Under Mark Waid and Fiona Staples’s direction, the reboot of “Archie” turned out to be a loving, reverential, and enormously entertaining comic. But now Staples is gone, back to “Saga” land; though Waid trucks on, with Annie Wu filling in until the new ongoing artist takes over. Were those first three issues a fluke, or is there more than enough “Archie” spirit to go around?
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Annie Wu and Andre Szymanocwicz & Jen VaughnThe biggest comic series of the year continues! What was the “lipstick incident” that pushed Archie and Betty apart? And can the smartest boy in Riverdale fix it? The spotlight is on Dilton and Moose as, together, they show what friendship is really all about! We’re pleased to welcome Annie Wu (Black Canary, Hawkeye) to Riverdale, as she takes over art duties in this brand-new issue!
It’s easy to say that “Archie” is going under a reinvention with their rebooted series. Certainly, this comics line has a reputation for the, like, ’50s status quo that precedes it, with the small town setting, the wholesome aesthetic, and retro cartoon strip art-style. While “Archie” has never been entirely subversive, it’s always strived to bring out a sort of egalitarian approach to the world, from incorporating a diverse cast of characters and interests to trying not to fall victim to modern cynicism or blind optimism.
“Archie” #4, like the rest of Mark Waid’s run, maintains that mood. Promising to reveal the lipstick incident, the thing that drove a wedge between Archie and Betty, the book holds up its genial tone and humorous approach. Everyone might be carrying around a cell phone, but the heart is still there.
Waid’s an old dude trying to write young characters: he keeps it cool and it doesn’t try to imitate an Adventure Time-like vocabulary in his approach. Archie and Betty and the rest of the characters don’t necessarily talk like teenagers, but their actions and behaviors come off as genuine, as if they’re still exploring and discovering the world. This is a book that finds most of its humor and heart in whatever sticky or goofy situation Archie, Jughead, and the Riverdale gang find themselves in, and Waid actually showcases a real talent for finding drama and humor in the mundane. So much of his other writing is bogged down by continuity, plot, or the demands of a mainstream superhero book — which tends to cross over into his creator-owned work as well — that it’s refreshing to have a book from him where he’s allowed to breathe. Also, it’s somewhat pleasant to read a book from an older writer that’s not damning kids for using their phones. Technology is a part of their lives and Waid doesn’t skirt around it, but it’s not as demanding and distracting to these characters as other old curmudgeons have made it out to be.
“Archie” #4 is essentially a long montage flashback, covering a fair amount of Betty and Archie’s relationship. It’s a breezy portrait of teen romance, though sequences like these tend to make the events superficial. Annie Wu conjures up plenty of empathy and concern for the characters in their few instances of page time. She gets a clear sense of why these two kids are into each other, and their heartbreak and disappointment is apparent when they split. Wu nails it, especially, at the end, after the breakup, when Archie’s walking home alone and just obliviously plowing through everything in his path.
Wu does feature a lot more of solid, thicker line than her predecessor, though she maintains the sort of sketchy and frenzied stroke to her figures, giving them this energy and liveliness. She allows the scenes to play out in a classic comedy fashion: a lot of wider shots, a lot of expressive close-ups, a lot of panels with more than two figures in the frame. Unlike her work in “Hawkeye,” she doesn’t go crazy with the paneling, settling into a far more practical rhythm, no less tightly controlled but almost invisible. It’s the sort of thing that works for “Archie,” and the kind of perfect approach for essentially a teen romance comedy comic.
Continued belowThe color palette from Andre Szymanociwcz, with assists by Jen Vaughn, is bright and peppy and carries this feeling of just being honestly into someone.
Both Mark Waid and Annie Wu bring a clear love and understanding of Riverdale to the table, and the book feels as authentic and genuine as any “Archie” book.
Which works well for the material itself, because so much of this issue deals with authenticity versus fabrication. Waid and Wu show Archie and Betty are together because they have similar interests and can be real with each other. But it’s the girls who take it on themselves to help Betty who throw bank up all their business. They’re acting only because they deem Archie popular and think by improving his girlfriend, they’ll improve their social status. Their motivations are nonsensical, but they’re nonsensical characters to begin with. When Archie is forced to confront this sudden change in his girlfriend, he doesn’t know how to react.
The upcoming issues promise more of Veronica and it looks like Waid’ll be having fun exploiting the teen love triangle plot for a bit. But he’s shown that he’s more than capable of balancing the funny, sad, and exciting elements of “Archie.” It’s too bad Wu does only this issue, because her style settles well for Riverdale.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Another fun, breezy, and genuine addition to the “Archie” library.
