ARCHIE & FRIENDS: SUPERHEROES No. 1
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.
STORY: Ian Flynn
PENCILS: Pat & Tim Kennedy; Jeff Shultz
INKS: Jim Amash; Bob Smith
COLORS: Glenn Whitmore
LETTERS: Jack Morelli
EDITOR: Victor Gorelick
COVER: Pat & Tim Kennedy and Bob Smith with Rosario “Tito” Peña
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (July 2021)
Rating: All-Ages
M.L.J. Magazines, Inc. began in 1939 and primarily published superhero comics. Then, a character named “Archie Andrews” and his friends made their debut in M.L.J.'s Pep Comics #22 (cover dated: December 1941), and before long Archie was the publisher's headliner character. In 1946, the company changed its named to Archie Comic Publications, also known as “Archie Comics.”
Over time, Archie and his friends would become known as “Archie and the Gang.” In 1992, Archie Comics began publishing the title Archie & Friends, and it would run for 159 issues, ceasing publication in 2012. Since then, Archie has published a number of single-issue Archie & Friends titles built around a theme, such as Archie & Friends: Fall Festival, Archie & Friends: Beach Party, and Archie & Friends: Back to School.
Archie & Friends: Superheroes #1 is the newest Archie & Friends themed release. This single-issue comic book contains four five-page stories depicting the super heroics of Archie and the Gang. It also features some appearances by classic Archie superhero characters like Bob Phantom and Blackjack.
Bob Phantom was created by writer Harry Shorten and artist Irv Novick and is from the “Golden Age of Comics.” Bob Phantom debuted in Blue Ribbon Comics #2 (cover dated: December 1939) and was “the Scourge of the Underworld.” He disappeared from comics after 1942, and did not reappear again until 1964. The Blackjack that appears in Archie & Friends: Superheroes is a modern version of the M.L.J. Character, “Black Jack,” who first appeared in the publisher's Zip Comics #20 (cover dated: November 1941). After 1943, the character disappeared until a single appearance in the 1960s.
Bob Phantom and Blackjack are apparently among a group of MLJ/Archie Comics superhero characters that reappear from time to time. They each appear in two stories in Archie & Friends: Superheroes #1, which is actually a reprint title. The four stories that comprise Archie & Friends: Superheroes #1 were published or reprinted in one or two of the following titles: Archie (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest #297, Archie Giant Comics Gala 2019, Archie Giant Comics Hop 2019, World of Archie Double Digest May, and B&V Friend Jumbo Comics.
Two humorous Archie Comics superheroes also appear in this comic book. The first is an updated version of “Powerteen,” the superhero identity of classic Archie character, Veronica Lodge, who first appeared in 2001. The second is “Pureheart,” a modern take on Archie Andrews' superhero heroic identity, “Pureheart the Powerful,” who first appeared in 1965.
Archie & Friends: Superheroes #1 opens with “From Zero to Hero,” written by Ian Flynn; drawn by Pat & Tim Kennedy (pencils) and Bob Smith (inks); colored by Glenn Whitemore; and lettered by Jack Morelli. Veronica has managed to snag an invitation to her father, Hiram Lodge's charity ball for Archie. But when the guest of honor, superhero Bob Phantom, appears, Archie makes a mess of the evening's plans.
The same creative team (except for Jim Amash replacing Bob Smith on inks) returns for “Secret Identities.” The story finds Archie and his pal, Jughead Jones, at the “Riverdale Comic Expo,” where Archie becomes confused about Bob Phantom's identity.
The third story is “Hidden Agenda!” It is written by Ian Flynn; drawn by Jeff Shultz (pencils) and Jim Amash (inks); colored by Glen Whitmore; and lettered by Jack Morelli. Veronica's Powerteen joins Blackjack in order to find out who is stealing from her father, Hiram's secret wall safe. But a hidden agenda may complicate solving this mystery.
The creative team returns (with Bob Smith replacing Jim Amash on inks) for this comic book's final story, “Pureheart Rescue!” Blackjack and Powerteen have to rescue Archie who has been kidnapped by “goons” working for Lucky Lavitto (an adversary of the original 1940s Black Jack). So Blackjack and Powerteen are wondering why Archie doesn't simply become his superhero identity, Pureheart” and save himself. Yeah, why is that?
THE LOWDOWN: Archie & Friends: Superheroes #1 is a classic-style Archie Comics titles. That means the cover and interior comic book art are drawn in a style that is similar to the classic Archie Comics house style. This style was based on the art of beloved Archie artist, the late Dan DeCarlo (1919-2001), who was fired from Archie Comics shortly before his death.
Over the last decade, Archie Comics has adopted new art styles and graphic presentations for its comics publications, as it has sought to attract, young adult, teen, and older readers with new publications and updated and modernized versions of its its characters. I have enjoyed what little of the modern Archie Comics that I have read, but I grew up on classic-style Archie Comics.
I am happy with Archie & Friends: Superheroes #1. These stories aren't great, but I enjoyed them anyway. In fact, I would like to see more stories of MLJ/Archie superheroes presented in this humorous fashion.
I also want to give a shout out to the creative teams, especially Jack Morelli, who is one of my favorite comic book letterers. I also have to acknowledge colorist Glenn Whitmore, whose colors make the art by the Kennedys and Jeff Shultz seem to pop off the page.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of classic-style Archie Comics and of MLJ/Archie Comics superheroes will want to find a copy of Archie & Friends: Superheroes #1.
B
6 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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