An adaptation of an adaptation isn’t a new thing by any stretch, especially in comics, but how does the world of Archie and friends feel when it’s refracted through the lens of a TV show, and one that’s a gritty reboot at that? Read on for our spoiler-free review.
Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Will Ewing, Michael GrassiCover by Alitha Martinez
Illustrated by Joe Eisma
Colors by Andre Szymanowicz
Letters by Janice Chiang, John WorkmanFrom Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and the writers of the new CW series Riverdale comes the first issue of the must-read, brand new, ongoing comic series! Set in the universe of the TV series, the Riverdale comic offers a bold, subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, Josie & the Pussycats, and their friends, exploring small-town life and the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome facade. Features interior art by up-and-coming artist Alitha Martinez (Black Panther.)
While the idea of a comic book based on a TV show based on a comic book feels a tad redundant, there’s method to the madness. After all, Riverdale veers so wildly from the source material (even the recent reboot doesn’t cover such topics as murder, teen pregnancy and steamy student/teacher affairs) that there’s plenty of room for an ongoing series set in that world. Much like the recently released one-shot, “Riverdale” #1 is plotted by show-runner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, written by actual writers of the show, and slots itself seamlessly in between episodes (in the case of this issue, it feels like it’s set around episode 3 of the show) so there’s no denying its validity or authentic feel either. Where the book may stumble slightly, however, is finding an actual purpose.
In a neat mirroring of the series, the two stories in “Riverdale” #1 are both titled after movies, Bloodsport and Bring it On respectively (although both options seem like perfect choices for episode titles, so one wonders how far down the line they’ll get reused for the show,) and even if there is a linked theme, the divide between an Archie story and a Betty/Veronica story gives the book a feeling of an anthology rather than the first issue of an ongoing. In the context of a book that is essentially extra, fill-in content that’s fine, but that restricts it to being only that rather than its own thing outside of the show, and in that sense it suffers when inevitably compared to the rest of the Archie comics line.
The stories themselves deal with similar themes that go beyond the fact that they are essentially the same plot. Both attempt to solidify and flesh out character traits of the main cast: in the case of Archie, it’s living up to the legacy of Jason Blossom while still being his own person, and in Betty’s case it’s living up to the high standards of Cheryl Blossom without sacrificing her ideals. Both have to overcome obstacles literal and emotional, and both stories conclude neatly in this issue. There are also moments, ideas and imagery that they wouldn’t get away with in an all-ages Archie book, but in a more teen-focused series “Riverdale” it works. The writers also do a good job of making this feel like short snippets from these characters’ lives that perhaps didn’t quite fit into an episode, further adding to their relevance.
Eisma’s art manages to bridge the gap between the TV show and the comics nicely. There are definitely hints of Fiona Staples here and there, and while some of the facial expressions suffer from perhaps a necessity to capture the actors’ likenesses, overall Eisma injects just the right amount of cartoon exaggeration to make this feel like a comic and not a series of stilted images, a problem which many adaptations suffer from. The Archie story works a little better in this regard, as his characterisation of Archie is almost exactly that of the Waid and Staples reboot, if a little more ripped. Betty and Veronica don’t really look like the actors who portray them on the show, which in itself isn’t such a bad thing, but again there’s a sense that they suffer from Eisma trying to make them match rather than focusing on a mere likeness. After all, Betty and Veronica are iconic, so just by virtue of drawing the best Betty and Veronica you can they’d look like the actors on the show. Szymanowicz’s colors lift the whole issue, and lean “Riverdale” #1 more towards the comics than the TV series. While the show is not that dark (at least in terms of palate), this version of Riverdale has never looked as brightly colored as it does here. Even when portraying something particularly grim there’s a vibrancy that definitely works. Again, some adaptations try too hard to mirror the aesthetic of its original form, so it’s refreshing to find this series embrace its medium in this way.
Continued belowThe biggest draw of “Riverdale” #1 – the fact that it slips seamlessly in between episodes of the show – is perhaps its biggest downfall. Like anything of its kind, there’s a struggle to find a purpose within the context of the universe, as it’s restricted in how far it can go. No major revelations will be found in the comic, that’s what the show is for. Conversely, if these stories are important why aren’t they included in the episodes? Only time will tell, but the purpose seems to be two-fold. Firstly, it works purely in addition to the series and helps to solidify character beats and narrative themes found there; perhaps it can foreshadow upcoming plot lines, certainly it being written by the show-runners helps in that regard. Secondly it aims to draw fans of the show into the comic shop. Whether this ever actually works is debatable, but there’s no denying that Aguirre-Sacasa has done wonders to diversify the Archie fan-base, so in that respect this is a success. “Riverdale” will only find its true purpose, however, when it becomes a book to recommend to fans of the show over and above the main “Archie” series. So far that can’t quite be said, but it’s a good start.
Final verdict: 6.5 – An above average companion piece with engaging art that will work for fans of the show, even if it falls short of justifying its own existence.
“Riverdale” #1 will be released by Archie on April 5th
