Archie the Neighbors Are at It Again
Archie #27 review: The final choice between Betty or Veronica
The love quadrangle between Betty, Veronica, Archie, and Dilton hits a wall! Yet who will be walking away happy when it is all over?
Archie #27
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Audrey Mok
Colorist: Kelly Fritzpatrick
From the start of this run, Mark Waid has vowed not to blindly repeat the past. In editorial columns, he noted how the modern day interpretation of the series' core romance wasn't by design. While Archie and Betty had been friends in 1941, he was immediately "bonkers" for Veronica once she came around a year later. Yet over the decades, it became a triangle between the three which would wax and wane. Waid often felt this reflected poorly on Archie's character.
Image by Archie ComicsWhile Waid hasn't emulated this to a tee, he's gone about recreating something close in a modern way. Archie and Betty had been neighbors and best friends, until puberty. They were each other's first loves, yet the transition was rough. Formerly the "it" couple of Riverdale High, it ended after "the lipstick incident." And although Archie was mourning the friendship he lost, he was quickly shifting over towards Veronica when she arrived. Yet now all three, along with Dilton, are at a crossroads.
Image by Archie ComicsBetty Is the Center of Attention!
Despite having to overcome Veronica's billionaire dad's interference, Archie was once again part of the "it" couple. Yet after she came back from her banishment to a European prep school, the spark between the two was gone. While Archie and Veronica mourned their loss when they were apart, the routine of being together had settled in. Meanwhile, Betty had moved on with Sayid before quickly catching the eye of Dilton Doiley, boy genius. Yet thoughts of Archie, her best friend, were never far.
Image by Archie ComicsYet now things are coming to a head. Betty's experience going "over the edge" and subsequent disability have only magnified how much Archie cares for her. Veronica senses the tension like a fog, as Dilton is being egged on to pursue what he wants by Toni Topaz. At the end of the last issue, both Dilton and Veronica demanded a choice from their perspectives. And much like any true romantic drama, that choice is denied. Neither one gets an immediate answer, due to circumstance.
Image by Archie ComicsBoth Archie and Dilton are left to ponder their decisions. Archie remains stuck on figuring out his true feelings towards two women who mean the world to him. Dilton, in contrast, has assumed that Betty's words mean more than they do. He's on cloud nine, building more inventions and imagining heading to the big spring dance on a hover board with her. Yet Toni warns him to not make too many assumptions, and seek concrete answers. As a result, he's off to issue a dance invitation!
Image by Archie ComicsThis Won't End the Way You Think!
Archie, meanwhile, is lost in the same fog that Veronica sensed. She won't answer his texts, and she hasn't slept all night. Often dismissed historically as "vapid," Veronica is more clever than many give her credit for. She is a Lodge, after all. It seems like she knows Archie's choice deep down in her heart before he does. Even more importantly, Veronica realizes that Betty just may actually "need" Archie more during this critical phase than she does. Is this what being selfless is?
Image by Archie ComicsSpeaking of selfless, once again Jughead Jones goes above and beyond for his best pal. While he may be horribly weird and unorthodox, he also cares deeply for his friends. Knowing Archie will never make a move if it risks hurting someone, Jughead devises the ultimate impartial judge. Forget about poems or soul searching or even hamburgers, it's the flip of a coin. Hey, it's worked for Two-Face for decades! Yet it isn't about the fair odds, it's about putting pressure on Archie to finally decide.
Image by Archie ComicsYet neither Veronica Lodge or Betty Cooper are prizes for men to win. Betty, in particular, has a lot more to worry about than boys. She also has to make a choice, and she chooses plan C. While Dilton is head over heels and a big brain like her, Betty doesn't want to become his latest "project." As for Archie, despite the passion between them, Betty won't move an inch until each of them is absolutely certain guilt isn't a contributing factor for the red-head. Yet that's far from the end, and life moves on.
Image by Archie ComicsIt's More Than Malt Shop Antics These Days!
Mark Waid continues to amaze on this title, which once again focuses more on drama and romance than comedy. Most importantly, it doesn't try to "make up" for an envisioned lack of substance in the core concept, as Riverdale does with its weird plots. Instead Waid has recreated these characters and this universe for the 21st century and has utter faith in their true selves. While he can deliver the gags when he wants to, the suspense between the cast is both riveting and endearing.
Image by Archie ComicsFor decades, the notion of Archie "choosing" between either Betty or Veronica has often been told from his perspective. He is the star of the franchise, after all. Yet when such a fateful decision comes, it seems like Archie isn't really the one who made it. Nor is he even the center of all of it. Veronica decides to break up with Archie more for Betty's sake, not his. And Betty decides that she deserves more than seeing her first love return to her out of even a hint of guilt, at least for now.
Image by Archie ComicsMost importantly, Waid showcases how when life doesn't go your way — especially revolving around love — that it's best to take it in stride. Both Dilton and Archie are shocked and flabbergasted. Yet ultimately, this event has now brought them closer together as pals who have something in common. They both learn not to obsess or get bitter, or even to see it as a "rejection," but as a part of life. That spring dance is sure going to be awkward, yet ultimately more interesting!
Image by Archie ComicsGreat Art and a Great Cast!
As always, Jughead steals whatever scene he is in. He always cuts to the bone in his tactics, yet often gets results. Whether it is making peace with Veronica or outwitting Betty's parents, Jughead is something of a master strategist of Riverdale. All anyone sees in him is his appetite and weird hat, which leads to them underestimating him. Much like his dog, he's loyal to the end for those he cares about. Jughead usually has an offbeat way of getting them what they need, instead of what they want.
Image by Archie ComicsFinally, don't forget about Reggie Mantle. Considering he was the one who started the drag race of "over the edge," he's provoked this entire drama. While Hiram Lodge may be petty, it's Reggie who remains the true "villain" of Riverdale. Smug, arrogant, and cunning, he's actually a smarmy adversary for Archie, rather than the prankster of yesteryear. He may be on the bottom of the social pecking order for now, but he hardly plans to stay there. He plays to nip the Blossoms in the bud!
Image by Archie ComicsAudrey Mok and Kelly Fitzpatrick put in another strong issue on art. Beyond a panel with some kites and some visual humor with Moose, it's another chapter focused more on drama. Yet Mok rises to the challenge and makes it look amazing. From Dilton's daydreams to Toni's body language, to some of the tear jerking and awkward moments between the cast, all of it feels authentic. From the layouts to the wardrobe, Archie is now a comic for 2018 instead of 1958.
Image by Archie ComicsThis May Be One of the Greatest Runs of a Long Career!
Mark Waid works on a lot of comics for Marvel, and has added Captain America to his list. Yet for the last two years and change, Archie has remained his most consistent work. It isn't merely his work on the stars, but on the rest of the cast as well. It's hilarious how Moose is a near monosyllabic brute like the Hulk. Furthermore, as much as Jughead is Archie's inconvenient truth-teller, Toni is very much this for Dilton. Heck, has Dilton Doiley ever been this interesting or relatable?
Image by Archie ComicsThe ending seems to summarize the entire run up so succinctly, I was actually afraid that Waid was calling it a run! Thankfully, he's still around for the next two issues — although he won't be alone. Ian Flynn, best known for Sonic the Hedgehog, begins co-writing as of the next issue. While Waid's had a co-writer on this series before, runs of over two years on most franchise books are rarer and rarer. Could a transition be in store? If so, Waid may deserve an Eisner for his efforts in making Archie better than it's ever been!
Source: https://bamsmackpow.com/2018/01/16/archie-27-review/
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