I’ve missed you, old friends.
Creative Staff:
Story: Issue #16: Mark Waid with Lori Matsumoto; Issues #17-18: Mark Waid
Art: Issues #16-17: Joe Eisma; Issue #18: Pete Woods
Colors: Issues #16-17: Andre Szymanowicz; Issue #18: Pete Woods (I think)
Letters: All issues: Jack Morelli
What They Say:
Issue #16: Dilton Doiley, Riverdale’s smartest kid, is in the spotlight—but Reggie Mantle has a vested interest in taking him out! Meanwhile, Cheryl Blossom plans her ultimate revenge against Veronica!
Issue #17: Cheryl Blossom’s unleashed on Riverdale, creating chaos and tumult at her whim! Only Veronica can stop her—but how will she get back from her Swiss boarding school in time to save her friends?
Issue #18: NEW STORY ARC! The Blossom Twins have found out their father has been lying to them about why they moved to Riverdale. It’s up to Detective Jughead to learn the dark truth behind the Blossom Family! Join us as we welcome new Archie series artist Pete Woods (Deadpool, Robin).
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
So, funny story: most people don’t know this about me, but in addition to teaching, I do freelance work for this organization called the KNIGHT Foundation. I can’t go into too much detail because of the non-disclosure agreement I signed, but I do odd jobs for them in this sweet car with a super-smart AI named Kitt (sounds a bit like William Daniels. Don’t know why). Anyway, the Foundation called and sent me on an…errand. There was this former employee named Garth who had plastic surgery to look just like me (sans the beard, though). He had some beef with the Foundation and Kitt and I had to stop him and his armored super semi. Obviously, we made it back okay.
And that’s why I’m two issues behind on my reviews.
But neither rain nor sleet nor evil doppelgangers can keep this reviewer from his appointed task—delay, sure, but not keep—and I’m back with three issues of Archie to write about. If that’s not Heaven, I don’t know what is.
Things have been a bit riled up in Riverdale lately. Veronica’s father lost a mayoral election and left the town in a huff, shunting Ronnie off to an exclusive boarding school in the Swiss Alps. There, Ronnie ran afoul of Cheryl Blossom, the beautiful, evil redhead everyone loves to hate. The two battled and Ronnie won (thanks to help from her father, who bought out the Blossom family company). Destitute by their standards, Cheryl and her brother travel to Riverdale for revenge. Cheryl plans on seducing Archie and destroying him to get back at Veronica.
Of course, more is happening than just the Blossoms and their nefarious plans. Dilton Doiley—Riverdale’s resident genius—invented a new app. Basically it’s Yelp, but it allows people to rate more than just businesses. Dilton designed it so that places and experiences could be rated as well, such as the best place to see a sunset or the best places to take romantic walks. Unfortunately, Reggie Mantle gets his hands on it and, well, Reggie Mantles it. Overnight, Dilton becomes a social pariah, but with a little help from Moose, he manages to set things right. (Sharp-eyed comic book fans will spot a great Daredevil reference in the panel where Dilton discovers who did it.)
Dilton’s app didn’t stop the teens from using their smart phones (honestly, I don’t think nuclear war could, but that’s just me old-man griping). Archie receives messages from a secret admirer from an anonymous number. It’s flattering and intriguing, and it escalates quickly, evolving from texts to baseball tickets and other acts of kindness. The admirer is, of course, Cheryl Blossom. Everything goes swimmingly until she actually meets Archie. I won’t ruin how it happens, but it’s typical Archie and dang funny. Thankfully for Archie, Veronica arrives and she gets the Blossoms off his case by pointing out that their father is withholding money from the twins.
Enter Jughead—or Jug Handle, as Cheryl mistakenly called him for half an issue. Cheryl and Jason hire Jughead to discover why their father is hiding money from them. I won’t spoil how Jughead goes about his investigation, but suffice to say it reinforces my belief that I need to pattern my life on the Crowned One’s example.
Veronica and Archie resume their courtship and a new romance blooms—possibly—between Betty (whom Cheryl called Betsy for half an issue) and Dilton. It seems, though, that as one romance heats up, another grows cold. Too much time and too many events have transpired since Veronica and Archie were together and that creates a gulf that may be insurmountable.
Binge reading three issues of Archie was a treat. As always, the script shines with wit and charm and excellent character work. And Joe Eisma, Andre Szymanowicz, and Pete Woods do a fantastic job with the art. As I’ve said before, there’s a definite “house style” to this title, creating a solid sense of continuity that makes the transitions between artists simple and easy. Plus, the house style works very well for the type of stories being told. While I’m sure the comic would be just as good if a Steve Dillon-type artist came in, it wouldn’t feel the same, and it certainly wouldn’t have the same charm.
In Summary:
If you aren’t reading Archie after all my lauding and badgering then that’s on you. Time and again, this comic proves why it’s lasted so long and remained relevant despite its age. As far as I’m concerned, Mark Waid could write this comic forever and I’d be a happy man. Dr. Josh gives these issues an…
Grade: A+
Age Rating: N/A
Released By: Archie Comics
Release Date: Issue #16: 1/18/17; Issue #17: 2/15/17; Issue #18: 3/15/17
MSRP: Each issue retails for $3.99
