| Title | : | Archie, Vol. 1 |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1627388672 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781627388672 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 176 |
| Publication | : | First published March 29, 2016 |
Brought to you by some of the masters of the comic book genre, including writer Mark Waid and the all-star lineup of artists: Fiona Staples, Annie Wu and Veronica Fish, the first volume of ARCHIE presents readers with a new take on the beloved Archie Comics concepts while retaining the best elements from the company’s 75 years of history. ARCHIE VOL. 1 collects ARCHIE #1-6 and features bonus content including scripts, sketches, variant covers and the full first issue of the all new JUGHEAD series by acclaimed writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Erica Henderson.
Archie, Vol. 1 Reviews
-
This was a huge win for me. HUGE!
Archie and his friends were my first introduction to graphic novels, and they will forever hold a special place in my heart. I used to beg my mom to buy them while we were waiting in line at the grocery store, and I can still remember how excited I felt to get my sticky hands on whatever new story was out when she inevitably said yes. <--Because awesome parenting!
Anyway, I said all that to say this: if you do get a chance to look at this, make sure to read Fiona Staples introduction. Her feelings about these characters mirrored mine, and reading how she and Waid were such respectful fans of the original gave this an extra layer of gooey goodness.
I absolutely loved the updated look, the added character depth (not too much!), and the more intricate backstories for the whole gang. The small changes made a big difference, especially in the Betty/Archie dynamic. As a kid, I'd always felt sorry for poor Betty. I mean, it always seemed like Blondie McVanilla was always sort of pissing in the wind when it came to Archie's affections. Why in the world would he ever choose her when a bombshell like Veronica was around? But with a bit more backstory on their relationship, suddenly the love triangle seemed not only plausible but interesting!
The art! Ok, I liked Staples stuff the best, but all of it was great. No complaints.
Although, I'd reallyreallyreally love it if Staples did ALL of it, b/c she's amazing!
As far as the plot goes, it's just a simple (but fun) introduction to all of the characters at Riverdale. No monsters, no aliens, no zombies, and no sleazy murder mysteries...
Just Riverdale High like you remember it, only a bit more relevant and updated.
This volume included the first issue of Jughead, which had me all excited, till I realized that Erica Henderson was the artist. I just can't.
I know she has tons of fans, but there's just something about her art...*shudder*
OhgodIhateitsomuch. Those fucking gross faces! Ahhhh!
To me, it's like nails on a chalkboard, but worse. It's like someone unhinged their jaw, then scraped their teeth down that chalkboard till they scratched the surface off, and then they licked the chalk dust off the erasers and ground it around their mouth. <--THAT.
That's how much I hate the look of that artwork.
No idea why! Anyway. I can't see myself being able to get into Jughead right now, but maybe someday. It's still nice to know that they're expanding this version of the Archie universe!
Highly recommended for fans of Archie Comics! -
I absolutely loved the art in
Saga, so when I saw that Fiona Staples contributed to this story, I just had to pick it up.
And the art in Archie was just as stunningly beautiful as it was in Saga.
This review contains *spoilers*.
Also, I think I’m a little in love with Archie’s food-loving best friend, Jughead.
I really liked getting some background on him, even if it broke my heart a little.
This volume, however, focuses mainly on Archie's journey throughout the new school year, bringing with it daunting new challenges and interesting changes for the teens of Riverdale High.
But there’s one thing that remains constant: Archie’s car is still a piece of garbage! With car problems comes money problems, which means that Archie’s on the hunt for a new job.
It also highlights various friendships and relationships, my favorite one being between Archie and Betty. (Whether they decide to remain friends or start their relationship anew, I’m there.)
Then we finally find out what drove Archie and Betty apart—aka the “Lipstick Incident.”
(Also, the art style changed here which really threw me out of the loop for a second.)
But overall, I was thoroughly impressed with how this volume played out and cannot wait to pick up the next one!
And here's some bonus Jughead content because why not?
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Archie, Vol. 1, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
This review and more can be found on my blog. -
Archie, Vol 1- The New Riverdale by Mark Waid, Fiona Staples (Illustrator), Annie Wu (Illustrator), Veronica Fish (Illustrator) is a 2016 Archie Comics publication.
As an old timer, I grew up eagerly awaiting the Sunday paper so I could read the color comic section. Archie was one of my favorites, as were the cartoons which aired on television Saturday or Sunday. I may have even owned a few Archie Comics at one time.
When my kids were growing up, however, the comics and cartoons etc., they were interested in were vastly different. I didn’t keep up with the comic trends and didn’t understand the furor over graphic novels until recently.
Learning about graphic novels, comics and manga has been very interesting, and fun. I have discovered some subscription services – one for Marvel Comics, one for Archie Comics and of course, ComiXology. I’ve stuck with the latter for starters since it has a nice mix of everything, as I am still experimenting.
I think the Marvel Comics material pretty much speaks for itself and I would expect nothing less than the best in writers, art, and presentation. But I’ve been curious about the Archie comics, wondering what made the imprint so wildly popular.
Well, now I know.
This is an updated version, or reboot, if you will, of the classic Archie comics, but never fear, the changes aren’t THAT radical. This is still benign teenage fare- or at least it is, so far. The love triangle between Archie, Betty and Veronica, the hunger-gut, Jughead, and other favorite characters are here, along with a few new ones. The stories included in the first collection are original and the added elements of diversity and inclusivity are only fitting.
The graphics and art blew me away! Wow! Amazing, vivid colorization. The novel works better than any graphic novel I’ve tried reading on my Kindle. I can see the dialogue easily, and I loved that the author had respect for the old school Archie comics, maintaining the same atmosphere, but obviously resonating with the modern reader. It still brought back fond memories.
Overall, this collection was great fun and I’m going to make an effort to continue on with the series, although it is most definitely geared towards teens and the YA audience.
I can’t lie and tell you I didn’t get into the love triangle, or that I didn’t chuckle at the angst and drama or find the story wildly entertaining. So, I’m all in!
5 stars -
Archie RELOADED!
Hey, this was actually lots of fun! I know, THAT Archie... But believe it or not, this relaunch achieves the impossible: it feels fresh and relevant but still... you know, like Archie. THAT Archie!! I mean, it’s almost mind-boggling when you think about it – Archie’s Riverdale as something not nearly as far-fetched as we had always imagined... whoa!
Mark Waid and Fiona Staples do an incredible job infusing the inevitable Archie-style KleenTeen cheesiness with a contemporary vibe, and the first three issues collected here are 5-star material throughout - a joy to behold! Unfortunately, Staples jumps ship after #3, and it immediately becomes apparent that the book’s second half - while still mildly enjoyable - lacks Staples’ magic touch.
Oh well, you might say: a contemporary Archie – big deal! Who cares? Surprisingly, though, Archie works very well in a contemporary setting. Moreover, the character generally seems to have been on a roll in recent years, at least if the internet buzz surrounding new and the rapid reprinting of old Archie material are any indication. Who knows, maybe a hero as unguarded, uncool, vulnerable, sincere and just plain nice as Archie is exactly what the world needs? Maybe in our world of tightly managed and policed lifestyles, good old Archie can be a rebel with a cause? -
I admit to not knowing much about Riverdale or the old comics. I picked this up to see what it was like and my expectations were low. I am hooked on this comic. I really enjoyed the characters and the world and everything. There was humor and teen angst and crushing. It was a lot of fun to read.
Archie and Betty have broken up and I guess they were good together. Jughead eats a lot- that joke is going to get old. Veronica is new in town and kind of a bitch at the moment. Typical high school stuff. I thought the art was great work. It was modern with a nod to the 50s. It was bright and happy.
A great story. I like the update they did with it and I want to know more. Yeah! -
Contemporary-A-Thon challenge #5 - read a contemporary graphic novel: COMPLETE!
I am SO glad that I finally decided to dive into the new Archie comics! I loved the original ones as a kid and I am so excited to say that I really enjoyed this one as well. Although I will be honest and say that this one didn’t have too much going on in terms of plot, which is why I only gave it 3 stars. But I did go ahead and buy the next 3 volumes and I have a feeling that things are really going to start taking off soon! -
Having not read the original Archie comics or having watched Riverdale, I was very intrigued going into this and I was pleasantly surprised. It had a relaxed and low-key but intriguing storyline, which was not at all what I'd expected after having heard bits and pieces about the TV show. I absolutely adored the art style and the bold colour scheme and I'm very much looking forward to continuing with this series and getting to know the cast of characters more, as I have a feeling they're going to be a lot of fun.
-
No estaba realmente familiarizado con las historias del gran Archie y sus amigos. Había escuchado un poco y había visto una o dos caricaturas antes, pero nunca supe nada más allá de Archie siendo un chico con unos cuantos amigos que se juntaban a beber malteadas y tocar con su banda. No sé realmente de dónde saco esta memoria, pero la tengo.
El punto es que Riverdale, la nueva serie de CW, está en auge, todos hablan de ella y, para ser honesto, me tiene intrigado. Llevo meses tratando de verla pero no logro hacerlo dado que no sé mucho sobre la historia ni los personajes. Es por eso que tomé la decisión de leer los diecisiete tomos disponibles y el "Road to Riverdale" para poder comenzar mi viaje por la serie —que por cierto, me he enterado que es mucho más oscura que la historia que se nos presenta en estas recopilaciones—.
Ahora, sobre este conjunto:
En ciento setenta y seis páginas, Mark Waid nos presenta una inocente historia sobre un chico llamado Archie Andrews que recientemente ha roto con su novia-amiga, Betty Cooper, por un incidente llamado "The lipstick incident" que conforme avanza la historia nos es revelado. El caso es que todo el mundo está hablando de Archie y como si él y Betty han roto no queda ninguna esperanza para las demás parejas, pues, llevaban juntos desde niños.
Amigos y conocidos intentan unirlos de nuevo pero fracasan en el intento, y es entonces cuando una nueva chica llega al pueblo: Veronica Lodge.
Veroncia y Archie comienzan una historia cuando el chico destruye accidentalmente la mansión que el padre de la chica estaba construyendo. Ambos tienen un momento en que se miran y tienen una extraña conexión que al parecer, los atrae.
El resto es historia y no me gustaría arruinárselos.
Comentarios:
1.- No suelo comenzar a shippear tan pronto, pero desde que vi a Archie y a Jughead juntos, me fue imposible no hacerlo. Jarchie comienza a ser mi nuevo ship dado que Sterek —de Teen Wolf— nunca hizo nada por mí.
2.- Estoy en desacuerdo con todo lo referente a Veronica/Archie, y es simple: Veronica es exactamente eso en lo que Betty se convirtió durante el "lipstick incident", entonces, no entiendo por qué está con ella.
3.- Jughead es mi nuevo personaje espiritual.
Buenas canciones para escuchar mientras se lee:
a) Foals - Inhaler.
b) Cigarettes After Sex - Affection.
c) Cage The Elephant - Trouble/Too Late To Say Goodbye/Cigarette Daydreams.
"You are who you are, and not what people think you are.
Be straight. Be weird. Be whatever you wanna be."
-
I'll be honest; prior to this, I'd never read an Archie comicbook in my life. Here in the UK, they're not the big thing I hear they are in the States. When I heard about the relaunch, however, with writing by MARK WAID and art by FIONA STAPLES... well, how could I resist?
It started out well; the stories were quite charming and the artwork was stunning... Then the big punch in the face happened: Staples jumped ship after only three issues! Now, for all I know, she may only have been contracted for three issues in the first place... I'm not the sort who trawls Internet sites to find out behind-the-scenes info on the comicbooks I'm reading; in my opinion, you shouldn't need to carry out research to enjoy your books... but her departure came as a shock. Half the reason I was reading this book had up and left before we got even got to the end of the first collection!
The replacement artists weren't bad but none of them could hold a candle to Staples. I also found that stories weren't grabbing me long term. They were quite entertaining but weren't blowing me away... so I've decided to say my farewells to Archie. I gave him six issues, but I feel his adventures just aren't for me.
I have a feeling that, to enjoy this book, you either have to be a teenager or be nostalgic about reading Archie when you were a teenager... As I mentioned before, the nostalgia doesn't apply to me and my teenage years are a loooooooooong time gone! I do hope this book finds its audience and thrives, though. -
I'm going to admit it... I am reading these comics because I am fully and unconditionally in love with the show that's based off of them, Riverdale. Where everyone is rich and families have dark secrets tangled up in the next family's dark secret and everyone is just really, really pretty.
Differences:
01. Betty and Archie are BROKEN UP after DATING SINCE LIKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL in the beginning of this graphic novel, which is very different from Betty having and undeniable but not reciprocated crush on Archie.
02. There's no Cheryl Blossom... and that is probably the thing that broke my heart the most BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER.
03. Josie and the Pussycats aren't as big of a deal in the comics yet either (is this a joke on the movie? Am I too old? Do only I remember that movie).
04. This was really about real-world problems and dating, nothing to do with a murder. So really, it was less interesting to me. I did enjoy seeing the origins of my beloveds though.
Short review shorter, it kept me interested enough to grab vol. 2. I need more murder-mystery and Cheryl though.... the Blossom family better make an appearance. -
The nostalgia is strong with this one. I remember being a kid and anticipating the moment that I would receive a new Archie comic from my mother as she got home from work. Every once in a while she would bring home a new Archie digest and I would be ecstatic. I loved reading Archie, in fact, Archie was my first exploration into the world of comics. Whether it be Archie, Betty & Veronica or Jughead, I was always excited to start reading more about Archie and his friends at Riverdale High School.
The second I heard about this new and revamped Archie series, I automatically added it to my list of comics to buy ASAP. How could I not? Archie was a huge part of my childhood and the excitement was real. On top of the overall excitement regarding the new series as a whole, I became even more excited when I noticed that the artwork was created by the one and only Fiona Staples who is also responsible for the amazing artwork within the comic book series Saga. Everything was leading me to believe that this new Archie was going to be amazing and I’m happy to say that I absolutely loved it!
I may be biased because of my overall love for this story and its characters, but I absolutely adored this take on the classic Archie! It felt new and refreshed and even though I already knew who the characters were, it felt like I was learning about them all over again. There were many familiar characters such as Archie (duh), Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie and even Moose made a quick appearance! There were also a few characters that I wasn’t too familiar with. I had heard of Kevin beforehand, but I had never actually read any Archie issues or digests with him in them before, despite their insane popularity. I hope I get to learn a little bit more about him as this series continues!
Can I just say that I think I might be in love with Jughead? Yup, I’m in love with Jughead. I remember thinking he was hilarious when I was a kid and nothing has changed. He is great comic relief, but he’s also a great friend. He is completely loyal to his best friends Archie & Betty and he respects both of their wishes after their break-up, even when the rest of their friends try to get them back together regardless of Jughead’s pleas to just leave them alone. Jughead is definitely my most favourite character within the world of Archie.
The artwork within these series is beyond wonderful, but I mean I had no doubt that Fiona Staples would absolutely kill it…and I mean that in the best of ways possible. She modernized each character without taking away their signature features that made them who they are. Archie needs his red-headed locks and Jughead needs his crown and slightly large nose. Hell, even Reggie is still as greasy as ever. Fiona Staples did a fantastic job of re-creating the characters in her own personal art style while still keeping them familiar and recognizable.
Now, we can’t leave Mark Waid out of this review. He did an amazing job in writing this story in a new and creative way while also keeping the same tone and feel as the originals. Archie is still a giant klutz and slightly naive, Betty is still the girl next door, Veronica is still the slightly conceited princess, Jughead is still food-crazy and hilarious and Reggie is still a slimy human being. These are the characters that we all know and love. In a world where there are so many Archie comics that already exist, Mark Waid found a way to write something new and creative.
As you probably may have noticed by now, I love Archie and I loved this take on the classic characters. It was a wonderful introduction into a new world of Archie and I cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series!
--
Initial Post Reading Thoughts:
The nostalgia was strong with this one. When I was a kid, I remember waiting for my mom to get home from work. Some days she would make a pit stop at a grocery store and sometimes she would bring home a brand new Archie digest for me to devour. Whether it was Archie, Betty & Veronica or Jughead, I was always so excited to get a new issue to read.
I love the modern re-imagining of these classic characters and their lives. The artwork by Fiona Staples was on point as always and I cannot wait to continue on with this series! -
3.5
I grew up reading Archie comics, so I had to try the reboot. It's a decent Archie update. They seem to be staying pretty true to the characters, and I'll continue on with the series for now. I will say that I enjoyed reading Afterlife with Archie more though, so I'm going to take a break from these and check out Vampironica next. -
The revelation that Archie was the secret identity to Thanos was mind boggling. I mean, I get the teenage angst, but a destroyer of worlds? I DID NOT see that coming!
Just kidding, this is of course the fun reboot of the Archie Comics classic.
I’m on the opposite end of sentimentality, and overt nostalgia leaves me a little anxious, like I want to run away, but I must admit that I liked this more than I expected.
First of all, I did not hate it.
Waid’s writing was easy on the eyes and the art was much better than I remember from when I was a kid.
And, let’s face it , this is just a fun title. We’ve all been teenagers and life in high school was weird, so this is a very relatable story.
“So, Lyn, you’re a reader of Swamp Thing and a resident of Bradbury’s October country, how come a visit to campy, colorful Riverdale?”
Good question, for the variety. When mixing in the darker hues of the literary palette, it is sometimes necessary to go light to again appreciate the darkness all the better. A sip of lemonade helps us to better savor the heady brew for later.
Lighten up, take a break, and enjoy.
-
Mark Waid has done something I didn't think was possible. He made me like an Archie comic. I've always found Archie comics very hokey with terrible art and writing. Waid has managed to update the characters without losing the spirit of the book. The issues are still stand alone with multiple chapters, but there is a larger narrative that is maintained. The plot doesn't reset with each issue. Waid maintains the personality of each character while updating them for a modern audience. Fiona Staples provides stellar art for the first three issues. After that the art shifts to more indie artists and is not as good.
-
As someone who was personally offended and hurt when Archie proposed to Veronica, I can't do this series. I wanted to see if they'd change things and have him end up with Betty but I don't see that happening.
-
BookTubeAThon Challenge: Read a book complete outdoors
In the end, I think I liked this more than the show! The characters are more archetypes, that's for sure, and there's 100% less Josie and the Pussycats because they have their own graphic novel series, but I'm living for Jughead and how Betty is portrayed in this. Definitely need to get my hands on the second volume! -
A fun and very casual comic. It completely set itself apart from the edginess of the Riverdale show and was all the better for it.
The plot was very contemporary: lots of everyday drama with its teen romances, misfit shenanigans and new-girl-in-town trope. Archie was a charming character and I appreciated his fourth-wall breaking moments every now and then. His mix of klutzy nerd and cool kid guitarist personality was alluring to me as a reader and to seemingly every girl in this comic who all fawned over him. Considering the plot really didn't have much else to work with, that was a plus!
The other characters were interesting and surprised me with how little they resembled the personalities of their Riverdale counterparts. In that sense, this comic was a welcome breath of fresh air and sort of unpredictable. The character dynamics were great, often leading to hilarious encounters.
The art was pretty spot on. The colouring style was very subtle in its rendering but full of life with the vibrant colour choices and that really enhanced some of the scenes like the awesome double page spread of Archie absolutely shredding it on his guitar!
So in all, good writing, aesthetic art, fun times—what's not to like? -
Update 2022:Thoughts are pretty much the same!
This was a pretty interesting comic! I've heard of Archie before, but I've never read the comics so I'm glad that they actually did a reboot so people who were interested in it could start. I loved the artwork which I'm not surprised about because Fiona Staples is responsible for it. The story got a little confusing at some point, but I'm really interested to see where this love triangle between Betty, Archie, and Veronica goes. I already have the second volume so I'll probably pick it up sometime soon! : ) -
poor Archie has been sitting on my shelf forever! all he's been wanting to do is give me guilt-free happiness and all I've done is ignore him, year after year. despite that winning smile on the cover.
Mark Waid is a cheerful, upbeat writer, and so a perfect fit for Archie adventures. unfortunately for me, these adventures are all about the Archie-Betty-Veronica love triangle and I just don't find that to be particularly entertaining. but it wasn't too painful either, mainly because Waid does know what he's doing as a writer, keeping the story moving and the characters fun and the milieu amusing. I was happy that the best character, the extremely malevolent Reggie, was front & center in the last couple issues. this is a very modern update and so the background cast includes a bunch of races, which was a little eye-rolling but overall it was okay by me, even welcome. America is multicultural and so it rarely bothers me to see that portrayed in comics and elsewhere, as long as it's not artificial box-checking. a little of that here but it wasn't too bad. I'm much more of a class-based progressive and so was pretty happy that class analysis made a strong showing alongside multiculuralism. and if all of that sounds like this is a political tract of some sort, sorry for giving you the wrong impression. the book is like a hug, not a lecture.
the art by various artists was all fine, but Fiona Staples' first three issues particularly popped. -
Introduction:
WHAT!? ARCHIE IS GETTING A REBOOT!?
Who would have thought the day would come when Archie Comics would finally decide to reboot their beloved “Archie” series which has been around for nearly sixty years now! I must admit, I was quite surprised at this new establishment for Archie Comics (I mean come on, Archie and the gang have been in high school for the past sixty years now)! So, when I heard that Archie was going to get a reboot and it was being written by Mark Waid of “Daredevil” fame, along with artwork by Fiona Staples, Annie Wu and Veronica Fish, I will admit that I had mixed feelings about this whole thing since A) I have a love / hate relationship with reboots and I was worried that they were going to mess up one of the greatest comic book icons of all time with this reboot and B) with all the constant reboots going on during this decade, I was getting sick and tired of having yet another reboot of a beloved classic character happened. But, as it turns out “Archie: Volume One: The New Riverdale” had certainly exceeded my expectations in a fantastic way!
What is this story about?
Meet Archie Andrews! He goes to Riverdale High School and is best friends with food loving Jughead Jones and was in a relationship with his childhood friend Betty Cooper (do not even ask why they broke up). One day however, Archie’s world changes when Veronica Lodge, the daughter of a billionaire moves into Riverdale and he ends up falling instantly in love with her. Unfortunately, this puts him at odds with Betty and Jughead as they do not want to see their friend being used by this rich snob and they will do everything in their power to make sure that Archie does not end up with Veronica!
What I loved about this story:
Mark Waid’s writing: Wow! I was quite impressed with Mark Waid’s writing in this story! Even though I was quite familiar to Mark Waid’s work in the past, I never would have thought that he would create a truly interesting and modern retelling on everyone’s favorite teenage comic book icon! I loved the way that Mark Waid gave an interesting new spin to each character, such as making Betty more tomboyish than in the original series (it really shows when she has trouble giving herself a makeover) and making Jughead more cynical. But, I loved the fact that Archie still remains to be the lovable goofball he was in the original comics and his clumsiness is definitely played for higher laughs here! I also loved the way that Mark Waid still kept the characters and its setting faithful to the original comics, but still modernizing the situations they are in such as actually showing us Betty and Archie breaking up and how that breakup affected them afterwards. I loved the fact that the story is a mixture of drama and comedy as it made the story much more interesting to read and there were various moments where I laughed and cried such as feeling great sadness over Archie and Betty’s breakup, but laughing my butt off from Archie’s clumsy shenanigans!
Fiona Staples, Annie Wu and Veronica Fish’s artwork: The overall artwork in this volume were amazing to look at, as all the “Archie” characters are drawn in a realistic and refreshing way that made me really relate to these characters. But probably my most favorite artwork in this volume were the ones done by Fiona Staples as her artwork is so gorgeous to look at and I have always loved her work on Brian K. Vaughan’s “Saga!”
What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:
Anyone who has been reading the “Archie” comics for a long time might be a bit shocked that there is some language in this volume including the use of “hell” in one instance. However, the language is not too strong and it would be easy to overlook this whenever you read this volume.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, “Archie Volume One: The New Riverdale” is a truly fantastic volume that fans of the original “Archie” comics will enjoy and I am definitely looking forward to reading more of this series soon!
Review is also on:
Rabbit Ears Book Blog
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This is volume one of the reboot, and I think it's a worthy successor to the Double Digests of old. The story was a fun revamp of the mythos, definitely contempory in style, issues and scope. Extra credit for some real depth to the Betty character that has been long coming.
Why only three stars? Two reasons. First was the art. Now, Fiona Staples is a god, her work on Saga is iconic and (at times) carries the story on its own. But here? It threw me off. I'd look at Veronica, posing a very specific way, and all I could see is Alana with longer hair. Same with the boys, Marko as a red head, a brunette, a blonde.
Also, in another review, I was prewarned that the artist for the Jughead section might be a bit ... disappointing. Only, it wasn't disappointing, it was horrifying! Seriously, the ugliest faces I have ever seen. Like pigeon crap crusted on a Roman Centurian's statue.
The second reason is, in a house full of teenagers of my own, all of Archie and his Gang's problems were just same old same old drama that I just do ... not ... want cause I've already got plenty.
The zombieriffic
"Afterlife with Archie" is better, but this is still worth a read.
I read this free over Hoopla, through my library. -
I'm actually, honestly surprised at how much I liked this book. I picked this up entirely out of curiosity. I'm reasonably sure I've never read an Archie book that didn't include zombies, the Predator, or the Punisher, and my knowledge of original recipe Archie is severely limited. But Fiona Staples is a strong motivator for me. It was a good choice.
I can't really compare new school Archie to old school Archie. I'll leave to other reviewers. I can say that I have the distinct impression that old Archie is more of a sitcom, and this is more like a dramedy. It can be funny, even silly, but the relationships seem to be treated rather more seriously. It's a good spot to stake out, and I have a feeling that this could potentially be fairly popular with some teenage comics readers. I love Archie's sometimes clueless narration, and I absolutely love Betty as a tomboy.
Because I'm basically judging it on its own terms, as a new property, I definitely can't say how previous Archie fans would like it. For me, I was reminded of a lot of good high school manga series that I've read in the past. I don't know if this will get me reading more of the original Archie, but this I'll definitely stick with. -
Loooved this. I was obsessed with Archie comics as a kid, and while this has a completely different aesthetic, it still FEELS like reading OG Archie. The humour, the way the characters speak and act, it all had the wholesome feel but Waid still managed to make it feel fresh and new.
I also loved the small changes made. In this itieration, Archie and Betty have just broken up from a long-term relation. Rich and beautiful Veronica Lodge moves to town and sets her eyes on our clumsy red-headed protag. The rest of the plot is mostly relationship drama and hijinks, but it's so FUN and the characters are still rounded and complex characters (ie. Veronica is kind of a B, but it becomes apparent that she really does have genuine feelings for Archie).
Staples' art is pretty great - no big surprise there. The colours are bright and vibrant - a perfect fit for the Archie world - and Staples' depicts the visual aspects of the humour very well.
I seriously can't wait to read more of this series. I have volume 2 on hold at the library but there's a long waiting list (no surprise that this is a popular series), but I know the wait will be worth it! -
Hey, this is pretty good! I've read a bunch of Mark Waid's comics and liked most of them, but I don't think I've ever seen his writing be so... playful, I guess? And yet this Archie relaunch by him is surprisingly absolutely delightful. The first three issues especially, where Waid's writing paired with Fiona Staples' charming artwork created the kind of chemistry I rarely see in other comics. Not kidding, those first three issues are five star material as far as I'm concerned and reminded me a lot of my favourite comic series, Giant Days. Unfortunately, the next three issues are drawn by two different artists, and none of their art looked as good as Staples', and the writing, for some reason, also followed suit — the story got a bit less refined, not as smooth or seamless, more patchy. It was still fun and I had a good time with it, but a bit of that magic was gone. Either way, this is a great feel-good series about a bunch of high school kids getting into all sorts of shenanigans, and I wouldn't mind reading more of it.
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Eh. I don't get it. Fiona Staples (Saga) is great. But Waid's writing falls flat. Or these characters are just one-dimensional teens and readers project their own nostalgic love for them onto the story. Either way, pretty boring.
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I love the idea of Archie set in the present. And I'm also a big fan of riverdale the show. The comics seems more true to the original books I read as a kid personality wise for the characters. I'm definitely a fan of this and will continue the series.
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I knew the second I heard about the reboot of Archie comics I would love it. Brilliantly written by Mark Waid, and beautifully drawn by Fiona Staples (Issue 1-3). I couldn't have asked for a better reinvention of my favorite gang of friends I hold dear to my childhood!!
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Oddly enough, I can't find any flaws with this but I've outgrown stories about high schoolers. If you're in high school, you'll probably love this.
The art is gorgeous and the writing is quirky and adorable!
This updated version of Archie added a lot more diversity. I adore the format. It's like a normal comic but with some moments of 4th wall breaking so Archie can give us some backstory.
Archie, Archie, Archie. What should be the basic and bland of characters is actually really charming and adorable. Usually, I don't understand why these amazing female characters love one guy (especially when I think they'd be happier together) but with Archie, I kinda get it. The school's obsession with him is a bit harder for me to understand.
Anyway, the story starts post the #LipstickIncident and I thought it would be something ridiculous that broke up Betty and Archie but it kind of wasn't. They promised not to change and Betty wore lipstick and nice dress for once, something a high schooler has every right to do and Archie treated her like a stranger. The artwork really stuck out to me in that scene because everything from the pencils to the coloring worked perfectly. I really felt for both of the characters.
Veronica moves to town in this volume. Her meeting with Archie was cute but I'm not a big fan of snooty rich characters. Give them depth or keep them away from me. Veronica is having a rough go of it on her first day of public school and Betty steps in to help her. I kinda ship it, not gonna lie. She really cares about Archie and that was great to see.
Betty. She reminds me a bit of Serena from Gossip Girl. I've formed a bit of a crush on her. I love her! She's a great female character in that she doesn't let anyone tell her what girls can and can't do. She gets caught up in Jughead's plan to break of Veronica and Archie and then realizes maybe Veronica will be good for Archie. She's selfless and sweet and very well rounded.
I'll definitely catch up on the next volume. Great start! -
As a kid, I loved buying the Archie comics digests and reading them over and over again, and I even had a big anthology of Archie comics from throughout the years, which I was obsessed with (I really need to look for that next time I'm at my mom's house). But for some reason I underestimated how much I would like this reboot. It was totally delightful revisiting these characters, and the modernization and attention paid to backstory made the whole thing much more intriguing.
Unfortunately, this volume is also a good example of how important art is to story in comics. The first three issues, drawn by Fiona Staples, were sublime. She pays so much attention to detail--all the characters looked like themselves in every frame, the clothes, hair, and makeup were all on point, and she added details like smartphone screens and takeout coffee cups that served as subtle reminders that this was all taking place in the present day and not ye olde Riverdale of the nebulous past. It all elevated the story and made it something great. The whole thing crashed back to earth when other artists took over for issues 4-6. I still enjoyed those issues and I'll keep up with the series (I think), but I really hope the artwork improves as time goes on. It would be a shame if this reboot peaked with issue 3 and it was all downhill from there. -
A self-aware, hip, touching the fourth wall Archie comic?
Here's a book that I though was cast in stone - I'd read Archie Digests at the cottage throughout my childhood, and never saw anything change. Always with the petty squabbles and hijinx, never a death or real-world problem to worry about.
Then I stumbled across Afterlife with Archie. Or rather heard it talked up like madness. And finally got around to it, and thought "OK, it's not groundbreaking - except in the Archie universe."
So I'm willing to give this a shot - especially with Mark Waid and Fiona Staples lending their supreme comics credibility to what could come off as a disaster.
Jughead looks...like he's coming down off a three-day bender?
But he still eats enormous sandwiches:
This book sets up all the tensions and players with exactly the same plot elements we're used to - and updates the setting and props to the modern day. Which means I worry - if the whole deal is girl triangles and broken-down jalopies and class warfare, where does the book go when it runs out of after-school special storylines? I mean, will Slater grow a moustache that threatens to take over the universe?
