Archie #704
Archie Comics
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artists: Sandy Jarrell & Matt Herms
Stories can often tie themselves in knots if they pull in too many directions. Archie #704 is one of those stories. It’s not a bad issue but it drops the baton previous issues were passing it. There are a bit too many story pieces happening far too quickly for the pacing to be enjoyable. It’s not bad dialogue or concepts that make this issue difficult to digest since those are fantastic. The hard parts are watching cool ideas being thrown against a wall without exploring them. With any luck, the next issue will untangle itself from this one’s pacing spasm.
Veronica and Betty’s scheme opens the issue as a Riverdale version of The Bachelor. Archie and Sabrina pull aside to have a quick discussion about their comfort and how they want to proceed. Cheryl’s put Archie in a position where he believes he can help someone by doing the show. It’s unclear if it’s a con by her or if there’s genuine altruism in her behavior. The game show is throwing a wrench into Archie and Sabrina’s relationship, but there’s a way to turn it around. Whatever plan the two concoct against Betty, Veronica, and Cheryl’s game is up in the air till next issue. Though this is where I feel the issue loses itself.
Cheryl’s contest happens too fast in my opinion. If the story says there’s a large competition coming, I’d rather see it play out in more than two pages. It didn’t need to be an arc in itself, but at least a solid issue showing how it went. I understand resolving a conflict quick but there were better ways than fast-forwarding through an obstacle built over two issues. Then there’s the mystery behind Sabrina and Archie’s meeting. It doesn’t need to be revealed now or even fully soon, but we have no pieces yet to contemplate. I’d hate for a Hobgoblin-level of waiting for a reveal about their meeting. I don’t see it going that way, but the discussion between Sabrina and Archie in the issue is an alarm. It screams “we still don’t know why you two are together!”
There is one moment here that really got me in the feels though. While Reggie and Jughead are off searching for Reggie’s father, something is said that makes a wonderful character moment. Reggie and his dad don’t always see eye-to-eye. Over the summer, Reggie’s dad hit it off with Jughead as he writes for the newspaper. Jughead is hesitant to help Reggie until he hears him say “you were like his new son.” At that moment we realize, alongside Jughead, Reggie’s relationship with his dad hasn’t been the best recently. It’s a quick gut punch but it definitely sticks the landing.
The art is once again gorgeous so what else can I say? Archie Comics always has a sense of in-house art style so it’s pretty reliable if you enjoy it. Sandy Jerrell and Matt Herms prove they sit perfectly in the New Archie era’s cavalcade of artists. They really get to strut their stuff during the Riverdale Bachelor segments where there’s a ton of random action.
This isn’t a bad issue in any sense of the word. If anything, this is a testament to how well Nick Spencer usually writes. When there’s an issue like this one that feels even a tiny bit different from his MO, I’m surprised. It’s a mid-arc issue and I’m sure it will read better in its full form.
Archie (2015-) #704
Archie #704 had a good roadmap it needed to follow and does just that. I only wish it would’ve had room to take in the sights.
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