ARCHIE IS MR. JUSTICE, NO. 4 (OF 4)
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.
STORY: Blake Howard
ART: Federico Sabbatini
COLORS: Glenn Whitmore
LETTERS: Jack Morelli
EDITOR: Jamie Lee Rotante
EiC: Mike Pellerito
COVER: Reiko Murakami
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Wilfredo Torres with Matt Herms; Matt Talbot
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (July 2025); on sale in comic book shops May 21, 2025
Rating: Teen+
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.”
Archie Comics has also published superhero comic books featuring offbeat characters. The latest is a four-issue comic book series, entitled Archie is Mr. Justice. The fourth issue is written by Blake Howard; drawn by Federico Sabbatini; colored by Glenn Whitmore; and lettered by the great Jack Morelli. Archie is Mr. Justice focuses on teenager Archie Andrews and his superhero persona, “Mr. Justice.” Now, Archie has to face his a dear friend and a dreadful adversary.
Archie is Mr. Justice #4 opens in the past of Archie's friend, Reggie Mantle. When they were little kids, Reggie and Archie were close. By the time, they were teens, that was no longer the case and an embittered Reggie fell in with a bad crowd, in particular, Edward “Ed” Fogarty a.k.a. “Fangs.” Reggie and Ed plan a prank. It goes awry and changes Archie's life, and the lives of Reggie and Archie go on totally different paths.
The power of jealousy, resentment, and fear can be the most destructive power of all. Now, Kid Wicked and Mr. Justice will clash over the skies of Riverdale and irrevocably change two lives.
THE LOWDOWN: I have been reading comic books, on and off, for decades. I have sporadically read Archie Comics titles over that time. For many years now, Archie's marketing department has been sending PDF copies of some of their titles for review. Archie is Mr. Justice No. 4 is the latest.
Archie Comics has been reviving some of the old M.L.J. “Golden Age” superheroes for several years now. The latest to rise from the grave is “Mr. Justice,” also known as “the Royal Wraith.” Created by writer Joe Blair and artist Sam Cooper, Mr. Justice was an 18th century English prince who was murdered by rebels. Chance and circumstance brought about his return to the mortal world in the 1940s in the form of Mr. Justice. Mr. Justice first appeared in Blue Ribbon Comics #9 (cover dated: February 1941; M.L.J. Magazines), which, in a bit of meta-fiction, is the comic book that appears in Archie is Mr. Justice #1 as one of Jughead's comic books. From this particular comic book, Archie takes inspiration for his “Mr. Justice” identity.
For this fourth and final issue, writer Blake Howard and artist Federico Sabbatini delve into the complications in the friendships of children who are growing and developing and changing. Howard's script deftly depicts how Reggie consistently makes bad choices, and Howard offers a conclusion that seems genuine rather than feel-good contrived. Sabbatini's graphical storytelling captures Reggie's resentment and bitterness, but he also depicts how much Reggie wants to be wanted and acknowledged.
Glenn Whitmore's colors capture the nuance and shifting moods of this story, especially the sense of dread and finality that is the destiny of this story. Jack Morelli's lettering provides a steady beat for a story that finds the messiness of relationships with each page and also the fun of the explosive destruction of superhero fight comics.
I am surprised by Archie is Mr. Justice #4 as I was by this entire series. I hope that an eventual trade collection attracts you, dear readers, lots of you, so that we can have something like this again.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Archie Comics' superhero titles will want to try Archie is Mr. Justice No. 4.
[This comic book includes a two-page section on the making of Archie is Mr. Justice No. 4. There is also a Q&A featuring Blake Howard and Federico Sabbatini.]
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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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