Archie #9
Archie Comics 2015
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Veronica Fish
Coloured by Andre Szymanowicz & Jen Vaughn
Lettered by Jack Morelli
Archie and Veronica have not had the easiest relationship, but despite all the drama they’ve managed to overcome the odds stacked up against them. Archie has beaten Mr. Lodge at the game of life three times: after getting Reggie off spy-duty, then getting his father, Fred Andrews, to NOT work for Hiram and NOT move the family to Singapore and, finally, by actually getting to spend time--a lot of time--with Veronica. But this is allowed on one condition only: their time together must be spent at the Andrew’s household--nowhere near Lodge Manor and HIram’s campaign headquarters. With his family, his girlfriend and his best friend by his side Archie seems to have an ideal situation all worked out… for now.
I absolutely adored this issue. I’m sorry but what Mark has brought to this series goes beyond anything we’ve ever seen in the Archie line of books before. The kind of characterization that he’s doing while keeping things kind of drama filled and setting up the love-triangle and keeping the characters very much who they are has been a dream come true. No more all sweetness and friendship with a little teenage friendly rivalry this is what we face in the real world and it’s marvelous.
So in an attempt to make her son happy Archie’s mom reaches out to Veronica and the result is both sweet, heartwarming and a disaster in the making. An uber spoiled rich girl in a working class family environment is mixing oil and water it shouldn’t work. For all her good intentions to make the Andrew’s house feel more like her own it’s takes a mother’s wisdom and words to really hammer things home sometimes.
In the meantime I loved seeing Mr. Andrew’s reaction to everything that’s happened and his childlike enthusiasm for the new toys that are currently residing in his house. Then Archie’s reflection of this whole two vastly different worlds, mom’s words and confiding in Betty have all the earmarks of what love, family and friendship are all about. Not to mention that the Archie and Betty who know each other inside and out haven’t gotten over their own relationship and that will come back to haunt them all.
This was a very moving, touching and emotionally charged issue full of laughs, love and the unexpected. While Archie has always been iconic they’ve also always had that half-hour sitcom endings where everything works out and here you see that’s gone as life doesn’t work that way and sometimes the things that separate us also draw us together. Mark is a writing genius and his work on this series could literally be the crowning achievement on an extremely illustrious career.
I’ve settled in and become a huge Veronica fan (this time I mean Fish). An elevated version of the original take is delightful mixed in with some usual, unusual, things that happen keep this both grounded in the real world and it’s own version of Mayberry quite nicely. Her eye for storytelling through pages, panels, angles and perspective make this a pure joy to read.
Archie’s never been better and here’s hoping this has another long and prosperous run!
Archie Comics 2015
Written by Mark Waid
Illustrated by Veronica Fish
Coloured by Andre Szymanowicz & Jen Vaughn
Lettered by Jack Morelli
Archie and Veronica have not had the easiest relationship, but despite all the drama they’ve managed to overcome the odds stacked up against them. Archie has beaten Mr. Lodge at the game of life three times: after getting Reggie off spy-duty, then getting his father, Fred Andrews, to NOT work for Hiram and NOT move the family to Singapore and, finally, by actually getting to spend time--a lot of time--with Veronica. But this is allowed on one condition only: their time together must be spent at the Andrew’s household--nowhere near Lodge Manor and HIram’s campaign headquarters. With his family, his girlfriend and his best friend by his side Archie seems to have an ideal situation all worked out… for now.
I absolutely adored this issue. I’m sorry but what Mark has brought to this series goes beyond anything we’ve ever seen in the Archie line of books before. The kind of characterization that he’s doing while keeping things kind of drama filled and setting up the love-triangle and keeping the characters very much who they are has been a dream come true. No more all sweetness and friendship with a little teenage friendly rivalry this is what we face in the real world and it’s marvelous.
So in an attempt to make her son happy Archie’s mom reaches out to Veronica and the result is both sweet, heartwarming and a disaster in the making. An uber spoiled rich girl in a working class family environment is mixing oil and water it shouldn’t work. For all her good intentions to make the Andrew’s house feel more like her own it’s takes a mother’s wisdom and words to really hammer things home sometimes.
In the meantime I loved seeing Mr. Andrew’s reaction to everything that’s happened and his childlike enthusiasm for the new toys that are currently residing in his house. Then Archie’s reflection of this whole two vastly different worlds, mom’s words and confiding in Betty have all the earmarks of what love, family and friendship are all about. Not to mention that the Archie and Betty who know each other inside and out haven’t gotten over their own relationship and that will come back to haunt them all.
This was a very moving, touching and emotionally charged issue full of laughs, love and the unexpected. While Archie has always been iconic they’ve also always had that half-hour sitcom endings where everything works out and here you see that’s gone as life doesn’t work that way and sometimes the things that separate us also draw us together. Mark is a writing genius and his work on this series could literally be the crowning achievement on an extremely illustrious career.
I’ve settled in and become a huge Veronica fan (this time I mean Fish). An elevated version of the original take is delightful mixed in with some usual, unusual, things that happen keep this both grounded in the real world and it’s own version of Mayberry quite nicely. Her eye for storytelling through pages, panels, angles and perspective make this a pure joy to read.
Archie’s never been better and here’s hoping this has another long and prosperous run!
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