Comics Review: Archie #1 by Oni Press

Zanaya had not been to Zia Comics before. I took her after lunch at the Grounded Café (excellent pizza). She enjoyed it and loved all of the anime figures there. I told her that she had one job: Don’t let me buy any comics for myself. She saw a Vampirella with a sexy cover that she had to have and that was okay. As we went down the rack, I was looking for a My Little Pony comic for her, but came up empty. (She has wide-ranging tastes.) Then I found this new Archie comic. I couldn’t resist and Zanaya did not restrain me. (I didn’t bother explaining to the friendly cashier that the cheesecake comic was for her and the kid’s comic was for me.)

I had heard about this issue a few months ago. Everyone had the same groan of trepidation at the news. Archie Comics was licensing out Archie to another publisher, Oni Press. Certainly, no one saw this pairing coming. Oni isn’t known for producing kid-friendly material. The closest they might have come might be Blue Monday, a comic sort of inspired by Archie. It’s teens in high school engaging in hi-jinks. Everything else about the title is a bit more risqué than Archie and very set in the 80’s. (I’ve read three of their trade paperbacks. Funny stuff.)

Archie is still publishing floppies, in addition to their digests, but only facsimile editions and seasonal specials and such. They are not publishing a regular Archie floppy. Oni is publishing three titles: Archie, Sabrina, and Archie in Hell. Okay, that last one, I would have gone with Betty and Veronica instead. The Hell comic is the one causing some concern with this venture. Not to mention, we wonder if the Sabrina title is going to be a continuation of the horror comic. We want standard Archie, not scary Archie.

The issue on the rack had a friendly enough cover. (This is an alternate cover and was the only issue on the rack, so I haven’t seen the others.) The cover is a bit thick and the pages inside are on a heavy slick paper. It seemed a bit thicker than a normal comic and it does have a few more pages for your $5. There aren’t any ads inside, other than a promo for the next issue and previews of the other two titles. There’s a montage of Archie covers over the years inside the front cover, along with a puzzle page and a pinup (which is not exactly a Dan Decarlo Veronica in a swimsuit and its terrible). There’s also an editorial. The managing editor is an Archie fan, though mostly a Betty and Veronica fan, which begs the question why that isn’t one of their titles.

One thing I wasn’t expecting was that this would truly be a classic Archie Comic in format. It features three short stories: one with Archie, one with the gang, and a Jughead story. The art style is not the classic house style and nor is it something more realistic-looking. It’s kind of a rough cartoony style. It’s sort of illustrated like a kid’s storybook. (Dare I compare this to Tintin? It doesn’t have the detail work.)

The comic begins with a quick story about Archie dreaming. The longer story next is about a student film festival, where everyone wants Archie as their star. Archie is wearing the letterman’s jacket and addressing the audience like in previous Archie title, which was more realistically drawn and written than classic Archie. There’s a small continuity change. Archie’s vehicle is no longer a Mustang (or a Model T), but a Bronco without a top. Both of these stories are okay and well in-keeping with classic Archie. They seem to be meant to introduce the character to a new audience.

Lastly, it’s a quiet story with Jughead eating at Pop’s, who announces that he’s thinking about retiring. That’s not exactly an original premise in an Archie comic, but it’s written as a journal and seems more serious. This story was continued. Interesting.

The Sabrina preview was bright and colorful. It seemed lighthearted, but had a dangerous undercurrent of dark magic. It was sort of a cross between classic Sabrina and that scary, evil Sabrina comic. The Archie in Hell preview essentially seems to be Archie getting abducted by an apocalypse cult for human sacrifice. It looks like Sabrina is going to have to come to the rescue in this one. I wonder how long this series is set to run with this premise. I’m not much of a horror fan, so I’m not the audience for this.

Overall, it’s okay. I’m glad I gave it a chance. I’m not sure what the publishing schedule is, but if I see another issue, I’ll probably give it another shot to see what else they’re going to do with the characters. The Sabrina comic I’m kind of interested in, but a bit apprehensive. I don’t quite understand the obsession with turning Archie into something dark. (Well, actually I do. It’s the Agenda.) It feels like they’re only doing something like classic Archie, so that they can do the horror stuff that they really want to do.

I am curious if Oni has plans, or even sanction, to do more titles. If they’re going to eventually do a Betty and Veronica comic, they should get a different artist to draw them as they should be (the world’s most glamorous teenagers). It certainly appears they’d like to do a Jughead comic, but perhaps doubt he can draw an audience by himself. This is an interesting experiment for Archie. It might be foreshadowing for Marvel (definitely) and DC (maybe) licensing their characters to other companies to publish comics. It has happened before recently, but this time it could be for keeps.

Baseball Journal September: Brats, INPLS, and Bol-tay

9-1-26

Tonight’s MiLB Free Game was the Double-A Altoona Curve versus the Harrisburg Senators.    I tuned in in the third, when a home run went into the Ollie’s Cheap Seats in left field.    “Good stuff cheap,” as their slogan says.    In spite of the cheap seats, it looked like kind of a lousy crowd in Harrisburg.    I wasn’t paying much attention to the game until the top of the ninth.  Former Aggie, Titus Dumitru, came up to bat.    The announcer said he’d hit 15 home runs this season for Altoona.    Good for him!    Dumitru got on via an error with two outs and down a run, but the Senators closed it out.    I wasn’t even paying attention to the score.

There were two big stories in tonight’s series opener between the Chihuahuas and Las Vegas in El Paso.    Ethan Salas was called up to Padres.    Good for him and likely good for the Padres at some point, but bad for the Chihuahuas given how well he was playing.    For the Aviators, it was the Triple-A debut of Jamie Arnold, their top pitching prospect.   

It was a bad sign right off the bat as the Aviators took a 4-0 lead in first.    Jose Leclerc later worked a quick fourth inning for the Chihuahuas.    He came back out in the fifth.    Leclerc loaded the bases, but got out of it.    Maybe he can be serviceable.    In the bottom of the fifth, Nick Solak was thrown out at the plate, which turned out to be the closest the Chihuahuas came to scoring tonight.    That was Arnold’s final inning.    He had faced the minimum through 4.  He threw 5 innings, 67 pitches, 0 runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, and was featuring a 97-mph fastball.    Aviators win, 6-0.

Referencing the above picture, I found a story today about Milwaukee’s High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.    For German heritage “Bratoberfest,” the team was playing as the Wisconsin Brats wearing lederhosen-inspired uniforms.    A rehabbing MLB player got an amusing “welcome back to the minors” moment there.

9-2-26

There were two day games on at the same time on the radio with the Aviators playing the Chihuahuas and the A’s playing the Rangers.    I mostly listened to the Rangers’ game, but kept up with the Chihuahuas during the commercials.    We’ll tackle these games one at a time.   

Russ Langer, the Las Vegas broadcaster, talked about El Paso day games last night.    He said that El Paso was scheduling weekday day games for the business people downtown more than for school days, though I thought I was hearing a bunch kids during this game.    In the top of the first there was a delay to fix the dirt in the batter’s box?    That’s a new one.     In the bottom of the first, the Chihuahuas took the lead with three home runs in a row.    The scoring didn’t stop there.    The Aviators’ pitcher received two penalty balls, but finally got the final out, as the pups batted around for 5 runs.    Broadcaster Tim Hagerty had a guest on in a later inning.    I think he was a contest winner.    Unfortunately, I missed the introduction flipping between games.   

In the top of the fifth, the Chihuahuas only had a one-run lead and LV had loaded the bases.  An error brought in the tying and go-ahead runs to make it, 8-7.  By this point, I figured out that I had picked the wrong game to listen to.    LV then hit a two-run homer at the same time as the A’s hit a two-run homer.    It was 10-7 Aviators in the bottom of the fifth.    The Chihuahuas loaded the bases in that inning, but left all of them stranded.

I laid down for a nap and left the Rangers on.    I woke up and checked back in.    It was 13-9 LV in the seventh.  In the bottom of the seventh, an error brought in a Chihuahuas’ run and loaded the bases, but a great defensive play ended the threat.    Still, the Chihuahuas scored 2 in the eighth to get within a run.    I listened to the ninth in the car while I was going to work.    The Aviators got an insurance run in the ninth and would win it, 14-12.    Tim reported it was the longest 9-inning game of the season for the pups.

Meanwhile in Texas, the Rangers were playing for a sweep.  Ezequiel Duran led off with a home run.    He is “The Solution,” indeed.    Justin Foscue led off the second with another solo shot.    In the third, the A’s struck back with Henry “Bol-tay” Bolte tying it with a two-run homer.  “Bol-tay?”  Zack Gelof made it back-to-back homers for a 3-2 A’s lead.    Jonah Heim, who is on the A’s, came up for an at bat.    The broadcasters mentioned that the Rangers did a tribute to Jonah last inning on the video board for his efforts during their 2023 championship season.    Class.

In the fourth, it was another 2-run homer by “Bol-tay” to make it, 5-2 A’s.   Heim added a shot in the fifth to make it, 6-2.    Broadcaster Eric Nadel commented on the “Sluggish pace” of the game.    Partner Matt Hicks said, “Did you say, ‘Slugging pace?’”    Another two-run A’s homer followed, 8-2.    The wind from the air conditioners at Globe Life Stadium must have been blowing out with 7 combined home runs in the game.    Eric, “It’s been a brutal game for Rangers fans to watch,” and listen to, I would add.    The A’s starter, Jacob Lopez, had a quality start going through six innings giving up 2 runs.    In the ninth, the A’s loaded the bases with Bolte up again.  The Rangers got him out.    Whew!    The A’s avoid the sweep and win, 9-2.

The MiLB Free Game was the Indianapolis Indians at the Toledo Mud Hens.    Or, as their uniforms read, “INPLS” versus the “Mudhounds?”    I think the Mud Hens and the Chihuahuas are the most popular minor league teams for merchandise, so I wouldn’t do any alternate branding for the Mud Hens.    Their stadium looked okay.    It was a modern, kind of cookie-cutter facility.    The crowd wasn’t great.

Konnor Griffin was on rehab with the Indians from the Pirates.    James Outman was on the Mud Hens.    He hit a 407’ home run in the second.    In the seventh, the Mud Hens poured it on with an 8-run inning.    It was punctuated with a 414’ grand slam to make it, 11-1.    However, the ball probably didn’t clear the yellow line and actually went under the railing beneath it.  The Indians manager was tossed for arguing.    Even the announcers agreed that replay likely would have overturned it.    11-2 Mud Hens was the final.

9-4-26

MiLB Free Game #1 tonight was the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers at the Asheville Tourists.    I’m gonna say it, I think this stadium is the one I’d like to visit the most.    It is a super cozy stadium built into a hollow with a forested hill in the background. There’s one shaded grandstand and a large outfield wall with advertising.    Trees surround the field and there’s no finding foul balls or home runs that go into them.    It’s the third oldest park in minor league baseball, which was built in the 1920’s. Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson played there.

With only two games left in the season, the announcer was getting wistful.    There was a full house sell out tonight of 4,001 for fireworks and Dollar Dogs, which the announcer was enjoying.    The press box was at field level down third base line next to the club area.    He reported that the team’s Beer City jerseys were selling well at the Tourist Trap, their team shop.

Jhostynxon Garcia, The Password himself, was on the Grasshoppers on rehab.    There seemed to be two umpires working at the game?    It was interesting watching a close play at first without an umpire.    I enjoyed the game, though I didn’t bother recapping it.    The final was 10-6 Asheville.    “Just an average Asheville scoreboard,” said the announcer.

MiLB Free Game #2 was a bonus High-A game that was the backend of a double header between the Great Lakes Loons and the Lake County Captains.    The field was super green, including the green seats area, which was mostly empty.    It was late there.    (The games had run from 5pm to nearly 11pm.)    The game was tied at 2 after regulation in the seventh.   

On to extras in the eighth, a double play went to the shortstop, who doubled off automatic runner at second to end it in the top. In the bottom, the Loon pitcher snapped his arm after getting first out. The camera respectfully turned away from him as he was taken out of the game. The Caps didn’t score.    They probably should have sac’d over their automatic runner. The Caps ended up down 2 in the bottom of the ninth, but they did not give up.    They drove in the automatic runner, put two runners in scoring position, and scored the winning run with a single, 5-4.

Meanwhile in El Paso, the Chihuahuas broke out the bats and won on Thursday against Aviators, 9-3.    Gage Workman was the standout going 3 for 4, with 4 RBI’s.    (I wasn’t really listening.)    For tonight’s Friday game, I decided to listen to the Las Vegas broadcast for the game.    It’s interesting to hear the other teams’ announcer talking about your team, especially when he also does the announcing for your Aggie Basketball team, Russ Langer.   

Russ began by reminiscing about Wednesday’s 14-12 game.    “Some would call it a debacle.    Others a track meet.    Others a PCL classic.” Russ defended the downtown El Paso stadium.    He insisted that there were places around the ballpark to go to after the game.    I think he’s wrong given that he only mentioned the museum.    I have to hand it to him. Russ was very equitable in his game call.    He was as excited calling Chihuahuas’ runs as he was Aviators’ runs.   

Admittedly, I wasn’t following the game that closely.    An unturned double play, an error, and a short Aviator bullpen, allowed the Chihuahuas to score 3 unearned runs and tie the game at 4.    However, Aviators took it, 8-5.

9-5-26

Just one baseball game to report on tonight.    The Chihuahuas had an 8-3 lead in seventh over the Aviators, but Las Vegas had a big inning. After a 3-run homer, it was 8-7.    The Chihuahuas would keep the lead and squeak out a 9-7 win.

Let’s talk Aggie Football, though.    I was mostly listening to this game on the radio.    I had brought up going to the game with Zanaya, which I didn’t mean to since I didn’t really want to go.    She’d already turned down going to the theater to see Star Trek 2: The Wraith of Khan in the evening.    She was interested in going to the game, so maybe another time.    We did have a nice pizza lunch at the Grounded Café at the Downtown Mall and went to Zia Comics.    We both got a comic.    I’ll review mine later.   

Trey Hedden was the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Florida State in Week 0, though I’m not sure if any other C-USA teams were playing last week.    It’s still better than UTEP’s first game against Oklahoma this week, a 51-0 loss, not covering the 41-point spread.    The Aggies would have a 27-point spread in their favor for their first home game against Mercyhurst.    I’ve never heard of them, either, no offense.   

   

The game certainly began well with Nick Session making an interception on Mercyhurst’s first play.    He broke several tackles and ran it in.    Undaunted, Mercyhurst marched right back down field for their own touchdown to tie it.    The Aggies got a big return on the kickoff, but drive stalled and ended in a missed long field goal.    On the Aggies’ next possession, a big pass play to TK King and then a rush by TJ Washington (who would have 2 TD’s in the game) gave NM State a 13-7 lead.    (The PAT was blocked.)

Mercyhurst scored to start the second quarter to give them a 14-13 lead.    An Aggie penalty blew a stop on a third down that would have ended the drive.    The Aggies retook the lead on a field goal after another big play to King, 16-14.    Aggies made a fourth down stop on defense and would get the ball back, which set up a 46-yd rush by James Jones for a touchdown, 23-14 Aggies. Worse for Mercyhurst, they lost their starting quarterback.    The two teams traded missed field goals end the half.   

Mercyhurt’s offense would not recover from losing their quarterback.    Sone Aupiu made an interception, which was converted into a touchdown, 30-14.    Next, Hedden made a long rush as the third quarter ended.    At the start of the fourth, he completed a touchdown reception, 37-14. Then came an 83-yard bomb to Terrione Graves for a TD, 44-14.    Graves was actually held on the play.   

Late in the game, the Aggies put in backup quarterback Adam Damante.    He marched the team right down field for a TD to AJ Williams III, 51-14.    After this, the Aggies put in their third-string quarterback to run it out. That’s a 51-14 Aggie win and a cover.    However, there were only 9k in attendance (out of 28k capacity), which is more like a well-attended basketball game.    The broadcasters did report that the student section was full.