Archie Comics 2019
Written by Kelly Thompson
Illustrated by Veronica & Andy Fish
Lettered by Jack Morelli
PREVIOUSLY IN THE TOWN OF GREENDALE...
The first day of school is never easy—and that’s especially true if you’re a teen witch at a mortal high school! That being said, Sabrina Spellman’s first day at Greendale High was pretty good. I mean, if you consider a few spells gone awry, a potential love triangle between a gorgeous jock named Harvey and a mysterious bad boy named Ren, going head-to-head with the school’s resident mean girl Radka (who just so happens to be Ren’s sister), and landing in the cold, hard seats of detention, “good.” But it could have been way worse—Sabrina could have encountered a vicious wendigo monster on her walk home from school. Oh, wait…
This is the book I have been waiting for. I know it’s only a limited series but I hope that it will eventually become either a regular run of limited arcs or an ongoing monthly. From what we are seeing here it is that perfect blend of the comics and the Netflix show. All that’s missing is the cousin but otherwise it has that split feel to it where we’re starting from scratch and Sabrina is going to public high school in Greendale for the first time. Not only is this something that is completely fantastic but Kelly is doing something with it that makes it an instant standout and quite possibly fan favourite book.
I am a big fan of the fact that this book opens where the last one left off. Which just happens to be after a Wendigo attack. Now I am not fully up to snuff on my cryptids or demonic creatures but I have no idea if the scratch will have the same effect as a bite would but we’ll see. In the meantime what we see here is just absolutely fantastic. Honestly though whatever it is that we see next oh yeah this is why Sabrina’s life can never ever be normal. Actually my first thought was that Greendale was situated on top a hell-mouth a la Buffy and ya know it wouldn’t be that far off to think so after all they live here for a reason right? Also add into the mix what we see on the show and it does make sense.
The Fish’s do some absolutely wonderful work on the interiors here. I love the linework and how it is utilised to create this dynamic attention to detail. The creativity and imagination that we see is superb and I am enjoying the endeavour to bring them to life the way we see that happen. Also seeing these characters come to life in their various ethnicity and body types so that it’s all inclusive, though I’m waiting for Greendale’s Kevin Keller. Also that the faces are incredibly expressive and the emotions and feelings is so on point here. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a stellar eye for storytelling. The colour work is amazing and if you need any proof my proclamation just see the map on the floor. The way we see light sources utilised to create shading, shadows and cause for colour gradation are impeccably well done.
The way this story is structured so that the story & plot development, pacing and the characterisation help everything constantly move forward is brilliantly done. The mix of characters and personalities here is great. I like that this is a more serious take on the comic instead of that kind of romanticised version of Sabrina and Harvey’s love affair. There is this complexity and layering within the story that makes for a cross between the whole Horror line and a CW teen drama like Riverdale. This is the year of sensational comics and this is high among those that are deserving of your attention.