Review: Archie Vol. 1
Quick Summary
Pros: The story and drama are very good and get the reader involved and interested. Characters are written realistically and are easy to connect with. The book takes plenty of time to find humor and comedy in the character’s actions.
Cons: If you are looking for action and adventure than this is not for you.
Overall: This is a great series revival that manages to bring new life to an old franchise while also respecting the comic’s roots. It also provides the beginning to a compelling story with a charming and lovable cast of characters. Overall, anyone looking for a comic book that provides a humorous, yet interesting, look into the lives of some well written characters will love this comic.
Story
I’ll be the first to admit that I did not expect to really like this comic all that much. Before this reboot, Archie Comics had a reputation for being corny and filled with jokes based heavily in nostalgia. However, I was absolutely floored with how wonderful and enjoyable Archie Vol. 1 actually was. The story is great, the art is great, and it got me genuinely excited to read more about Archie’s adventures. Writer Mark Waid nails the down-to-earth style narrative and makes this a book that anyone can connect with an appreciate. Overall this is a comic to watch out for, because if it continues to be as good as these first few issues then readers are in for an amazing time.
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One of the standout portions throughout this volume is how incredibly real the characters and their interactions feel. Obviously the lifestyle and glamour in some characters’ lives is exaggerated, but the characters themselves feel extremely authentic. They talk like real people, they hang out like real people, and they fight like real people. It makes the series a more direct mirror to the world readers see around them and serves to improve the already great reading experience.
It is that sense of reality that makes it so easy for the audience to connect with each of the characters. Waid is able to get you genuinely interested in “the lipstick incident” which then makes you excited for everything that is happening next. Then, when you see the flashback to the actual breakup, you feel bad for the characters and actually share in some of their emotions. It is this connection which allows you to feel completely immersed into this fictional universe and is also what makes it so enjoyable.
However, above all of this, this comic is fun to read. Comedic antics abound throughout this work and can range from slapstick humor from Archie to more clever jabs from Veronica. This comedy is never over the top and comes across in such lighthearted and fun way that you can’t help but smile while reading it. Things like the montage clips of Archie getting fired, Jughead’s obsession with food, or anytime Veronica says “Archiekins” give the reader something to genuinely laugh at and even help further connect them with the characters. Comic books are supposed to be fun and this comic book definitely fits the bill.
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Art
Going into a book like Archie, once again, I was unsure of what to expect. The classic style of Archie Comics always tended to look very cartoonish and didn’t seem to have evolved over time. However, once again, I was surprised with how great it actually was. Fiona Staples step into this book and redefines the Riverdale community in a completely unique, yet approachable, way. The art looks new, fresh, and modern while retaining a sense of minimalist detail that feels like a throwback to the classic Archie style. It ends up being the perfect compromise between the old and the new and makes the comic feel updated while never compromising the look that Archie Andrews has maintained for decades.
Continuity
This comic is the first of a newly relaunched Archie Comics world. This means that you really do not have to have read anything prior to this. Reading earlier Archie Comics will give you a little better perspective on the characters and how they interact but will not give you any additional information about their history in this relaunched comic.
The stories started in this volume continue on in Archie Vol. 2 (Review).