Archie Freshman Year Book 1

by Batton Lash, Bill Galvan (Illustrator)

Archie and his friends have forever been stuck in the latter portion of high school, but now, after many long years, the story of how "the gang" all met up is finally being told in this, the first edition of The High School Chronicles! This pioneering storyline, captured in issues #587-591 of Archie and now again in this graphic novel reprint, brings us the beginning of the "eternal love triangle," the introduction of Mr. Weatherbee as principal of Riverdale High, the formation of Moose and Midge's relationship (and Reggie's subsequent schemes to split them up), and other Archie staples! So get your Homecoming dress, pack your brand-new backpack, and pick up your school map to find your way to the biggest Archie story of the year!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

120 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2009

About the author

Batton Lash was a comic-book and comic-strip writer-artist.

Reviews

[Karolinde (Kari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read the Archie comics at all, you have to let go of the continuity issue almost immediately. (Just the changing looks of the majority of the parents is enough to drive you looney if you get to hung up on it.) This series is no exception to that rule. Even though the series over the years has detailed many aspects of the gangs' lives, this story goes back to their freshman year and "retells" it. There are totally new characters and stories and several old characters who grew up together meet for the first time (See my above note on continuity).

While the story is fun and there's a great minor plot involving someone spying on Mr. Weatherbee, what I enjoyed most about this series was that it was originally published at the beginning of my daughter's freshman year of high school.

[Kritikal Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Weatherbee is the principal, and i cannot stop laughing. Archie is clumsy, notorious and his usual dumb self.
Reading this has been pure riot of fun. Now on to the second part.

[Shai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is 5-part issue about Archie and his friends in their early days as freshman in Riverdale High. In this first issue, Archie, Betty, Veronica and Reggie has to say goodbye to Jughead and his family because they will be moving to Montana. But Jughead left his tacky little cap/crown in Archie's house so looks like it is a reminder that he will be back to Riverdale.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the Archie comics since they are almost always light, funny, and relatively innocent by today's standards of reality. This volume concerns Archie and the group's first year in high school. The story starts with Jughead and his family moving away. Archie picks up a new friend, but he's not that great a replacement for Jughead.


The Superintendent doesn't really care much for Mr. Weatherbee as the principal of the high school and puts his own spy into the school which causes Weatherbee to freak out. (People familiar with the Shadow stories should be able to guess who the spy is early on.)


Some of the Archie/Mr. Lodge problems are shown, as is Archie's tendency to daydream in class. One of the good things is that black students are seen and one of them is a very good and important character.


Good, clean fun.

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughts/Quotes:

- "...People used to complain that nothing ever changes in Riverdale..."

-Jughead's mom and Betty's mom: I don't remember what they actually look like, but that's not it.

-Mr. Weatherbee with hair... Can you dig it?

-Moose, Midge, Nancy, Chuck, Ethel, Dilton. Fogarty (Fangs?) mentioned.

-Since when is Midge an artist?

-Veronica appears to have joined drama club just so she could hang out at Pop's... Sketch.

-Lots of classic Archie jokes/hijinks. Shirtless Moose. Good stuff.

-In Archie universe: Doctor Who = Doctor What, Lost = Loss

-Riverdale has a motorcycle gang apparently.

[Sheela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute graphic novel that brought back a lot of good memories. I used to read Archie all the time, so it was nice to re-live those childhood moments. Even today, the stories appeal to any age. Of course, the comics are predictable and choppy, but you read them for the fun relationships and quirky humor.

[Greg Allan Holcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre-ordered this. I read 'em as regular comics.

From the guy that brought you Archie meets The Punisher. ALso from the guy that wrote the third funniest thing I ever read. His Wolff and Byrd satire of Hamlet was incredible.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Archie story since the late 1950's.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all five issues on my ipod. Digital Archie is pretty awesome.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Archie fare with all our favorite characters.