THE DEATH OF ARCHIE: A LIFE CELEBRATED by Paul Kupperberg, Fernando Ruiz, and Pat & Tim Kennedy
Collects Life With Archie #36-37
The death of an iconic character is nothing new to the world of comic books. Characters like Superman, Batman, Captain America, The Flash, and (very soon) Wolverine have all bit the dust in some form or fashion. The catch is that no reader takes comic book deaths seriously anymore because nearly every character that dies finds a way to resurrect. One exception to this trend may be Archie Andrews. Why? He’s just a normal guy. I highly doubt we will soon see “Reign of the Archies” followed by “The Return of Archie”. A big reason why I feel this death will prove permanent is due to the fact that the
Life With Archie series takes place in universes separate from regular Archie titles. Yes, universes plural; he’s married to Betty in one universe and Veronica in another. This series has a dramatic tone and shows us his adult life, whereas most Archie related titles focus on him and the gang in high school. If you buy this book for collecting purposes and are unfamiliar with the series, you will be pleased to know that a few pages are devoted to catching you up on the major events to occur in previous arcs.
The first half of the story is the “Death of “ issue. It starts off as a normal day in Riverdale and sees Archie bump into nearly every significant character in town. You really get a sense that he’s had a positive impact on everyone he meets. The conversation that stood out most for me was the one with Mr. Pavia. It was kind of a meta examination of why the character of Archie has endured for nearly three quarters of a century. I also really dug the cartoonish, yet highly emotive art style. It’s left ambiguous as to which universe this takes place in, but do know that these events occurred in BOTH. The shooting death of Archie occurs as a real one would: out of nowhere. Longtime fans will no doubt be touched by this chapter’s final panels.
A “One Year Later” tale comprises the second half. It follows Kevin Keller (the man whom Archie took a bullet for) as he collects stories of Archie from Riverdale’s most notable residents. It could be argued that this is the standout chapter when it comes to paying tribute to the lovable ginger. The dedication of Archie Andrews High School should put a smile on everyone’s face. However, I do have somewhat of a complaint and it is this: we never hear what became of the shooter. I know this book is meant to focus on Archie and his legacy, but it seemed like a pretty big thread that was left dangling. We’re also never given a clear motive as to why this man wanted to kill Kevin. It was hinted that it may have been the same man who shot some gays at a mall, but it’s never outright said that he was targeting Kevin for being gay or for his position on gun control. The one thing he shouts is rather vague and a far cry from “sic semper tyrannis”.
Supplemental material includes: a foreword; a history of Archie in comics and beyond; a cover gallery with quotes from many of the artists who contributed them; and a look at the art process the details how they refined some of the interiors. If you just want both chapters of the story, you can easily pick up the magazine-sized
Life With Archie #36. In my opinion, the bells and whistles of this trade paperback are worth the few extra bucks you will have to pay. This is the most definitive edition (at this moment) of Archie Andrews’ demise.
Score: 8/10