Archie Comics/DC Comics 2018
Written by Jeff Parker & Michael Moreci
Pencilled by Dan Parent
Inked by J. Bone
Coloured by Kelly Fitzpatrick
Lettered by Jack Morelli
Two iconic comic book characters meet up for the FIRST TIME in this historic crossover mini-series! A battle in Gotham City extends its reach into Riverdale—with Mr. Lodge becoming enemy #1 of the dynamic duo! Now it’s up to Veronica to recruit some help and place a call… to the Batcave!
I love this!! I mean if there were ever two franchises that synced up perfectly it’s these two as both have their roots in this era already well established. Plus that the Batman ‘66 universe has been expanding past the original crew that we’ve seen on the television program itself. The opening proves that and it just brings joy to the heart. It feels like a version of Gotham City I am familiar with and that’s huge.
The way that the book is structured is superb it has elements of the usual half hour comedy that is great but it also brings this whole new perspective and feeling of newness & freshness that I wasn’t expecting. The dialogue here is exceptionally well done for not only the era but for these characters specifically. So what threat is going to be big enough to draw Batman to come to Riverdale and does Hiram Lodge play into all this? That is part of the structure of the story that I am so drawn to. I don’t believe this will be a story where the kids become super-heroes but just themselves so how many and who among the rogues gallery will be making their appearance?
I like how this story unfolds I mean it feels like the show as we open with the Caped Crusaders stopping one of their foes which then leads into the real story. As if that first is nothing more than a divergence and someone else has something more dastardly planned. Also I do like how we see Archie and Jughead running off to school after hearing about the foiled plot on the radio. Tying in beautifully how their worlds are tied together. Also we see who and how this ends up tying to Riverdale and the circumstances of Hiram’s involvement.
First I adore Dan’s pencils and how he’s able to to utilise page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels. He is the penultimate Archie artist in my eyes and then to see his rendition of the Batman ‘66 characters as accurate as he makes them well it’s just extremely fun to see come to life. He has a great team backing him and I have to say that the colours are smashing like the Partridge Family dress Veronica is seen in that is a prime example. Also Veronica has more costume changes in this issue than Cher in her concert and the creativity and imagination in them is fantastic.
There is something surprising about who it is that knows something wonky is afoot and sets about to find out what it is. Somehow no one is listening or taking what is being said seriously so with the help of the schools resident genius Dilton, Veronica Lodge is on a mission and that involves contacting the Batcave directly!
Everything you love about both franchises is on full display here. With an unlikely heroine and a truly star studded cast of characters Archie comics continues to prove why they are undoubtedly one of the most beloved companies on stands today. With exceptional writing and perfect to a “T” interiors this is the crossover event you have been waiting for.