It’s the 400th post already! I know I’m surprised too, and it’s not even this blog’s anniversary. Anyway, I thought I’d do another Archie post for the occasion and what better choice than the latest, epic one-shot Archie vs the World!

Since the editors so enjoyed the team of Aubrey Sitterson’s writing and Jed Dougherty’s beefy art, the duo return with this Mad Max/North of the First Star-inspired tale of a flaming Archie, and grizzled Jughead venturing the desert wasteland to rescue Veronica after the apocolypse.

But that’s not all, they contact the mystical sorceress Sabrina for advice on what Archie’s path shall be after being bestowed with powerful and destructive gifts, whether he shall always be alone and he fights against his rival Reggie whose egomaniac yet suicidal tendencies make for some knock-out brawls that splatter the pages with blood. Seriously, the art just jumps out at you.

There’s plenty of fun cameos from the rest of the Riverdale gang in Mad Max-esque style like a destroyed Weatherbee, dueling Cabot twins, hulking Moose, Jughead vs Toni and so on.

And then there are Archie’s girls who come together at the end of the battle with three choices for Archie. Much like Paris choosing which goddess to give the golden apple, Cheryl offers power, Veronica says she’ll give him wealth and Betty has neither but happiness. Power, Wealth, Happiness. . . Which one will Archie choose, Jughead intones. And in this barbaric world, the stakes are higher than ever as this choice more than any death match will decide Archie’s destiny.

Well I’ll leave readers to find out the final decision for themselves but they’ll surely enjoy the wild ride as they do so.

But just like I have said in my other reviews of Archie one-shots, I just wish they were longer. I know it goes against the whole one-shot thing but I feel like it could get more in-depth and more exciting if they explored the lore of this post-apolocyptic world instead of montages giving just enough hint and new character designs for readers to want more.

The editor’s note had mentioned they originally planned it to be a new universe before cutting it to a one-shot so maybe mass fan-feedback could bring it back or at least give more character designs. Write down your thoughts on social media under the #Archievstheworld to let the company know!