Afterlife with Archie, Vol. 1: Escape from Riverdale

Great way to expand and modernize. Very dark and adult.

So trippy to read Archie now, when I really haven't picked up a new one in nearly twenty years. I used to collect Archie comics every summer when my family went to Canada. There are so many things I've missed, I think. But now that there is THIS, I decided to pick up an old friend again.

Imagine my surprise when I learned Ronnie's mom was dead. And I had never experienced, even a little, Ginger and Kevin. So that was fun.

Despite any flaws and slight character alterations from my childhood, I quite enjoyed this graphic novel. I'm so very glad that Archie Comics is doing it NOW that I'm an adult, because I would never have touched it as a child. I would have been scandalized, given my upbringing.

But Archie. Zombies. So much fun. The script is darn good, and the art! I've never really been a fan of Western art, but Francesco Francavilla's art is wonderfully moody and dark. It's a thrill seeing all these character with whom I basically grew up in something so beautifully grim. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's script is quite potent, considering the number of pages with which he has to work. And it's fun to see the Archie world spin-off characters, like Sabrina, the Blossom twins; all the parents. Sigh. Now, we just need Josie and the Pussycats.

Also, I am terrified of zombies.

And now that I'm old, why the deuce are Betty and Veronica even friends?

Yaaas, I love how terrified I was when I read this - Jughead, the character known for his love of eating, get zombie rabies and eats someone face at homecoming dance. Really a dark and unexpected treat from archie.

-still waiting on vol. 2??