Archie
By Mark Waid and Fiona Staples
2015 has seen many old characters take on new life, but none were so successful and satisfying as the new Archie run helmed by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples. Young Archie Andrews was given a facelift for a new generation. The updated incarnation of Archie allows a new wave of readers to interact with a character nearly as old as comic books themselves. Archie is off to an incredible start, with two of the best creators in comics today leading the charge. Waid breathes new life into what was once a tired and outdated character.
Waid’s Archie is more than a character; he is human in a way the Archie of old never was. He’s written as a person, not a caricature, and as such is infinitely more relatable to modern readers than a character dreamed up in the 40s who preferred to be called “Chick.” Archie’s love story is a familiar one, but Waid manages to make it interesting and engaging in a way that was unimaginable before. The new Archie is at once a departure and a continuation from its previous run. The characters are fresh and lively, and above all else, they are believable. They feel like old friends, come home again after a long absence. Mark Waid has made Archie relevant and interesting for a new generation.
Fiona Staples is arguably one of the best artists in comics today, and her work in Archie is a testament to that fact. Saga may have cemented Staples as a mainstay in the comic industry, but Archie is where she truly comes alive. Every panel is drawn with an almost effortless skill and grace, allowing her characters to take on a vibrancy that makes them feel truly alive. The warmth of her characters makes it near impossible not to fall in love with them. Coupled with Waid’s writing, Archie and his friends come alive in a way they never have before. Waid and Staples offer an Archie that is at once an homage to the old iteration and an evolution from the earlier form. So long as both artists remain at the helm, Archie’s continued success is guaranteed.
– Christian Bischoff
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