make Ms. Silberkleit’s absence permanent; she will presumably continue to pursue a $100 million defamation lawsuit against him and the company.
“I have to wonder how much of a succession plan was in place,” said Johanna Draper Carlson, a comic book critic and blogger. “Two C.E.O.’s can be a recipe for disaster. There are rumors circulating: everybody’s talking about it, especially since it’s happening at Archie, which is supposed to be so good and wholesome. Suddenly we’re hearing talk of liquidation coming out of the courtroom. It’s unfortunate because Archie really is a unique company.”
Ms. Silberkleit’s lawyer, Howard Simmons, said the restraining order and injunction prohibited her from speaking publicly about Archie-related matters, but he emphasized that restoration of her reputation and preservation of the company was her only goal, not counting an apology from her co-chief.
“I have to wonder how much of a succession plan was in place,” said Johanna Draper Carlson, a comic book critic and blogger. “Two C.E.O.’s can be a recipe for disaster. There are rumors circulating: everybody’s talking about it, especially since it’s happening at Archie, which is supposed to be so good and wholesome. Suddenly we’re hearing talk of liquidation coming out of the courtroom. It’s unfortunate because Archie really is a unique company.”
“I have to be her mouthpiece,” he said in a phone interview. “For the past three years, her co-C.E.O., Jon Goldwater, has done everything in his power to undermine her work. Slowly but surely she has been pushed out of the company: the bottom line is they want her out. She loves Archie Comic Publications, and she’s worried about Archie being forced to be sold if this dispute is not resolved. I’m glad it’s gone to mediation. She is in a desperate condition right now.”
Mr. Goldwater also said. “I know she is trying to frame this as a power grab by Jon,” he said, as if distancing himself from an emotionally fraught situation by speaking of himself in the third person. “But for goodness sake, I didn’t go to this. This came to me.”
Mr. Goldwater also said. “I know she is trying to frame this as a power grab by Jon,” he said, as if distancing himself from an emotionally fraught situation by speaking of himself in the third person. “But for goodness sake, I didn’t go to this. This came to me.”
Its historical peers, DC and Marvel, are now corporately owned: Warner Brothers Entertainment is the parent of DC and Marvel was acquired by Disney for $4 billion in 2008.
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