No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Reviewing ‘Archie In Hell’ #1

Good old Riverdale. A place where nothing more than some typical wholesome teenage style antics happens on a daily basis. Like innocent Archie Andrews who does good deeds and splits dates between Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge.

Wait, what’s that, a apocalypse demons worshiping murder cult has rolled into town with their sights set on that same Archie Andrews? Well, that sure seems less than wholesome.

A new level of horror begins in Archie In Hell #1 from Patrick Horvath, Tyler Crook, and Francesco Segala.

-Spoilers Follow-

Horror and Archie are no strangers. Back in the late 2010s and early 2020s there was the whole wave of horror books in the Archie-verse, kicked off by Afterlife With Archie. After years of books mostly leaning back to the classic style digest stories, it’s been nice to see Oni Press be able to stoke some new fire into the universe.

Horvath, Crook, and Segala have me hooked right away to this series. It scratches so many itches at once., giving us a more ‘modern’ take on the Archie universe, while dipping into some very slow building delicious horror. We watch as Archie tries to do selfless good and pays a terrible price for that kindness and innocence.

There are no holds barred as we start off with seeing the principal Mr. Weatherbee beheaded in his own home, his head utilized for the satanic ritual. Archie has his arm sliced open and actually dies, with Sabrina sending him to a potentially (seemingly time tossed) hellish dimension to save him.

Everything just flows so smoothly here. All the typical shenanigans and character traits these iconic figures are known for are on full display. Their issues with double dating, rivalries, and gorging on food seemingly minimal compared to the tragedy awaiting them. Opposed to the aforementioned earlier horror books, I dig how Horvath makes sure this is a clear but simple build to the horror. Yet, there is still nothing given away as the ending brings about a cliffhanger that breeds even more questions.

There is a time for quick everything goes bad in a heartbeat horror and there is a time for the slow boil tension is building horror. Now is the time for the second one for sure.

Artistically, Crook finds that beautiful line between classic and modern with the visuals. These characters have a timeless quality to them which is intrinsic and finds it’s way onto the page in various ways. They appear as if they walked out of the old school books into our sort of world and acclimated instantly. How bright and colorful things are bleeds into the creeping horror with perfection.

These colors are vibrant but also slightly washed out with a more natural bent under Segala’s hand. This gives the whole space an authentic to life feeling while letting the figures still have their whimsical blast from the past energy at full power.

Horvath and Crook capture their voices with precision as well. Horvath gives them the impetus and foundation while Crook imbues them with the right emotional energy and logical flow across the page, turning moments of extreme exposition and lore set up into playful banter and energetic patter. We learn a ton and they play their parts masterfully, to remind us of who each character is, but it never feels annoying, overwhelming, or forced.

A big time chef kiss to this series opening gambit which leaves me craving even more. Especially with the note that Archie is suddenly in a version of 1690. We love a good period piece horror story.

Archie In Hell #1 is now available from Oni Press.