Archie #700

   It's kind of a weird time for Archie.

   After more than 70 years of comics in a (for lack of a better term) comical format, Archie's comics have dabbled with a more realistic format - most successfully with the recent stories by writer Mark Waid - and then the Riverdale TV show became a hit, with its darker and adult / teen-focused tales of romance and danger.

   This issue brings on a new creative team - writer Nick Spencer and artist Marguerite Sauvage - and their style leans toward the TV show, and less toward the classic comedy format. 

   It's a good first effort, as it gives us a classic "end of summer" story. Most of the gang has been away from town for the summer, having adventures - so it's fun to see what they've been up to. 

   But there's a bit of mystery, too, as we discover Jughead's surprising new pursuit - and we uncover a big secret that Archie is hiding.

   I admit, I'm "old school" when it comes to Archie and his friends - I much prefer the classic approach (the one honored on that Mike Allred cover above), where the focus is more on humor and fun rather than soap opera-style shenanigans - but the "Archie" concept is certainly adaptable enough to work in this modern style (as well as for horror and any number of others).

   If you enjoy Riverdale - or the recent run by Waid - then you'll enjoy this.

Grade: A-

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Archie Meets Batman '66 #2

   This is definitely a crossover that makes sense.

   The Archie Universe often seems to be stuck in the '60s (at least in terms of the squeaky-clean sensibilities of the cartoonish version of the characters), and the original Batman TV show is certainly a beloved part of 1966's pop culture!

   The story centers around some odd goings-on in Riverdale, as the adults start behaving strangely (which is saying something for Riverdale).

   But who will believe the teenagers? How about Batman, who sends Robin and Batgirl into the town under cover in their civilian identities to solve the mystery.

   (Which begs the question - did Batgirl know the secret identities of Batman and Robin? Because if she didn't, she knows them now.)

   Of course, there are lots of classic Bat-villains along for the ride. 

    The art by Dan Parent and J. Bone is a pure delight. The story by Jeff Parker and Michael Moreci is fast and fun, but the issue doesn't so much end as it runs out of space. (It is continued into the next issue, of course.)

   This is a fun burst of nostalgia and so far the meeting of the two different worlds is an almost seamless affair. Fun!

Grade: B+

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Archie's Superteens vs. Crusaders #1 (of 2)

   Certainly one of the more... unusual... takes on Archie and his friends is the Superteens, which was a short-lived-and-rarely-revisited stint from the '60s where the gang somehow became superheroes (with vaguely-defined powers). 

   But hey, superheroes are hot right not (at least at the movies), and Archie Comics has a bunch of Golden, Silver and Modern Age characters just gathering dust (the Mighty Crusaders, for example), so why not trot them out and take a shot?

   Happily, this issue puts the focus on fun, as an evil substitute teacher at Riverdale High School hatches a strange scheme, which draws the attention of the Crusaders and the Superteens (natch, since it's their home turf).

   So Archie becomes Pureheart, Betty becomes Superteen (is the group named after her?), Veronica (who didn't have a hero incarnation in the original stories) becomes Miss Vanity, and Jughead becomes Captain Hero.

   It's all fast and breezy and fun - a nifty burst of nostalgia for geezers like me, and it should be fun for new readers, too.

Grade: B+

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The Archies #1

   When I visited the comics shop this week, I didn't plan to pick up this issue.

   But when I walked up to the checkout, my comics shop owner held out the first issue of The Archies and said, "You wanted this one, right?"

    I was torn - I usually just buy the Archie title, but I do try to give new series a shot.

   I asked, "Did you order it just for me?" He replied, "Yes - didn't you ask me to get a copy for you?"

    I had to think about that one. Had I requested one? I was pretty sure I hadn't - but I know fate when I see it, so I bought it.

    And the issue is... ok. Not great, but ok.

   It follows the newly-created band that includes Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and - surprisingly enough - Reggie. But like any band that ever was, there are problems - agreeing on songs, getting to rehearsal, and what to do when they start enjoying some success.

   It's a solid effort, with a good script and fun, vivacious artwork - but it's not an easy fit, placing these characters into a band and making it work.

   And will they ever play their biggest hit in the real world: "Sugar, Sugar?"

   Future issues will tell the tale!

Grade: B

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Archie #23

   The All-New Archie falls into an interesting niche between the classic, comedy-centered Archie comic and the popular Riverdale TV show, which tends to be grim and angsty (though I base that on the only two episodes I've seen).

   Under the skillful hand of writer Mark Waid, this series manages to combine comedy with a more realistic lifestyle for the teens of Riverdale.

   The latest story has veered into the territory of drama and soap opera as a terrible accident promises to affect the lives of several characters.

   Betty was injured in an accident when she tried to stop a drag race between Archie and Reggie - and her life has been changed for the foreseeable future.

   It's tough to balance such a serious topic with the slapstick antics of the eternally well-intentioned Archie, but thanks to the heart of the characters involved, this story manages to walk that line.

   The art by Audrey Mok is outstanding, capturing the emotion and assorted antics of the cast nicely.

   The Archie concept - following the lives of teens in high school - is an enduring one, and it can be adapted to different formats. Thank goodness!

Grade: B+

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Archie #21

   Up to this point, the "new" version of Archie (Andrews) has focused on a somewhat more realistic comedy tone (as opposed to the sillier traditional Archie comic), with some wonderful writing by Mark Waid and excellent artwork by a variety of artists - this time around, it's the talented Pete Woods.

   But this latest storyline - "Over the Edge" - has given us a different take, as it steps over the line into drama (with a dash of soap opera in the mix).

   It spins out of last issue's story, where Archie and Reggie's long-simmering feud finally boils over - and they agree to a dangerous drag race.

   At the end of last issue, we saw Betty race her car to the scene - and a deadly crash followed.

   It's well-trodden ground. Who was hurt? What happened next? How will the rest of the Riverdale gang be affected?

   But I can't fault the story - this issue popped right up to the top of my reading stack, as I was anxious too see the answers to those questions - and next issue will do the same.

   I shouldn't be surprised that I enjoy this series - Waid is one of the best comic writers out there, of course - though I am happy to see that a more traditional new Archie comic is being released next month - but I'm enjoying this series a lot, and I suspect you will, too.

Grade: A

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Betty & Veronica #3

   Whenever artist Adam Hughes takes on a series, attention must be paid.

   Naturally, we had to be patient - it took 11 months to craft three issues - but it's beautiful work.

   Hughes also wrote the story, which pits the kind-hearted Betty against the conniving Veronica.

   It's a fierce battle as Betty tries to save the iconic Pop's, which is about to close.

   Veronica's father is buying out the shop to open a coffee shop, and she's backing her father's efforts.

   The battle has split the town, and Betty's only hope is to hold a special fundraiser at the school to try to raise $60,000 to save Pop's.

   The issue is packed with Easter eggs, from figures out of Little Nemo to references to Stephen King's "It" and the return of the original version of the Archie gang, to name just a few.

   It goes without saying that the art is stunning, and surprisingly Hughes manages to (mostly) resist the urge to lay on the cheesecake.

   This has been a fun trilogy - and hopefully not the last time we'll see Hughes showing off his fine comic chops.

Grade: A

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Archie #18

   The "new look" Archie seems to be a success, and it should be - it manages the almost impossible task of maintaining the comic feel of the classic series while updating it to a more modern style of storytelling.

   One of the secrets of its success: the cast is always in motion, which is a lot of fun.

   So we have Archie finally getting to go on a date with the finally-returned Veronica - but things don't go as planned.

   Betty is on a sorta-kinda date with Dilton, which also does not follow expectations.

   And Cheryl Blossom and her brother try to lure Jughead into solving a mystery. Can he resist the prize offered?

   So it's a fun issue by writer Mark Waid with terrific, high-energy art by Pete Woods.

   But the issue is also a bit irritating for reasons that have nothing to do with the story. The series originally featured short reprints in the back of each issue, but now those pages are given over to ads for the Riverdale TV series.

   Some of that is to be expected, but almost 1/4 of the issue is a bit too much.

   But the comic is well worth buying for the first 20 pages!

Grade: B+

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Archie Meets the Ramones #1 (One-shot)

   Sometimes you spot a comic book and say to yourself, "No way."

   That was my reaction when I saw the cover of Archie Meets the Ramones.

   Having a meeting between the clean-cut kids from Riverdale and the punk rock icons has to be an inspired bit of lunacy.

   It's a trick for the two bands to meet, of course, considering that four Ramone "brothers" all had passed away by 2014.

   But the two collide thanks to a bit of magical intervention, and the story actually manages to be a bit of fun.

   It offers up the Ramones as a new inspiration for Archie and his friends (if somewhat inadvertently), and the story is something of a primer for the rock scene in the '70s.

   The story by Alex Segura and Matthew Rosenberg is a love letter to the Ramones, as today's readers learn about the classic band along with the (mostly clueless) Archies.

   The art by Gisele Lagace is crisp and expressive - not as grubby as you might expect for a rock band, but still lots of fun.

   And that's the goal here - to have fun with the meeting of opposites on the bandwidth of musical talents, as we see the contrast between one of the all-time great rock bands (though one that never enjoyed huge success on the charts) and a made-up band that somehow churned out one of the biggest hits of all time - despite the fact that they really didn't exist at all.

   (And thankfully, there's no mention of that song - "Sugar, Sugar.")

 Grade: A-

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Archie #5

   Each issue of the "new" Archie has focused on a different member of the time-honored cast - so with the fifth issue, it's time to give perennial bad guy / mischief-maker Reggie Mantle the spotlight.

   To his credit, Mark Waid resists the urge to give us a full-fledged origin story for Reggie. Most everyone who's had the experience of going to school has run into a similar personality - someone who seems to be mean just for the sake of meanness.

   He's drawn into the ever-growing friction between Veronica and Archie's longtime friends, Betty and Jughead - and who better to spark conflict than the master?

   Waid (with artist Veronica Fish) continues to build a new series using the most reliable and enduring building blocks that have made the series so enduring - all while updating it for a modern audience.

   Very impressive!

Grade: A-

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Archie #4

   The underlying mystery in this new version of Archie has been: what happened to break up the "forever couple" Archie and Betty?

   Writer Mark Waid defies the usual modern-day comic book mindset (which is: create a mystery and then never, ever solve it) by spelling out the incident just four issues in.

    The infamous "Lipstick Incident" is revealed in all its teen-drama detail - and it's actually touching (aside from the slapstick moments, natch).

   But of course we can't talk about it here without spoiling it - so let's just say how nice it is to see a story about actual teenage actions and emotions.

   The art is by Annie Wu, and even though it's a teensy bit sketchier than Fiona Staples (who's been handling the art up to this point), it's strong and passionate and a lot of fun!

   The series continues to defy my original skepticism - it's a solid new take on the classic tale of boys likes girls!

Grade: A-

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Archie #3

   The third time may be the charm, but with the third issue of the "new" Archie, the charm is all wrapped up in the teenage body of new-girl-in-town Veronica Lodge, who makes her first appearance at Riverdale High School.

   It's interesting that writer Mark Waid and artist Fiona Staples are stepping back from the classic love triangle that's been the norm in Archie's life since the '60s, and instead has Archie and Betty broken up, and now Archie only has eyes for the new girl.

   It's a situation not at all to the liking of Jughead, who's much more of a mystery here - and much more capable than you might expect (but still pretty darn funny).

   To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about all the antagonism going on in the series. One of the things I liked about the past version was that everyone, down deep, liked each other (despite occasional squabbles) - there was a nice "family of friends" atmosphere that was reminiscent of life in high school.

   The drama is amped up, but the comedy is still running strong throughout, and the "new" take on the characters is interesting. I love the art, I like the characters, and I'm intrigued to see where the story is taking us, so I'll continue to hang with the series.

   So far, the fresh start is working... for me.

Grade: B+

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Archie #2

   I have to admit, I wasn't sure I'd like the "new" Archie.

   The company has tried to reinvent the character before, usually with limited results - eventually, the company returns to the status quo - the timeless Dan DeCarlo version (and that may well happen with this version, too).

   But so far, I'm really enjoying this new series.

   Writer Mark Waid has retained the humor but jogged the series over into the real world (well, mostly) - Archie still gets into laughable fixes, but (aside from one hilarious, over-the-top moment) they're believable mishaps.

   There's the continuing mystery of what happened to cause Archie and Betty to break up - and the introduction of another well-known member of the cast.

   The wonderful, expressive art of Fiona Staples is a perfect fit for the mix of humor and reality - each character is unique and likable.

   Will the series last, or is it a flash in the pan? As long as the quality continues, I hope this series lasts a long, long time!

Grade: A

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Archie #1

   In this era of rampant reboots, it might not seem so shocking to see Archie Comics revamping their line.

   But this is a company that, with some exceptions, has continued its "universe" in the same basic, cartoony style virtually since the beginning.

   It has survived because it (brilliantly) stayed in its format while updating the fashions and topics to keep up with the latest trends.

   But now they're doing a complete update / revamp on their title character - Archie.

   The company has wisely turned the task over to two talented creators - writer Mark Waid and artist Fiona Staples.

   They have firmly landed the series in the real world, as Archie Andrews introduces us to life at Riverdale High School, to his friends (a few of whom you might have trouble recognizing), and to his new status - he's popular at school, but has recently split from his long-time girlfriend Betty (so yeah, he's still an idiot).

   The members of the cast act and look like real teenagers - the art by Staples is wonderful, with a much more realistic look to it, loaded with modern imagery and lots of energy.

   It's all a bit more soap-opera-ish, but still with lots of humor and likable characters.

   I was skeptical going in, but I have to admit I liked this issue a lot - there's enough of a connection to the original format to keep it familiar, but enough new about it to give a fresh sheen to the proceedings.

   Of course, if this experiment doesn't work, don't be surprised to see the traditional Dan DeCarlo style of art return - but for now, I think this just might succeed and bring the series (kicking and screaming) into the modern age of comics.

   Maybe.

Grade: A

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Archie vs. Predator #1 (of 4)

   I admit that I haven't been reading the "Alternate Archie" titles that are removed from the title's usual continuity - including recent Zombie titles and other horror stories.

   So the whole Archie vs. Predator concept takes some getting used to.

   It more like a vulgar take on the Riverdale gang, as they win a vacation to an exotic beach resort. They spend their time in their usual pursuits - Archie chasing Veronica, Reggie chasing Veronica (and dreaming of reaching third base), Betty chasing Archie, and the Predator apparently watching everyone.

   When violence does show up, it's very shocking (which is the idea, I suppose), and there are several surprisingly brutal events, including two significant deaths.

   The Riverdale gang is apparently much more dim than I thought - they aren't at all concerned about a steady rain of blood in the jungle.

   The whole concept is beyond silly and somehow manages to denigrate both the Archie series and the Predator series at the same time.

   Definitely not for young readers - and I'm not so sure older readers should waste their time, either.

Grade: C

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Archie #664

    Stepping in with a Guest Review is my pal James Cassara (if you'd like to send in a review of your own, just use the email address in the column on the right). He passes along some thoughts on everyone's favorite teenager. Thanks, James! 

   Within the “regular” Archie Comics universe (put in quotes as I do acknowledge that Archie and company are fictional characters) there exists a subset of “imaginary” Archie tales, generally set outside of Riverdale and often set in entirely different times.  

   Archie Versus Punisher is probably the most well known (and an Archie Versus Predator title is forthcoming) but our carrot-topped crooner has been to other planets, other realms, and all sorts of alternative universes. 

   So there’s plenty of precedent for Archie #664 and “Game of Phones.” I’m unfamiliar with the George R. R. Martin-created books, as well as the hugely successful television franchise based on said books, but the beauty of the Archie spin-offs is that one need not be a fan of the source material to enjoy them. 

   When they’re done well the humor and situations are self-contained, faithful enough to the Archie characters that adherence to the subject of the parody is unimportant. 

   Unfortunately “Game of Phones” is a bit of a jumbled mess. Set in the ancient kingdom of Riveros (populated by the usual Archie cast of characters) it pits two warring families - the Logister clan, whose daughter Veronsei longs to be Queen, versus the Starch group, whose bumbling son Archie hopes to succeed the retiring King Weatherby.  

   Not a bad premise and one which, with loyal but conniving subjects on both sides, could easily replicate the antics of the Riverdale we know and love. 

   But the story is derailed by a convoluted subplot of phone texting and messaging (hence the “Game of Phones”) that feels contrived and lacks a clear focus. The inclusion of a race of giants, who are forced to choose sides, further muddies the waters of an already thin plot.

   There’s a lot of potential here but I get the sense that this would have worked better as a two or three part mini-series.  Cramped into a 20 pages it reads like a rush job. 

   Oh well. Archie Comics are known for their consistently entertaining stories, a prescribed structure that allows for occasional detours, some of which work better than others.  

   If you’re a fan of the Archie Universe you’ll probably excuse this issue as a miscalculation. 

   If this is your first Archie in a while you’ll likely be left scratching your head, to which I say “try them again next month!”

Grade: B-

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Guest Review - Betty and Veronica #274 and Archie #663

    Stepping into the Guest Review chair today is my good friend James Cassara, with a look at two comics featuring Archie Andrews and the lovely Betty and Veronica:

   Let me preface my comments by saying that these days I buy very few superhero comics.

   After 50 years of reading and collecting funny books my tastes have changed. 

   I always enjoyed non-superhero titles, especially DC war books and all sorts of horror and SF, but because most of my favorite artists drew superheroes they remained a mainstay.  That’s no longer the case. 

   A few months ago I realized I am now buying more titles from Archie than from Marvel and DC combined.  

   I appreciate the simple (but by no means simplistic) nature of the stories and the clean, unadorned art. With Archie titles you know what you’re getting, and while that might be a negative for some for me it’s a definite plus.  

   Betty and Veronica #274 is a great example of the effortless complexity of the best Archie titles.  

   It’s the second part of an arc in which the two best friends/bitter rivals become exchange students, leaving Riverdale for a year to live first in England, than India, and later on to other yet unspecified countries. 

   All the boys of Riverdale bemoan their leaving (and try to sabotage their doing so) until they meet Violette (a Parisian doll) and Banni (an Indian Princess).  

   It’s the ideal set up for a new love triangle, and you can bet our carrot topped Casanova will be in the middle of it. 

   Archie mainstay Dan Parent, ably assisted by Bob Smith, supplies the art while veteran writer Dan Uslan tosses in more than a few verbal gags and turns of phrase.  It’s classic Archie in all the best ways!

Grade: A

   Meanwhile over in Archie’s own title (issue #663) our hero, following the sort of improbable mishap that seems to pursue him, finds himself minus wheels. 

   Of course he has a big date with Veronica coming up so, in desperation, he borrows his grandfather’s scooter.  

   Little does Archie know that Veronica’s luxury Italian sports car is also out of commission, forcing our raven haired heroine to find her own alternate means of transport.  

   The real hilarity ensues when a world renowned opera singer is scheduled to perform at Riverdale High (much to the dismay of the student body) and Archie is given the unenviable task of getting him from the airport to the stage.

   In typical Archie fashion everything goes wrong until it goes right and then goes wrong again.   

   Yes, it’s a tried and true formula but it’s one, when done rightly, never grows old.  

   And that’s the beauty of Archie comics and one reason I find them so darn entertaining!

Grade: B+

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Afterlife With Archie

   Here with a Guest Review of a different take on Archie, the eternal teenager, is our man Dave Wright:    

   In the new horror series, Afterlife With Archie, all of Riverdale's regular cast characters are there.  If you've ever read one of the Archie comics throughout the years, you'll instantly remember and recognize the old gang and settings pretty quickly.  

   Not much ever changes within the Riverdale universe, and it's been that way pretty much since its origins. They are only updated to fit more inside the current timeframe when the stories are written.  In fact they have Best of the Archie Americana trades from the '40s, '50s,'60s, and so forth if one is ever in the mood for some of the older stories.  

   In this new comic series though we get to experience a bit of that nostalgia through horror and zombie tropes, and it's an awful lot of fun. It's Halloween, and Riverdale High is having a Halloween Dance. Archie has made plans to attend with Betty, and yes, Bettie and Veronica are still rivals over the attentions of Archie.  

   As the story opens Jughead is distraught over the death of his dog. Out of despair he takes his pet to a friend, Sabrina. She was a newer character to me, but you figure out quickly she's a teenage witch.  

   She brings the dog back to life for Jughead, but in doing so breaks the laws of the witch covenant.  This sets in motion the zombie infestation in the series. Things heat up at the Halloween dance. To give away any more story or plot would be a spoiler and you'd miss out on too much fun from reading the series.

   Afterlife With Archie is a romp down memory lane for those of us that have ever read Archie comics in the past. It's also a homage to the horror genre with different characters discussing which movie horror characters are better, Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees and so forth.  

   The story is written well by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who also penned the story Archie Meets Glee, with some terrific artwork by Francesco Francavilla. I also have to say the coloring of the book goes a long way to create mood and atmosphere. 

Grade B+

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Kevin Keller #1

So I decided to pick up this issue and get my first look at Kevin Keller, the newest inhabitant of the Archieverse (Riverdale, to be more exact).

I mentioned this comic to two friends who aren't big comics fans. I said, "I picked up this comic Kevin Keller." They both said these exact words: "Oh, the gay Archie."

So it's good to see that the marketing people have done their work well.

This comic is groundbreaking in one important way - I believe it's the first ongoing comic book to star a gay character.

Kevin is presented as being no different from any of the other Riverdale kids. He's clean-cut, has a normal family (whatever that is) with loving parents and two younger sisters. He enjoys writing, he was elected class president, he's handsome, charming and sincere. And he has a good sense of humor. What's not to like?

This first issue, written and drawn by the great Dan Parent, introduces the character to those of us who missed his earlier appearances. Kevin isn't perfect, though - he has at least one failing. When he gets nervous, he becomes clumsy and stupid (just like Archie) - leading to some good laughs.

It's a fun, bright issue that fits right in - in style, tone and content - with every other Archie comic in recent memory, so it's well worth picking up.

One hopes that we're getting very close to the day when having a gay character won't make headlines - it'll just be a regular part of life. The good news is, with efforts like this, that day is getting closer all the time.

Grade: B+

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The Classics - Archie and Me #80

While I've managed to hang onto a good percentage of the comics I've bought over the years, there are some titles that I didn't keep - and now I regret it.

One of those would be the dozens of issues of assorted Archie comics that I bought, read and then discarded (mostly by trading with friends for other comics).

When I was very young, kids my age read cartoon-based comics - Bugs Bunny, Road Runner, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, etc. Those were read and lost to the ages.

As I got a little older, I gravitated to comics starring Archie Andrews (and they were legion). They were funny and they felt a little more "grown up" - if just for the fact that there was romance involved and these were stories about kids who were in high school - perhaps it would help us prepare for that?

The art was a bit on the cartoony side, but - based on the work of the great Dan DeCarlo - it seemed more mature than the usual animation style, and it also managed to evoke the latest styles, fashions and trends in a way that very few comic books did.

The stories were usually light but fun - a variation on Archie's attempts to romance either Betty or Veronica, or his clashes with authority (most notably the school principal, Mr. Weatherbee), or general hijinks with friends like Jughead.

But the stories manage - amazingly enough - to hold a timeless quality. This issue of Archie and Me is a good example (it was published in 1976, so it's several years after I was first buying Archie's comics - but it's one of the few older issues I still own).

It includes four stories, and only the fashions (and an offhand reference to the energy shortage) give away the publishing date. Among the stories: Archie fights to save a tiny plant from the ravages of winter, only to find an unexpected ally in Mr. Weatherbee; the kids and Weatherbee clash with the school's cook, the cranky Mrs. Beazly; Archie accidentally destroys Mr. Weatherbee's clothes and winds up in an odd costume; and Archie's suggestions wreak havok on the school - and have surprising results.

So, a few laughs, some fine art (sadly, the artists and writers aren't identified), and four average-at-best stories. It was typical for the time, and while it doesn't do much for the adult version of yours truly, it's a comic the teen Chuck would have enjoyed (though the book needed more of Archie's usual supporting cast).

The issues I've read in recent years continue the tried-and-true formula, and that's one of the strengths of the series - it's always in tune with modern events and usually a step ahead of the latest fashion, so it resonates with young readers. And at the center of each story is a group of likeable characters we care about and identify with - and the story is almost always entertaining, funny or thoughtful.

But as it took me a while to realize, Archie isn't just for kids - we geezers like these stories, too.

(And you know, I'd swear I had a shirt in the late '70s just like the one Jughead's wearing on the cover.)

Grade: C+

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