Archie Comics 2019
Written by Michael Uslan
Pencilled by Dan Parent
Inked by J. Bone
Coloured by Glenn Whitmore
Lettered by Jack Morelli
10 years later, a landmark moment in Archie Comics history is being revisited! ARCHIE: THE MARRIED LIFE 10th ANNIVERSARY, is a sequel to the headline-making 2009 “Archie Wedding” storyline. The original storyline written by Michael Uslan answered Riverdale’s longest-running question: will Archie marry Betty or Veronica? Fans were treated to two alternate worlds that explored each possibility and Uslan’s sequel picks up both stories ten years later. See how much life has changed for Archie, his family, and the rest of Riverdale in this new and exciting mini-series.
This is fun and to be honest I would very much enjoy seeing more of the married life. Though where's Kevin's husband in all this? So first up we get to see the married life of Archie and Veronica as Archie deals with his overbearing father-in-law at Lodge Industries. Honestly while I don't think this is a good fit for them I do like how this is being written by Michael. You see this subtle manipulation from Hiram and we see this version of Archie being too timid to stand up for himself. The characterisation that we are getting with this is sensational. You get it, you see what's going on and you know exactly what's happening and why.
The way this is structured and how we see the kids and how the react to Archie well it's interesting to say the least. Most know that parenting is never easy and with kids glued to their phones today and not comprehending what it means to play outside and to actually talk to their friends doesn't make things easier. I absolutely adore the fact that Michael uses the modern world in such familiar ways and applies it beautifully to these characters. The story & plot development that we see here is great and it allows the opportunity to see the entire gang and what their lives are like in this reality. Personally some of this is kind of like what we wish would happen to the bullies we had in High School and it is extremely humorous.
Let me say this the way Dan is able to lay down his pencils always amazes me. He has this absolutely amazing eye for storytelling and we see this through the way he composes the panels and brings depth perception to the book. Heck even the backgrounds we see are utilised to enhance the moments and bring a sense of size and scope to the book. Plus I love and I mean LOVE seeing his vision for how they all look in both versions with the hair styles, the clothing and just the overall attitude he's able to infuse in them. With J. Bone and Glenn finishing off the pencils this is what I expect to see when I think Archie. It shouldn't surprise me that in either reality Jughead looks exactly same, like Maynard G. Krebs.
One thing that always made me giggle is that regardless of whom he marries Archie seems to have twins. The boy with ginger hair like the other the colour of her mother. The second half of the book centres on the married life of Archie and Betty which seems like a much more natural fit. I got to say that seeing what they are going through, where they live and what brings them back to Riverdale it's all perfectly laid out. The first half had Ambrose (please let that be Sabrina's cousin) and this has Dilton and it really does play out perfectly. As does the characterisation which as expected is tweaked a bit for the second half.
Again I adore the real world complications that arise as we get older. Not seeing or keeping up with old friends, ageing parents the whole gauntlet. This may be blasphemy but this is better than Riverdale almost like what a real night time soap should look like. This has all those layers and sup-plots going on here and if I am to be honest this feels like home to me. With Cheryl here where's Sabrina and Kevin's husband?
This really is perfectly done.