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westonheartswords's review
4.0
[Note: No full-on review for this!]
This was my first exposure to really anything Archie-related (except for like two-to-three minutes of footage from Riverdale, which I fully intend on watching, especially now!), and I really, really enjoyed it! Waid's writing is really quite wholesome without feeling overbearingly juvenile or pandering, and as Staples says in her introduction to this volume, there's a sense of depth to these characters while still preserving that small-town warmth and familiarity. The art by Staples, Wu, and Fish carry a similar warmth and a kind of endearing quality. I can't wait to get my hands on vol. 2!
This was my first exposure to really anything Archie-related (except for like two-to-three minutes of footage from Riverdale, which I fully intend on watching, especially now!), and I really, really enjoyed it! Waid's writing is really quite wholesome without feeling overbearingly juvenile or pandering, and as Staples says in her introduction to this volume, there's a sense of depth to these characters while still preserving that small-town warmth and familiarity. The art by Staples, Wu, and Fish carry a similar warmth and a kind of endearing quality. I can't wait to get my hands on vol. 2!
morgyyreads's review
4.0
his first volume of a reboot of one of my favorite comic series did not disappoint in any way, shape, or form. When something near and dear to my heart gets rebooted I normally hold my breath until I experience that reboot so not to get my hopes up. Reading this volume was like releasing that breath that I had been holding, in the best way possible. Though the time period and art styles are definitely different, the quirk and charm of these characters still hold true to the original Archie comics that I held dear in my childhood. I will most certainly be continuing on with this series!
queenrikki's review
4.0
It sounds ridiculous. Archie comics reimagined for a modern age. Anyone who mocks this series is in for a pleasant surprise. At heart its a bout growing up and accepting the changes that come with it.. Mark Waid does a surprisingly good job of portraying how sad and difficult this can be. But this series is also fun and self-aware. My only real gripe is that some of the artists aren't to my tastes.
amburhostyn's review
5.0
Absolutely LOVED this!! I loved the artwork and the story! I can't wait for more and it also made me nostalgic and want to crack open my old Archie comics!!
eriley's review
5.0
LET'S TALK ABOUT ARCHIE
I've been reading Archie since I could read. I seriously can't remember a time when I wasn't reading Archie. My dad used to bring home boxes upon boxes of old Archies from the 70s and 80s (not reprints, like the real copies that were falling apart) and I read them over and over again. Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead mean so much to me. The comics are FUN, with most of the speech bubbles ending in exclamation points !!!! and the gang always just getting into wild antics. There was never much of a plot persay, but the spirit was there.
When Life With Archie turned to the marriage plot, I ate that shit up. I loved the idea of Archie with a plot, with a continuous storyline and character development.
So when I heard Archie was rebooting, I was excited. There were doubts and I know a lot of people were upset, but I felt it was about time. It's been 75 years telling stories that never really went anywhere, with characters that didn't have solid backstories.
And WOW, did Mark Waid deliver. And FiONA SSTAPPLES' ART IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD. I honestly got choked up reading the first few issues because of how beautiful they were. Annie Wu and Veronica Fish also did an amazing job, each in their own way. The characters still look like themselves, but just newer and more beautiful and wowwwwww.
The characters all also have their personalities intact, something that was so important to me. Archie is still a dork, Betty is still the girl next door, Jughead is still the food-obsessed best friend, and Veronica is still the snobby rich girl. But we also see SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
Betty is kind to the point where she looks out for a boy that broke her heart. Veronica is caring and actually gives a shit about Archie.
JUGHEAD JONES IS THE BEST FRIEND ANYONE COULD ASK FOR. HE is blunt, and to the point, and dry and a lil obnoxious, but they have done so much justice to Jughead. He's probably my favorite part of the reboot. He's incredible. And the fact that he is still the character who is not interested in romance, who is just there as the friend, means so so much to me. I've always related to Jughead so much, and seeing that they're not trying to make him into some hyper heterosexual dude is so, so great.
Like in the first issue of the new Jughead comic (!!!) that they included, he says something about how he's a "Hero who doesn't like being touched" and I pretty much shed a tear because um like wow same
ALSO let's talk about how this addressed like sexism to a degree?? Like the #lipstickincident literally highlighted such a double standard and I was literally cheering for Betty because WOW that was some good shit and Archie was such a dumbass tbh.
Also excited for the new characters, like that cute baseball player guy that showed up at the end?? Like more?? Pls??
I seriously can't wait for more of this.
While I think that there are available criticisms, like that by redoing such a classic you are inevitably not going to make the same product, and that the story might get a little soap-opera-y, I have faith in the reboot. There were definitely a couple of things that I was iffy about, but I'm literally so happy about this shit right now that I'm going to ignore them for just a lil bit more.
Might edit those in later, but honestly I'm just happy idk man
I've been reading Archie since I could read. I seriously can't remember a time when I wasn't reading Archie. My dad used to bring home boxes upon boxes of old Archies from the 70s and 80s (not reprints, like the real copies that were falling apart) and I read them over and over again. Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead mean so much to me. The comics are FUN, with most of the speech bubbles ending in exclamation points !!!! and the gang always just getting into wild antics. There was never much of a plot persay, but the spirit was there.
When Life With Archie turned to the marriage plot, I ate that shit up. I loved the idea of Archie with a plot, with a continuous storyline and character development.
So when I heard Archie was rebooting, I was excited. There were doubts and I know a lot of people were upset, but I felt it was about time. It's been 75 years telling stories that never really went anywhere, with characters that didn't have solid backstories.
And WOW, did Mark Waid deliver. And FiONA SSTAPPLES' ART IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD. I honestly got choked up reading the first few issues because of how beautiful they were. Annie Wu and Veronica Fish also did an amazing job, each in their own way. The characters still look like themselves, but just newer and more beautiful and wowwwwww.
The characters all also have their personalities intact, something that was so important to me. Archie is still a dork, Betty is still the girl next door, Jughead is still the food-obsessed best friend, and Veronica is still the snobby rich girl. But we also see SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
Betty is kind to the point where she looks out for a boy that broke her heart. Veronica is caring and actually gives a shit about Archie.
JUGHEAD JONES IS THE BEST FRIEND ANYONE COULD ASK FOR. HE is blunt, and to the point, and dry and a lil obnoxious, but they have done so much justice to Jughead. He's probably my favorite part of the reboot. He's incredible. And the fact that he is still the character who is not interested in romance, who is just there as the friend, means so so much to me. I've always related to Jughead so much, and seeing that they're not trying to make him into some hyper heterosexual dude is so, so great.
Like in the first issue of the new Jughead comic (!!!) that they included, he says something about how he's a "Hero who doesn't like being touched" and I pretty much shed a tear because um like wow same
ALSO let's talk about how this addressed like sexism to a degree?? Like the #lipstickincident literally highlighted such a double standard and I was literally cheering for Betty because WOW that was some good shit and Archie was such a dumbass tbh.
Also excited for the new characters, like that cute baseball player guy that showed up at the end?? Like more?? Pls??
I seriously can't wait for more of this.
While I think that there are available criticisms, like that by redoing such a classic you are inevitably not going to make the same product, and that the story might get a little soap-opera-y, I have faith in the reboot. There were definitely a couple of things that I was iffy about, but I'm literally so happy about this shit right now that I'm going to ignore them for just a lil bit more.
Might edit those in later, but honestly I'm just happy idk man
victoriaguadalupe's review
4.0
I devoured this volume in one afternoon by the pool. And it was one of the best poolside companions that I've had this summer.
Being a completely new reader of the Archie series, I didn't have many expectations. Sure, I know the basics about the main crew of characters from the new Riverdale series and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, but the relationships and defining characteristics of each individual were completely new. Fiona Staples' introduction was a helpful way to begin the series. I appreciated her description of the series as being grounded in innocence (rather than wholesome staleness which I had previously perceived the original series as). Between Staples' art and Mark Waid's contemporary story introduction, the characters came across as extremely relatable and endearing.
Count me in for the second volume.
Being a completely new reader of the Archie series, I didn't have many expectations. Sure, I know the basics about the main crew of characters from the new Riverdale series and the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, but the relationships and defining characteristics of each individual were completely new. Fiona Staples' introduction was a helpful way to begin the series. I appreciated her description of the series as being grounded in innocence (rather than wholesome staleness which I had previously perceived the original series as). Between Staples' art and Mark Waid's contemporary story introduction, the characters came across as extremely relatable and endearing.
Count me in for the second volume.
teiira's review
4.0
This was adorable. I remember seeing the Archie comics as a child but never really read them. This restart of the comic is great and makes it easier for newcomers to the Archie stories to have a jumping off point. I'm looking forward to finding the other volumes and seeing how everyone's story in the new Riverdale unfolds
evelyn14's review
4.0
3.5*
I expected more of this graphic novel, but I did enjoy myself while reading it :)
I expected more of this graphic novel, but I did enjoy myself while reading it :)
bookishrealm's review
3.0
This was a pretty interesting comic! I've heard of Archie before, but I've never read the comics so I'm glad that they actually did a reboot so people who were interested in it could start. I loved the artwork which I'm not surprised about because Fiona Staples is responsible for it. The story got a little confusing at some point, but I'm really interested to see where this love triangle between Betty, Archie, and Veronica goes. I already have the second volume so I'll probably pick it up sometime soon! : )