Comics Review: "ARCHIE &FRIENDS: Thrills & Chills #1" Finds Wacky Fun at the Carnival

ARCHIE & FRIENDS: THRILLS & CHILLS #1
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.

STORY: J. Torres; Tom DeFalco; Frank Doyle; Mike Pellowski
PENCILS: Rex Lindsey; Pat & Tim Kennedy; Dan DeCarlo
INKS: Rex Lindsey; Bob Smith; Rudy Lapick; Jon D'Agostino
COLORS: Glenn Whitmore; Digikore Studios; Barry Grossman
LETTERS: Rex Lindsey; Jack Morelli; Bill Yoshida
EDITORS: Jamie Lee Rotante; Vincent Lovallo; Stephen Oswald
EiC: Mike Pellerito
COVER: Dan Parent with Rosario “Tito” Peña
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2022)

Rating: All-Ages

Eternal high school student and teenage boy, Archie Andrews, and his friends made their debut in M.L.J. Magazines' Pep Comics #22 (cover dated: December 1941), and before long, Archie was the publisher's headliner character.  In 1946, the company changed its named to Archie Comic Publications, also known as “Archie Comics.”

In 1992, Archie Comics began publishing the title Archie & Friends, and it would run for 159 issues, ceasing publication in 2012.  Since 2019, Archie has published a number of single-issue Archie & Friends titles built around a theme, such as Archie & Friends: Beach Party, Archie & Friends: Fall Festival, and Archie & Friends: Superheroes.

Archie & Friends: Thrills & Chills #1 is the newest Archie & Friends themed release and is issue #14 in the series.  Described by Archie Comics as a “collection of thrill rides, exciting adventures, and odd occurrences,” Thrills & Chills #1 contains four stories – one new story and three reprints.

“Return to Mirrordale” is the opening story.  It is written by J. Torres; drawn and lettered by Rex Lindsey; colored by Glenn Whitmore.  Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Reggie are visiting a local carnival when Archie starts acting strangely.  It seems that he is very frightened of the “House of Mirrors,” but the others insist on going inside even if Archie won't.  Soon, Betty, Veronica, and Reggie will discover the absolute weirdness of the mirrors inside.

THE LOWDOWN:   The current Archie & Friends series presents art and stories in the classic Archie Comics style.  Archie & Friends: Thrills & Chills #1 even includes a “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” story (“Carnival Capers”) that is drawn by the progenitor of the classic Archie Comics house style, the late Dan DeCarlo (1919-2001).

In fact, the theme of the four stories in Archie & Friends: Thrills & Chills #1 is wacky fun at the carnival.  The lead and new story for this issue, “Return to Mirrordale” is a delight and could have been longer than its five pages in length, which does leave it with untapped potential.  This story is also a sequel of sorts to “Welcome to Mirrordale,” a story about an alternate dimension that appeared in Archie #647.  I hope that the creative team of Return to Mirrordale,” J. Torres and Rex Lindsey (or another team), return to “Mirrordale” at some point in the future.

Dear readers, I have to be honest.  I have enjoyed what little of the modern Archie Comics that I have read, but I grew up on classic-style Archie Comics.  Thus, I will always recommend such Archie titles, so I am giving Archie & Friends: Thrills & Chills #1 a hearty recommendation.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of classic-style Archie Comics will want to find a copy of  Archie & Friends: Thrills & Chills #1 and copies of other Archie & Friends comic books.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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Comics Review: BITE SIZED ARCHIE Vol. 1

BITE SIZED ARCHIE VOL. 01
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.

STORY: Ron Cacace
ART: Vincent Lovallo
EiC: Mike Pellerito
COVER: Vincent Lovallo
ISBN: 978-1-64576-913-2; paperback; 6 3/8” x 8” (March 2022)
112pp, Color, $12.99 U.S., $16.99 CAN (April 27, 2022)

Rating: All-Ages

Bite Sized Archie is a webcomic, the first for the classic Archie Comics character, Archie Andrews.  The series is published as weekly episodes, with each being comprised of four panels.  Bite Sized Archie is drawn in a style similar to chibi (a Japanese style of caricature) and with a 1960s retro Archie Comics aesthetic.  The creative team is comprised of writer Ron Cacace and artist Vincent Lovallo.

Bite Sized Archie Vol. 1 collects the first year of the webcomic.  The book contains 52 strips, beginning with Strip 1: “Jughead's Game of the Year Awards” from December 20, 2020 to Strip 52: “Plenty to Digest” from December 3, 2021.

Bite Sized Archie Vol. 1 hopes you’re hungry for laughs.  Jughead Jones hands out video game awards and also ponders diners, drive-ins, and dives online at “Jughead's Diner Reviews.”  Archie is so bored that he doesn't notice the infinity war just outside “Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe.”  Reggie Mantle deals with a black eye – one online and one on his face.

Jughead struggles with a “TV dinner” and with a failing printer, but Sabrina Spellman and her magic can only help him with one of them … maybe.  Archie offers Josie McCoy (of Josie and the Pussycats) some professional advice.  Archie finds himself trapped between Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge.  Toni Topaz, Kevin Keller, and Jughead warn us about the dangers of tweeting.  Cheryl Blossom meets Spider.  And Chuck Clayton has the comic book convention blues.  It's all in a day (or year) in the life of Archie Andrews and friends.

THE LOWDOWN:  Bite Sized Archie is basically a daily newspaper comic strip, but produced for the digital age.  It's cute and one can say that the creative team of Ron Cacace and artist Vincnet Lovallo is doing something nice for people who can never get enough of the wonderful world of Archie Comics.

Bite Sized Archie Vol. 1 is not something I would normally search out, but I would (and did) enjoy it once I found it.  In fact, the quickest way to make me interested in any Archie Comics publication is to include anyone from Josie and the Pussycats.  And Bite Sized Archie Vol. 1 is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the world of Archie Andrews.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Archie Comics will want Bite Sized Archie Vol. 1.

[This book contains an afterword by Ron Cacace and “Behind the Panels,” which focuses on the process of artist Vincent Lovallo.  Extras include bonus features, character sketches, and behind-the-scenes conversations from the creative team .]

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://archiecomics.com/
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https://www.instagram.com/archiecomics/
https://www.facebook.com/ArchieComicsOfficial?ref=tn_tnmn
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArchieComicsOfficial
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8914136-archie-comics


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).