A Milestone Event!
G-Man reviewed Archie 600. I saw a review online by Robert Greenberger.
The first comic that I got was Spider-Man #147 in a three-pack with The Incredible Hulk and something else at the grocery store. But, I was introduced to comics by Archie. Both my older brothers had braces in high school. While they were in with the orthodontist, I sat out in the waiting room reading the Archie comics. It was either that, or Highlights or National Geographic. I grew up with the Archie cartoon. Hal Sutherland did a lot of animation before the Timm - Dini era.
I read that screenwriter Michael Uslan was going to be writing the milestone Archie 600; and that, to mark the event, Archie was going to join Superman, Spider-Man and Popeye in that traditional milestone event The Wedding. Archie is going to marry - Veronica! Probably one of the oldest debates ever - right up there along with Mary Ann or Ginger; Gwen or MJ - who's really got Archie's heart. Really, how cool is it to be Archie that women fight over him?!
It's been a long time since I visited the Riverdale gang, so I thought I would stop by.
The interior art by penciller Stan Goldberg and inker Bob Smith is much different than what the cover might suggest. Gotta go with G-Man on that. Almost jarring in how different it is. The characters are almost unrecognizable in places. G-Man compared page 13, which is the same, exact image as the cover, the two look as different as night and day.
The story opens with The Archies performing their final gig together at Riverdale High. Sound man Denton quips, "Everything's Archie". When Reggie says "We can't break up the act! We all gotta hang here after graduation!" Jughead responds with, "Oh, Auntie Em...there's no place like home!" So, this is how it's going to be, huh? Cliches and homages? Fan fiction, like everywhere else these days? Archie goes home, where he is greeted by his parents, reality and college selections. Slacker that he truly is, Archie skates, and finds himself at Memory Lane. G-Man noted that he walks up Memory Lane. I think it is very interesting that he comes to a fork in the road, and in a subtle homage to Frost's poem The Road Less Traveled perhaps, he takes the left and saves the right for another day. Maybe another day we might see a different story?
This issue is a whirlwind as Mr. Greenberger noted. Everything happens at an accelerated pace, which is a shame. But, maybe that's the point to move the story along to get Archie to propose to Veronica. That, and the fact that A) this is a comic book story and isn't real life where things happen differently; and, B) This is an Archie comic book and isn't real life where things happen differently. After years of despising Archie, Mr. Lodge not only embraces him, but gives him a job! Maybe this is the future in an alternate reality...?
Betty is devastated when she and Jughead see Archie propose to Veronica. She disappears at the end of the issue. It's hard for me to see Archie, the typical Everyman with Veronica. If Gwen had not died, she and Peter would have ended up together, and the whole Peter and MJ question would have never come up. What's the joke about Archie being devoted to Veronica and fulfilling her every whim? The punchline is that he'll do anything? Big surprise there.Of course, what surprises are really left after 60 years? Any surprises for Archie and Betty?
Maybe the personality test is Betty or Veronica; Mary Ann or Ginger; Gwen or MJ. I just see Archie and Betty together. Like Ross and Rachel; Chandler and Monica; Ralph and Sue; Carter and Shiera/Katar and Shayera; Barry and Iris; Reed and Sue (Not Ralph's Sue; his own Sue).
Archie 600 fits right along with Batman: Brave and the Bold (both the 'toon and the Johnny DC Book), Spectacular Spider-Man, G-Man (the comic book not the 'vine guru) and Tiny Titans. Serious, dark comics are easy. Light, fun comics are hard. Comics should be fun. If I want psychotic, I'll just put in a little over time at work. There's plenty of that there!
