Review: Riverdale #3
This issue of Riverdale is great in that it dives more into Josie and the Pussycats, their team dynamics, and gives more representation to the underdogs (or cats if you will). The creative team explores the small period of time where Veronica joins the band. The premise for this section is to “haze” Veronica into the Pussycats. I put haze in quotes because it’s not as severe as the negative connotations that comes with the term. They do however, end up hanging out at the Whyte Worm bar and getting tattoos, which I found entirely unbelievable. This felt a off-kilter for the brand. I know I shouldn’t take everything literal, but I am still holding Archie Comics to its word, in that they said this is to help explain what happens in between the actual television show’s episodes. So if they are they showing this in the comics, are we expected to believe Veronica and the girls have tattoos now in the series? This is highly unlikely given the fact Veronica has been known to sport around cute sleeveless dresses. I don’t think the character herself would do this at all.
The second half focuses on the blossoming relationship and dynamics between Betty and Jughead. In the show, there relationship came out of nowhere, was incredibly rushed, and forced on viewers without a lot of build. Here we have at least on actual hint to a potential relationship between the two with minor flirting on the page.
Cheryl storms into The Blue and Gold and says she needs #Bughead’s help. It feels a bit much but feeds into their larger Twitter market. Cheryl suspects her father is cheating on her mother because he has been acting funny and requests their help to find answers. This story lined ventured off into a territory unexplored in the show. It wasn’t terribly surprising given Clifford Blossom’s shady character but was somewhat interesting. Although, I must say, I’m still hung up on the show tie-ins and logistics. I don’t think that’s something I can ever get past and will constantly try to see how the two go hand in hand.
As far as art goes, I wasn’t quite loving this issue. Cheryl’s face is quite terrifying when she is seeing Betty and Jughead off after delivering the news of her father. Cheryl is supposed to be gorgeous and glam, but here she just looks questionable at best.
Kevin is nowhere to be seen, but it’s implied he will have his own section in the next issue, if the photo at the end of the comic is any indication. They’ve drawn him to look like he’s in his late 20s or 30s, which is unfortunate. I’m still very intrigued and excited to see a full on exploration of Kevin’s relationship with Joaquin. If I don’t get to see a first date and other cute shenanigans I may just give up on this one. Here’s to hoping!
Script: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, James DeWille, Will Ewing
Art: Joe Eisma, Thomas Pitilli, Andre Szymanowicz, Janice Chiang, John Workman
Cover: Francesco Francavilla
Variant Covers: Marguerite Sauvage, Wilfredo Torres
Riverdale #1 is a special one-shot set in the summer before the TV show’s 
capture the pre-Riverdale Veronica, who oozes privilege until it all crashes and burns around her raven tresses. The first pages of the story are “Rich Kids of Instagram” the comic although Pitilli’s scratchy inking shows that Veronica’s perfect life is about to crumble. The story is an elegy to being shallow, rich, and having surface level friendships as Veronica’s world unravels in a single, sad montage. Dewille hangs back with the narration and lets Pitilli and Szymanowicz’s beautiful art and the progressive darkening of the color palette. This story is a sturdy foundation for Veronica tossing aside her spoiled, privileged roots and becoming a decent human being and friend in the Riverdale show.
