Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 Review: Dynamite Ends the Deadite Crossover

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Cover art for Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 from Dynamite Entertainment featuring Archie and Ash facing Deadite horror in the crossover finale

The final battle has arrived, and Riverdale may never recover.

Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 from Dynamite Entertainment brings the horror-comedy crossover to its big finale as Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, and the rest of the gang make one last stand against the invading Deadites.

The problem? The only way to stop the evil is to read from the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, and anyone who knows the world of Army of Darkness knows that never goes smoothly.

Written by Erik Burnham with art by Bill Galvan, this final issue delivers monsters, chainsaws, chaos, Riverdale comedy, and enough Deadite mayhem to make this crossover go out swinging.

Fans can also check out our full Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 review for more coverage.

The Big Finale Is Here

Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 puts everything on the line.

The Army of Darkness has invaded, the gang is surrounded, and Riverdale’s usual teen drama has been replaced by supernatural horror, evil books, undead monsters, and one very desperate plan.

To win, Archie and the gang must use the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis against the darkness itself. That means fighting evil mojo with concentrated goodness, which sounds very Riverdale and very dangerous at the same time.

The forces of good may triumph, but this is still Army of Darkness territory. Victory is never simple, clean, or painless when Deadites are involved.

Riverdale Meets Deadite Madness

This crossover has worked because it fully understands the joke and the danger.

On one side, you have the bright, classic world of Archie Comics: friendship, romance, high school antics, and familiar Riverdale charm.

On the other side, you have the grimy supernatural chaos of The Army of Darkness: the Necronomicon, Deadites, chainsaws, demonic possession, and horror movie insanity.

Issue #5 brings those two worlds crashing together for the final round.

The preview pages show Archie and the gang armed with whatever they can find, from bats and axes to chainsaws and the Necronomicon itself. It is ridiculous in the best way, but the danger still feels real enough to keep the issue moving.

That balance is the fun of this series.

It is horror.

It is comedy.

It is Archie.

It is Army of Darkness.

And somehow, it all works.

Erik Burnham Keeps the Tone Sharp

Writer Erik Burnham knows how to keep the crossover energy moving.

The story leans into the absurdity of Riverdale’s gang trying to survive a Deadite invasion, but it does not treat the horror like a throwaway gag. The characters are still in danger, the monsters are still nasty, and the Necronomicon remains the kind of cursed object nobody should be casually carrying around.

Burnham gives the finale the right sense of urgency while keeping the character voices fun and familiar.

Archie is still Archie.

Jughead is still Jughead.

Betty and Veronica still bring the energy.

But now they are doing it while trying not to get eaten by evil.

That is a strong hook for longtime Archie fans and horror fans alike.

Bill Galvan Brings Classic Archie Energy to Horror Chaos

Artist Bill Galvan is a major reason this crossover lands visually.

The art keeps the classic Archie look while throwing the characters into pure horror madness. That contrast is what makes the pages fun. Seeing these clean, expressive, familiar characters surrounded by grotesque Deadites gives the whole book a wild Saturday-morning-cartoon-meets-midnight-horror-movie feeling.

Galvan’s Deadites look creepy, but the Archie cast still feels instantly recognizable. That is not easy to balance, especially in a book that needs to be both funny and scary.

The action pages also give the finale momentum. The gang is not just running away. They are fighting back, badly improvising, and trying to survive long enough to finish the job.

A Strong Cover Lineup for Collectors

Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 comes with all-cardstock covers and a strong lineup of artists.

Cover A by Francesco Francavilla gives the finale a bold horror-poster look, with Archie and Ash split by a terrifying Deadite presence. It is moody, red-drenched, and perfect for the final chapter.

Cover B by Bill Galvan leans into the crossover identity with Archie, Ash, the Necronomicon, and the Deadites all packed into one dramatic image.

Cover C by Laura Braga brings a clean, energetic look to the Riverdale cast with Ash front and center, chainsaw ready.

Cover D by Craig Cermak delivers a full-on Deadite swarm cover, with the gang trapped in a red nightmare of undead attackers.

Cover E by Stuart Sayger goes darker and more atmospheric, putting the gang in danger as demonic forces close in from above.

For collectors, this is a finale with several strong cover options depending on whether you want horror atmosphere, classic crossover energy, or full Deadite chaos.

Why New Readers Should Check This Out

Even if you have not followed every issue, Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 has a simple and entertaining hook:

Riverdale is under attack by the Army of Darkness, and Archie’s gang has to help stop the Deadites before everything goes completely off the rails.

That is easy to understand, easy to enjoy, and packed with enough horror-comedy energy to make the issue appealing to multiple fanbases.

This is a great pick for readers who enjoy:

Archie Comics crossovers.

Army of Darkness stories.

Horror-comedy comics.

Deadite mayhem.

The Necronomicon.

Chainsaw action.

Riverdale weirdness.

Dynamite Entertainment licensed comics.

Finale issues with big supernatural stakes.

If you want a comic that knows how ridiculous its premise is and still commits to the fun, this finale is worth grabbing.

Comic Book Details

Title: Archie x The Army of Darkness #5
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Bill Galvan
Cover A: Francesco Francavilla
Cover B: Bill Galvan
Cover C: Laura Braga
Cover D: Craig Cermak
Cover E: Stuart Sayger
Format: Comic Book
Pages: 32 pages
Price: $4.99
Color: Full Color
Covers: All Cardstock Covers
Genre: Horror / Humor
Rating: Teen+

Final Thoughts: Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 Ends the Crossover With Deadite-Slaying Fun

Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 looks like a fun, frantic, and fitting finale for one of Dynamite Entertainment’s strangest and most entertaining crossovers.

The series takes the clean charm of Riverdale and throws it headfirst into the bloody, ridiculous, supernatural madness of Army of Darkness. This final issue brings the conflict to a head with the Necronomicon, Deadites, improvised weapons, and one last shot at saving the day.

It is goofy.

It is creepy.

It is energetic.

And it is exactly the kind of horror-humor crossover that should appeal to both Archie fans and Evil Dead fans.

You can find more details on the official Dynamite Entertainment product page, and be sure to read our full Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 review for additional thoughts.

Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 is the final showdown. Come get some.

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