Comics Bulletin logo
Search
  • Columns
    Random
    • Fireside Chat: An Interview with Justin De Witt of Fireside Games PART ONE

      Penny Kenny
      October 2, 2009
      Columns, The Park and Barb Show
    Recent
    • Revisiting the Witchblade/Fathom/Tomb Raider Crossover

      Daniel Gehen
      February 8, 2021
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 2

      Daniel Gehen
      December 4, 2020
    • The Full Run: Usagi Yojimbo – The Wanderer’s Road Part 1

      Daniel Gehen
      October 30, 2020
    • What Looks Good
    • Comics Bulletin Soapbox
    • The Full Run
    • Leading Question
    • Top 10
    • The Long-Form
    • Jumping On
    • Comics in Color
    • Slouches Towards Comics
  • Big Two
    Random
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Penny Kenny
      March 4, 2020
      Interviews, Marvel Comics
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

      Daniel Gehen
      January 22, 2021
    • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

      Daniel Gehen
      December 3, 2020
    • DC Comics
    • Big Two Reviews
    • Marvel Comics
  • Indie
    Random
    • 'Archangel' Presents William Gibson's Lost Movie in Thrilling Comic Form

      Penny Kenny
      September 11, 2017
      IDW, Indie, Reviews
    Recent
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • Reviews
    • Archie Comics
    • Boom! Studios
    • Dark Horse
    • IDW
    • Image
    • Oni Press
    • Valiant
  • Reviews
    Random
    • 5.0

      Five Star Review: 'Love and Rockets: New Stories' #6 is elegant, subtle and outstanding

      Penny Kenny
      October 30, 2013
      Reviews
    Recent
    • 3.0

      Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

      Daniel Gehen
      February 22, 2021
    • 4.5

      Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • 2.3

      Review: SAVAGE #1 Needs Taming

      Daniel Gehen
      February 16, 2021
    • Singles Going Steady
    • Slugfest
    • Manga
      • Reviews
    • Small Press
      • Reviews
      • ICYMI
      • Tiny Pages Made of Ashes
  • Interviews
    Random
    • Interview: 'Doberman' is a Snarling Dog

      Penny Kenny
      October 15, 2014
      Interviews
    Recent
    • Interview: Jon Davis-Hunt Talks SHADOWMAN

      Daniel Gehen
      June 8, 2020
    • Interview: Becky Cloonan talks DARK AGNES and Her Personal Influences

      Mike Nickells
      March 4, 2020
    • Simon Roy

      Interview: Simon Roy on His Inspirations and Collaborations on PROTECTOR

      Mike Nickells
      January 29, 2020
    • Audio Interview
    • Video Interview
  • Classic Comics
    Random
    • Frank Miller's Ronin Pt. 2: Try To Have an Open Mind

      Penny Kenny
      July 15, 2016
      Classic Comics, Classic Comics Cavalcade
    Recent
    • Countdown to the King: Marvel’s Godzilla

      Daniel Gehen
      May 29, 2019
    • Honoring A Legend: Fantagraphics To Resurrect Tomi Ungerer Classics

      Daniel Gehen
      February 15, 2019
    • Reliving the Craziest Decade in Comics History: An interview with Jason Sacks

      Mark Stack
      January 2, 2019
    • Classic Comics Cavalcade
    • Classic Interviews
  • News
    Random
    • Kickstarter Spotlight: Our War, the Truth Untold

      Penny Kenny
      April 8, 2015
      Kickstarter Spotlight, News
    Recent
    • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 19, 2021
    • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN’S UNIVERSE

      Daniel Gehen
      February 18, 2021
    • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY

      Daniel Gehen
      February 17, 2021
    • Press Release
    • Kickstarter Spotlight
  • Books
    Random
    • Review: 'Mangasia' is a Fascinating Journey Through Asian Comic Art

      Penny Kenny
      November 27, 2017
      Books, Reviews
    Recent
    • Collecting Profile: Disney Frozen

      CB Staff
      November 22, 2019
    • Collecting Profile: NFL Superpro

      CB Staff
      August 31, 2019
    • “THE BEST OF WITZEND” is a Wonderful Celebration of Artistic Freedom

      Daniel Gehen
      September 15, 2018
    • Review: ‘Machete Squad’ is a Disappointing Afghan Memoir

      Jason Sacks
      July 31, 2018
    • Review: ‘Out of Nothing’ is the Antidote to Our Sick Times

      Jason Sacks
      July 23, 2018
    • Review: ‘Bizarre Romance’ Shows Rough Edges in the Early Days of a New Marriage

      Jason Sacks
      July 10, 2018
What's New
  • Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia
  • Collecting Profile: Kraven the Hunter
  • Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good
  • TIME BEFORE TIME—A HIGH STAKES TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION SERIES SET TO LAUNCH THIS MAY
  • Image Comics and TMP Announces SPAWN'S UNIVERSE
  • SAVAGE DRAGON IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH THIS MAY
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Contact Us
  • Write for us!
  • Visit Video Game Break!
Home
Reviews

Life with Archie #13

Penny Kenny
October 1, 2011
Reviews

When the Life with Archie series began, I made the assumption it would be following Michael Uslan’s miniseries from Archie #600-605. That writer Paul Kupperberg would be giving readers a more detailed examination of the two realities. So even though Archie and Veronica were separating, I could look forward to their getting back together and having twins some day.

There were some differences right out of the gate, but I decided not to be one of those fans who let minor continuity issues ruin a good story — even though I am that kind of fan. With this issue, however, Kupperberg blows my assumption out of the water. He establishes the mini-series as a dream. A dream that inspired scientist Dilton Doiley to work on a project that crosses alternate universes.

So the miniseries happened, but not really, so Kupperberg can ignore the events he wants to. You know what this means? Life with Archie is like Spider-Man’s “One More Day,” only without Mephisto and handled in a way more palatable to readers.

Kupperberg knows how to write a dramatic story. He juggles dozens of plots between the two universes and keeps deepening the mystery of what’s going on with Dilton, Mr. Lodge, and the slimy Fred Mirth. Where he really shines though, is in the quiet human moments. Jughead and Archie discuss Archie’s failing marriage and Veronica’s character.

Reggie looks for an angle even as he and Betty celebrate their burgeoning careers. Ethel and Jughead share a moment of reflection and ice cream. Mr. Weatherbee encourages Moose after the fire that destroyed the school. Chuck lets his jealousy over Nancy’s success get the better of him. And in the scene of the issue, Betty tries to comfort Mrs. Lodge after the crash of Veronica’s plane.

These are moments that fill in plot details and move the story forward, yet they feel natural, not like forced exposition.

Fernando Ruiz, who handles the “Archie Marries Veronica” chapter, gives the characters a more caricatured look than Norm Breyfogle did, which makes them look younger than they have been.

Ruiz art

vs.

Breyfogle art

Also, I’m not sure if it’s Al Milgrom’s inks or the way the panel’s laid out, but sometimes the characters have a very flat look to them.

Pat and Tim Kennedy share the penciling duties in “Archie Marries Betty.” I don’t know who did what, but I know that Mrs. Lodge looks absolutely stunning in her first appearance:

Then there’s a panel of Betty going out a door that’s striking:

The characters lean toward a more realistic appearance here and the bodies are drawn in very naturalistic poses. They lean and slump. Bob Smith’s inks have weight without overpowering the figures. That’s not to say everything is perfect. There are a few heads that don’t seem to be attached correctly to necks, faces change shapes between panels, and characters change size.

Jack Morelli and Janice Chiang do their usual fantastic lettering job in the respective stories, while Glenn Whitmore’s colors heighten emotional moments and give depth to the scenes.

It’s format may have changed from its original magazine/comic inception to comic, but entering its second year Life with Archie remains a fascinating read.


For the past thirteen years, Penny Kenny has been an elementary library paraprofessional in a rural school district. For the seven years prior to that, she headed a reading-math program designed to help first grade students with learning difficulties. Her book reviews regularly appeared in Starlog from 1993 to the magazine’s unfortunate demise in 2009 and she has published several e-novellas under a pen name. She has been a reviewer with Comics Bulletin since 2007.

ArchieFernando RuizPat KennedyPaul KupperbergPenny KennyTim Kennedy

Share On:
Tweet
Tony Lee: Watching Everything
Boardwalk Empire 2.01 "21" Review

About The Author

Penny Kenny
Penny Kenny

For the past thirteen years, Penny Kenny has been an elementary library paraprofessional in a rural school district. For the seven years prior to that, she headed a reading-math program designed to help first grade students with learning difficulties. Her book reviews regularly appeared in Starlog from 1993 to the magazine’s unfortunate demise in 2009 and she has published several e-novellas under a pen name. She has been a reviewer with Comics Bulletin since 2007.

Related Posts

  • What Looks Good For the Week of December 4, 2019

    Daniel Gehen
    December 2, 2019
  • 4.5

    Review: Sabrina The Teenage Witch #3 Is A Spell Of An Issue

    Jason Jeffords Jr.
    June 19, 2019

Latest Reviews

  • 3.0

    Review: X-MEN LEGENDS #1 Delivers A Dose of Nostalgia

    Daniel Gehen
    February 22, 2021
  • 4.5

    Review: THE LAST RONIN #2 Hurts So Good

    Daniel Gehen
    February 19, 2021
  • 2.3

    Review: SAVAGE #1 Needs Taming

    Daniel Gehen
    February 16, 2021
  • 4.3

    Review: RADIANT BLACK #1 Shines Brightly

    Daniel Gehen
    February 12, 2021
  • 2.7

    Review: DEEP BEYOND #1 Can’t Commit to a Premise

    Daniel Gehen
    February 4, 2021
  • 2.0

    VINDICATION Falls Short of its Lofty Goals (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    February 1, 2021
  • 4.5

    DCeased: Dead Planet #7 Presents a Hopeful Future (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    January 22, 2021
  • Review: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist

    Daniel Gehen
    December 14, 2020
  • Retro Review: Detective Comics #826 Remains a Holiday Classic

    Daniel Gehen
    December 3, 2020
  • 4.5

    TMNT: The Last Ronin #1 Lives Up to the Hype (Review)

    Daniel Gehen
    October 29, 2020
RSSTwitterFacebookgoogleplusinstagramtumblr

Comics Bulletin is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, Comics Bulletin earns from qualifying purchases.

All content on this site (c) 2018 The Respective Copyright Holders