Josie and the Pussyvampires

I previously wrote about my dislike for the new Afterlife with Archie series when it first debuted.  After reading a couple of issues, I dropped it.

I picked up the standalone issue of Afterlife with Archie #10 because it featured a spooky rendition of Josie and the Pussycats, and I have a lifelong affinity for them that stems from my childhood when I watched their fabulous short-lived cartoon series.  I have to admit that I. FREAKING. LOVED. IT.

The premise is that Josie and the Pussycats are vampires who have been hit musical successes (in their own way) in every decade, but then they fade into obscurity before reinventing themselves the next decade.  This fascinated me, and I loved the issue.  My only disappointment is that this was a one-off issue, and I don't think there are plans to incorporate them into the regular series' storyline.

I'm still not reading Afterlife with Archie every month, but if they ever bring back Josie and the Pussycats (or give them their own series that could take place in any decade), I definitely will.

The Dawn of the Dead Archies

Archie comics have always been known for their child-like content, so in recent years, it's been interesting to see Archie Comics test the waters with more adult-oriented subject matter.  For example, there was the introduction of a new gay teenager at Riverdale High: Kevin Keller. There was also the "Archie Marries Veronica" and "Archie Marries Betty" storylines with adult versions of the popular teen characters.  These storylines in the regular Archie comic were so popular that they were given their own magazine, reviving the Life with Archie title.  

Now Archie is branching out into zombiedom.  That's right, you heard me.  Archie has just launched the new Afterlife with Archie monthly series.  Get it?  I just read the first issue.  This is definitely not your typical Archie comic.  It's not even your Life with Archie magazine.  It's basically a horror movie with the Archie characters substituting for the obligatory chased teens. 

***SPOILER ALERT!!***

Issue #1 opens with a very serious (out of character) Jughead coming to Archie with his dog, Hot Dog, dead in his arms.  Okay, I can take the Archie characters being dead (or undead), but do they have to kill the loveable dog?  It was a pretty jarring way to start the story and I immediately felt uneasy.  Then it takes a Pet Sematary-esque turn.  Archie suggests to Jughead that he bury Hot Dog.  Here, it's a little too much like a rip-off of Stephen King's Pet Sematary.  The writer even goes so far as to take at least two lines from the book/movie and use them word for word in the comic book dialogue between Archie and Jughead!  While its intent may have been reverence, it just feels like plagiarism.  Later, we see a distraught Reggie confess to Archie that he was the one who accidentally hit Hot Dog with his car, while Sabrina (the teenage witch) helps Jughead bury Hot Dog using a reincarnation spell.  

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this strange take on the Archie characters, but this certainly wasn't it.  Coming from the Archie brand, I thought it would be more "fun."  Even Betty and Veronica weren't recognizable as themselves (pre-Zombie), so I don't know why they had to use the Archie characters other than as a marketing tactic.  The art is acceptable for a comic in this genre, but not for Archie characters.  I wouldn't have known who was who if it wasn't for their hair color/style (Archie, Betty, Veronica), head piece (Jughead), or someone using their name while speaking to them (Reggie, Sabrina) or about them (Hot Dog). 

While others may enjoy Archie's foray into the undead, I guess Afterlife with Archie isn't my cup of milkshake. 

Tiny Titans...Awww, Yeah!

Confession:  I love Tiny Titans.  And I'm not talking about Mexican midget wrestling. 

Tiny Titans is a DC Comic featuring toddler versions of your favorite Teen Titans, mostly from the wildly popular and well-written 1980s New Teen Titans series.  Think Muppet Babies.  Or A Pup Named Scooby Doo.  Or even the Flintstone Kids.  The stories for Tiny Titans are set in a kid-friendly, elementary school environment.  They're simple, silly, cute, and usually contain some sort of moral from which kids can learn.  They're also fun for adults.  Although I have a hard time justifying the $2.99 price tag for a comic I can read in one-third the time of a regular comic, sometimes I just can't resist.  My justification is that this Titans book is better written (thanks to Art Balthazar and Franco Aureliani) than the current Teen Titans comic, written by the awful Felicia Henderson.

I just read the first issue of the three-issue mini-series Tiny Titans/Little Archie, featuring toddler versions of the Archie Comics characters paired up with the Tiny Titans.  Again, cute.  Robin's and Archie's clothes get mixed up at the drycleaners.  Archie's mom and Alfred, the butler, pick up the wrong clothing and bring it to the kids.  Since they both have an "r" on their shirt ("r" for Robin and "r" for Riverdale, Archie's hometown), the adults believe they have picked up the right clothing.  Archie freaks when he starts to put on the clothes and sees Robin's green underwear and booties.  The identity mix-up continues with their respective friends.  Fun and lighthearted.

Tiny Titans is a great way to introduce your youngest kids to the DC Comics characters.  The stories are wholesome, non-violent, and moral-teaching.  They're also great entertainment for adults.