Archie finds himself needing to get two very rare plush dogs for Veronica and Betty, leading him to meet none other than Ash! Unfortunately for Archie and for Riverdale, he also stumbles upon a mysterious book, unleashing deadites upon the unsuspecting, quiet town!
Creative Team: Erik Burnham (WRITER), Bill Galvan (ART), Ellie Wright (COLORS), Carlos M. Mangual (LETTERS), and Robert Hack (COVER).
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The Story:
I am loving these variations on Archie and the crossover series that we have been seeing in comics. Combine that with one of my all-time favorite characters, Ash, and we are set up for something special. Erik takes us to the classic Archie tale of him having girl problems and to a party. This is where things become fun as he finds the Book of the Dead and unleashes hell upon Riverdale!
Erik then takes us back a step to how this all began, which I am a sucker for in stories. Between Erik’s plot and Carlos’s lettering, the tone of Ash is captured as though we stepped back into the world of Bruce Campbell. The campy and egotistical dialogue as he retells the story of how the Deadites have been following him lays Easter eggs all around the panels. This run is going to be special, I can tell from this first issue.
The Art:
The art team immediately makes us feel at home in Riverdale, capturing the vibe from classic Archie stories. Jughead, Archie, and the aesthetic transport us deep into the story. They manage to capture the details, and the color work reminds us of the old school comics again. When it comes to the horror aspect, there are absolutely some surprises as the Deadites are known to be violent, and they do not hold back on showcasing.
Final Thoughts:
Archie X Army of Darkness #1 transports us into the 80’s and into a world of campy, horrifying fun. The clash of personalities is teased with Ash and his brashness with Archie and his naivety. This first issue sets us up perfectly for the story to come. Do not sleep on this!
Overall Grade: 9.5/10
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