I’m reviewing The Archies as one whole thing instead of two separate volumes as vol 1 only collects the first 3 and vol 2 collects the other 4. It’s 7 in all and really didn’t need to be split apart as they all follow smoothly into each other in one seamless musical journey.

Matthew Rosenberg and Alex Segura are clearly enjoying the chance to show off the highs and lows of a band trying to make it big while facing low funds, cramped conditions, scarce crowds and fighting their way to the spotlight in a competitive industry. Plus they really flex some real life music industry insiders with such cameos as Blondie, Cveches Speedy Ortiz alongside Archie favorites as the Bingos and Josie and the Pussycats.

In fact, it’s the Bingos that give the Archies their start as they go on the same tour thanks to Bingo’s pull. Even though, they’ve got potential as many point out, it doesn’t translate to instant success. Like in their first stop in New Jersey where their venue falls through and even worse, they’re kicked out of their dedlux hotel lodgings when Mr. Lodge cancells Veronica’s card. Truly, the meltdown Veronica has when she realizes she has no money in NEW JERSEY! It’s hysterical, best part of that issue.

Well best part next to the newly reimagined mature Jinx Holliday who is the lead singer (with the fashionand crew cut hairstyle to boot) of the punk rock band, Little Miss Steps. Which was a perfect references to the Archie Comics’ teen Jinx vol 2 entitled (you guessed it) Little Miss Steps. That combined with her casual cool, hard edge attitude was just awesome. And the little spotlight on the punk rock images of Jinx’s friends Roz, Charley, Greg, Mort and Gigi were a wonderful addition too.

I’ll admit these cameos are what made the comic shine, more so than the plot in the first three issues. At least for me. The plots were a bit of the same flat plots regularly seen in band biopics like the lead singer needing to share the spotlight, learn it’s not just about the sucess, they should have fun too, etc. You get the idea but I suppose they’re such music staples because it is a regular part of life as a wannabe muscian.

However, I think the series really hits its stride in issue #4 when it takes a break from the music foils and successes of the Archies when Archie gets hit by a shoe mid-gig. Thoroughly concussed, Archie slips into a dream where the Archies slip into the Funanimation style remiscent of their 60s tv show and team up with the Monkees when actual gorillas kidnap Monkee’s member, Davy.

The whole thing is comedic goal and full of little references such as Sabrina teaching Veronica the magic of quick style changes (it’s a dream, why not? Though Archie is thoroughly confused that Sabrina knows magic. Ha!), the meta wink-wink nudge-nudge of comic medium with catchphrases and kooky villans and the Archies transforming to their Superteens disguises. It’s all such fun to read. It might be just my favorite of the whole series.

More hardcore muscians would probably disagree with me but as I’ve never heard the music of Cvches, Blondie or Teagan and Sara (yes I’m very bad music connoisseur. I know musicals), that part of the storyline didn’t resonate with me as much.

What I did enjoy was the cool dynamics that Segura and Rosenberg wove into the story like Archie and Jughead’s friendship as well as heart to heart when Jughead quits the band, reminding readers why Archie’s optimism and foolhardiness meshes so well with Jughead’s more calm and philosphical nature. Despite many hijinks (usually of Archie’s doing), they really do stand by each other and wish each other the best of happiness even if they’re priorities/paths differ.

Not only that, there’s a great talk between Veronica and Jughead which many Archie fans know is interesting since they just haaate hanging around each other and always getting on each other’s nerves. But seeing them talk point blank because of the guy they both care about was surprisingly poignant.

Additionally, the writers also play around with narrations with issue #2 being narrated by Betty, highlighting her own desires within the band and her songwriting strength (plus requisite Archie lesson that other people can shine in the band. Not just Archie) and issue 7 narrated by Reggie where no lessons are learned (at least from Reggie), but it’s perfectly snarky and in-character as Reggie points out that they got lots of opportunities handed to them by pure luck and that luck is bound to run out.

So basically character development and character dynamics are a real highlight for non-musician me with a realism that makes it engaging as the Archies tend to flounder in their tour more than succeed. Such highlights as songwriting egos, recording, cabin fever (or band van fever I guess), quitting and well. . failure and band break-ups. It would be so clssic Archie that the band is a success but the slight downer that they don’t come on top is not much of a downer but a refreshing change of pace.

Now onto a few negatives. Eisnas art is great with its bold palette and again, love the shift to Funanimation style but I just didn’t like Jughead’s nose. Not all the time but when it was in profile, it just reminded me too much of some very bad prosthetic. It was too beakish rather than the needle-nose I’m used to.

But in less nit-picky negatives, I felt the Archies needed another issue at least. It seems all these quick series have eight issues but this one only had seven which necessitated it to skip over some potential storylines but exposition-dumping them such as a San Francisco debacle in issue #6 where Archie kisses on Veronica and Betty sees. Betty and Veronica makeup right in the beginning of that issue and reaffirm their friendship but it would have hit harder if we saw the tension more rather than been told of it.

Same with the last issue when the band splits apart and the members gain new opportunities where it seems like another set of panals were skipped over like Archie just knowing about Veronica’s new position in the Pussycats without even being told. I thought I skipped a page or something, it was so sudden.

It’s a shame that the executives or whoever is in charge feel the need to keep these series to only eight issues with no room for more breathing room but I’m not a comic exec so what do I know.

But to leave it on a happier note, some other cameos I enjoyed was Katy Keene as a judge in the final issue and issue #5, the Archies are offered to be the opener for Teddy Tambourine’s beat poetry. For those who don’t know Teddy was a member of the Mad House Gla-Ads which were a popular Archie band in the 60s-70s comics.

And final;ly, I really enjoyed that each of the Archies issue ends with a band review by a local newspaper or some such that adds to the feel of this musicians on the road and make it more real.

Overall, 4 Sugar Sugars EPs!