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KC Carlson. Art by Keith Wilson

by KC Carlson

No, this isn’t a column about poor diabetes management. It’s about what’s been just recently going on at our preferred teen humor publisher, the older-than-your-grandpa Archie Comics. Sure, Archie has had a track record for being a stodgy, pretty-much-the-same-thing-every-month type of publisher in the past, however in recent years they have been slowly evolving into telling stories about this decade, as well as just just recently they published their very first title for people normally outside their target demographic, which, as much as now was mostly young women as well as women.

Welcome to the twisted world of the tongue-in-cheek titled Afterlife With Archie.

Afterlife With Archie #1

SO put SOME MUSTARD ON MY ROLL

‘CAUSE YOU’RE BLOCKING UP MY SOUL

HOT DOG!

(lyrics from The Archies’ tune “Hot Dog”)

This is Archie’s very first comic book to need a mature visitors label (Which reads “Rated Teen+: violence as well as mature Content), as well as the comic is currently only being used with direct Market distribution, as well as the Archie on the internet app. Physical copies of the four different versions of the cover apparently offered out in one day, as well as a second printing (with one more new cover) is being gotten ready for release. Our regional Westfield retail store reports that a lot of people gotten all four covers, when available.

And yes, the book is an actual zombie comic book, with mature themes as well as an very moody presentation (by artist Francesco Francavilla (Black Beetle, Batman in Detective Comics), as well as writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Archie satisfies GLEE, as well as the GLEE TV show itself). It’s mainly played straight, as well as somewhat really shocking, rather than the normal Archie humor as well as slapstick. (Although, there’s lots of unintentional, subliminal humor by just having these famous teens put in this horrifying situation.) That feeling doesn’t last long, however, as extremely poor bad things begin happening nearly immediately).

THE plot SICKENS

Afterlife With Archie #1 Variant Cover

(If you don’t want to understand anything about the very first issue, avoid ahead to somewhere else In The Archie U. – ed.)

Starting with a late-night see to teen-age witch, Sabrina’s weird house, a distraught Jughead cradles a mortally injured hot pet dog in his arms, pleading for Sabrina to assist him. Sabrina’s similarly weird aunts figure out that hot pet dog is really as well far gone for a wonderful resurrection, as well as warns Sabrina against acting. however Jughead pleads for his dog’s life, as well as Sabrina disobeys her aunts, casts a spell, as well as tells Jughead to go house as well as wait. The aunts find Sabrina’s actions as well as have her eradicated to a mystic realm for a year (conveniently getting her wonderful powers out of the method for a bit.)

The next day, after some service with a extremely bitchy Betty & Veronica, we find that hot pet dog had died since Reggie had inadvertently hit him with his cars and truck — as well as then fled the scene, figured out not to tell anybody about what happened. Meanwhile, Jughead waits all the time for hot Dog’s return… however nothing happens. later that night, there’s a scratching at the door, however what greets Jughead at the door isn’t great ‘ol hot Dog. Not really…

The next day, Jughead isn’t at institution as well as Archie swings by the home to see him, only to find that his good friend is truly sick. And, according to Archie, so is hot Dog, who Archie hears under the front porch, however doesn’t come out to greet him. however Archie can’t stay, as he’s late for the huge Halloween dance at the gym. as well as after a bit of geekery, Reggie’s about to confess his crimes just as somebody announces that Jughead has really made it to the dance — as well as he’s using a remarkable zombie costume!

Dun Dun DUN-N-N!

Afterlife With Archie #3

Okay, I dislike zombie stories, however I’ll be back for problem #2 of this. quickly the strangest thing I’ve checked out all year!

Perhaps the most striking thing about this book is the subtle color effects, mostly errie oranges as well as purples — a far cry from the day-glo main colors of the familiar Archie universe. This book is mucho creepy!

ELSEWHERE IN THE ARCHIE U.

Betty & Veronica #266. Art by Jill Thompson.

Currently, Archie is down to just three routine style comic books that function new material, although the business is currently experimenting with new as well as different styles for their reprint material, beyond their normal line of digests. Which indicates to me that this experimentation with style indicates that there may be even a lot more modifications to Archie’s lineup in the future. Long-running title Betty as well as Veronica is still hanging in there, currently featuring bi-monthly parodies of traditional fairy-tales (ala the prominent when Upon A Time TV show). recent problems have featured updated treatments of Snow White as well as the seven Dwarves as well as The bit Mermaid. Apparently, there is huge news ahead about Betty & Veronica from Archie Comics.

Kevin Keller #11

Kevin Keller, the title featuring the extremely prominent adventures of Riverdale’s very first freely gay character, was just recently awarded “Outstanding Comic Book” condition by GLAAD for promoting the picture of LGBT people in the media. recent problems have focused on household trips as well as smoothing out some rough edges in Kevin’s present connection with Devon. The thing that makes the book work so well is the fascinating friendship that Kevin has with Veronica Lodge, who seems to not comprehend – or care (which is the point) – that Kevin is gay.

Archie #636

The primary Archie title is currently Archie Comics’ only routine monthly publication as well as it appears to bounce around from star as well as media tie-ins (the recent 4-isssue Archie satisfies GLEE), or truly fascinating one-shot gender-bending stories as well as the bizarre SF tale that kind of served as a twisted perhaps “origin” of the Archie world (#646), both of which felt both contemporary as well as retro, thanks to the art by new occasional Archie artist Giselle, who draws the characters seemingly younger as well as with a minor manga influence. longtime Archie artist Dan parent still draws lots of problems of Archie (including the GLEE crossover as well as the fun “Mirrordale” problem in #647, in addition to every problem of Kevin Keller.) as well as it was excellent to see artist Fernando Ruiz step as much as draw the exceptional Thor parody (“Clod of Thunder”) – written by former (Marvel) Thor writer Tom DeFalco in #648. Ruiz is one of the main artists of the new material in the (mostly) reprint digests, so it’s great to see him working in the larger format. He’s likewise currently the routine penciller of “Archie Marries Veronica” in Life With Archie, as well as Archie has guaranteed an statement about that magazine in the near future.

Life with Archie #30. Art by Phil Jimenez

Archie has likewise truly embraced the motion for variant covers (although not necessarily as high-priced merchant incentives, Archie Comics variations are cover price), as well as have begun making them truly special by inviting artists usually outside the Archie world to participate. So just recently we’ve seen a Walter Simonson Thor variant cover for the “Clod of Thunder” Archie #648, Fiona Staples as well as Jill Thompson on Betty & Veronica variants, as well as Dean Haspiel, Stephanie Buscema, as well as an remarkable everybody-in-Archie-Comics variant for recent problems of Life With Archie. as well as a lot more are in the works.

ARCHIE’S past – COVERED!

The Art of Archie: The Covers

Archie fans that are a lot more thinking about older Archie Comics will be thrilled with The Art of Archie: The Covers, an huge 160-page full-color art book of the very best of Archie’s 70-plus years of covers. Edited by Victor Gorelick, who’s been with the business for over 50 years, as well as Archie uber-fan Craig Yoe, this generally is the short-form history of Archie with photos — numerous covers, lots of reproduced from the original art. They’re all subdivided into different (and obvious) groupings (outrageous slapstick comedy, quite women in bikinis, trends as well as flops of pop culture, quite women in cheerleader outfits, celebrities, fashion, quite women kissing Archie, very first appearances of major characters, as well as quite women dancing). one of the things that shocked me a lot of was Archie Comics really admitting (and displaying) that they utilized to often recycle their cover gags over several covers!

One of the very best things about the book, is that there are mini-biographies of the most prolific cover artists (Dan DeCarlo, Harry Lucey, Dan Parent, Bob Montana), traditional artists (Bill Vigoda, Al Fagaly, Harry Sahle) as well as fan favorites (Samm Schwartz, Bob White, Bob Bolling, Fernando Ruiz), which likewise includes photos of the artists — some for the very first time! It great to lastly see Archie slowly embracing their magnificent history, as well as credit score the fantastic talents that have helped the business over its long history.

But, frustratingly, one-longtime Archie artist is woefully under-represented here. Stan Goldberg was one of the most prolific as well as identifiable of all Archie artists for the last few decades. He was the artist on Archie’s a lot of prominent recent job “Archie Marries Veronica” as well as “Archie Marries Betty” from Archie #600-605, endlessly reprinted as well as ultimately spun-into the present incarnation of Life With Archie which continue the storylines. (Goldberg likewise contributed to problem #1 of that title, as well as is likewiseone of the artists of the cult-popular Archie satisfies the Punisher from 1994.)

Stan Goldberg drew numerous covers for Archie over the 41 years he freelanced for them. only five of them are in this book, as well as he gets no artist bio. This does not seem right.

INTO THE FUTURE!

Archie #651

Archie Comics has been working extremely difficult just recently to keep America’s preferred teens in the forefront of prominent culture. They’re getting some excellent buzz (and headlines) on some present jobs like Afterlife With Archie as well as ideally will get some extra useful info from the recent style experimentation. ideally with some calculated rebranding of their traditional characters as well as the eventual resolution of some regrettable interior issues will keep the focus on the characters as well as keep Archie as well as the gang to life for one more 70-plus years! They’re America’s teens — no matter exactly how old they truly are!

_______________________________

KC CARLSON ASKS: Did you understand that the irregular series with the characters as cave-people (usually understood as “Archie 1”) introduced a prehistoric version of The Archies band before the cave-characters really developed musical instruments? (Archie not always being extremely great at that “continuity” thing.) It may have been the best-sounding version of the Archies ever! except for that alternating world version of The Archies where Ron Dante was the lead singer — not Archie Andrews. Wait! That’s our world! That would indicate that our earth is in an alternating world to the Archie characters world. AHHH! What have I done!!!

WESTFIELD COMICS is not accountable for the silly things that KC says. particularly that thing that truly irritated you.