A ‘T’ for Teen rated book from Archie Comics? Who would ever have thought such a thing was
possible? Although I have to admit Archie
Comics has been doing a lot of innovative things over the last two to three
years.
In Afterlife With Archie Comics #1 Jughead’s beloved dog Hot
Dog is hit by a hit and run driver (Reggie is the culprit revealed later in the
book) and despondent Jughead takes the injured Hot Dog to Sabrina the teenage
witch for help. But it is too late. Sabrina and her aunts can’t save Hot Dog from
death without dire consequences. Hurt
and crushed by his canine friend’s death Jughead wanders home, even missing
Riverdale’s Halloween Party.
Sympathetic to her friend’s pain Sabrina follows Jughead and
instructs him to bring Hot Dog’s lifeless body outside of Riverdale, bury and
wait as she performs an arcane mystic ritual.
And then they wait. Later
that evening Jughead hears a noise and miracles of miracles Hot Dog has
returned from the dead.
Only Hot Dog doesn’t act like Hot Dog and he attacks and
bites his master.
Later, Archie comes to visit and is concerned about his best
friend who has even lost his appetite and appears sick. Archie volunteers to miss the Halloween festivities
and spend the evening with Jughead. Jughead
insists he goes to the event.
The Halloween chaperones: Principal Weatherbee and Miss Grundy, are sitting
outside when Jughead (bathed in shadows) approaches. He promptly attacks them and shows up (blood
soaked) at the Halloween event. Everyone
thinks he’s in costume…but we know better.
Hard to believe this is an Archie comic book. Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artist
Francesco Francavilla serve up a chilling story that will have Archie Comic
Book readers talking about for years to come.
I predict this will become a classic issue and a key collectible.