I love the way this series is going. In this volume, we continued the story of what happens to Betty after the drag race turned bad. But there are hints of the subplots from earlier volumes, and I can tell from the Prologue teased at the end of this volume that we're going to pick up where we left off before the drag race and get back into some drama. Not that what happened to Betty wasn't dramatic, but the town comes together to help her, and even though there are conflicts, like annoying Mr. Cooper keeping Archie and Betty apart, and the double love triangle, for the most part, this is a "feel-good" volume. So, I'm looking forward to Volume Six and getting back into the Blossoms' story and Reggie being the villain again (on purpose) and, hopefully, something happening with Archie and Betty or Veronica.
I love the little "bones" Waid throws to the watchers of Riverdale, like the scene between Betty and Jughead, which was actually very sweet and brought tears to my eyes. I almost forget that Waid doesn't write Riverdale too, but I like the way that he and Roberto Aguire-Sacasa play off each other.
Of course, I recommend this volume, just like all the others. The artwork isn't bad. One of the artists draws more like the original comics than the others do, and the scenes with Mr. Lodge made me smile because he looks like the Hiram Lodge I grew up seeing. Nobody will ever top Fiona Staples for me, but Mok does a great job of modernizing the comics but of staying true to the nostalgic characters as well.
I can't wait to read Volume Six!!