Monday Mention: Afterlife With Archie #8: A Ghost Story

Afterlife With Archie #8: A Ghost Story (Afterlife With Archie #8) 
by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Writer), Francesco Francavilla (Artist)

The spirit of Xmas can't be ruined with zombies! Spirits of the dead have come to say hello as the gang takes refuge in an abandoned hotel. Archie rehashes his journey so far with his old pal Jughead, who we  are sad we didn't get to know much about before his fatal run in with a dog ironically named after a food Jughead loves to eat. 

Just one night of "magic" lets this gang see their loved ones again. But with this loving time we learn evil is still roaming and has been for many years in Riverdale. Years ago a deal with witches was struck, sacrifices were to be made. Could this be why zombies have emerged? People should know magic always comes with a price. DUH!

I thought a great background story worked well in letting us tie in Sabrina and Archie and getting to know zombies aren't something new. It did seem kind of random for zombies to start happening so this Archie explains that. I kind of had a GASP moment too. It all makes sense now. I really enjoyed seeing some Jughead. We didn't get to know his character pre-zombie apocalypse. 

3 out of 5 monkey brains

Monday Mentions: Afterlife With Archie #7: Thanksgiving

Afterlife With Archie #7: Thanksgiving (Afterlife With Archie #7) 

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator), Jack Morelli (Illustrator

Archie and the gang have been away from Riversdale for awhile, stumbling across America and zombies. The gang decides to rest and give thanks and hunt for some turkey-like food. Soon they aren't the only ones hunting. 

So Betty is being a teen and writing her emotions on paper. We dive into her life with sis Polly, the death and loss from Jugdead's reign, and her secret time with Archie. oooooo Veronica not going to be happy about that.  And she isn't. 

Princess veronica is being all jelly. Meanwhile, folks are dreaming of Sabrina's honeymoon I think. Weird. Did she marry Cthulhu?! On top of it all, the Blossom siblings got a Flowers in the Attic relationship minus Cheryl liking it. Gamgam will for sure be punishing these too. 

3 out of 4 monkey brains

Monday Mention: Afterlife With Archie #6: The Nether-Realm

Afterlife With Archie #6: The Nether-Realm (Afterlife With Archie #6) 

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator), Jack Morelli (Illustrator)  

 So we take a little break from the gang this issue and honestly, it was way too short of a story I felt for this issue. I was also really looking forward to hearing more from the Riverdale gang since we don't know how they are doing since the Lodge's but instead got Sabrina and what has been up with her. And what has she been doing? Why being crazy, or so you think... She's off being manipulated and drugged into thinking many thing aren't real, even that her aunts are dead. 

Being banished to witches’ purgatory after using the dreaded Necronomicon, Sabrina has more than teenage angst and fighting with her cat to deal with. She has to struggle with keeping her soul. 

In reality, there are wedding bells ringing for Sabrina and a certain squid-like beast you'd likely see being controlled by Davy Jones.

3 out of 5 monkey brains

 

Afterlife with Archie #5: Escape From Riverdale

Afterlife with Archie #5: Escape From Riverdale (Afterlife With Archie #5) 
 

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator), Jack Morelli (Illustrator)

In this installment we see Smither's POV with his life with the Lodge's. We learn he takes his job very seriously but he made a promise to Mrs. Lodge to look out for Veronica. Lotta good that is going to do with all the zombies around.

Meanwhile, Archie is proving to be a whiny bitch to Betty. JK folks! He is sad about his dad. I mean he did die. 

Others in the house are trying to get calm for the night but Reggie is a homophobic ass to Keller, the two lesbians aren't getting along now with the one's bf in the picture, and zombies appear to have surrounded the place. Time to leave the mansion ! Will they survive?
Considering there are more to come out, seems like they will. 

4 out of 5 monkey brains

Afterlife with Archie #4: Archibald Rex

Afterlife with Archie #4: Archibald Rex (Afterlife With Archie #4) 

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator), Jack Morelli (Illustrator)

 "With two more members of our beloved gang infected by the dreadful zombie-virus, Riverdale’s one sanctuary—Lodge Mansion—has been compromised. The kids are left to make a significant decision—do they stay and fight or flee the only town they’ve ever known? Meanwhile, Archie makes a horrific discovery in his own home, one that may cost him his life!" - Goodreads
*SPOILERS BELOW*
Archie goes home to find out two of his loved ones aren't what they used to be. Undead is spreading like wild fire. And it appears Jugdead has some leader skills surfacing as he grabs the attention of all kinds of zombies in a impromptu meeting. 

Legit saddest comic yet. Poor Archie! Breaks my heart what he had to do to not just his dog, but also his dad and how it was portrayed is what made it beautifully sad. And as much as I don't want to spoil it for you randoms that are reading a review of something, this is what made me cry and this is just the last panel.

4 out of 5 monkey brains

Afterlife with Archie #3: Sleepover

Afterlife with Archie #3: Sleepover (Afterlife With Archie #3) 

by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Francesco Francavilla (Illustrator)

 "The zombie apocalypse is in full swing and the surviving members of the gang have taken refuge in the Lodge Mansion—believing themselves safe from the infected roaming the streets of Riverdale! But there’s no stopping Archie from sneaking out, risking life and limb to find his missing parents—leaving those sequestered behind vulnerable to an enemy within!" - Goodreads

Safe in the Lodge house, Betty tries to have some pool party fun, but someone is infected and Mr. Lodge does what he needs to quarantine the situation. Let's just say he is DEAD serious about containing no more infections. And poor little Betty's party is spoiled.  Meanwhile, Archie goes on the streets to see where the folks are. All he sees is desertion and death, maybe even his own or someone he loves.

Could this comic get any better? And the answer is YES! #4 review coming right up. 

4 out of 5 monkey brains