Archie #23 review: Charity work with the klutz of Riverdale
By Alex Widen
Betty Cooper is out of her coma, but not out of the woods. Can Archie help in the charity effort all across Riverdale without messing up?
Archie #23
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Audrey Mok
Colorist: Kelly Fitzpatrick
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The small town of Riverdale has suffered what may be its greatest shock. It wasn’t tycoon Hiram Lodge bringing his superstar daughter Veronica there, nor was Jughead befriending her. It was the near mortal wounding of Betty Cooper, the sweetheart of Riverdale, after a drag race gone amiss. As Archie narrates, the drag race that Reggie Mantle goaded him into had a near fatal consequence. And, for the moment, Reggie and anything he owns faces the town’s vengeance.
Image by Archie Comics
While Archie was partly responsible (and is heavily guilt ridden), it seems like Reggie is seen as the sole cause. He instigated the turn of events in the first place, and he never hit the break when Betty’s car came towards him. The irony is Archie sought to become a hero by dethroning Reggie in the drag race. Despite being known as an arrogant, sleazy con man, Reggie enjoyed some “big man” status in town. Archie wanted to “be a hero” and take him down, but not like this.
Image by Archie Comics
Can a Klutz Help Save Riverdale Again?
Ever since the accident, Archie has been spending most of his time keeping vigil at Riverdale Hospital, waiting for Betty to come around. Yet the cliffhanger from the previous issue remains — it seems like she is paralyzed and cannot move or feel her legs. Her parents consult the doctor, who informs them that a battery of tests need to be done to determine the cause of Betty’s paralysis and the extent of her injury. Like most nameless fictional doctors, every diagnosis is terrible.
Image by Archie Comics
The concept of Betty being paralyzed hits Archie like a brick — almost as hard as it hits her parents. The distraught redhead heads to the only place to go to see what’s up in Riverdale — Pop Tate’s. There, he sees the rest of his supporting cast planning a massive round of charity to support Betty. It seems like she wasn’t “the heart of Riverdale” due to her demeanor, but the genuine good work she did all over. From raking to tutoring, Betty is a one woman social service.
Image by Archie Comics
Archie wants to help, yet none of his friends are willing to admit the obvious. Since Archie is easily the world’s biggest klutz, capable of being at the center of Looney Tunes style disasters, he makes any job harder. It is never deliberate, and Archie always has the purest of intentions. Regardless, being a hapless walking typhoon is a burden on any charity project. Not even Veronica or Jughead want Archie’s assistance, so they resort to hand gesture games to determine the unlucky sucker.
Image by Archie Comics
Not Even Batman Could Short out Lights That Fast!
The end result is a strong of predictable yet hilarious disasters. He’s sent to help Toni coach junior soccer, only to get wound up in the goalie’s net. Sayid initially thinks a lawnmower will be safer than a rake during a grounds keeping chore, only to later react as if he’d handed off a jet-pack. Not even Sheila filling in at a veterinary clinic is safe whenever Archie Andrews is on the scene. Perhaps the CIA should hire him, as Archie even proves able to short out an entire building’s power via email!
Image by Archie Comics
Utterly dejected and rejected, Archie is near rock bottom when Betty finally regains full consciousness. He’s on scene when her doctor lays things out. Her spine isn’t damaged, but her paralysis is due to her head trauma, with no timetable for recovery. While this only strengthens Betty’s resolve, Archie’s hope collapses. He resolves to do something to pitch in, deciding to distribute flyers for a candlelight vigil in Riverdale. Yet not even this can go smoothly for him.
Image by Archie Comics
By the finale, the slapstick is over and the story is in full drama mode. Archie feels not only guilty, but also completely helpless and useless. He feels like he’s failed his best friend while all of the rest of his pals are more capable. Yet, as Veronica points out, all hope it not lost. Somehow his flyers wound up landing in the right places — or Jughead and Veronica pulled strings to make it work once they found out. Either way, the last page is a near tearjerker for the extra sensitive.
Image by Archie Comics
The Line between Comedy and Tragedy!
Mark Waid continues not only his exceptional run as lead writer, but his attempts to straddle the line between comedy and drama. Most of this issue falls on the “drama” side — only six pages focus on Archie’s superhuman klutziness. For the most part, the shifts between tones are smooth, which isn’t an easy skill. Fred Van Lente is a writer who I often credit for being able to perform this transition with near perfect ease. Waid is not quite as gifted in this regard, but he comes close.
Image by Archie Comics
While the focus is on Archie, Waid covers how the rest of the cast react as well. The Coopers are devastated. Veronica, Jughead, Sayid, and the rest use the charity work as their method of coping. Dilton Doiley and Moose Mason even turn up, since the former was the closest Betty had to a boyfriend at the time. One scene shows Dilton crying in front of one of Reggie’s cars holding a knife. I think the impression was him debating defacing it, but a darker interpretation could be had.
Image by Archie Comics
Archie is the point of view character, and his own anguish is evident. Yet, through him, Waid is able to show how all of Riverdale is mourning this tragedy. Even random policemen give their condolences for Archie to share. The doctor who is treating Betty has his daughter tutored by her. It’s made bluntly evident that Betty’s kindness and determination are the glue which helps hold the small down together. She’s more than just Archie’s first love or childhood friend.
Image by Archie Comics
Great Art Brings out the Best in Everyone!
Speaking of Betty, I was still curious about how exactly Waid would play this. While the fact that this series was able to flirt with things like her permanent death or maiming more so than ever imagined, it was not something which could last. Betty Cooper is one of the main stars of the franchise. It would be hard for the line to maintain that sense of comedy or fun if she’s permanently crippled in the main book. Her path to mobility will be a character defining one.
Image by Archie Comics
A new arc sees yet another new art team in Audrey Mok and Kelly Fitzpatrick. Trying to keep count of how many this run has had is dizzying, with few lasting more than 4–6 issues. The original designs and feel for the cast that Fiona Staples founded remain intact, and, overall, I like Mok and Fitzpatrick’s style here. They have a great grasp of the characters as well as being able to juggle the serious with the comedic. It reminds me of a mingling between Western and manga styling.
Image by Archie Comics
Going on Two Years and Still Hitting Home Run Issues!
The gag of someone screaming, “How!?” when Archie summons an impossible klutz-storm is repeated in this issue. Mark Waid has employed it in several, yet he runs some risk of running it into the ground if he goes too far. The incidents become increasingly more bizarre and outlandish. At the very least, many of them seem to take place off panel after some minor set up, so the reader can imagine many of the “money shots.” There’s a line between just enough or too much.
Image by Archie Comics
Next: See the finale to the hard hitting three-parter in #22!
In conclusion, this is another terrific issue of a run which already seems like a legendary one. I cannot think of any run on Archie where the stakes were so high and the changes so revolutionary. Yet, despite all of that, Waid and a host of artists have pulled it off. Archie has gone from dated to contemporary, and from retro to cutting edge. While the comedy is always there, there is just enough drama to keep the stakes high. I wonder what will become of Reggie Mantle next issue!