Creative Staff:
Story: Mark Waid
Breakdowns: Ryan Jampole
Finishes: Thomas Pitilli
Colors: Andre Szymanowicz
Letters: Jack Morelli
What They Say:
Archie and Jughead have been playing their instruments in Archie’s garage for a while, but now it’s finally time for them to take their talents elsewhere. Veronica suggests that the two form a band—assuming, of course, that she gets to be their lead singer. This bothers Betty, since music was a deep connection that she had always shared with Archie—so she’ll just have to form her own rival band. Now it’s #TeamArchie vs. #TeamBetty in a battle of the bands that has the whole school picking sides!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Hoo-boy, things are getting serious in Riverdale. Veronica’s father is running for mayor and his daughter Veronica accidentally gave him ammunition to run a smear campaign against his opponent Greg Collier—who also happens to be a teacher at Riverdale and Betty’s uncle. The smear campaign was so effective that Mr. Collier left, and the entire town split into Betty and Veronica camps. Those that loved Mr. Collier sided with Betty, and those that hated Mr. Collier got behind Veronica. Riverdale stands a town divided, and it’s just going to get worse.
As Archie puts it, ‘Ronnie isn’t much for letting things cool down on their own. She gets it in her head that if she and Archie can win the school talent contest they will win back the town. Archie gets the band together and Ronnie serves as lead singer, but in a twist, she only sings well when she looks directly at Archie.
Meanwhile Betty, living next door, overhears “The Ronnies” practice, and she becomes so enraged that she puts together her own band, and they eventually also enter the talent contest, too. The issue ends with Archie and Betty reconciling and hugging while Sayid and Veronica watch in the distance. Nothing good will come of this.
Sadly, Veronica Fish no longer serves as penciler for this comic, but Ryan Jampole and Thomas Pitilli do a fine job of taking over art duties. I’ve said this before, but Archie handles artist changes better than just about anyone. Although each artist brings their own unique style to the comic, they each come from the same school that emphasizes clean, simple lines, cartoony expressions and actions over photorealistic, and a real knack for drawing body language and facial expressions. It’s a style that works particularly well for Archie, and—frankly—it’s a style I enjoy quite a bit.
It helps that Andre Szymanowicz has been doing the colors for the entire eleven issue run, doing his typical fabulous job. Seriously, Szymanowicz is a real whiz with color, creating and highlighting mood and atmosphere and generally adding extra layers to the already solid art. His colors create a visual consistency that aids the transition between pencilers.
In Summary:
The situation is only going to get worse for the Riverdale crew. Waid and this creative team have got me on the proverbial edge of my seat. I don’t know quite what’s going to happen, but it’s obvious, like the electric feel to the air right before a dilly of a storm. As always, Archie delivers the goods. Dr. Josh gives this an….
Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Archie Comics
Release Date: August 24th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99