Archie & Friends: Summer Lovin' #1

This summer time fun special was something I meant to read when it debuted in 2022. Unfortunately it got buried in my ever growing to-read pile, only to see the light of day just recently.

The main story introduces a new love triangle to Riverdale. Veronica's cousin Harper has returned for the summer. This means for Reggie a chance to restart his relationship with the teen. However, there's a new player in the mix, Eliza Han, an African-Korean American with ADHD and is pansexual. At the summer carnival both Reg and Eliza vie for the affections of Harper. But it looks like love will have to wait when everyone gets sick from riding the Gravitron. 

The opening story was written by Tee Harper with artwork provided by my favorite modern Archie artist, Dan Parent. I was surprised that the main feature was only 6 pages in length. Especially since the cover promises an introduction to Eliza Han. Instead, the back-up feature took up the majority of this book, which was 32 pages in total length. It involves Archie trying to win the affections of Veronica by practicing for the Riverdale beach windsurfing championship. Did I mention he's rather bad at it? Written by Tom DeFalco, the story features an often forgotten member of the Archie-Betty-Veronica love affair; one Ms. Cheryl Blossom who decides to train poor Archie just to get revenge on Veronica.

The back up was illustrated by Pat and Tim Kennedy. The brothers artwork looks really new and I know that it's a newer story because Kevin Keller is a main character in the story and he's only been around since 2010. What I want to know is this: was the windsurfing story brand new or like with other specials of the past, a reprint? 

With a Halloween or Valentine's Day spectacular, the reprinted tales look older. Why didn't the editors pick such a more modern story to fill in the gaps? And if it's an all-new story as well, I'm crying FOUL! Why does this one-shot get special treatment of original material but the holiday annual books get stuffed with stuff that I've more than likely already read!?

I've said it before and I will say it now: I'm willing to pay $3.99, up from the standard cover of $2.99 for all my Archie specials to contain more original stories than 1 measly 6-pager. C'mon Archie Comics! You do so well responding to fan demand, let's make this happen!

Before I go... Great cover by Bill Golliher. Love the Easter egg to the birth year of Archie!

Worth Consuming!

Rating 8 out of 10 stars.

Archie Meets Riverdale #1

I think I write some of my reviews in my sleep. I know for a fact that I read this 2022 one-shot crossover the week it debuted in stores. I enjoyed the Hell out of it. And I could have sworn that I drafted up my praises. Yet, this book was still in my to-review pile with no proof of a post about Archie Meets Riverdale anywhere on this blog. 

In the original Archie Comics universe, teenage egghead Dilton Doiley is working on another one of his experiments which naturally malfunctions. Only this time around, the device latches on to a parallel universe plucking the Riverdale Archie Andrews from his drama heavy universe into the overly cheery world of Riverdale, USA that us readers have been devotees of for over 80 years! As Dilton tinkers with his machine in hopes of fixing it, random teens from both universes pop in and out of their realities. Before you know it, all of your classic Archie characters will be on the PG-13 side of the spectrum and those brooding teens from Riverdale will be existing in a saccharine reality otherwise thought unimaginable.

You know, the only way to fix this might be a joint prom between both Riverdale High student bodies!

I've never seen an episode of Riverdale. But I Wiki-read about it a lot. I HAVE read quite a few Archie team-up books. Archie Meets Riverdale is among the creme de la creme of them! I know that at least in one of my dream reviews in the past, I wished for this crossover to happen. Well, the wish was granted, albeit in my head, and it was a marvelous wish fulfilled. 

I loved that Pat & Tim Kennedy decided to draw the classic Archie gang in a more nostalgic look from the 1940s and 50s. If Archie Comics had gone with Dan Parent's version which is based a lot more on Dan DeCarlo's look established as the playbook for presenting the world's oldest teenagers, the differences between the two universes wouldn't be as striking. I love the Dan Parent/Dan DeCarlo model. It's the definitive look for Archie and the gang. It just would not have been as effective if that version was used for this crossover. 

Good Call, Archie Editors!

A fun ride for Archie and Riverdale fans. Though I think the more established a classic Archie fan you are, the more you'll get out of this book. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Archie & Friends: Geeks and Games #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Explore the world of technology through the eyes of Archie and the Gang in this week's Family Comic Friday!

Archie & Friends: Geeks and Games #1
Written by: Francis Bonnet
Art by: Pat and Tim Kennedy
Published by Archie Comics
Retail: $2.99

Need a Summer time pick-me-up? Check out Archie & Friends: Geeks and Games #1. In this hi-tech one-shot, the kids from Riverdale explore the impact technology has had on all out lives in a trio of tales.

First up, Archie and Jughead have developed a fever to the new video game Forknite! As a result, Archie has been ignoring Veronica. Out of spite or revenge (or both), Veronica decides to learn just what this new game is all about. Will Archie and Jughead have meet their match? Knowing the lengths Veronica will go to in order to be the best, the guys probably have.

Then Archie brings home his latest tech project: a robotic dog. But during the test run, things don't go as smoothly as Archie thought it would. Turns out android dogs are as much of a hassle as the real McCoy.

Lastly, Archie has an important report due. But will miss Grundy believe him when the redhead's real dog, Vegas, eats his flash drive homework?

This was a very fun but fast read. The artwork by Archie vets, Pat and Tim Kennedy was spot-on classic style Archie. It might have been a little too classic as I thought Veronica looked a lot like her 1940s counterpart, Veronica Lake. I almost thought I was reading a reprint from the Golden Age of Comics. Then I remembered that they didn't have video games in the post-World War II era!

I really enjoyed the stories by Suburban Fairy Tales author, Francis Bonnet. All three stories were creative and helped me forget about how awful 2020 has been. With Archie being a 75 year old plus property, it's easy for the stories to get repetitive. But all 3 tales felt really fresh. Even the homework story seemed new despite the telegraphed punchline ending.

The only real problem with this comic is the length. At only 24 pages, Geeks and Games is just way too darn short! But the $2.99 cover price is rather nice. It's something the whole family will enjoy!

Archie & Friends: Geeks and Games #1 debuted in print and digital formats on Wednesday June 24th, 2020!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.