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To be honest, I have never been a big fan of Archie Comics. When I started reading and collecting comic books at the age of five, my attention was fixated on one genre only, and that was... superheroes. War comics? No thank you. Horror comics? No way. And of course, Archie fell into possibly my most dreaded territory of all: what I perceived to be “girl” comics. The only thing I ever got from the few issues that fell into my hands was that these two girls named Betty and Veronica were in love with the main character, Archie.
Those early choices affected my reading habits over many of the years that followed. While my horizons did broaden, the tendency was still very much to choose what books I followed by which characters appeared in them. A favorite character like Spider-Man or Batman appearing in another hero’s book, would always encourage me to at least give that book a try. As my reading skills improved and matured, I would begin to notice, though that some stories in some comic books were just better than others. During those younger years, I could not initially put my finger on why, but certain issues of certain comic books would just draw me back over and over again.
In my late pre-teens and early teenage years, I definitely made the connection that in this graphic medium, who illustrated the book made a huge difference to me. This began to shift how I chose my reading selections once again. Now, I might try a whole new comic book company, just to see the work of certain artists, especially guys like John Byrne, George Perez, and Brian Bolland. From my late teens on through my twenties, good art alone could no longer keep my attention. I discovered though, at this point, that I could accept art beneath my previous standards, if the story was strong enough. In a few very important cases, I realized that completely different styles of art were beginning to actually appeal to me, that previously simply would not have been considered flashy enough. One book, Armageddonquest looked like it had been drawn with sharpies on printer paper…but I loved it.
Still all of the books I was reading, no matter how seemingly various in the genre, writers, artists, or publishers, were spawned by and branching away from those original 5 year-old preferences and biases. As far as Archie was concerned, it was no longer a matter of being a “girl” comic-- my tastes had expanded and grown to the point where what I read was independent of the gender or sexuality of the writer, or perhaps even their originally intended audience. Archie and his pals simply had been left behind by time and circumstance.
Thank all of the gods that they hired Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to write “AfterLife with Archie” (and also act as their CCO--Chief Creative Officer following its immediate success). Aguirre-Sacasa first won me over with his work on the Marvel Knights Fantastic Four book simply titled “4”) back in 2004. His work in comics has not been overly prolific since then, but is always worth checking out, especially his adaptation of Stepen King’s “The Stand”. The artist on “Afterlife with Archie”, Francesco Francavilla, does work beyond compare, and is simply in a league of his own as well-- anything drawn by this man is worth looking at, especially his pet project “The Black Beetle” published by Dark Horse Comics.
Upon hearing this was the team for the book, immediately followed by glowing praise for each issue as it was released, I knew it was something I would have to check out. For many reasons, including those of a budgetary nature, I chose to wait until the trade paperback collecting the series hit the shelves. The book sat patiently in my Amazon Wishlist until its release, but was then ordered immediately and at my door two days later.
Reading the book was a blast, drawing me in immediately, then refusing to let go until the last page was turned. Much of the romance and drama that I had considered silly or “girl-stuff” as a kid, keeping me away from the line of books, was still there and at the forefront; but was now being deftly used to both play with and defy my expectations. The book has fun with your expectations about Archie Comics and its history, along with and as well as your expectation about zombies stories.
It will make me sound crazy to admit, but the infection of the first victim broke my heart for many reasons, first being that he is the only character I ever had even the smallest affection for over all those years that I avoided Archie. There are many heartbreaks to follow that first one, each for their own reason and each handled perfectly by the creative team. The book made me care about Archie, and made me care as he loses one best friend after another while only trying to protect those who are left.
Anyone who reads or watches The Walking Dead but wishes there were more zombie action and more of a pulp atmosphere will thrill at the adventures within the pages of the first “AfterLife with Archie” trade paperback. The collection ends at a logical stopping point that, while resolving some small matters, seems to only be setting the characters and their world up for more peril On its final pages Archie and his crew march off almost completely exposed, but with an incredible focus and intense determination. Saguirre-Acasa, Francavilla and Archie Comics have done what I never thought possible. They made me care about Archie and his friends, and their adventures.
I highly recommend this trade paperback collection, and eagerly await the next one!
