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KC Carlson
A KC COLUMN by KC Carlson
Riverdale season 2
Yeah, I hadn’t planned on talking about Archie again so soon — but then I realized that tonight (October 11) is the second season premiere of Riverdale on the CW. The show’s designer (and occasional comic book writer: Afterlife With Archie, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is promising darker times ahead, with the shooting of Archie’s daddy (Luke Perry) taking center stage in the early episodes. Aguirre-Sacasa told variety that “It’s going to be less of a murder-mystery this season, and a lot more of a suspenseful thriller type of show.”
So, let’s see… Archie has to deal with the shooting of his dad. At a new school, Jughead was invited to join a gang (same one his daddy is still in), which distances him from Betty. Meanwhile, an old flame of Veronica’s shows up in Riverdale. and I even hear rumors that there might be a Reggie on the show this season! And, hey! Where’s Jingles, the magic elf?
Plus, last month it was reported that The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was being developed for the CW by Warner Bros. television and Berlanti Productions, with a planned release in the 2018–19 television season. and it would be similar in tone to Riverdale. I’m always up for a good Sabrina show!
H&I M B&V
Harley and Ivy meet Betty and Veronica #1 Amanda Conner cover
As if a new season of Riverdale wasn’t enough Archie stuff going on, last week saw the debut of DC Comics’ Harley and Ivy meet Betty and Veronica #1. The conventional cover is by regular Harley Quinn cover artist Amanda Connor and colorist Paul Mounts, and there’s a variant by Adam Hughes, who apparently hasn’t completely abandoned Betty and Veronica. There’s also a blank variant in case you’re lucky or rich (or both) and want to find either Amanda or Adam and a show for a “sketch”.
BTW, I hope the “Three on a Straw” cover was Amanda’s idea, because it’s such an Archie thing to do — but with the evil twist of a very uneasy Archie Andrews wedged between the very hazardous Harley and Ivy! note the detail that Harley is using three straws and is apparently eating all the cherries
Harley and Ivy meet Betty and Veronica #1 Adam Hughes cover
The book itself is not by any of those people. It is written by Paul Dini (who, with Bruce Timm, first introduced Harley Quinn to both animation and comic books) with Marc Andreyko (Manhunter) and drawn by Laura Braga (DC Comics Bombshells).
In the comic, billionaire Hiram Lodge (Veronica’s dad) is converting swampland into Lodge university — and using complimentary college educations! Of course, upsetting the swamplands is also upsetting Poison Ivy, so we’re off to the races… races where things tend to go “BOOM”!
Besides the normal Archie folks, it’s good to see both Kevin Keller and Sabrina (she’s a teenage witch, if you didn’t know). There are even good in-jokes. (Archie dressed as Pureheart the powerful for a costume party? Sabrina throwing down bad puns?) but the final page costume reveal could be a real killer!
DC’s tribute to Len Wein
The other amazing thing about this issue is the tribute to the recently passed Len Wein. It’s a very elegant two-page spread with a terrific photo of Len with a normal Wein facial expression that just makes you smile with him. It’s only then that you notice the other page — with the subtle Bernie Wrightson (whom we also lost this year) Swamp thing cover to house of secrets #92 lurking in the background. That original cover is the first appearance of Wein & Wrightson’s Swamp thing from way back in 1971.
Harley and Ivy meet Betty and Veronica #1 is a terrific first issue (of 6). I’m secretly intending to see a redheaded Poison Ivy/Cheryl blossom showdown before the end of the series!
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KC CARLSON: way behind on current comics reading because of the new TV season. and I haven’t even gotten to the super-hero/comic book-based shows yet! also caught a cold already! What’s up with this weather?
WESTFIELD COMICS is not responsible for the silly things that KC says. especially that thing that really irritated you. I think the thing that is a lot of irritating me today is thinking! Yep, that’s what I think. Ow!
