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Afterlife With Archie #1-5
Archie: Mundo dos Mortos, Volume 1
DO MESMO CRIADOR DA SÉRIE DE TV “RIVERDALE”!
É assim que o fim do mundo começa...
Um fatídico acidente é o estopim de uma série de eventos aterrorizantes que trarão o próprio inferno a Riverdale! Quando hordas de zumbis começam a atacar, desejando carne humana, Archie, Betty, Veronica e toda a turma terão que lutar por suas vidas contra os horripilantes mortos vivos, que são liderados por ninguém menos que Jughead...
O premiado autor Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa e o artista ganhador do prêmio Eisner Francesco Francavilla trazem o apocalipse para o mundo de Archie em um conto dramático, sangrento e desolador.
“Esqueça ‘The Walking Dead’, o mundo dos quadrinhos tem um novo rei dos zumbis...” – Den of Geek.
É assim que o fim do mundo começa...
Um fatídico acidente é o estopim de uma série de eventos aterrorizantes que trarão o próprio inferno a Riverdale! Quando hordas de zumbis começam a atacar, desejando carne humana, Archie, Betty, Veronica e toda a turma terão que lutar por suas vidas contra os horripilantes mortos vivos, que são liderados por ninguém menos que Jughead...
O premiado autor Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa e o artista ganhador do prêmio Eisner Francesco Francavilla trazem o apocalipse para o mundo de Archie em um conto dramático, sangrento e desolador.
“Esqueça ‘The Walking Dead’, o mundo dos quadrinhos tem um novo rei dos zumbis...” – Den of Geek.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
119 people are currently reading
4396 people want to read
About the author
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
460 books476 followersRoberto Aguirre-Sacasa is an American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel Comics and for the television series Glee, Big Love, Riverdale, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He is Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics.
Aguirre-Sacasa grew up liking comic books, recalling in 2003, "My mom would take us out to the 7-Eleven on River Road during the summer, and we would get Slurpees and buy comics off the spinning rack. I would read them all over and over again, and draw my own pictures and stuff."
He began writing for Marvel Comics, he explained, when "Marvel hired an editor to find new writers, and they hired her from a theatrical agency. So she started calling theaters and asking if they knew any playwrights who might be good for comic books. A couple of different theaters said she should look at me. So she called me, I sent her a couple of my plays and she said 'Great, would you like to pitch on a couple of comic books in the works?'"
His first submissions were "not what [they were] interested in for the character[s]" but eventually he was assigned an 11-page Fantastic Four story, "The True Meaning of...," for the Marvel Holiday Special 2004. He went on to write Fantastic Four stories in Marvel Knights 4, a spinoff of that superhero team's long-running title; and stories for Nightcrawler vol. 3; The Sensational Spider-Man vol. 2; and Dead of Night featuring Man-Thing.
In May 2008 Aguirre-Sacasa returned to the Fantastic Four with a miniseries tie-in to the company-wide "Secret Invasion" storyline concerning a years-long infiltration of Earth by the shape-shifting alien race, the Skrulls,and an Angel Revelations miniseries with artists Barry Kitson and Adam Polina, respectively. He adapted for comics the Stephen King novel The Stand.
In 2013, he created Afterlife with Archie, depicting Archie Andrews in the midst of a zombie apocalypse; the book's success led to Aguirre-Sacasa being named Archie Comics' chief creative officer.
Aguirre-Sacasa grew up liking comic books, recalling in 2003, "My mom would take us out to the 7-Eleven on River Road during the summer, and we would get Slurpees and buy comics off the spinning rack. I would read them all over and over again, and draw my own pictures and stuff."
He began writing for Marvel Comics, he explained, when "Marvel hired an editor to find new writers, and they hired her from a theatrical agency. So she started calling theaters and asking if they knew any playwrights who might be good for comic books. A couple of different theaters said she should look at me. So she called me, I sent her a couple of my plays and she said 'Great, would you like to pitch on a couple of comic books in the works?'"
His first submissions were "not what [they were] interested in for the character[s]" but eventually he was assigned an 11-page Fantastic Four story, "The True Meaning of...," for the Marvel Holiday Special 2004. He went on to write Fantastic Four stories in Marvel Knights 4, a spinoff of that superhero team's long-running title; and stories for Nightcrawler vol. 3; The Sensational Spider-Man vol. 2; and Dead of Night featuring Man-Thing.
In May 2008 Aguirre-Sacasa returned to the Fantastic Four with a miniseries tie-in to the company-wide "Secret Invasion" storyline concerning a years-long infiltration of Earth by the shape-shifting alien race, the Skrulls,and an Angel Revelations miniseries with artists Barry Kitson and Adam Polina, respectively. He adapted for comics the Stephen King novel The Stand.
In 2013, he created Afterlife with Archie, depicting Archie Andrews in the midst of a zombie apocalypse; the book's success led to Aguirre-Sacasa being named Archie Comics' chief creative officer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 809 reviews
May 31, 2024
I was honestly not interested in some sort of schlocky Zombies in Riverdale story. When I first heard of this one it just sounded like some corny cash grab that was trying to ride the coattails of The Walking Dead...and the other 10 bjillion zombie stories out there.
But surprisingly, Afterlife managed to make it worthwhile for me to read one more story about the living dead. The first thing they did right was to utilize Riverdale's paranormal neighbor, Sabrina, as the catalyst of the infestation.
Jughead's beloved pet Hot Dog gets hit by a car and dies. Overcome with grief, he turns to Sabrina and begs her to bring him back. Her aunts tell both of them no - some things are just not done.
But after thinking about how she would feel if it were her & Salem, Sabrina decides to sneak out of the house and help Jughead anyway. Of course, her aunts were right, and it does not end well. And this is how the zombie plague starts. <--very cool!
Sabrina ends up getting banished for her crime, so she isn't (as far as I know) aware of what happened...yet. I'm assuming we'll find out more of her story in volume 2.
Ok, and just so you don't think I'm spoiling the plot for you, all of the above happens in the first few pages!
The rest of the story is about the core group of Archie's friends and family realizing what happened, and then trying to survive.
Maybe even freakier than the horde of zombies, the Blossoms show up and make a cringy appearance as the perviest related residents in Riverdale.
There were several stand-out moments in Afterlife that really sucker punched me in the Feels. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read this yet, so don't click the spoiler tag if you haven't!
I swear to god, I'm tearing up right now.
Yes. Over an ARCHIE comic about ZOMBIES. <--I don't even... How did they pull that off?!
This was so much better than I thought it would be! Loved it!
But.
I have no idea if it would be that good for someone who wasn't an Archie fan. For me, part of the fun was that the Riverdale in my childhood memory was always this perfect place, and this comic takes that memory and tosses it into an apocalyptic/horror setting.
Now, I'm not sure if that will make everyone happy, but I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Recommended.
But surprisingly, Afterlife managed to make it worthwhile for me to read one more story about the living dead. The first thing they did right was to utilize Riverdale's paranormal neighbor, Sabrina, as the catalyst of the infestation.
Jughead's beloved pet Hot Dog gets hit by a car and dies. Overcome with grief, he turns to Sabrina and begs her to bring him back. Her aunts tell both of them no - some things are just not done.
But after thinking about how she would feel if it were her & Salem, Sabrina decides to sneak out of the house and help Jughead anyway. Of course, her aunts were right, and it does not end well. And this is how the zombie plague starts. <--very cool!
Sabrina ends up getting banished for her crime, so she isn't (as far as I know) aware of what happened...yet. I'm assuming we'll find out more of her story in volume 2.
Ok, and just so you don't think I'm spoiling the plot for you, all of the above happens in the first few pages!
The rest of the story is about the core group of Archie's friends and family realizing what happened, and then trying to survive.
Maybe even freakier than the horde of zombies, the Blossoms show up and make a cringy appearance as the perviest related residents in Riverdale.
There were several stand-out moments in Afterlife that really sucker punched me in the Feels. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read this yet, so don't click the spoiler tag if you haven't!
I swear to god, I'm tearing up right now.
Yes. Over an ARCHIE comic about ZOMBIES. <--I don't even... How did they pull that off?!
This was so much better than I thought it would be! Loved it!
But.
I have no idea if it would be that good for someone who wasn't an Archie fan. For me, part of the fun was that the Riverdale in my childhood memory was always this perfect place, and this comic takes that memory and tosses it into an apocalyptic/horror setting.
Now, I'm not sure if that will make everyone happy, but I enjoyed the hell out of it.
Recommended.
August 4, 2014
This is a zombie book with a definite explanation for the presence of zombies, and it's one that makes sense. Jughead's beloved dog, Hot Dog, gets hit by a car. Jughead isn't entirely stupid, and takes his dog to Sabrina (she's a teenage witch, you know) but it's too late. Hot Dog is dead. But not gone, not once Sabrina lets her sympathy for Jughead outweigh her common sense. So in best Pet Sematary tradition, Hot Dog comes back. And yes, sometimes dead is better.
So far, so good. And from there, it becomes exactly as anybody who has more than one zombie apocalypse under their belts would expect. No, there's nothing terribly innovative here, but there doesn't need to be. The execution is fantastic. There's good startles, atmosphere galore, plenty of violence, and even the sense of loss that separates the decent zombie stories from the really good ones.
I can't evaluate this as an Archie book, though, because I know next to nothing about Archie. I didn't even know that Jughead had a dog before I read this. I borrowed it from a friend who is an Archie fan who really loved it, and she answered some of my questions about who some of the minor characters were. Would I have been lost otherwise? Not at all. The characters were clear enough to me that I could at least understand who they were and why they were acting the way they were. I do think that if I had known all these things beforehand, I might have enjoyed this book even more. But I really liked it anyways, so no great loss there.
The art is really fantastic. It's not standard Archie style, which is a great thing. Zombies in standard Archie style would be unconvincing, and possibly grotesque in a way I don't really need to see in my zombies. The characters are recognizable, though, which is good. And it's more than just nice to look at. Moody, clear to read, fantastic on nearly every page. I think it's the art that really pulls the book together.
I never would have read this if my friend hadn't insisted. And that would have been a shame. Even just reading this as a zombie book, it's a good one. And I am interested in seeing where it goes. I doubt this will be my gateway drug into Archie comics, but who knows?
So far, so good. And from there, it becomes exactly as anybody who has more than one zombie apocalypse under their belts would expect. No, there's nothing terribly innovative here, but there doesn't need to be. The execution is fantastic. There's good startles, atmosphere galore, plenty of violence, and even the sense of loss that separates the decent zombie stories from the really good ones.
I can't evaluate this as an Archie book, though, because I know next to nothing about Archie. I didn't even know that Jughead had a dog before I read this. I borrowed it from a friend who is an Archie fan who really loved it, and she answered some of my questions about who some of the minor characters were. Would I have been lost otherwise? Not at all. The characters were clear enough to me that I could at least understand who they were and why they were acting the way they were. I do think that if I had known all these things beforehand, I might have enjoyed this book even more. But I really liked it anyways, so no great loss there.
The art is really fantastic. It's not standard Archie style, which is a great thing. Zombies in standard Archie style would be unconvincing, and possibly grotesque in a way I don't really need to see in my zombies. The characters are recognizable, though, which is good. And it's more than just nice to look at. Moody, clear to read, fantastic on nearly every page. I think it's the art that really pulls the book together.
I never would have read this if my friend hadn't insisted. And that would have been a shame. Even just reading this as a zombie book, it's a good one. And I am interested in seeing where it goes. I doubt this will be my gateway drug into Archie comics, but who knows?
August 27, 2016
I was a bit worried coming in that the Archie-versus-zombies premise might be nothing but a one-note joke with the usual postmodern tongue-in-cheek undertones, but it turned out to be lots of fun! I was surprised by the ambitious storytelling that neither Archie comics nor contemporary horror stories are known for, and impressed with Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's and Francesco Francavilla's ability to effortlessly juggle romance, horror, and comedy elements. Turns out a bloody little zombie apocalypse was exactly what Archie's sheltered and squeaky-clean suburban world needed!
March 5, 2020
When Hotdog is hit by a car, Jughead goes to Sabrina for help. Unfortunately, things go pear-shaped and Sabrina unleashes a zombie plague on Riverdale...
The Archie horror line has been on my radar for awhile. The Archie store was having a big sale so I finally took the plunge.
Much like Gwenpool, Afterlife with Archie was born out of a variant cover. Roberto Aguirre Sacasa crafted a tale based on Francesco Francavilla's single cover image and it was off to the races.
The story is pretty much your standard zombie outbreak tale, woven around Archie's usual suspects. RAS combines the two like chocolate and peanut butter, making me feel like this should have been done decades ago.
Officially, the Dan DeCarlo Archie house style is my favorite for the Archie characters but this is one gorgeous book. I've been a fan of Francovilla since his Black Beetle series and his Batman issues but this is on a whole other level. The black and red color palette does a lot to enhance the mood. Hell, after this and Sabrina, I'd say the Archie folks really know how to color a book. My only gripe is that this is the first five issues of Afterlife with Archie and the second trade isn't out yet.
Afterlife with Archie is one hell of a good read. Four out of five flesh eating Jugheads.
The Archie horror line has been on my radar for awhile. The Archie store was having a big sale so I finally took the plunge.
Much like Gwenpool, Afterlife with Archie was born out of a variant cover. Roberto Aguirre Sacasa crafted a tale based on Francesco Francavilla's single cover image and it was off to the races.
The story is pretty much your standard zombie outbreak tale, woven around Archie's usual suspects. RAS combines the two like chocolate and peanut butter, making me feel like this should have been done decades ago.
Officially, the Dan DeCarlo Archie house style is my favorite for the Archie characters but this is one gorgeous book. I've been a fan of Francovilla since his Black Beetle series and his Batman issues but this is on a whole other level. The black and red color palette does a lot to enhance the mood. Hell, after this and Sabrina, I'd say the Archie folks really know how to color a book. My only gripe is that this is the first five issues of Afterlife with Archie and the second trade isn't out yet.
Afterlife with Archie is one hell of a good read. Four out of five flesh eating Jugheads.
June 4, 2024
The Archie comic that started a whole new genre at Archie comics. We wound up with just about every horror variant of Archie possible after the success of Afterlife with Archie and it's well warranted. This is great. We start off with a little variation of Pet Cemetery. Turns out Hot Dog started the whole outbreak. I'd forgotten how much more adult this was than the regular title. These kids are off having sex, brutally putting the undead out of their (or maybe our) misery. It's all just terrifically gruesome stuff. And Francavilla's art is made for books like this.
January 14, 2025
Despite knowing of the Afterlife with Archie comic book issues initiating in 2013, I had not found the actual books until recently, and decided to read them for Halloween 2024, during my All Hallow's Month celebration of 20 horrors in October. I have written about Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa before in my blog TheMustacheandtheBeard.com, but not here on Good Reads.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is the son of Nicaraguan immigrants who grew up in Washington DC, graduating from Georgetown University, then Yale School of Drama. He started writing freelance for Marvel Comic Books in 2004 and wrote Afterlife with Archie in 2013 when he was promoted to Chief Creative Director at Archie.
What makes his feat so impressive is that he challenged the essential concept that Archie does not change. Archie is perpetually in High School with a specific set of friends, and they have experiences, but those experiences are only transformative for that specific moment. When he proposed having the Archie titles have a dark alternate reality, the company balked but then decided to give it a shot.
These first five issues of Afterlife with Archie are VERY dark. Some of the gang die and become zombies. And you know how you can tell the horror is going to be hardcore? That's right when you have children and/or animals involved in the horror. Trigger Warnings issued. Even so, I loved it, and I'm looking forward to reading the next five amazing issues.
This is my #2 of 20 horror novels for my All Hallows Month goal.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is the son of Nicaraguan immigrants who grew up in Washington DC, graduating from Georgetown University, then Yale School of Drama. He started writing freelance for Marvel Comic Books in 2004 and wrote Afterlife with Archie in 2013 when he was promoted to Chief Creative Director at Archie.
What makes his feat so impressive is that he challenged the essential concept that Archie does not change. Archie is perpetually in High School with a specific set of friends, and they have experiences, but those experiences are only transformative for that specific moment. When he proposed having the Archie titles have a dark alternate reality, the company balked but then decided to give it a shot.
These first five issues of Afterlife with Archie are VERY dark. Some of the gang die and become zombies. And you know how you can tell the horror is going to be hardcore? That's right when you have children and/or animals involved in the horror. Trigger Warnings issued. Even so, I loved it, and I'm looking forward to reading the next five amazing issues.
This is my #2 of 20 horror novels for my All Hallows Month goal.
July 20, 2019
Zombies in Riverdale. This is another genre story within the Archie universe that doesn't seem to really affect the main storyline going on. So it's fun and we get to see the characters in different situations.
I could see this being a dream that hot dog has, that's Jughead's dog, when he gets indigestion from eating hot dogs. Hot dog, in the story, gets run over by a car and Jughead is in despair. He has Sabrina, the witch bring his dog back to life, but the consequence is that it's a zombie dog and the dog can turn people into zombies as well. So now, this whole thing begins to spread through Riverdale when Jughead shows up at the school dance.
A small gang of kids survive the night and end up at Lodge manor for safety until a zombie mob shows up to overwhelm them. It was actually a very well done story and fun. I need to read the next issue now. It sure did take them long enough to tell the story. This story was published in 2014 and the next 5 issues took 4 more years to publish. That is pretty slow.
I like that Archie comics does these story that are out of the main storyline and very different. It is fun to mix things up and see the kids in a new situation where events are different, but have no lasting effects. Like Pop's burned down in this one, but it's not really gone, but in this story. I guess it's like different universe's or realities in the MCU or DC universe. Everyone has a universe now.
I could see this being a dream that hot dog has, that's Jughead's dog, when he gets indigestion from eating hot dogs. Hot dog, in the story, gets run over by a car and Jughead is in despair. He has Sabrina, the witch bring his dog back to life, but the consequence is that it's a zombie dog and the dog can turn people into zombies as well. So now, this whole thing begins to spread through Riverdale when Jughead shows up at the school dance.
A small gang of kids survive the night and end up at Lodge manor for safety until a zombie mob shows up to overwhelm them. It was actually a very well done story and fun. I need to read the next issue now. It sure did take them long enough to tell the story. This story was published in 2014 and the next 5 issues took 4 more years to publish. That is pretty slow.
I like that Archie comics does these story that are out of the main storyline and very different. It is fun to mix things up and see the kids in a new situation where events are different, but have no lasting effects. Like Pop's burned down in this one, but it's not really gone, but in this story. I guess it's like different universe's or realities in the MCU or DC universe. Everyone has a universe now.
October 16, 2014
When Jughead’s dog, Hot Dog, is struck by a car and dies, he turns to Sabrina Spellman for help. Being a witch and all, she can surely bring Hot Dog back from the dead and save ol’ Jughead a world of hurt. Unfortunately for Jughead, beings that have expired are not eligible for any of the regular Spellman family get-well-soon spells.
Despite being forbidden by her Aunts, Sabrina’s guilt heavily outweighs any potential punishment. Taking matters into her own hands, she grabs the nearest Necronomicon (like you do) and casts a spell to bring Hot Dog back to life. In doing so, Hot Dog rises from the grave - but not exactly alive.
I couldn’t tell you the last time I read an Archie book. Sure, I heard the odd news story about the series (which was usually followed by - “they’re still printing that?”), something about Archie finally picking between Veronica and Betty or that Riverdale has introduced its first gay character or hell, they just recently killed off the ol’ redhead himself while he was saving the life of said gay character!
The thing that stands out the most within Afterlife with Archie are the tremendous visuals provided by Francesco Francavilla. The pages are filled with plentiful shades of orange creating that vintage Halloween feel. Not only that - but to use a worn out and beaten cliche - this ain’t your daddy’s Archie comics. Gore litters each page and the excellent pacing provides a neverending sense of dread.
The writing ain’t half bad either. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is no slouch when it comes to laying it on thick. Not only did I feel sympathy for the citizens of Riverdale, Archie is hit with some heavy decision-making within split-second moments that will certainly influence the series going forward.
Volume Two is currently in the works and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Consider me an Archie fan!
Also posted @ Every Read Thing.
Despite being forbidden by her Aunts, Sabrina’s guilt heavily outweighs any potential punishment. Taking matters into her own hands, she grabs the nearest Necronomicon (like you do) and casts a spell to bring Hot Dog back to life. In doing so, Hot Dog rises from the grave - but not exactly alive.
I couldn’t tell you the last time I read an Archie book. Sure, I heard the odd news story about the series (which was usually followed by - “they’re still printing that?”), something about Archie finally picking between Veronica and Betty or that Riverdale has introduced its first gay character or hell, they just recently killed off the ol’ redhead himself while he was saving the life of said gay character!
The thing that stands out the most within Afterlife with Archie are the tremendous visuals provided by Francesco Francavilla. The pages are filled with plentiful shades of orange creating that vintage Halloween feel. Not only that - but to use a worn out and beaten cliche - this ain’t your daddy’s Archie comics. Gore litters each page and the excellent pacing provides a neverending sense of dread.
The writing ain’t half bad either. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is no slouch when it comes to laying it on thick. Not only did I feel sympathy for the citizens of Riverdale, Archie is hit with some heavy decision-making within split-second moments that will certainly influence the series going forward.
Volume Two is currently in the works and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Consider me an Archie fan!
Also posted @ Every Read Thing.
February 13, 2018
More of this, please. Just... keep it coming, Aguirre-Sacasa. Keep it coming...
October 25, 2014
Francesco Francavilla’s variant cover for Life with Archie #23 depicted zombified versions of Archie’s pals shuffling towards him and led the way to this spinoff series, Afterlife with Archie: Escape from Riverdale.
After a car accident involving Jughead’s pet, Hot Dog, and a spell from Sabrina the teenage witch goes awry, the zombie apocalypse comes to Riverdale on the night of the Halloween dance. Archie and his friends must battle loved ones who have turned and somehow escape from their beloved town - but who will survive?
I don’t really understand what’s so great about this book - it’s your standard zombie story that’s been done a thousand times already. Zombies slowly begin infecting more and more people, the uninfected go on the run, they hole up someplace safe until the zombies overwhelm them and they have to flee. Some live, some fall - that’s it. It’s even filled with stock scenes you see in every zombie story where people think a zombie is a costume until - shock! - it’s real.
I’ve never read an Archie comic before but I know a little bit about the series. It’s pure Americana, malt shops, dances, and Archie is some kid who’s always got to choose between two interchangeable girls called Betty and Veronica. And why is Archie the main character anyway - he’s so boring! His sweater with an “A” on it had more personality than he did!
Actually, all of the cast are boring so I don’t see the appeal of the series or how it’s lasted as long as it has. Unless the audience is made up entirely of hipsters who love to roll their eyes at Archie’s antics while styling their moustaches?
Maybe the book is better for established readers of that series, seeing the novelty horror factor introduced and seeing their beloved characters fighting for their lives? All I know is, I didn’t care about any of the characters and I really needed to given that the story is so generic.
It’s great that Archie’s become a leading progressive comic with a gay student character, and there are a couple of closeted lesbians in this book too, but what’s up with that ginger-haired brother/sister pair? Because incest is strongly hinted at which was really unexpected, though maybe this is just in the Afterlife book and not a part of the main series? Either way, very risque!
Francesco Francavilla’s art is wonderfully suited to the horror. There’s a good use of black and orange, perfect for the Halloween setting, and the zombies look unsettling and gory. He definitely makes the comic for me.
Perhaps if you know the characters already you’ll get more out of it, but for me Afterlife with Archie was just another zombie comic with screaming teens running about getting chomped. There’s nothing original or memorable about it and I was very bored for most of the book.
What’ll happen next to the bland cast as they set out into the zombie infested countryside? I don’t care to find out but someone let me know if Archie’s sweater gets with one of the girls.
After a car accident involving Jughead’s pet, Hot Dog, and a spell from Sabrina the teenage witch goes awry, the zombie apocalypse comes to Riverdale on the night of the Halloween dance. Archie and his friends must battle loved ones who have turned and somehow escape from their beloved town - but who will survive?
I don’t really understand what’s so great about this book - it’s your standard zombie story that’s been done a thousand times already. Zombies slowly begin infecting more and more people, the uninfected go on the run, they hole up someplace safe until the zombies overwhelm them and they have to flee. Some live, some fall - that’s it. It’s even filled with stock scenes you see in every zombie story where people think a zombie is a costume until - shock! - it’s real.
I’ve never read an Archie comic before but I know a little bit about the series. It’s pure Americana, malt shops, dances, and Archie is some kid who’s always got to choose between two interchangeable girls called Betty and Veronica. And why is Archie the main character anyway - he’s so boring! His sweater with an “A” on it had more personality than he did!
Actually, all of the cast are boring so I don’t see the appeal of the series or how it’s lasted as long as it has. Unless the audience is made up entirely of hipsters who love to roll their eyes at Archie’s antics while styling their moustaches?
Maybe the book is better for established readers of that series, seeing the novelty horror factor introduced and seeing their beloved characters fighting for their lives? All I know is, I didn’t care about any of the characters and I really needed to given that the story is so generic.
It’s great that Archie’s become a leading progressive comic with a gay student character, and there are a couple of closeted lesbians in this book too, but what’s up with that ginger-haired brother/sister pair? Because incest is strongly hinted at which was really unexpected, though maybe this is just in the Afterlife book and not a part of the main series? Either way, very risque!
Francesco Francavilla’s art is wonderfully suited to the horror. There’s a good use of black and orange, perfect for the Halloween setting, and the zombies look unsettling and gory. He definitely makes the comic for me.
Perhaps if you know the characters already you’ll get more out of it, but for me Afterlife with Archie was just another zombie comic with screaming teens running about getting chomped. There’s nothing original or memorable about it and I was very bored for most of the book.
What’ll happen next to the bland cast as they set out into the zombie infested countryside? I don’t care to find out but someone let me know if Archie’s sweater gets with one of the girls.
March 25, 2017
Well, it took me ages to read this.
3.5 stars.
The art in this book is gorgeous! Totally sets the mood with the colors, the blocking and even the font. I totally got an old school horror movie vibe from it.
I just wish it held my interest throughout the entire reading.
This book skips between a lot of different stories. Archie's here in name only for quite some time and I can't tell if that helped or hindered my enjoyment of this book. I liked the stories about the two cheerleaders that were sneaking around with each other and I liked when Betty and Veronica shared parts of themselves and weren't fighting over Archie. The part where Archie goes home was really, really good. The intro with Jughead was good enough but I didn't feel any real connection to his story.
The reason I've never been super inclined to read Archie stories outside of Zdarsky's run is that I hate reading about Betty and Veronica fighting each other over Archie. I mean at some point, you think the writers would realize how tired that plot is. Here, there's a fucking zombie apocalypse going on outside and they're arguing over which costume Archie liked the most. It's so stupid and juvenile.
I wish I cared for the butler that's inherited his position with the Lodge family but I don't. I wish I cared about Hiram Lodge and how he built his mansion but I don't. I wish I cared about the other high schoolers in this series, including the brother and sister (?) that saw the apocalypse as a sign it was a-okay to bone... you know what, I don't wish that actually.
There were more meh elements in this book than I expected and that's why I can't give it a higher rating. Even though it looks fantastic.
3.5 stars.
It's a recommend if you like zombie stories and the immaturity of the Archie stories doesn't bore you.
3.5 stars.
The art in this book is gorgeous! Totally sets the mood with the colors, the blocking and even the font. I totally got an old school horror movie vibe from it.
I just wish it held my interest throughout the entire reading.
This book skips between a lot of different stories. Archie's here in name only for quite some time and I can't tell if that helped or hindered my enjoyment of this book. I liked the stories about the two cheerleaders that were sneaking around with each other and I liked when Betty and Veronica shared parts of themselves and weren't fighting over Archie. The part where Archie goes home was really, really good. The intro with Jughead was good enough but I didn't feel any real connection to his story.
The reason I've never been super inclined to read Archie stories outside of Zdarsky's run is that I hate reading about Betty and Veronica fighting each other over Archie. I mean at some point, you think the writers would realize how tired that plot is. Here, there's a fucking zombie apocalypse going on outside and they're arguing over which costume Archie liked the most. It's so stupid and juvenile.
I wish I cared for the butler that's inherited his position with the Lodge family but I don't. I wish I cared about Hiram Lodge and how he built his mansion but I don't. I wish I cared about the other high schoolers in this series, including the brother and sister (?) that saw the apocalypse as a sign it was a-okay to bone... you know what, I don't wish that actually.
There were more meh elements in this book than I expected and that's why I can't give it a higher rating. Even though it looks fantastic.
3.5 stars.
It's a recommend if you like zombie stories and the immaturity of the Archie stories doesn't bore you.
May 30, 2020
4.5 Stars
Maybe it's strange to write this, but this Archie story is one of my favourite horror graphic novels. Given the franchise, volume is surprisingly dark and gruesome. I loved the artwork style with the deep purple and orange colours. It fit the tone of story so well. This graphic novel might sound campy, but it's actually very serious and well written with some emotional character moments. Set during a Halloween dance, this would make the perfect spooky October read..
Maybe it's strange to write this, but this Archie story is one of my favourite horror graphic novels. Given the franchise, volume is surprisingly dark and gruesome. I loved the artwork style with the deep purple and orange colours. It fit the tone of story so well. This graphic novel might sound campy, but it's actually very serious and well written with some emotional character moments. Set during a Halloween dance, this would make the perfect spooky October read..
March 15, 2016
The scariest, most atmospheric, traumatic, moving and tense book I read this Halloween season was an ARCHIE COMIC? Yes, yes it was.
I am utterly shocked. And thrilled. Way to hit it out of the park, Archie Andrews. From the very first page the art is commanding and powerful. Horrific, without crossing the line to overgore. The story is wrenching, and it's chock full of subtext and pathos.
I am seriously impressed.
Reread 2016: Still fun!
I am utterly shocked. And thrilled. Way to hit it out of the park, Archie Andrews. From the very first page the art is commanding and powerful. Horrific, without crossing the line to overgore. The story is wrenching, and it's chock full of subtext and pathos.
I am seriously impressed.
Reread 2016: Still fun!
October 27, 2018
Αρκετά spooky, αλλά δε μπορώ να πω ότι με ενθουσίασε. Πιστεύω πως αυτό που με κράτησε είναι ότι γνώριζα ήδη τους χαρακτήρες. Θα συνεχίσω με το Vol.2 γιατί είναι ευχάριστο γενικά και θέλω να δω ποιοι θα επιζήσουν από την παρέα😂
October 17, 2015
Right off the bat, this was better than that sickeningly sweet Kevin Keller I read last year. Here we have Betty and Veronica sniping away at each other over that Andrews boy. That's more like the Archie comics I remember!
Too bad the zombies have to show up and spoil all the fun . . .
Well, actually the zombies ARE the fun.
Good, riveting story + excellent artwork - lots of black mixed with bright yet monochrome colors that convey a sense of urgency = bad news for Riverdale, but fun times for the reader.
This is definitely NOT for purists who hate seeing their favorite characters messed with.
Too bad the zombies have to show up and spoil all the fun . . .
Well, actually the zombies ARE the fun.
Good, riveting story + excellent artwork - lots of black mixed with bright yet monochrome colors that convey a sense of urgency = bad news for Riverdale, but fun times for the reader.
This is definitely NOT for purists who hate seeing their favorite characters messed with.
November 27, 2017
Riverdale meets The Walking Dead. I loved this and really hope there’s a second volume on the way!
October 29, 2017
Introduction:
Alright, so I will admit that I have not read many Archie Comics where the gang is put into a darker situation that is different from the “wholesale family entertainment” adventures that they are usually in (and this was BEFORE the reboot came along, although the reboot was not as dark as this comic). So, since Halloween is around the corner, I just had to pick this graphic novel up called “Afterlife with Archie: Escape from Riverdale Volume One” which is written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa along with artwork by Francesco Francavilla, where Archie and the Gang end up in a for real zombie apocalypse!
What is this story about?
The story starts out with Hot Dog, Jughead’s beloved dog, being run over by a car and Jughead ends up going to Sabrina the Teenage Witch, to see if she can help his dog. Unfortunately, Sabrina’s aunts tell Jughead that there is nothing they can do for Hot Dog and that he should let Hot Dog stay dead. But then, Sabrina decided to help out Jughead anyway and she ends up resurrecting Hot Dog. Unfortunately, it turns out that when Sabrina brought Hot Dog back to life, Hot Dog became a zombie dog and he ended up biting Jughead, which turned Jughead into a zombie! So, when Jughead went to the school dance, he ended up affecting most of the school by biting most of the students, with the exception of the main cast, which consisted of Archie, Dilton, Midge, Moose, Reggie, Betty, Veronica and many others. The remaining students ended up going to Mr. Lodge’s mansion in order to protect themselves against the zombies, while also trying to see if there are any survivors from the zombie apocalypse.
What I loved about this story:
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s writing: Wow! I never would have thought that I would live to see the day where there would be a graphic novel series that has Archie and the gang getting involved in a zombie apocalypse! Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has done a fantastic job at giving the usual sweet natured Archie Comics a darker and scarier tone in this graphic novel and it never felt so out of place to me that the Archie gang in this story are portrayed in a much more mature and cynical way, since they are stuck in a zombie apocalypse and it is appropriate for this type of story. I also loved the way that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa created a different spin for each of the main characters, such as Betty and Veronica being more antagonistic with each other rather than be good friends with a small rivalry with each other, Sabrina and her family being more realistic and intense versions of witches and Nancy and Chuck…well, I will let you find out for yourselves what is going on with Nancy and Chuck in this comic! I really loved the fact that this comic is much more serious and frightening in tone since the gang are facing a zombie apocalypse and I found myself a bit creeped out by some of the moments in this comic, such as the zombified citizens of Riverdale attacking the main protagonists.
Francesco Francavilla’s artwork: Francesco Francavilla’s artwork fits the scary and serious tone of this comic quite perfectly as the zombies in this comic are quite terrifying to look at such as the images of the zombified Hot Dog. I loved the fact that the art style is much more realistic in this comic as it really captures the mature and serious nature of this story. I also loved the way that Francesco Francavilla did the coloring of this book as the colors are mostly in red, black, orange and grey that greatly convey the horror elements of this story.
What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:
Anyone who does not like language or gory violence might be a bit uncomfortable with some of the gory violence and language in this comic. The language in this comic is not as strong as some of the more mature comics as only the “h” word is uttered in a couple of sentences and as for the gory violence, there are many images of zombies biting into people which is pretty graphic.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, “Afterlife with Archie: Escape from Riverdale Volume One” is a fantastic graphic novel that anyone who loves both the Archie Comics and zombies will easily enjoy!
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
November 18, 2017
Why is this and Sabrina so good? Like for real...Roberto has made series I never thought I'd REALLY enjoy but turned out so freaking good.
So Afterlife with Archie is like Archie meets walking dead. Seems simple right? Dog gets killed, witch brings him back to life, and then dog bites owner. Owner bites human. And we got a zombie Apocalypse! The story focuses on Archie, Betty, and V. But it also includes our favorite Jughead and some other supporting cast from Archie's large crew. However, this isn't the happy go lucky Archie this is "DEATH" all around us and we're going to die archie...which is different anyway.
Good: Really enjoyed the concept. It could have been dumb but it actually felt like Archie the comic at times, especially with the humor, but also had the guts (no pun intended) to be a zombie horror story. The emotional moments hit, especially with Archie and his doggie and his father. All great moments. Betty and V also get their moments that work well.
Bad: The art, while good, sometimes is hard to tell what's going on. Also the book suffers a little bit at the start to get going.
Overall a very very enjoyable read similar to Sabrina. High end entertainment plus well established characters, in a new twist. I think Roberto is doing a fantastic job with this and Sabrina and will be reading more of his stuff in the future.
So Afterlife with Archie is like Archie meets walking dead. Seems simple right? Dog gets killed, witch brings him back to life, and then dog bites owner. Owner bites human. And we got a zombie Apocalypse! The story focuses on Archie, Betty, and V. But it also includes our favorite Jughead and some other supporting cast from Archie's large crew. However, this isn't the happy go lucky Archie this is "DEATH" all around us and we're going to die archie...which is different anyway.
Good: Really enjoyed the concept. It could have been dumb but it actually felt like Archie the comic at times, especially with the humor, but also had the guts (no pun intended) to be a zombie horror story. The emotional moments hit, especially with Archie and his doggie and his father. All great moments. Betty and V also get their moments that work well.
Bad: The art, while good, sometimes is hard to tell what's going on. Also the book suffers a little bit at the start to get going.
Overall a very very enjoyable read similar to Sabrina. High end entertainment plus well established characters, in a new twist. I think Roberto is doing a fantastic job with this and Sabrina and will be reading more of his stuff in the future.
February 26, 2015
Buddy read with the Shallow Comic Readers -- This week's theme: Horror!!!
I'm not a fan of the zombie sub-genre, whether in comics, TV, books, or movies. It just doesn't interest me, and to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of horror in any other medium besides comics. Having said that, I haven't watched/read The Walking Dead or any other recent zombie iteration.
So what we have here is Zombie Archie and Friends. The primary purpose I picked it up was because of the art by Francisco Francavilla, who is one of my favorite artists. His style is kinda retro, kinda horroresque, kinda moody. He is a good fit for a horror comic, and Batman fans will remember that he drew the James Gordon chapters of the Batman collection The Black Mirror. Francavilla knows how to draw some tension into his art, and he does a really good job here. He captures the traditional cartoonish art style of Archie Comics without being slavish to it. Almost everyone is recognizable (Moose and Midge are not for some reason).
The story opens up with Jughead at Sabrina's house trying to convince her to resurrect his dead dog Hot Dog. Although she is hesitant at first, she eventually acquiesces and the story spins out of that misdeed into your typical zombie apocalypse.
The story seems generic enough (I guess), but what makes it work is that we experience a darker side of perpetually sunny Riverdale. It's like a zombie book starring Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. There's death and gore aplenty. The cast also is more current with their sexual mores and put-downs. Even without the comedy, much of the traditional personalities of Archie and gang are there. Mr Lodge in particular, is his usual smug self, but we get a glimpse of a much more tortured individual than what we have seen before (I guess...I haven't read Archie comics in years). Betty and Veronica are still BFFs, but they are quite bitchy to one another, taking the usual comical aspects of their relationship to darker levels. The innocence of Riverdale does not exist in this book.
No sure I'll take on volume 2, but we'll see. This is worth checking out because of Francavilla's art alone, but if you're a zombie fan, you'll probably enjoy.
I read this book in the Kindle edition. On Amazon's webpage, there is a small print right under the price (currently $3.99) which lists on what devices this book can be read. Pretty much every damn Kindle type is listed except the first generation Kindle Fire. I had to read this on my Kindle App for Android, and the "smart panel" system didn't work well. So beware if you buy this that you can read it on your appropriate Kindle device.
I'm not a fan of the zombie sub-genre, whether in comics, TV, books, or movies. It just doesn't interest me, and to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of horror in any other medium besides comics. Having said that, I haven't watched/read The Walking Dead or any other recent zombie iteration.
So what we have here is Zombie Archie and Friends. The primary purpose I picked it up was because of the art by Francisco Francavilla, who is one of my favorite artists. His style is kinda retro, kinda horroresque, kinda moody. He is a good fit for a horror comic, and Batman fans will remember that he drew the James Gordon chapters of the Batman collection The Black Mirror. Francavilla knows how to draw some tension into his art, and he does a really good job here. He captures the traditional cartoonish art style of Archie Comics without being slavish to it. Almost everyone is recognizable (Moose and Midge are not for some reason).
The story opens up with Jughead at Sabrina's house trying to convince her to resurrect his dead dog Hot Dog. Although she is hesitant at first, she eventually acquiesces and the story spins out of that misdeed into your typical zombie apocalypse.
The story seems generic enough (I guess), but what makes it work is that we experience a darker side of perpetually sunny Riverdale. It's like a zombie book starring Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. There's death and gore aplenty. The cast also is more current with their sexual mores and put-downs. Even without the comedy, much of the traditional personalities of Archie and gang are there. Mr Lodge in particular, is his usual smug self, but we get a glimpse of a much more tortured individual than what we have seen before (I guess...I haven't read Archie comics in years). Betty and Veronica are still BFFs, but they are quite bitchy to one another, taking the usual comical aspects of their relationship to darker levels. The innocence of Riverdale does not exist in this book.
No sure I'll take on volume 2, but we'll see. This is worth checking out because of Francavilla's art alone, but if you're a zombie fan, you'll probably enjoy.
I read this book in the Kindle edition. On Amazon's webpage, there is a small print right under the price (currently $3.99) which lists on what devices this book can be read. Pretty much every damn Kindle type is listed except the first generation Kindle Fire. I had to read this on my Kindle App for Android, and the "smart panel" system didn't work well. So beware if you buy this that you can read it on your appropriate Kindle device.
April 23, 2015
I'd already read #1, which I enjoyed tremendously. So this was just the rest of Volume 1...this book is dark. Very dark. Especially if you know Archie is usually so fluffy.
Hot Dog, Jughead's pet dog, gets hit and run, by one of the gang no less! Jughead goes to Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and she ends up helping revive him from the dead...but it's not a good thing...Hot Dog is a zombie...and he bites Jughead!
This starts the downward spiral, including Halloween Dance at the High School being attacked, others turned, and everyone retreating to Lodge Manor. Archie steps up to the challenge, and leads the kids, until we discover that someone at the dance got bitten and now is barricaded inside with the rest of them...
Smithers, the Lodge butler, comes across more like Alfred Pennyworth here, with a diary/narration of events. He comes out of his shell a bit here, to offer advice and support. Mr. Lodge is painted as even more of a villain here, and the rivalry between Betty and Veronica is given some more depth and colour instead of the boring usual nature.
This really is the noir version of Riverdale. It's amazing how well the changes work, taking old familiar characters and breathing life into them.
By far the darkest point of the volume is when Archie goes in search of his parents, and what results from that interaction...very heavy stuff.
Fun book, worth a look, great art, impressive and welcome change from the usual Archie shit that you don't have to be embarrassed to read.
Hot Dog, Jughead's pet dog, gets hit and run, by one of the gang no less! Jughead goes to Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and she ends up helping revive him from the dead...but it's not a good thing...Hot Dog is a zombie...and he bites Jughead!
This starts the downward spiral, including Halloween Dance at the High School being attacked, others turned, and everyone retreating to Lodge Manor. Archie steps up to the challenge, and leads the kids, until we discover that someone at the dance got bitten and now is barricaded inside with the rest of them...
Smithers, the Lodge butler, comes across more like Alfred Pennyworth here, with a diary/narration of events. He comes out of his shell a bit here, to offer advice and support. Mr. Lodge is painted as even more of a villain here, and the rivalry between Betty and Veronica is given some more depth and colour instead of the boring usual nature.
This really is the noir version of Riverdale. It's amazing how well the changes work, taking old familiar characters and breathing life into them.
By far the darkest point of the volume is when Archie goes in search of his parents, and what results from that interaction...very heavy stuff.
Fun book, worth a look, great art, impressive and welcome change from the usual Archie shit that you don't have to be embarrassed to read.
May 16, 2017
Not entirely convinced here. Ok, interesting idea to turn Riverdale into TWD, but damn, why does Juggie have to go to the undead so quickly? I enjoyed the artwork, but the story was not fantastic. I'll probably skip Vol 2.
February 7, 2015
I've never read Archie, so most of the references are lost on me. As far as I can tell the characters are fairly surface anyway (50's archetypes), so I don't feel like it's a huge loss. That said, Afterlife with Archie is an entertaining albeit predictable read. The writing definitely plays off the campy B nature of zombie culture and was pretty funny/ridiculous sometimes. What do you mean infected? Is it rabies? Bobby what's wrong with you? Ouch!!! CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP.
The story follows a really predictable story arc. Life is peachy, shit goes wrong, characters try to fix the shit by meddling with forces they don't understand, shit gets worse and eventually climaxes, people band together and some people die in interesting ways, but not before learning about human nature and themselves in the process. That's about it.
The art is really emotive and contrastingly dark/colorful. The chapter covers are super cool and throw back to old school horror movies. I can really appreciate this as a horror/zombie movie buff. I think if you're an Archie fan or at least somewhat familiar with Archie you could probably get/appreciate this to another level. But it's sort of just a zombie book for me not getting the references.
The story follows a really predictable story arc. Life is peachy, shit goes wrong, characters try to fix the shit by meddling with forces they don't understand, shit gets worse and eventually climaxes, people band together and some people die in interesting ways, but not before learning about human nature and themselves in the process. That's about it.
The art is really emotive and contrastingly dark/colorful. The chapter covers are super cool and throw back to old school horror movies. I can really appreciate this as a horror/zombie movie buff. I think if you're an Archie fan or at least somewhat familiar with Archie you could probably get/appreciate this to another level. But it's sort of just a zombie book for me not getting the references.
June 4, 2016
The conceit of seeing the same old too-innocent-and-stupid-for-modern-times archetypes in a new, more amped-up setting is good for a few smirks and callbacks to more innocent Archie books I read as a kid.
But sadly, Mr. A-S hammers the point home with some lazy, ham-fisted dialogue:
(Veronica's admission)
(Other folks too blunt)
By the time Mr. Weatherbee shambles in with a lifetime of payback on his mind, I started reading this like any other zombie story. Just like the other book like this I couldn't finish (Archie vs Predator), it feels like they're just not trying to get behind the one dimension of each character.
Until they come to Archie.
Damn they go right for the feels with him and his family. And amazingly, Francavilla's art just works for this.
And suddenly the book takes enough of a surprising turn towards actual dimension that I wonder if they've ever printed another volume in this series.
(And holy shit, they did!)
But sadly, Mr. A-S hammers the point home with some lazy, ham-fisted dialogue:
(Veronica's admission)
(Other folks too blunt)
By the time Mr. Weatherbee shambles in with a lifetime of payback on his mind, I started reading this like any other zombie story. Just like the other book like this I couldn't finish (Archie vs Predator), it feels like they're just not trying to get behind the one dimension of each character.
Until they come to Archie.
Damn they go right for the feels with him and his family. And amazingly, Francavilla's art just works for this.
And suddenly the book takes enough of a surprising turn towards actual dimension that I wonder if they've ever printed another volume in this series.
(And holy shit, they did!)
April 3, 2018
Archie and friends must fight for their lives against zombies.
I loved Archie comics when I was a kid. I had boxes and boxes of these comics, so I was excited to see one of my childhood favorites get a spooky upgrade.
Fun. Creepy. Highly entertaining. Great for Archie fans who also like zombie stories.
Volume 1 includes issues 1-5.
#1: Afterlife with Archie - Jughead's dog, Hot Dog, dies, but comes back.
#2: Dance with the Dead - Halloween dance and zombies
#3: Sleepover - The gang hangs out at Lodge Manor to stay away from the zombies roaming through town.
#4: Archibald Rex - Archie's family is attacked by zombies. Meanwhile, things are not going well at Lodge Manor.
#5: Escape from Riverdale - The survivors must make a decision.
I loved Archie comics when I was a kid. I had boxes and boxes of these comics, so I was excited to see one of my childhood favorites get a spooky upgrade.
Fun. Creepy. Highly entertaining. Great for Archie fans who also like zombie stories.
Volume 1 includes issues 1-5.
#1: Afterlife with Archie - Jughead's dog, Hot Dog, dies, but comes back.
#2: Dance with the Dead - Halloween dance and zombies
#3: Sleepover - The gang hangs out at Lodge Manor to stay away from the zombies roaming through town.
#4: Archibald Rex - Archie's family is attacked by zombies. Meanwhile, things are not going well at Lodge Manor.
#5: Escape from Riverdale - The survivors must make a decision.
July 25, 2014
It's terrifying. Not the book, or the plotline / story, which is fairly standard, classic zombie scenario. What makes it reach into the guts of your childhood and rip you apart is the setting and the people it takes - these are characters you grew up with, who represented everything you associated with the innocence of childhood.
There were no deaths, no drugs, no getting drunk. Nobody was poor, and everyone had a car, a loving family, and no problems. No sex. Music. Dances. The beach. Food and drink. School. Everyone was... happy. And we were happy with them.
It was a time-warp world that never changed, frozen for nearly a century in a perfect childhood we outgrew in barely a few years.
Seeing that memory, something you held sacred as a cornerstone of your own innocence, crumbled, mangled, chewed up and spat out as a bloody pulp, it made me understand that nothing is inviolate. And that realization... it bruised something. There are things in life that are precious to you, innocent, good, but simple goodness is no protection.
Read it in the clear light of day, and you'll be bored or amused.
Read it in the dark of night, your family asleep in the next room and the world waiting outside, and... prepare to lose a little piece of your childhood.
And you won't find it again, because now death and destruction, pain and loss, have touched that memory. The bruise will fade, but it'll never be forgotten.
À la recherche du temps perdu.
There were no deaths, no drugs, no getting drunk. Nobody was poor, and everyone had a car, a loving family, and no problems. No sex. Music. Dances. The beach. Food and drink. School. Everyone was... happy. And we were happy with them.
It was a time-warp world that never changed, frozen for nearly a century in a perfect childhood we outgrew in barely a few years.
Seeing that memory, something you held sacred as a cornerstone of your own innocence, crumbled, mangled, chewed up and spat out as a bloody pulp, it made me understand that nothing is inviolate. And that realization... it bruised something. There are things in life that are precious to you, innocent, good, but simple goodness is no protection.
Read it in the clear light of day, and you'll be bored or amused.
Read it in the dark of night, your family asleep in the next room and the world waiting outside, and... prepare to lose a little piece of your childhood.
And you won't find it again, because now death and destruction, pain and loss, have touched that memory. The bruise will fade, but it'll never be forgotten.
À la recherche du temps perdu.
December 30, 2023
This was an excellent variation and a super dark storyline of the classic Archie comics. Set as a zombie apocalypse goes down in Riverdale and the kids fight to stay alive.
The story was great. Good pacing throughout. Really flowed well and made me want to continue reading deep into the night.
The pictures have a dark and gritty feel which is exactly the kind of tone you want for this kind of storyline.
This was a super fun, really different comic than I was used to reading when I was growing up with Archie. Can’t wait to get the next one!
The story was great. Good pacing throughout. Really flowed well and made me want to continue reading deep into the night.
The pictures have a dark and gritty feel which is exactly the kind of tone you want for this kind of storyline.
This was a super fun, really different comic than I was used to reading when I was growing up with Archie. Can’t wait to get the next one!
June 24, 2015
The zombie craze hits Riverdale. I'm not a big zombie story guy, it's sort of like vampires....beaten to death at this point. Of course I'm completely in the tank for Francesco Francavilla and his artwork so I had to pick up this first trade. The story itself is servicable but nothing special. There are few secondary characters that I am not familiar with although since it's been, oh about 30 years since I read an Archie comic I can't tell if these characters have been ongoing or are new to this story. There is a fantastic moment with Archie and his Dad that hit a soft spot with me. Nobody is safe...nobody.
For me the star is the Francavilla art, I just love his work with shadows and color. This style may not work for everyone but I can't get enough. If this was just about the story I probably wouldn't keep reading but I'm on for the ride as long as Francavilla is driving the train.
For me the star is the Francavilla art, I just love his work with shadows and color. This style may not work for everyone but I can't get enough. If this was just about the story I probably wouldn't keep reading but I'm on for the ride as long as Francavilla is driving the train.
March 15, 2019
Do we really need another zombie story? No, not really. At least that's what I thought when Afterlife first came out. Then, just the other day, Comixology had it on sale...so why not, right?
I friggen loved it! Jugheads dog, Hotdog, is killed in a hit and run so he turns to hiswitch pal Sabrina, to bring him back to life.
Being that this is a zombie comic and bringing things back from the dead can be a tricky business you can see where this is headed...and ya know what? It totally worked for me.
It's the Archie gang...and Zombies! It's a trip. And issue 4...man-oh-man...great friggen issue! THE FEELS! That issue honestly affected me and, really, its what sold me on this volume as a whole.
I friggen loved it! Jugheads dog, Hotdog, is killed in a hit and run so he turns to his
Being that this is a zombie comic and bringing things back from the dead can be a tricky business you can see where this is headed...and ya know what? It totally worked for me.
It's the Archie gang...and Zombies! It's a trip. And issue 4...man-oh-man...great friggen issue! THE FEELS! That issue honestly affected me and, really, its what sold me on this volume as a whole.
August 24, 2015
Even though this idea germinated as a jokey alt cover for the Life with Archie series, Robert Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla's book is a genuine horror comic. It's primary concern is the dramatic integrity of these characters and the world they inhabit, and how they deal with a sudden and drastic upheaval of their daily lives. The book is not without humor, but it is balanced perfectly with the needs of its complex character arcs and well-paced plotting. This is definitely the best horror comic I've read in ages - and the best zombie story in awhile to boot - and easily one of my favorite new comics of the last year.
Note to creators: More Sabrina, please!
Note to creators: More Sabrina, please!
March 16, 2017
My first Archie book and I LOVED it! I read this to try and get me in the mood to start Riverdale on Netflix and it has done that and also made me want to meet more Archie. I'm not too familiar with most of the characters but that didn't stop this from being eerie and creepy. And the art by Francesco Francvilla is perfect for it.
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