Over the last five or so years, it seems to have become a popular marketing notion amongst the comic book industry to scrap previous storytelling canon or continuity amongst a publisher's properties and start anew, basically the business' equivalent of rebranding or restructuring their output and it's perceived image via editorial means.
Fanboys call it a "retcon" (I.e., a restructuring or wiping away of canon to streamline a character) or a reboot. The most popular and successful of these in recent years has been DC Comics New 52 and the current Rebirth story arcs/ publishing initiatives.
Another incredibly successful attempt at comic book editorial rebranding (at least IMO and in a critical sense) has been Archie Comics' current "New Riverdale" direction. Gone and cancelled are the decades-long running misadventures of the goofy redheaded teen done in the Dan DeCarlo influenced "house" art style, having been replaced by new titles featuring a more realistic art style and slightly more contemporary serialized CW style teen drama type storyarcs.
And, they're pretty good comics. The flagship title, ARCHIE, written by Mark Waid, possesses a dry, sly sense of humor about it. It reminds yours truly of 1980s cult movie HEATHERS, only without any of the pesky teen suicides. Keeping with the odd 1980s teen comedies tone, JUGHEAD reads like a really good Savage Steve Holland directed film of the era....and the BETTY & VERONICA book is just absolutely gorgeous to look at with beautifully rendered art by Adam Hughes.
The company has also restructured itself by starting two new imprints: Archie Horror and Dark Circle Comics. Dark Circle is a really impressive attempt at resurrecting Archie's superhero properties, but the real interesting stuff is going on in their horror comics imprint and the two books that are being published under it's banner: AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE and CHILLING ADVENTURES IN SORCERY WITH SABRINA.
AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE is the incredibly dark story of what happens after the tragic death of a beloved Riverdale gang member instigates a series of actions that lead to the zombie apocalypse. It's basically THE WALKING DEAD, starring the Archies, played for drama and horror instead of comedy.
There's some really crazy shit going on it the title, some of my favorites being issues that focus on a delightfully twisted take on Sabrina the Teenage Witch that reads like a Cthulhu Mythos tale, a pretty brilliant homage to THE SHINING, and the recent revelation of the reason behind Josie and the Pussycats' youthful vigor (spoiler: the girl band is ate up with vampirism, in an issue that's a nice nod to Anne Rice's INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE) .
My personal favorite of the two titles, though, is SABRINA....and the easiest way to summarize the book is that it's....deliciously fucked up. Remember the animated cartoon of the 1970s or the incredibly popular ABC Television family friendly sitcom based on the property from about 15 years ago? Forget that shit completely.
This current comic book take on SABRINA is the same story: teenage witch living with her aunts and a talking cat....but played completely straight for horror without a hint of comedy. Imagine if V.C. Andrews and Stephen King teamed up to write a funnybook. Hack's artwork is creepy and atmospheric, and just lends to the disorienting dread the book generates....it's the closest I've ever read a comic book that feels like a Dario Argento film. It's a period piece, too...Sabrina's 16 years old in 1963, and the times past setting just adds to the bizarre tone of the book.
Speaking of bizarre, Archie Comics teamed with publisher Dark Horse Comics last year for the incredibly gory...and funny...ARCHIE vs. PREDATOR, which....well, kinda has to be read and seen to be believed.
And you thought THE PUNISHER MEETS ARCHIE from 25 years ago was nutty....
(To be continued....)
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