Review: Riverdale Vol. 2
Quick Summary
Pros: Two of the stories here are interesting and stand well on their own. As a whole, the volume helps provide additional background to events in Riverdale.
Cons: Most of the stories here range from lackluster to bad. Throughout the volume, the artwork does not look good and does not enhance the storytelling.
Overall: Though still not a great book on its own, this volume does contain a few treats that fans of the show may appreciate. These positives are mostly found through the book’s ability to showcase previously unknown aspects of the Riverdale universe, while telling a few good stories. However, to reach these positives, readers are forced to trudge through stories that are not as entertaining and are sometimes downright bad. Fans of the Riverdale show may like parts of this book, as long as they are willing to overlook its many flaws.
Story
Riverdale Vol. 2 contains many of the same positives and negatives that were found in Riverdale Vol. 1 (Review). However, in this volume, the positives and negatives are both more significant, making for a reading experience that feels like a roller coaster of quality. Some stories are bland and boring, offering little to entertain, but other stories are interesting all on their own. The entire collection also offers a number of elements that help contribute to the overall Riverdale mythos. All in all, even though there are more than a few moments here that do not read well, this is an improvement on the first volume and something that fans of the show should consider reading.
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Since each story in Riverdale Vol. 2 is completely independent, each story ranges when it comes to quality. The volume’s two major highlights are found in chapters six and seven. Chapter six sees Pops tell a number of creepy ghost stories that add a unique element of mysticism to the Riverdale landscape. Meanwhile, chapter seven shows that Dilton is more of a broken character than fans previously believed and is a subtle commentary on how parenting styles can have a major effect on children. These two stories aren’t fantastic but they fit the show’s vibe while also standing well on their own.
Unfortunately, the rest of the volume’s stories are not quite as entertaining and end up ranging from mediocre to downright bad. The Reggie issue has Josie go on a date with a boy who refuses to respect her decisions simply because he helped protect her on one occasion. In addition, chapter eight implies that Archie’s speech is somehow heroic or romantic, despite the fact that this speech was done completely out of a possessive sense of jealousy. These are just two of the larger flaws in a series of stories that, in general, fail to impress.
Each story in this collection, regardless of quality, also helps further develop characters and events from the Riverdale television show. This volume digs in to various elements of various characters that would otherwise go completely unappreciated. For example, readers get a chance to see how Dilton’s harsh upbringing led to his current mannerisms or how Reggie and Josie first started talking. These brief backstories help enhance the show and are one of the best aspects of this comic.
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Art
The artwork in Riverdale Vol. 2 ends up being one of the collection’s weakest aspects. Neither Joe Eisma nor Thomas Pitilli properly match the tone of this book, as their lighthearted and stylized takes on the characters do not match the book’s focus on drama. In addition, the quality level here is not at the level one would want it to be; something particularly noticeable when it comes to the character’s facial expressions, which often appear goofy or strained. Andre Szymanowicz’s colors match the pencils well but also fail to match the volume’s more dramatic tone. Overall, this is simply not a good looking book.
Continuity
Riverdale Vol. 2 continues elements from Riverdale Vol. 1 (Review) and elements from season one of the Riverdale television show.
The story here continues in Riverdale Vol. 3 (Review).