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Archie (2015) (Collected Editions) #4
Archie, Vol. 4
The fourth volume of the Archie series features the headline-making comic event 'Over The Edge,' where the lives of Archie and his friends are forever changed. Collects Archie #18-22.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2017
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679 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,198 books1,290 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
January 1, 2018
I'm going to admit that I this volume felt a teensy bit average to me.
At first.
There's the usual push-pull feelings between Betty & Archie, the social class wedge that's always between Archie and Veronica, and a few random plotlines (the Blossoms vs. Jughead's wit, Dilton's crush on Betty, Reggie's ego vs Archie, etc.) that were interesting but ultimately forgettable.
But that ending!
The hell are you trying to do to me, Waid?!
The cliffhanger definitely pushed this volume up from a likable but mediocre 3 stars, and catapulted it into the ohmygod 4 star territory.
I don't want to ruin it for anyone, so I'll just say this: READ ARCHIE. You don't know what you're missing by assuming this is just for kids.
At first.
There's the usual push-pull feelings between Betty & Archie, the social class wedge that's always between Archie and Veronica, and a few random plotlines (the Blossoms vs. Jughead's wit, Dilton's crush on Betty, Reggie's ego vs Archie, etc.) that were interesting but ultimately forgettable.
But that ending!
The hell are you trying to do to me, Waid?!
The cliffhanger definitely pushed this volume up from a likable but mediocre 3 stars, and catapulted it into the ohmygod 4 star territory.
I don't want to ruin it for anyone, so I'll just say this: READ ARCHIE. You don't know what you're missing by assuming this is just for kids.
May 18, 2018
I forgot to rate this last week when I finished it. Another fun volume!
September 17, 2019
This went down like candy and ice cream. I thought this was one of the better volumes.
We start out with Veronica home, but she and Archie have a hard time getting their rhythm back. Their awkwardness is funny to me. Jughead actually did a few hours of work. That was hilarious. Jughead is my favorite character. Betty finally fixes Archies car after years of working on it.
It all leads up to the ending and climax of the piece. I need Volume 5 right now. OMG!
I am such a fan of this series now.
We start out with Veronica home, but she and Archie have a hard time getting their rhythm back. Their awkwardness is funny to me. Jughead actually did a few hours of work. That was hilarious. Jughead is my favorite character. Betty finally fixes Archies car after years of working on it.
It all leads up to the ending and climax of the piece. I need Volume 5 right now. OMG!
I am such a fan of this series now.
October 1, 2017
Mark Waid’s run with Archie and the gang in Riverdale gets better and better. In Vol 4, Archie and Ronnie are trying to get back in the swing of things after her boarding school debacle, Jug actually forms a surprising alliance with Ronnie, Betty hangs out with Dilton...All these stories are out into perspective with in the aftermath of the fateful drag race between Reggie and Archie. The artwork is really good, these time-worn but nonetheless attaching characters are still entertaining, and my son Archibald and I (yep, but not because of that!) love following this series.
March 6, 2022
2022 update: This was still as wild as the first time that I read it! I still can't believe that Archie and Reggie end up in that drag race that has lasting implications for all of Riverdale. I'm actually happy that I re-read this one this year because I forgot that a lot of this stuff happened.
Ahhh this is so wild ! I can't believe what happened at the end. I need the next volume like now! This comic has definitely gotten better with each issue and volume! I don't know why Archie thought what he did was even close to being okay. It was reckless and stupid. Now I'm interested in seeing how everyone will handle the consequences.
Ahhh this is so wild ! I can't believe what happened at the end. I need the next volume like now! This comic has definitely gotten better with each issue and volume! I don't know why Archie thought what he did was even close to being okay. It was reckless and stupid. Now I'm interested in seeing how everyone will handle the consequences.
April 29, 2018
Damn you, Mark Waid for making me care about Archie! I always hated this comic growing up. The status quo was always forgotten by the time the next issue rolled around and the art was terrible. Now, we've got a competently written teen drama with plenty of humor. The first 2 issues were stand alone issues and they had their moments, but it was Over the Edge that killed me. Archie and Reggie drag race and there are long term implications. It's so well done collected but I'm sure it was super-frustrating if you were reading this monthly. The first issue ends in a cliffhanger and you don't get to find out what happened until 2 issues later. I loved how Waid handled the middle issue though,
August 12, 2018
I didn't like this one as much as the others. The story wasn't really coherent.
July 2, 2018
In the last volume, Archie and Veronica are separated by her stint at Swiss boarding school. At the start of this one, they're reunited, and it plays out exactly how you would expect - why was Veronica so desperate to get back to Riverdale, anyway? They go on a disastrous date where they bore each other, which segues into a contest put on by Veronica's father to find her a new boyfriend. They seem really ill suited, but the stories are amusing and I suppose that's all that matters. AND I am super into the blossoming relationship between Dilton and Betty. LET'S GO!!
The second part of this volume is heartfelt, emotional, and feels potentially groundbreaking. I can't wait to get the next installment.
The second part of this volume is heartfelt, emotional, and feels potentially groundbreaking. I can't wait to get the next installment.
September 17, 2020
Feminism...
Trouble in paradise...
Drag race...
Someone’s life on the line...
I’m fine, I promise... *heart attack*
Trouble in paradise...
Drag race...
Someone’s life on the line...
I’m fine, I promise... *heart attack*
November 18, 2018
I am really enjoying getting back into reading comic books and have been enjoying this new reboot of the classic Archie series. Each volume has been quick, fun, and entertaining while staying true to the essence of the original comics.
In this volume, I do have to say that I felt that I didn’t like the illustrations as much as previous volumes. With that being said though, I do like how it now continues to maintain the same illustrator throughout the volume. This illustrator was just not my favourite, yet the volume was still well done.
As for the story arc within this novel, it was a very action packed volume. From an unanswered mystery involving the Blossom family to the disconnect between Archie and Veronica. All of this lead to a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I’m very interested to see what happens from here.
I do have a prediction for the outcome of this “event” and I’m interested to see how the writers get there. I do think if not done carefully there is potential to offend others though so I am hoping that is taken into account.
In this volume, I do have to say that I felt that I didn’t like the illustrations as much as previous volumes. With that being said though, I do like how it now continues to maintain the same illustrator throughout the volume. This illustrator was just not my favourite, yet the volume was still well done.
As for the story arc within this novel, it was a very action packed volume. From an unanswered mystery involving the Blossom family to the disconnect between Archie and Veronica. All of this lead to a cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. I’m very interested to see what happens from here.
I do have a prediction for the outcome of this “event” and I’m interested to see how the writers get there. I do think if not done carefully there is potential to offend others though so I am hoping that is taken into account.
January 28, 2018
Well, I certainly was not expecting this series to take such a dark turn...
This volume was definitely ten times better than volume three and the whole petty bickering between Veronica and Cheryl scenario. This felt like it went back to the classic Archie storylines. However, it definitely became quite sad towards the end. I'm actually still quite shocked that it did that...
January 10, 2018
This is the first of the four Archie volumes that tells a continuous story. The other three volumes have continuity, but they also start and end various plot lines. In Over the Edge, fittingly the first volume to have a separate subtitle, the story is focused on one main event: the showdown between Archie and Reggie and its implications.
I enjoyed reading this culmination of various subplots from the first three volumes. It's not my favorite of the four (I think Volume One is), but it's definitely an entertaining read and one which makes me more invested with the characters I've grown to love even more. I want to know what will happen to Betty, what Reggie did to get in trouble with the police, who will be blamed for this incident, and all the other components of the story as they're continued in The Heart of Riverdale.
One of the main things I didn't enjoy as much about this volume was the artwork. I've said already that Fiona Staples' work is my favorite, but I liked Veronica Fish's as well. Unfortunately, Pete Woods' work doesn't appeal to me. The characters's features are sketchy rather than detailed, and they don't look as realistic as in earlier volumes. The lack of detail changes the way I interact with the characters because they don't have the same clarity of feature and expression. They're still clearly Betty, Veronica, Archie, and Jughead, but they don't seem as lifelike as they could and as they have in earlier work.
The only other reason I gave this four and not five stars is that I wish there was more to the story. It's short, especially to convey what this volume is aiming for. There could have been at least one more issue to develop the story, especially the climax, which is very abrupt. The buildup and the fallout of the main event are done well, but the action needs more time to have a greater impact.
I highly recommend this series to Archie fans and to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction. Archie has always been the story of typical American high school students, and Mark Waid continues engaging readers with the exploits of American teenagers while also adding depth and layers to the characters and their back stories.
I enjoyed reading this culmination of various subplots from the first three volumes. It's not my favorite of the four (I think Volume One is), but it's definitely an entertaining read and one which makes me more invested with the characters I've grown to love even more. I want to know what will happen to Betty, what Reggie did to get in trouble with the police, who will be blamed for this incident, and all the other components of the story as they're continued in The Heart of Riverdale.
One of the main things I didn't enjoy as much about this volume was the artwork. I've said already that Fiona Staples' work is my favorite, but I liked Veronica Fish's as well. Unfortunately, Pete Woods' work doesn't appeal to me. The characters's features are sketchy rather than detailed, and they don't look as realistic as in earlier volumes. The lack of detail changes the way I interact with the characters because they don't have the same clarity of feature and expression. They're still clearly Betty, Veronica, Archie, and Jughead, but they don't seem as lifelike as they could and as they have in earlier work.
The only other reason I gave this four and not five stars is that I wish there was more to the story. It's short, especially to convey what this volume is aiming for. There could have been at least one more issue to develop the story, especially the climax, which is very abrupt. The buildup and the fallout of the main event are done well, but the action needs more time to have a greater impact.
I highly recommend this series to Archie fans and to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction. Archie has always been the story of typical American high school students, and Mark Waid continues engaging readers with the exploits of American teenagers while also adding depth and layers to the characters and their back stories.
July 26, 2018
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ┊ 5 stars
This is best Archie in the new volumes so far. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. But I see they've changed the artist.
────────────────────────────────────────
1. Archie, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐
2. Archie, Vol. 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Archie, Vol. 3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Archie, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Archie, Vol. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is best Archie in the new volumes so far. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. But I see they've changed the artist.
────────────────────────────────────────
1. Archie, Vol. 1 ⭐⭐
2. Archie, Vol. 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Archie, Vol. 3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Archie, Vol. 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Archie, Vol. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
January 15, 2019
I choked few times with emotions reading this..was not expecting it.
July 25, 2017
This was such a gut wrenching arc. The last issue requires tissues!
November 20, 2022
VISUALS: 4 stars!
Yey: This is my first time reading an Archie graphic novel. It is more than 100 pages long and looking at each artwork is fun. I mean, it is totally a new world. Everything changes. The choice of color looks more like a 'darker-watercolor feel' than a 'colored-pencil feel.' The layout in every page improves a lot than the comics. The artist has clearly expressed his vision on how a new era in Riverdale looks like.
He presents a variety of styles in each page - bigger rectangles, six squares in a page with or without speech balloons, full-color without margins, and at times, the picture bleeds. Their faces are all grown-up. Adult faces of Veronica, Dilton and Reggie are impressive.
Veronica looks like Cardi B, Dilton meets the way I have imagined him as an intelligent man and Reggie owns this bad boy feel that can make any women pregnant any time of any day.
Nay: I have problems with the inconsistency all throughout the book. It is difficult to describe Archie's physical transformation. He looks stupendous in the front cover but there are pages that he looks 'mediocre.' He does not look like a lead role. In other pages, he looks awkward like he has forgotten to wash his face. There was even a scene in which Reggie challenges him to a race competition. Archie agrees to join but holy cow, he wears slippers while driving.
Another big change that does not fit the brand evolution is Betty. The traces of being a sweet and smart blonde girl are gone. I have no idea why the artists have made her look like a second-rate character who is incapable of being a stand-out.
STORY: 4 stars!
Yay: This volume contains five issues. These are Issue Numbers 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The flow of the story is a lot easier to follow and read due to its bigger font sizes. The choice of font style is better too. There are numerous pages without speech balloons. Still, it conveys the story clearly.
The theme of each story in each issue has evolved too. I find it funny sometimes, but the tone gets more serious most of the time - especially the ending. This is Riverdale at the new heights of trials and tribulations.
Nay: Stories are shorter than expected that I can finish it in one seating. Stories are good but I wish the Archie Comic Publications, Inc. has chosen to have 10 Issues in one volume. It could have been thicker, and I could have enjoyed the evolution of each character more. I don't know about the marketing behind but to me, the thicker the volume, the better the value - right?
Yey: This is my first time reading an Archie graphic novel. It is more than 100 pages long and looking at each artwork is fun. I mean, it is totally a new world. Everything changes. The choice of color looks more like a 'darker-watercolor feel' than a 'colored-pencil feel.' The layout in every page improves a lot than the comics. The artist has clearly expressed his vision on how a new era in Riverdale looks like.
He presents a variety of styles in each page - bigger rectangles, six squares in a page with or without speech balloons, full-color without margins, and at times, the picture bleeds. Their faces are all grown-up. Adult faces of Veronica, Dilton and Reggie are impressive.
Veronica looks like Cardi B, Dilton meets the way I have imagined him as an intelligent man and Reggie owns this bad boy feel that can make any women pregnant any time of any day.
Nay: I have problems with the inconsistency all throughout the book. It is difficult to describe Archie's physical transformation. He looks stupendous in the front cover but there are pages that he looks 'mediocre.' He does not look like a lead role. In other pages, he looks awkward like he has forgotten to wash his face. There was even a scene in which Reggie challenges him to a race competition. Archie agrees to join but holy cow, he wears slippers while driving.
Another big change that does not fit the brand evolution is Betty. The traces of being a sweet and smart blonde girl are gone. I have no idea why the artists have made her look like a second-rate character who is incapable of being a stand-out.
STORY: 4 stars!
Yay: This volume contains five issues. These are Issue Numbers 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22. The flow of the story is a lot easier to follow and read due to its bigger font sizes. The choice of font style is better too. There are numerous pages without speech balloons. Still, it conveys the story clearly.
The theme of each story in each issue has evolved too. I find it funny sometimes, but the tone gets more serious most of the time - especially the ending. This is Riverdale at the new heights of trials and tribulations.
Nay: Stories are shorter than expected that I can finish it in one seating. Stories are good but I wish the Archie Comic Publications, Inc. has chosen to have 10 Issues in one volume. It could have been thicker, and I could have enjoyed the evolution of each character more. I don't know about the marketing behind but to me, the thicker the volume, the better the value - right?
July 20, 2018
AGH! YOU"RE EVIL! WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE ME ON A CLIFFHANGER LIKE THAT?!? AGHIEANKJFINEAKSNIMKDFMKEAN K !!!
BETTY!!!
BETTY!!!
January 20, 2018
I think I might be done with the Archie reboot series for two reasons. First, the story isn't following through with its set-ups. In volume 3, Archie and Veronica were separated from each other for quite a long time. During that time they were pining for each other, and it appeared that their connection was deep. However, in this volume Veronica is back in town and they don't really have anything to say to each other about it other than to say, "Let's not let that happen again." Immediately after that, Veronica starts talking about her school in Switzerland, and Archie talks about baseball and they can't really connect with each other. Shouldn't they be talking about their feelings for each other or how difficult it was to be apart? It doesn't make sense that they wouldn't talk about that. Instead, we get the inability to communicate and the break-up for plot purposes.
That brings me to my second complaint--the story is build around plot devices instead of characters. In fact, to create "interesting" plot, the characters are mishandled. First, Archie is depicted as a mopey loser who can't even walk for 50 feet without falling down. In fact, both Betty and Veronica express that Archie shouldn't be trusted to do anything, which isn't something you would say about someone you loved. While pratfalls are a part of the Archie character, they need to be balanced by something positive so that we can understand why Betty and Veronica are interested in him.
Veronica's personality undergoes wild swings. In volume 3, it is revealed that Veronica has a heart of gold as she fights against the bullying that occurs at her elite Swiss school. That was a good bit of character development that made sense based on her experiences in the story. However, in this volume, on returning to Riverdale she is again a clueless rich girl who doesn't understand or sympathize with others. That is when it serves to tell a joke. So, I can't make any sense of her character development arch anymore.
Betty has been terribly underutilized in this series. She made almost no appearances in volume 3. She returns in this volume, but only to serve as a plot device for Archie. At the end of this volume, she is badly mistreated by the author (Mark Waid is 100% not in camp Betty). If what happens turns out to be true in the next volume, then it is a slap in the face of Betty fans. If it turns out not to be true, then it is a case of the author emotionally manipulating the readers. In either case, I'm not happy.
So, I've complained a lot here, but I'm still an Archie fan. I'll just be reading the classic series rather than this series.
That brings me to my second complaint--the story is build around plot devices instead of characters. In fact, to create "interesting" plot, the characters are mishandled. First, Archie is depicted as a mopey loser who can't even walk for 50 feet without falling down. In fact, both Betty and Veronica express that Archie shouldn't be trusted to do anything, which isn't something you would say about someone you loved. While pratfalls are a part of the Archie character, they need to be balanced by something positive so that we can understand why Betty and Veronica are interested in him.
Veronica's personality undergoes wild swings. In volume 3, it is revealed that Veronica has a heart of gold as she fights against the bullying that occurs at her elite Swiss school. That was a good bit of character development that made sense based on her experiences in the story. However, in this volume, on returning to Riverdale she is again a clueless rich girl who doesn't understand or sympathize with others. That is when it serves to tell a joke. So, I can't make any sense of her character development arch anymore.
Betty has been terribly underutilized in this series. She made almost no appearances in volume 3. She returns in this volume, but only to serve as a plot device for Archie. At the end of this volume, she is badly mistreated by the author (Mark Waid is 100% not in camp Betty). If what happens turns out to be true in the next volume, then it is a slap in the face of Betty fans. If it turns out not to be true, then it is a case of the author emotionally manipulating the readers. In either case, I'm not happy.
So, I've complained a lot here, but I'm still an Archie fan. I'll just be reading the classic series rather than this series.
September 5, 2017
I really like this series, but tired of Betty always getting the shit end of the stick because of Archie :(
September 6, 2017
Probably one of the sadist volumes of Archie I have ever read. The end of this volume is life changing for one of the characters! I had no idea they would go that far.
BRAVO writers!
BRAVO writers!
October 16, 2017
First of all, we don't get a ton of Betty, and then you pull this, Waid. Not okay.
February 2, 2018
The book itself was a little disjointed but the story was good and didn't hold back.
September 8, 2017
[read as single issues]
Hot damn Mark Waid. Just when you think you know where the Archie comics are sitting in terms of drama and suspense, this story comes along and shakes everything up. When a drag race (not the RuPaul kind) goes terribly wrong, one member of Riverdale is irrevocably changed, and the effects reverberate around the town as one of their own falls.
Knowing that something bad is going to happen actually really heightens the tension in these issues - you know it's coming, but not the shape or form of what it is, and the ultimate reveal is a gut-punch and a half. The issue after the race itself but before the reveal is some of the cleverest comics I've read for a long time as Waid checks in with different characters and how their lives are suddenly not important at all compared to what's happened to their friend.
Pete Woods tackles everything Waid throws at him and then some in this volume - the emotions are always pitch perfect. This is how you do drama. Other comics, take note.
Hot damn Mark Waid. Just when you think you know where the Archie comics are sitting in terms of drama and suspense, this story comes along and shakes everything up. When a drag race (not the RuPaul kind) goes terribly wrong, one member of Riverdale is irrevocably changed, and the effects reverberate around the town as one of their own falls.
Knowing that something bad is going to happen actually really heightens the tension in these issues - you know it's coming, but not the shape or form of what it is, and the ultimate reveal is a gut-punch and a half. The issue after the race itself but before the reveal is some of the cleverest comics I've read for a long time as Waid checks in with different characters and how their lives are suddenly not important at all compared to what's happened to their friend.
Pete Woods tackles everything Waid throws at him and then some in this volume - the emotions are always pitch perfect. This is how you do drama. Other comics, take note.
February 13, 2018
This might be my favorite volume since the first. Each issue in this volume was such a perfect balance between plots, giving each character a moment to shine and be at their best. It all built to a really great and suspenseful climax, and I'm not going to lie: I might have become a little emotional and teary toward the end. I'm really anxious to see the results of the final twist, so the next volume better arrive soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2018
Wow, this ends on a devastating cliffhanger. I must get the next one asap!!
April 2, 2019
If I hadn't have the next volume at this moment I would've been so angry. The end was very unexpected. How dare they do that?
February 7, 2019
Klasický Archie, je to vtipný, postavy jsou pořád fajn a tak nějak se rozvádějí vztahy. Dost mě to bavilo a závěrečný cliffhanger mě nasral, protože nemám u sebe další volume, pfff.
September 11, 2017
In the afterword of the first volume of the Archie reboot, Waid noted that when he started writing the series, he hung a sign on his bulletin board that read, "First, do no harm." It served as a reminder to tackle the characters honestly, as members of the Archie universe, and to maintain the themes and feelings of the original series. He's accomplished this in the allegorical sense, but with Volume Four, he shows that he's not necessarily abiding by that rule in the literal sense.
This volume packs an emotional punch, as the Betty/Veronica question continues to be a central part of the title, and also because Betty winds up in a serious accident by the end, serious enough that she flatlines before coming out to learn she can't feel her legs. I'm a little torn by the reveal, because I can't deny that it's effective, but I also wonder if this is just a narrative ploy to drive Archie back to Betty. If that's the case, then it makes Betty's character pretty worthless, doesn't it?
The accident is the result of a drag race between Archie and Reggie, and comes in mostly out of nowhere. Betty catches wind of it, and attempts to prevent it, but it forces her off the road, where she is seriously injured. Somehow, the two male characters come out of it with hardly a scratch, and it's hard to tell how they react to the news, since the volume ends on a cliffhanger. Waid suggests this will be a big thing for Archie (and for Reggie, though for different reasons), and it all sits uncomfortably with me. Betty has been strong and independent, and unless this turn of events is there to make Betty stronger, it all feels like a girl-in-the-refrigerator moment. I'm withholding final judgment until I see where this part of the story goes, because it can go either way from here.
As for the other stories, we see less of Cheryl Blossom (though her story takes an unexpected turn), and there's a cute interplay between Jughead and Veronica that's endearing, but the story is overwhelmed by the Betty arc. This isn't necessarily bad, but it was nice to see some other characters get some time in the spotlight. Moose even gets some panel time!
Unfortunately, so does Reggie. Reggie was never a likable character, so it's no surprise that he's nobody's friend in the reboot, but Waid seems to be trying for Riverdale's own version of Henry Bowers, instead of an obnoxious prankster. There's an air of finality around his pranks that didn't exist in the old series, and it feels like it goes too far in the revamp.
Despite my concerns, I still think this is a solid volume, with some effective storytelling. It relies a bit too much on coincidence and might be pushing characters into making decisions that don't support their characters, but it's definitely memorable. I'm eager to see how Waid will wrap up this storyline in Volume Five.
This volume packs an emotional punch, as the Betty/Veronica question continues to be a central part of the title, and also because Betty winds up in a serious accident by the end, serious enough that she flatlines before coming out to learn she can't feel her legs. I'm a little torn by the reveal, because I can't deny that it's effective, but I also wonder if this is just a narrative ploy to drive Archie back to Betty. If that's the case, then it makes Betty's character pretty worthless, doesn't it?
The accident is the result of a drag race between Archie and Reggie, and comes in mostly out of nowhere. Betty catches wind of it, and attempts to prevent it, but it forces her off the road, where she is seriously injured. Somehow, the two male characters come out of it with hardly a scratch, and it's hard to tell how they react to the news, since the volume ends on a cliffhanger. Waid suggests this will be a big thing for Archie (and for Reggie, though for different reasons), and it all sits uncomfortably with me. Betty has been strong and independent, and unless this turn of events is there to make Betty stronger, it all feels like a girl-in-the-refrigerator moment. I'm withholding final judgment until I see where this part of the story goes, because it can go either way from here.
As for the other stories, we see less of Cheryl Blossom (though her story takes an unexpected turn), and there's a cute interplay between Jughead and Veronica that's endearing, but the story is overwhelmed by the Betty arc. This isn't necessarily bad, but it was nice to see some other characters get some time in the spotlight. Moose even gets some panel time!
Unfortunately, so does Reggie. Reggie was never a likable character, so it's no surprise that he's nobody's friend in the reboot, but Waid seems to be trying for Riverdale's own version of Henry Bowers, instead of an obnoxious prankster. There's an air of finality around his pranks that didn't exist in the old series, and it feels like it goes too far in the revamp.
Despite my concerns, I still think this is a solid volume, with some effective storytelling. It relies a bit too much on coincidence and might be pushing characters into making decisions that don't support their characters, but it's definitely memorable. I'm eager to see how Waid will wrap up this storyline in Volume Five.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2017
Wow! I am absolutely loving the writing in this new Archie relaunch series and this has been the best volume yet! Without revealing any spoilers, this has one of the most heart wrenching storylines that I've ever seen in an Archie comic. The writers did such a wonderfully fantastic job of building the suspense for "Over the Edge" which will undoubtedly continue to play out for many future issues. I literally could not stop reading page after page to find out what happened next. Then of course the volume ended on an even bigger cliffhanger, leaving you wanting more. Suspense, Drama, Heartache, Comedy this volume has it all. And the artwork is so beautifully done along with further character development. I must say I never used to care for Jughead Jones in the classic comics, but the way Jughead is portrayed in this series - he is definitely my favorite character right now.
November 16, 2018
3.5/ 5 stars.
I’m just not a fan of this artist’s style of art in this volume. I wish they would keep one illustrator throughout this series and I think that would make me enjoy it much more. Also, the ending of this volume was really sad and I need to pick up the next volume as soon as possible to find out what happens next.
I’m just not a fan of this artist’s style of art in this volume. I wish they would keep one illustrator throughout this series and I think that would make me enjoy it much more. Also, the ending of this volume was really sad and I need to pick up the next volume as soon as possible to find out what happens next.
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