Okay, first off I have not read an Archie comic since I was probably in Middle School. I’ve heard about Afterlife with Archie and wanted to check it out so today was the day. I just finished reading Afterlife with Archie #4, hitting stores on Wednesday March 5th. Um…uh…Oh My Gosh!! This is amazing. I did a quick catch up on issues 1-3 so I kind of new what was going on, but I still wasn’t prepared for just how great this comic was going to be. It is NOT like any Archie comic you have read before. It takes the characters that we are all familiar with and puts them into a new situation. Zombies are in Riverdale.
I’m assuming that you are cooler than me and have already been reading this series, but if not then let this be your introduction to it along with me. In issue #4, we start out with a flashback to Archie getting his dog Vegas. We immediately jump to present day and Archie is staring down the zombiefied face of Jughead’s dog, Hot Dog. Vegas shows up to save Archie and the following panels are incredibly touching. We see just how strong the relationship is between Archie and Vegas and it pulls on every heartstring you have. There is nothing like a boy and his dog.
The rest of the issue unfolds very quickly and Archie is faced to make some very hard decisions to protect his family. Things that I honestly did not see coming. Again, being new to this series, I was not prepared for it at all. Things happen that I would never expect to happen in a comic about the gang from Riverdale High. However, I can also see why it has become so popular. It is soooooo good.
Orange is used quite a bit in this issue, which makes sense because of Archie’s hair color. It really sets the mood as we move from darkened blue panels that just jump alive with a splash of orange. Things are moved along briskly towards the next issue and I am left with the realization that I will have to wait another month to revisit this gloriously new, and messed up world.
Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art: Francesco Francavilla, Jack Morelli
Cover: Francesco Francavilla
Variant Cover: Tim Seeley
On Sale at Comic Specialty Shops: 3/5
32-page, full color comic
$2.99 US.
