Archie #2 Review

 

Archie #2 Review

Writer: Ben H. Winters

Artist: Fábio Moon

Colorist: Jason Wordie

Cover Artists: Stuart Immonen, Fábio Moon, Rachael Stott, David López, Dan Parent & Matt Kindt

Publisher: Oni Press

Price: $4.99 US

Release Date: October 28, 2026

 

Archie Andrews and Forsythe Pendleton "Jughead" Jones III enjoy life in Riverdale. Archie tries hard at his studies. He sings and plays guitar. His closet is full of varsity jackets. Jughead has a voracious appetite and loves hanging out at Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe.

 

Lately, Archie has been struggling to fit everything he wants to do into each day. Jughead has begun to contemplate a future when he doesn’t attend Riverdale High, hang out with his friends, and order everything on Pop’s menu (twice). How will serving food and drinks to their predecessors at a school reunion affect them? And who are all the other people in their lives? Let’s leap into Archie #2 and see!

 

Story

As Josie and the Pussycats play on the stage, Archie, Jughead, and Betty mingle with the former students. They carry platters of food and drinks around the gym. In "Life and How to Live It," Archie and his friends may be working for tips. But instead of dropping coins and bills, some people attending the class reunion seem more intent on dispensing advice.

 

In Archie #2, a shadow hangs over Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. As Archie and his friend share a meal, Jughead notices his friend is quiet. He wonders what is troubling his normally buoyant friend. But as Archie resumes his busy schedule, Jughead affects his usual carefree manner. Yet in “Jughead’s Journal: Part 2,” Jughead returns to Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. It's a happy place that symbolizes his life in Riverdale. Yet, like Archie, he is troubled by the inevitable changes that life will bring.

 

While the first story follows Archie as he tries to adopt contrasting views on life, the second shares Jughead's contemplations. For Archie, school and relationships serve as the foundation of adulthood. And while he enjoys his teen years, Archie wants to get the next chapter of his life right. But listening to people who don't know him puts Archie in conflict with those who care about him.

 

As Archie strides toward an uncertain future, Jughead looks around, and he sees the perfect world he has. He’s not ready to move on. But after Pop’s worrying statement about his future, the school reunion prompts Jughead to face his future in Archie #2.

 

Art

Archie, wearing a tux and sneakers, carries a platter of champagne flutes around the gym. While one woman in casual attire smiles and offers Betty advice, two women in formal attire walk past with frowns. One man sweeps a flute off Archie's platter, smiles as he raises it, and grabs Archie in a half-embrace. Then another man pulls Archie into a side hug as he reaches for the other flute. Despite their contrasting views on life, both strut away.

 

As Fábio Moon portrays Archie and Jughead’s fun life in Riverdale, Jason Wordie adorns Archie #2 with a vibrant palette. Surrounded by red and blue, the first man who offers Archie advice wears beige and orange, while the second wears beige and green. The strong red and blue from the gym link with the red booths and blue windows of Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe. A phone conversation between Archie and Betty surrounds them with pink, purple, and orange. Purple and pink also adorn the background when they clash amid beige and orange. When Jughead leaves a full palette of colors in Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe, the green walls and blue blinds link with his moment of self-examination.

 

As Archie, Jughead, and their friends enjoy life in Riverdale, black uppercase letters fill white dialogue balloons. The words grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Hand-printed lowercase letters on pieces of perforated paper reveal Jughead's thoughts in "Jughead's Journal: Part 2." Then, lowercase words in yellow boxes introduce readers to Riverdale’s most prominent citizens in “Get to Know…The Lovely Homes of Riverdale.” Thanks to Oni Press and Superfan Promotions for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

If one thing in life is guaranteed, it's that life will change you. Archie works hard at having fun, while Jughead breezes through life. When both friends realize that they must adapt to what the future brings, Archie enthusiastically immerses himself in his preparations. Jughead steps back, adopting a more reserved view. Yet Betty, who looks after her family and Archie, seems untroubled by what the future may bring in Archie #2.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more collectible covers, see Archie #2 Preview. 

 

For how this series started, see Archie #1 Review.