The trade was something I wanted that happened to be on sale for half price. That explains that. Archie usually sells digest bundles and sometimes trades as “mystery bundles.” The price is good, but I didn’t want any duplicates of something I already have. Then they offered a “pick your own bundle” from an offered list of comics. I felt almost compelled to buy this to encourage them to do it more often.
Except that the bundle deal didn’t work. I picked some titles, but the order didn’t go through on the website. It was late, so I abandoned the order without finishing it. I got an e-mail from the Archie the next day telling me that I’d left items in the cart. I wrote back about my problem. No less than Betty Cooper herself on their technical support staff wrote me back and thanked me for pointing out the issue and said that she was working on it. Indeed, she fixed it and, not wanting to let Betty down, I completed the order. Unfortunately, the fix eliminated some choices I was interested in that were apparently sold out, which may have been the trouble. I had to go with some alternates, which was a bit disappointing.
Archie’s Explorers of the Unknown
Archie has turned out to be a fairly malleable concept over the years. Recasting the gang as Challengers of the Unknown-like adventurers seemed natural enough. I’m not familiar with the old 50’s DC comic, but I get the basics. The real selling point was the finely detailed artwork of Rex Lindsey. I suspected he’d do a good job on an adventure comic and, indeed, this was a whole lot of fun.
This volume covers the whole concept from two Archie Giant stories and a six-issue limited series. There is a little bit of continuity between the stories in the series and the last issue does sort of complete an arc. It’s really too bad there isn’t more. The stories do follow a format. Maybe it would have gotten old, but maybe the format would have expanded and changed a bit if it had continued.
The Archie characters are adults in this, though still a bit immature. Betty and Veronica are still fighting over Archie. Everybody has a certain role on the team. Veronica as the hand-to-hand combat expert is kind of the strange one.
Reggie does look strangely appropriate with a pencil-thin mustache, but Cheryl Blossom definitely won the makeover contest. Little wonder she keeps having her way with Archie.
This image is not in any of the stories. Was it a cover? (The covers aren’t included in this volume.)
The adventures are fairly wide-ranging. They get sucked into The Matrix at one story. (Actually, I think these stories predate The Matrix. Maybe more of a Tron reference, instead.)
Veronica gets turned into a mermaid in one story, although one wearing business jacket. She’s also more evil than sexy in this, frankly. It’s what you wanted, but not how you wanted it.
Look, the girls are wearing jetpacks. Freaking jetpacks! What more do you need to convince you to buy this? (This one was on sale for half-price. I think they’re closing it out. Hurry!)
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #290
This is a winter, but not a Christmas-themed, Archie digest. I picked this one because I needed four for the bundle and it featured a new story with the Archie gang and Josie and the Pussycats. I’ll just hit some highlights from it. Overall, I’d tag this one as pretty enjoyable.
The new story was cute. I like Dan Parent’s take on the look of the Pussycats. However, it was only five pages. That probably wouldn’t have justified a solo purchase. (I actually wrote a fan fiction with a sort of similar premise as this story with the Archies filling in for some missing Pussycats. It’s a fun idea.)
Ah, here’s Sabrina in a nighty. That’s always her best look. There was a small section of Sabrina stories in this digest.
There’s a classic Dan DeCarlo section from maybe the 60’s. These stories look gorgeous. (Say, could Archie Comics have an AI draw all of their new stories to look like this? Should I have not have said that? What have I possibly unleashed?)
In this story, Veronica’s fairy godfather brings her Adonis-like snowman to life. Ahem. He’s quite forward with her. I’d be insane with jealousy, but I have to admit, he’s quite dashing.
Here’s Ronnie with the cute bob haircut. I admit, I’ve always liked this look.
There’s a longer story featuring Betty as a female barnstormer from the 30’s. It has a good punchline with Veronica as a Hollywood actress meeting her new co-star.
I’m not usually a fan of the Little Archies, but this one is well-rendered and cute. Betty gets involved with a radio soap opera, but can’t listen to the ending of the story at school. Mr. Weatherbee, who is revealed to have a wife in this, punishes her, but does make sure that Betty finds out how her radio show ends. The artwork really tugs at the heartstrings.
Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics #304
The bright, colorful cover with Sabrina on it and the promise of more Sabrina comics inside was enough to get me interested. Actually seeing this cover in person, the Dan Parent cover is really good. The little thumbnail didn’t do it justice. This should be a poster or at least a full-sized comic cover. About a third of the digest is Sabrina stories, including a new one. This is for her 60-th anniversary celebration. Again, this digest is pretty good fun overall.
Some of this is older Sabrina material, such as from the Sabrina Collection Vol. 1, but this time, it’s in color. (And we’ll be revisiting some of this material again in another Sabrina volume I picked up after this order.) Here’s a bit from an older story where Sabrina is being a mischievous witch.
And here’s Head Witch Della. It’s hard to believe anybody could upstage Sabrina in looks, but there she is.
Here’s a couple of clips of a somewhat off-model Sabrina. These do look better in color. They’re very 60’s-ish and they’re an intriguing What If in her character’s development.
Sabrina has two iconic looks, in my opinion. One of them is her lounging. It’s like her natural pose. (The other look is her in the nighty, as above.)
I think this qualifies as an “only in a comic book” moment. Contrary to what you’d expect, Ronnie and the emu get along well in the story. (They do not attempt to sell you Liberty Mutual Insurance in the story, either.)
Isn’t she cute?
Here’s a famous Archie extra “photobomb.” Archie artists occasionally tire of drawing Betty and Veronica and insert other attractive young women into random panels.
Other interesting stories include a reality show filmed at the Lodge mansion (Mr. Lodge and Archie make for good TV conflict), the girls join the roller derby team, and there’s a sort-of silent story with Betty (like that famous G.I. Joe story with Snake Eyes, but less violent).
Also with this order, I received two Christmas digests, but I’ll read and review them when we’re more in the Christmas season.
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