America’s Favorite Teenager, Archie Andrews, is reborn in the pages of this must-have graphic novel collecting the first six issues of the comic book series that everyone is talking about. Meet Riverdale High teen Archie, his oddball, food-loving best friend Jughead, girl-next-door Betty and well-to-do snob Veronica Lodge as they embark on a modern reimagining of the beloved Archie world. It’s all here: the love triangle, friendship, humor, charm and lots of fun – but with a decidedly modern twist.

10 years later, and I’m reading this for the first time. Yep, I know, an Archie fan like me took a decade to get to the reboot. I’ll admit it’s shallow but I didn’t want to see change, but after enjoying the new Jughead, Sabrina, etc. I figured I’d give this one a chance.

I’m glad I did. Covering the first six issues, Waid gets to the crux of the main Riverdale cast. Archie is good-hearted and klutzy, Betty’s the tomboy girl next door, etc. but he allows them to have long-standing fights. Yes, I’m talking about the #lipstickincident that nicely calls out Archie’s hypocrisy while remaining sympathetic and Betty’s long-time identity shift between tomboy and girly-girl. Which in the comics is due to evolution of the times, Waid writes this as a genuine misunderstanding and Betty attempting to fit in with the high school crowd.

Jughead is the stand-out, remaining apathetic, funny and sane among the hormone-addled teenagers way too invested in Barchie. Veronica also gets introduced half-way through the series and though Waid goes the classic love triangle route, he leaves an opening for friendship between her and Betty with a sweet post-cafeteria rescue.

Reggie is Reggie, and by that, Waid leans hard to the supervillain angle which creates a compelling cliffhanger.

Basically, Waid accomplished the rare feat of respecting the source material and expanding it, diluting the essence of these iconic characters and putting them in new, interesting situations that feel universal yet modern. It’s a great blend and he’s done it effortlessly.

Side-eyes Riverdale franchise. We could have had this on our screens instead of that hot mess of non-continuity!

Fiona Staples’ art is gorgeous, nice color palette f lights and darks, and she’s good with physical comedy. Veronica Fish and Annie Wu were good follow-ups, although Wu’s sometimes distracted the eye as it felt like her models were always slanting to the right or to the left.

The plot may not be the most innovative, but it gets the readers settled into the new Riverdale and excited for what changes will come for the gang.

4 stars