Comic Review: Archie (2015-) #705

Archie (2015-) #705

Archie Comics

Writer: Nick Spencer

Artist: Sandy Jarrell

There’s a lot going down in Riverdale. Reggie Mantle’s dad is missing, but there are clues and a mystery for Reggie to solve. Archie and Sabrina are in a relationship and are hiding it from everyone else. And on top of that, some mysterious new elements get a tease by the end of this issue.

Archie #705 picks up where right where the last issue ends. Betty and Veronica set up an elaborate dating game show with Cheryl Blossom. It’s all in the hopes that Archie will crack under pressure and reveal his secret girlfriend to the world. Things don’t go as they hope, and Archie makes a deal with Cheryl to play at a “sham” relationship.

I like this issue. There’s not too much that happens in it, but I like it. It feels kind of like a filler issue, just setting up a bunch of stuff to come. Betty and Veronica, friends forever, decide to stop worrying about Archie and focus on themselves. But their goals aren’t the same and will, inevitably, lead to conflict between them. Jughead is still helping Reggie investigate his father’s disappearance, but we don’t learn anything. There’s a tease about some maybe supernatural stuff with Sabrina, but that’s just it. The story doesn’t move forward too much, but there’s a lot of teasers.

As far as art goes, I enjoy it. I like the characters and their designs in this style, and I think the colors are great. I don’t have anything to complain about in this issue. But, the thing is, there’s not much that really happens. For the most part, this issue involves characters standing around talking. It’s Archie, so I’m not expecting any double-page spread fight scenes or anything like that. Though that would be unexpected, and pretty darn cool.

I like this issue, I do. But, after the first few pages, it feels a bit like filler. We’re shown things that I want to see play out, but it’s all just teasers. Does stuff happen? Yeah, but not much. The art is great, no faults there. There’s a lot of elements present that I like in this story so far, but again, none of it goes anywhere. We drive one block at the start of the issue, and we’re stuck at a red light for the rest of it. If you’re invested in the Archie series, I don’t think you’ll mind this issue too much. But I don’t think this would be good as anyone’s introduction to it.