Interview with SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH Writer Corinna Bechko

2026/08/20 21:00:58 +00:00 | Jonathan James

The first issue in Oni Press' new Sabrina The Teenage Witch comic book series is due out just in time for the Halloween season. We recently gave readers details on the midnight release of Sabrina The Teenage Witch #1, and we're back with an interview with writer Corinna Bechko, who tells us all about working with Kano, Bechko's early memories of Sabrina, and what readers can expect from the new series:

What do you love about the character of Sabrina Spellman, and what excited you about re-launching her series for this new era for Archie Comics?

Corinna Bechko: I’m thrilled to be part of the Sabrina re-launch! She’s so much fun to write. She’s independent, she’s kind, she’s mischievous, she sometimes doubts herself, but most of all she’s curious. Taken together, those traits make her a joy for a storyteller.

Can you talk about your first experience reading and/or watching Sabrina? And can you talk about some of the research you did while working on the series?

Corinna Bechko: It’s funny, but both Archie and Sabrina comics seem to have always been part of my landscape. Which makes sense, because they are both a lot older than me in terms of years even if these perpetual teens are now much younger than me on paper. As for research, I read every Sabrina comic I could get my hands on as well as watching both of the shows. Then I tried to forget all that in order to chart my own path through her world while trusting that the basic tone and feeling remained in place.

What is your approach balancing Sabrina's magical responsibilities with everyday struggles of being a 16-year-old?

Corinna Bechko: Going into this project, I had one guiding principle: the “teenage” part of Sabrina’s title is as important as the “witch” part. She’s a whole person, dealing with the reality she’s been dealt, so I don’t approach it as two distinct parts of her life. We all have parts of ourselves that aren’t relevant to every given situation. Hers is more overwhelming than most, especially since she has to keep it secret from her mortal friends, but it’s still an intrinsic part of who she is so that balance is an ongoing process that colors every aspect of her adventures.

There are so many interpretations of Sabrina throughout the years. What can you tell our readers about your version of this iconic character?

Corinna Bechko: I love that about the whole Archie gang! These characters are extremely elastic, and Sabrina may be the most malleable of all in terms of the types of stories where she can feel at home. Horror, comedy, coming-of-age, gag strips, romance… You name it, there’s been a Sabrina story in that vein. Expect this Sabrina reading experience to have some joy, some wonder, some mischief, and to occasionally get a little bit wild. And to heavily feature Salem, Sabrina’s feline familiar. I love writing Salem.

What has the collaborative process been like working with Kano to bring the magic and horror of this world to life?

Corinna Bechko: Working with Kano is a dream. His work is fresh and colorful yet he imbues every panel with emotion and that’s what really makes the characters come to life. As soon as I saw the character designs and the first few pages I instantly had a bunch of new ideas for stories because suddenly I knew exactly what it would be like to live in Sabrina’s world.

The first issue starts with Salem dropping a "surprise" on Sabrina's doorstep. Can you tease what awaits Sabrina (and readers) in this first issue and series?

Corinna Bechko: When we meet Sabrina she is struggling to understand what it means to be a witch. The knowledge of her powers is new so she wants to put that aside just long enough to enjoy a Halloween party with her mortal friends. But here comes Salem, literally dropping responsibility at her feet, and on top of that, the responsibility is icky. Sabrina thinks she’s found a way to do both things, be a normal teen and a witch, but let’s just say that decision ends up making the party much more of an adventure than she had planned. Readers will also get a guide to dealing with familiars as well as a guide for familiars about dealing with witches. Taken together, they will provide important pointers for the rest of the series. Every issue will have a little bonus like this. Creating them has been an absolute blast and I hope readers have as much fun reading them as I’ve had writing them!

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"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!"

The first issue will be available on October 7th and you can learn more about Oni Press' midnight release plans at: https://dailydead.com/sabrina-the-teenage-witch-1-pyre-satanic-variant-cover-preview-pages-and-midnight-release-plans/

SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH #1