Top of The Pile: Archie vs The World #1

Main cover by Jed Dougherty

I always consider publishers putting "issue one" in the title of a one-shot a cruel tease, and that unstated promise of a continuation stings particularly with the post-apocalyptic carnage of Archie vs The World #1.

The latest reimagining of Archie Comics' titular character sees the red-headed hero cast as a tight-lipped, muscular, warrior of the wastes - gifted with Fist of The North Star-like supercharged martial arts powers.

Following an unexplained collapse of society, Archie wanders North America like Kwai Chang Caine (but in his souped-up jalopy), accompanied by his best friend, Jughead, and canine companion, Hot Dog.

Grizzled 'Old Man' Jughead provides a gritty Mad Max-style narration, that truly reads just like a cinematic voice-over, putting the protagonists' youthful picaresque adventures into context.

Archie, the reluctant hero, finds himself pursued by his nemesis, Reggie, who wants the secret of Archie's powers, while being torn between the affections of three women, who all seek to make him their own.

Written by Aubrey Sitterson, with art by Jed Dougherty and colours by Matt Helms and Doug Garbank, Archie vs The World #1 is fast-paced, evoking a fully-realised world in a few brush strokes without going into its backstory too deeply.

The problem is it's over too quickly and we're left wanting more... much more.

Even from these mere 20 pages, there's clearly enough of this post-apocalyptic world for many further adventures, peppered as it is with Easter Eggs and its own versions of classic Archie characters (Cheryl Blossom, for instance, is the Tina Turner-inspired Queen of The Wastes, complete with her own version of the Thunderdome).

Sitterson employs the smart comic book technique of allowing much of the story to take place between the panels while giving the reader enough information so they can fill in the gaps for themselves.

The art and lay-out is second to none, often eschewing the classic restraints of a panel layout for a more free flowing approach, with plenty of spreads and splash pages.

Tightly scripted, and unfolding across dynamically manga-like pages, exploding with constant noise and action, there's too much potential in these pages to limit the story to a single issue.

Easily functioning as the set-up for a universe of tales of its own, Archie vs The World brings high-octane drama, emotional conflict, martial arts action, mutants, jackalopes, and car chases to a dystopian future iteration of Riverdale that I'd love to revisit.

I really hope Archie Comics picks up on the positive vibes this story is generating and gives us more, preferably an on-going series.

• Brandon and Josh of the Archie and Me podcast interviewed writer Aubrey Sitterson on their show, which you can listen to here.
  
  

Variant cover by Aaron Lopresti