Big Moose one-shot introduces three new short stories about the one and only Moose, each created by separate teams, giving various takes on the character.

“Moose vs. The Vending Machine” gives into the stereotypical airheaded Moose, who willingly trades Jughead a week of his lunches for a single dollar, just to get something from the vending machine. While Sean Ryan’s story felt predictable, it still had the familiar humor of Archie Comics past, and that’s okay with me.

“Have It All” follows a week in the life as Moose, his thought process narrates the story, and we are able to get a glimpse into the interiority that makes the man. It touches on the stereotypes about the character from previous Archie Comics variations, such as Moose’s temper and lack of intelligence. It’s essentially the “there’s more than meets the eye” story. Ryan Cady’s take on Moose is interesting because he’s given more depth than what most fans are used to. It’s well done given how much information we get in just a few pages.

In “The Big Difference” Moose is placed back into the jock stereotype immediately. While I love meeting new Archie Comics characters, I do not love an overly blatant moral message. This piece had the same classic comic feeling as the first, but for whatever reason, it didn’t quite do it for me. I hope to see more of this “Freshie” character though.

As charming as Big Moose as a series has potential to be, I don’t see it surviving as anything more than a one-shot, unless the writers decided to explore his sexuality more (which seems to be in question from the hit show Riverdale) or give him more depth in general. The jock-stereotype story is played out and I found myself wanting to read the Midge one-shot instead. #TeamMidge

Script: Sean Ryan, Ryan Cady, Gorf
Art: Thomas Pitilli, Cory Smith, Ryan Jampole, Matt Herms, Glenn Whitmore, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Jack Morelli
Cover: Thomas Pitilli
Variant Covers: Cory Smith, Wilfredo Torres