In case you hadn’t noticed, Archie Comics is back in a big way. Their aggressive marketing and new approaches to the digital age have made people who would have normally blown off the venerable publisher take notice. One of the things that has been the most pervasive is the storyline featuring President Barack Obama and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. This issue finishes that storyline, with a bit of mixed results.
Previously (and recapped very nicely in the book in case you missed last issue), Archie and Reggie were running for class president, and their prospective campaign managers got the bright idea to have them pose for pictures with the previously presented politicos. This kind of blows up in their faces in true Archie fashion, and the two VIPs find time in their busy schedules to come to Riverdale and sort the mess out.
Therein lies the only issue I had with the story, but it’s kind of a big one. With the media blitz that happens when all of this hits the fan, the book quickly becomes “Obama & Palin visit Riverdale with some redhead to the side” There are a few pages of tv-style interviews and they really annoyed me. They were full of beating around the bush an the sort of rhetoric I am not fond of in real life. I can say that at least it is accurate.
Thankfully, Archie and the gang take the stage soon after all this, realizing they’re responsible for this mess, so they need to fix it. In the meantime, an informer calling himself “Sore Throat” informs President Obama as to the true character of Reg and Arch. Eventually, confrontations are had between the candidates and the politicians. The book really shined for me here. Obama’s speech to Archie struck a chord with me, it was all about personal responsibility and being accountable. Reggie too has a powwow with Palin, with slightly different results (this is Reggie Mantle, after all). Everything works out in the end, and lessons have been learned.
All in all, I was prepared to not like this issue at all. I dislike stories that seem driven by shock or event value, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised with the way everything played out. The art too, is also a treat. Dan Parent is probably my favorite artist in the Archie stable, his renditions of Palin and Obama are immediately recognizable, yet they never devolve into caricatures of themselves. I would say if you’re curious, pick it up. It’s definitely worth it.
Archie #617 goes on sale tomorrow, January 26th for $2.99 at finer comic shops everywhere.