All I want for Xmas is vengeance!
Creative Staff:
Story: Mark Waid with Lori Matsumoto
Art: Joe Eisma
Colors: Andre Szymanowicz
Letters: Jack Morelli
What They Say:
For a while after Veronica’s departure, no woman was around who could wreck the Jughead/Archie bromance. We all knew that couldn’t last forever, right? Meanwhile, the Veronica vs. Cheryl Blossom feud reaches its peak!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Archie has called it quits! Everyone’s favorite teen has decided to stop trying and be like his best buddy, Jughead. He couldn’t have picked a worse time, as he was preparing a surprise party for his parent’s anniversary. Now Jughead has to trade in his crown for a baseball cap and try to rescue his friend and the party.
Thankfully, ol’ Juggy isn’t alone. He enlists the help of the Riverdale gang and they manage to salvage the party, but it’s only a Band-Aid on the real problem—Archie’s broken heart.
The object of his broken heart’s desire, Veronica, meanwhile continues her war against Cheryl Blossom. After a brilliant offensive in the last issue, Veronica manages to usurp Blossom’s place as Queen Bee of Lycée Camembert, but as her father taught her, winning the battle doesn’t win one the war. With Daddy’s help, Veronica delivers the coup de grace, but in doing so, might have set a vengeful element loose on Riverdale—a place her father wants her to return to.
Naturally, my summary doesn’t do the comic justice (but if it did, you wouldn’t have to read it, so that’s ultimately a good thing). As always, Archie delivers comedy, drama, and genuine character moments with verve and style. Waid, Matsumoto, Eisma, Szymanowicz, and Morelli present a crackerjack of a comic with drum tight pacing, superb comedic timing, and loads of heart.
In Summary:
Hoo-boy, trouble’s coming to Riverdale in the next issue. This issue wraps up the initial Cheryl Blossom story arc and brings the redhead everyone loves to hate to the town everyone loves to love. I’ve run out of superlatives, so I’ll just say that Dr. Josh gives this an….
Grade: A
Age Rating: N/A
Released By: Archie Comics
Release Date: 21 December 2016
MSRP: $3.99
