Archie and the Riverdale crew get a makeover from two of the top talents in comics. Mark Waid and Fiona Staples breathe new life into an old character and deliver a debut that will delight old fans and blow away new readers. Read on for our spoiler free review of “Archie” #1.
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated Fiona Staples
Comic superstars Mark Waid and Fiona Staples reimagine an icon! Change is coming to Riverdale in this can’t-miss kick-off to Archie’s new ongoing series! Familiar faces return in new and unexpected ways in this must-have #1 issue! As the new school year approaches, you’d think Archie Andrews would be looking forward to classes and fun-but nothing is as it seems in the little town of Riverdale. But is this a one-off or a sign of bigger changes awaiting for America’s favorite teens – and the entire town? Find out in this exciting and remarkable first issue!
Hype isn’t even the word for what “Archie” #1 has received in the lead up to it’s release; this was like a worldwide phenomenon. When Marvel and DC were rebooting 75 year old characters, Archie Comics stayed true to what it was, only offering us sneak peeks into a possible future for the characters, but we never saw something like this. No, this is a new beginning – this is the story from the start with a modern twist and, even though reboots can be scary for longtime fans, this is something much needed and refreshing.
“Archie” #1 begins with Archie Andrews, telling us about his big breakup with girlfriend Betty Cooper. The two of them grew up next door to each other and were a couple since they were five. “The lipstick incident” occurred, and now the two of them are on the outs. Thanks to how popular they are, this becomes the talk of the entire school. Everyone has an opinion on what happened and they all want “Bettchie” back together. This leads to Archie and Betty’s friends scheming to get them back together at the school dance. The center of this plan relies on Jughead and what happens is a fun, sitcom-like tale that really brings everything back to the start.
“Archie” #1 is absolutely delightful is almost every way. This feels like classic “Archie” but with touches that make it modern. Whether we like it or not, smartphones, hashtags and online lingo are here to stay. It’s included in television shows, advertisements and even physical products. The current generation of teenagers are deeply embedded in this stuff, and it can’t be ignored anymore in literature. It’s all about how you use it and, in “Archie” #1, Waid and Staples don’t go overboard. They don’t make their characters feel overly attached to it but it’s definitely a part of their lives. There aren’t phones in their hands all the time and there is true interaction between these characters.
The story itself is a fine place to start because we’re not at their first day of school but we’re not exactly so far down the road that it acts as a bad place to start. This drama of Betty and Archie’s breakup really allows for other character’s involvment in a natural way. Waid’s dialogue feels like something new for these characters as they have a little more snark and a little more sass, but he still holds on to each character’s personality without changing too much. Archie himself is still clumsy, prone to mistakes but a great friend and genuinely good person. Betty comes off a bit more relatable than she ever did before – instead of being the polar opposite of Veronica, she’s a bit more nuanced. She’s not devoid of confidence but you can see moments where she’s not totally sure of herself, specifically when she tries to talk to Archie in the hallway. Jughead is still Jughead but with a little twist. He’s far more wise than he’s ever let on before, and not in an accidental way. He does stumble into doing things that are more mature than you’d expect, but he doesn’t show it to everyone else. His hamburger obsession is still here, he wears his crown but it’s the pull he has in this issue that makes him such a standout. He’s in many ways a great compliment to Archie who always learns a lesson in every situation. Jughead feels like he’s learned some things and that’s what makes him my favorite character in all of this.
Continued belowOne of the biggest questions I had when this was announced was how much the tone would shift. “Archie” has always been something any reader of any age could get into. When I worked at a comic shop, kids in the “tween” age range picked out “Archie” digests often. These stories were something they could understand and something their parents would enjoy reading with them. “Archie” #1 is an update but it’s not something unrecognizable. The tone is light and there’s a lot of smiles to be had here. This isn’t Pretty Little Liars where we’re putting teenagers in unreal situations that force them into adulthood. This is Riverdale, an idealized American town that acts as a fun escapism. It’s a high school comedy that actually reads as something that wants you to have fun.
Fiona Staples is a queen; we should all be bowing to her and her artwork because everything she touches becomes gold. “Archie” #1 is gorgeous in a different way than her work on “Saga” is. For a start, Staples nails the clothing designs. I’m basically over over sexualized youth in mainstream media; it’s gross and unnecessary. Staples designs every character’s clothing with a specific style that reflects them in many ways. Betty, for example, spends much of the issue with her hair in a messy bun and wears very relaxed clothing. It not only reflects her more laid back personality but it also reflects how frazzled she is. She just broke up with her longtime boyfriend and you can visually see how it’s affecting her. There’s a scene with her at Pop’s where she’s drinking a soda with two straws alone, and I really like how it’s not a stereotypically sad moment for the girl in the relationship. She’s frustrated and it makes her so much more relatable.
For something like “Archie” that doesn’t rely on super powers or science fiction chaos, the facial expressions are incredibly important. Staples kills it in every way. Everyone’s reactions to things are animated but not too big. Archie’s expressions jump back and forth perfectly purely based on what he says. Many artists tend to not really get this down right. Staples understands human emotion from an artistic standpoint like no one else – Stjepan Sejic comes close but she’s really in a class of her own. The school dance at the end feature the most fun pages of the entire issue. The jumps from Archie’s guitar to people’s reaction adds such a dynamic pace to the scene. It’s fast, compelling and adds that kind of crazy feeling you would get a dance. There was always so much going on with drama, the music and everyone’s outfits and Staples really channels some of that here.
The color choices are pitch perfect. There’s such variety in backgrounds and clothing. The hairstyles for some characters are really unique with bright, vibrant colors that pop off the page. The final pages at the school dance feature a lot of purples and pinks setting the pefect mood.
This issue is nearly perfect. Even though it makes sense in the context of the story, there’s a major character missing and it is ultimately disappointing. Also, Archie’s fourth wall breaking is reminiscent of the great Zack Morris, but because the lettering is the same throughout, it can be a little tough to make out who he’s talking to. A shift in the letters would make that easier to follow.
“Archie” #1 is a fantastic start to a new era for these characters. It’s a worthy re-imagining that should hopefully entice a lot more younger readers to comics.
Final Verdict: 8.8 – “Archie” #1 is a ton of fun and beautiful to look at.
