Archie #1 Review: Riverdale Gets a Joyful, Smart, and Surprisingly Fresh New Beginning

Oni Press and Archie Comics relaunch America’s favorite teenager with heart, humor, and a mystery hiding beneath the milkshakes Archie #1 is not trying to make Archie Andrews darker, edgier, or unrecognizable. That is the best thing about it. Instead, the new ongoing series from Oni Press and Archie Comics understands exactly why Riverdale has lasted for generations. Archie is still charming. Jughead is still hungry. Betty and Veronica still pull the story in different emotional directions. Reggie is still Reggie. Pop’s still feels like the center of the universe. But this new Archie #1 also knows that nostalgia alone is not enough. Writer Ben H. Winters and artist Fábio Moon use the familiar rhythm of Riverdale to build something bright, funny, and quietly mysterious. The result is a relaunch that feels welcoming for new readers while still giving longtime fans the kind of classic Archie energy they came for. For readers who have been following Oni Press and Archie Comics’ larger Riverdale relaunch, this issue is the main event. Comic Book Addicts previously covered how Archie Comics redesigned Riverdale with Oni Press, and Archie #1 proves that this new era has a clear identity: ...