Comics Review: Halloween Archie Part 2

Archie Showcase Digest #20: Archie’s Halloween Special

This Showcase and the previous one were both released this year and were priced at $9.99.  However, this one from October seems about 20 pages smaller than the earlier one from June.  I guess they couldn’t justify another price increase and had to make cuts somewhere.  That said, this digest was more Halloween fun.  It features some classic stories, Sabrina stories, and a lengthy horror movie homage.

 

This starts off with this spooky-looking story drawn by Harry Lucey.  Don’t worry.  No blood is drawn.

 

There were a couple of non-Archie stories.  I presume they’re from the title Mad House.  I’m surprised there hasn’t been a reprint volume of the comic.  It’s where Sabrina debuted in.

 

The centerpiece of the digest is Twilite, an Archie version of Twilight.  Basically, Veronica gets involved with a new student who’s a vampire, who’s fighting another new student who’s a werewolf.  Actually, the most fantastic element of this story is how passive Archie is about losing Veronica to this pale guy with a nasty overbite.  

 

 

 

 

The two-part story is more dramatic (or melodramatic) than funny.  I feel like Veronica was pleased to finally be offered a more serious role in an Archie story.  It’s okay.  I’m not sure if Bill Galvan’s art style was the best choice for this kind of story, but it’s pretty good.  Once again, the characters are pliable enough to work in any story situation.       

 

I have to protest.  Here they are putting Melody in danger in this spooky story.  She seems to be the designated damsel in distress in any scary Josie and the Pussycats story (except for that one where Josie gets possessed, (7-18-24).  Don’t worry.  It’s all just a misunderstanding.

 

There’s a couple of stories from Sabrina’s Gravestone Heights 91313 era.  Actually, I’m not sure how many stories there are from that “era,” but I’ve seen a few.  (I got a big Sabrina trade with this order that I’ll be reviewing later.)  It’s an interesting concept. 

 

 

There’s a more traditional Sabrina story also with her running a supernatural advice column.  The art is by Holly G and the story is fun.  I’d like a volume of all of Holly’s work on Sabrina and Josie.

 

There’s a couple of Archie Weird Mystery stories.  One is of them is the Archie gang doing a Scooby Doo-like story.  This story was in a Best of volume, which I reviewed but can't find on the blog.  It’s still a very tongue-in-cheek homage.

        

Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #354

This regular issue of Archie features a new story and some classic Halloween-themed stories.  There are also a couple of football stories, an election story, and some random stories mixed in.  It’s not as seasonal as the previous digest.  It’s okay with a few highlights (though one is a classic).

 

The new story features Sabrina with the Archie gang with Rex Lindsey’s detailed, energetic work.  Showcase #20 above features a couple little ghost characters on the cover.  I didn’t know they were actual characters, Trick and Treat.  Sabrina’s rival, Amber Nightstone, has turned the mischievous ghosts to evil and Sabrina has to change their minds.  Unfortunately, this is just a five-page story, so there’s not a lot of character development here.

 

Here’s a classic 60’s Betty and Veronica story.  The young ladies look very fashionable, as always.

 

This is a little two-page gag.  It’s cute.

 

Okay, here’s my favorite story.  Though only six pages, it was so unexpected, I couldn’t resist it.  Archie goes to New York City and meets several 90’s TV sitcom characters.  I wish this one were longer.  You could feel the love for the characters, even in passing.

 

One of the football stories was a longer one.  Archie finds out that Mr. Weatherbee was once a star football player.  Later, Archie is in the big game and makes a bad play.  The Bee helps him out with a life lesson.  This was reasonably touching. 

The TV homage continues in this dream sequence with Mr. Andrews.  You could have the Archie gang stranded on a deserted island and make a series out of it.

 

Here’s a couple of gags from the 50’s.  Pretty funny.

 

Little Archie isn’t my favorite, but this is a pretty good gag.

 

Finally, here’s a big panel of chaos by the Kennedy Brothers.  As always, it’d be great to see this full-size.  These guys were great Archie artists.

 

There’s still Archie reviews to come.

NM State Aggies vs UNM Lobos Women’s Basketball 12-8-24 Part 2

Part 1, where this game is not discussed.

 

First Quarter

Up front, they handed out the old style programs with the scoring on the back.  I only missed a couple of baskets.  The main problem was my notetaking.  Much of the action was so quick and furious and close, I wasn’t noting the score and time like I usually do.  Just assume that score was close the whole way through. 

 

Sylena Peterson started off the game with a steal.  Destinee Hooks put in a 3 for the first Lobo points.  Fanta Gassama followed with a layup and Molly Kaiser had a layup and a coast-to-coast layup.  This would put everyone on notice who the main scorers would be this afternoon.  Joana Magalhaes was guarding Molly for at least the first half.  I’d noticed her watching on Friday, as she’s a rather striking brunette.  She fouled Molly, who converted on her two free throws.  Hooks followed that with her own coast-to-coast layup. 

 

Sianny Sanchez-Oliver and Molly ran a successful trap for a turnover.  A later foul was called on Sianny, which caused the crowd to erupt.  Molly would be fouled again and convert again.  The Aggies were up 12-7 with four minutes left.  The Lobos turned it over on an inbounds pass and Jaila Harding turned that into a 3 to make it, 15-7.  Fanta out-fought a Lobo for a rebound and Madi Gewirtz turned that into another 3.  Hooks answered with a 3.  The Aggies took several more 3-point shots, but didn’t connect on them.  Finally, both of the teams shot airballs on their final shots.  18-15 Aggies.

 

Second Quarter

Wave the Wonder Dog was honored out on court, along with a video of him in action.  The PA mentioned he was also a search-and-rescue dog.  Even Lobo fans applauded the heroic dog.  The Cheerleaders handed out more Wave hats to the crowd.  A little girl sitting on her dad’s shoulders got one.  She was very happy.

 

To start, Hooks scored twice, while the Aggies missed twice.  Coach Adams called a quick timeout.  The Lobos were in the lead, 18-19.  In the break, a promo ran for the Aggies’ 1888 beer.  The Band chanted, “Beer!  Beer!”  After the huddle, Molly talked to the team out on court.  On the sideline, Loes and Molly chatted with one of the refs during the long break.  The ref seemed friendly.  The little girl was put up on the video board.  She was also wearing a Wave hoodie with her Wave hat.  The dog is living well on merchandising.

 

Fanta was fed the ball for a layup out of the break.  We can what the Coach said in the huddle.  Fanta did accidently dribble off her foot on the next trip down.  Molly made a flat robbery of the ball and was fouled, as she streaked down the court with it.  Emma Dasovich came in and was blocked and stripped on a shot attempt.  Madi fouled Hooks, who converted on her free throws.  Molly was then fouled and she splashed two more. 

 

Loes made a steal off a trap, but then turned the ball back over.  Lobo Hulda Joaquim missed a wide open layup under the basket.  The whole crowd groaned.  Madi was rejected on a drive, but Molly got the rebound and Fanta finished with a layup.  The Lobos turned the ball over twice on traveling calls, while Fanta Euro-stepped with another two points. 

 

Madi came back with a 3 and a steal.  Jaila made another steal.  Tylie Jones came in for the Aggies.  She’d been injured at the beginning of the season, so it was good to see her back playing.  It was all Hooks at the end of the half with a 3 and a layup.  33-32 Aggies at the half.

 

Halftime

The “Grand in the Stands” contest was in effect today.  The winning student was there and collected on it.  She seemed strangely nonplussed by the affair.  The Sundancers, in sparkling crimson uniforms, performed a holiday number for the crowd.  In that crowd, the Aggie Swim and Dive team was here, as well as Jack Nixon, who was enjoying today’s game as a fan. 

 

Third Quarter

Hooks picked up where she left off, as she was fouled and converted on her free throws.  Molly came back with 3.  Madi had a block.  Joaquim picked up two fouls trying to guard Fanta.  Loes put in a 3.  (Sorry, the action was going too fast to wax eloquent about it at the time.)

 

Sylena accidently socked Hooks in the mouth while guarding her.  Loes caused a turnover on the Lobos with a tip.  Sy made a bad layup attempt, but stole the ball back at midcourt and then went into the scorer’s table and lost it again.  The Coach went over to check on her, while she was flat on the floor.  Fanta made a rebound and then went straight into the goal unit.  Both ladies were okay. 

 

Hooks went coast-to-coast again for a layup.  Fanta answered with her own layup to make it 42-40 with 5 minutes left.  In the break, Pete escorted a little girl out on court for the Fry Game, which she won.  Bongo Cam followed in the long break.  The Cheerleaders brought out little Bundt cakes from the sponsor to give to the crowd.  I should have sat closer to the court. 

 

Molly got socked breaking up a fast break by the Lobos.  (She was okay.)  Sy tipped a pass and Lucia Yenes took the ball for a steal.  Anna Csenyi came in and set a hard pick for a Molly jumper.  Sy took a charge.  Lobo Coach Mike Bradbury was in an uproar over the call.  The Aggie Booster section chanted, “Sit down, Mike!”  The quarter ended with the Lobos up though, 49-26, their biggest lead.  Play finished with Madi on the floor in a tie up over the ball.     

 

Fourth Quarter

The PA mentioned there was going to be a craft show and a concert outside after the game.  Well, why didn’t they promote this beforehand?  The little girl in the Wave shirt won the “Fan of the Game” award.  She was ecstatic again.

 

Madi lost the tie up, but made a steal at the start of the final quarter.  Molly was fouled on the fast break afterward.  Madi made another steal, but Joana stole the ball right back, though the Aggies still ended up with the possession as she lost it.  Molly hit a fall-away jumper to put the Aggies back up, 52-51.

 

The crowd was engaged and the Aggies responded.  Fanta made a layup.  Sy had a tip steal.  Molly made a layup.  56-51 Aggies and timeout Lobos with 7 minutes left.  In the break, the videoboard showed highlights of the Men celebrating their victory last night in Albuquerque.  (So cold.)  I think this was the biggest lead of the game at the time.

 

Fanta found Loes under the basket for a layup with a great assist.  Molly hit a jumper and got the foul and made the free throw.  There was a Media timeout with 4 minutes left and the Aggies had increased their lead, 61-55.  My hands were getting warm and tender from constant clapping. 

 

The Aggie defense kept it up.  Fanta stole an inbounds pass.  Sy took a charge on an easy layup and then sank a 3.  64-55 Aggies with 3 minutes left.  The Lobos had a turnover and Coach Bradbury went crazy.  The crowd wanted him tee’d up.  64-37 Aggies with 1 minute left.  The Lobos took a timeout.  Into the break, the Lobos had gotten a call their way from the officials, but Coach Bradbury was still arguing.

 

The Lobos missed a three, but got the put back, 65-60.  Sy was fouled and converted on 1 of 2 for a 6-point lead.  With 23 seconds left, the crowd was standing and cheering.  Fanta grabbed a missed 3 attempt and was fouled and made the throws.  The crowd started chanting, “Sweep!”  On the last play, Loes made a steal.  Fanta took the pass, but missed the layup.  Loes was there to finish it.  The crowd exploded.  Aggies win, 68-60!

 

I enjoyed that, especially after that Football loss last week.  Here’s your stats.  Destinee Hooks led the Lobos with 27 points and 10 rebounds.  Hulda Joaquim had 12 points and 14 rebounds.  Viene Cumber had 11 points.  Molly Kaiser led all scorers with 30 points and would be the C-USA Player of the Week!  Fanta Gassama had 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

 

Madi Gewirtz had 6 points and 4 steals.  She seems to have really long arms on defense.  Madi was the C-USA Freshman of the Week with her performances over this weekend.  I found out she was a walk-on.  She earned her scholarship from her performance guarding Molly on the first day of summer camp.  I got that from the Aggie Coach’s Show.  Coach Adams also said that Coach Hooten and the Men’s team were there behind their bench rooting for them when they were playing in Albuquerque.         

 

The Lobos shot 44% and 21% on 3’s.  They had 40 points in paint 40 and 15 second chance points.  The Aggies shot 36% and 30% on 3’s.  They were 80% on free throws (that was mostly Molly making all of hers), had 30 points in paint, and 18 points off of turnovers.  Hmm.  I’m not sure how the Aggies won this.  Well, let’s not look into this too deeply and just bask in the glow of victory.  (The Albuquerque news that night said it was the turnovers that did in the Lobos.)   

 

On the way out, I was handed a Bundt cake coupon.  Outside, a small crafts fair had suddenly been set up.  There was no hint of this when I came in.  The Grinch was there to . . . terrorize the kids?  On the lawn, some seats had been set up in front of a temporary stage.  On the other side, there was Christmas music provided by (I think) the Outlaw Pep Band (not to be confused the Roadrunner Revue inside).  A couple of people were going around lighting the luminarias. 

 

I wandered around the stalls and bought some pleasant smelling soap and two dolls, all of this for gifts.  Though I’ve been wanting Whataburger bad for the last two weeks, I’d already had some great leftover Roadrunner Pizza before going to the game.  (I’d also overeaten all week.)  I went home and told dad about the game.  He was enjoying watching his neighbor’s dogs, who were laying in his lap.  He’d had a pretty good afternoon, too.