“Yesterday’s Comic”> Archie: Free Comic Book Day Edition #2

"Actually, I was looking at Sonic the Hedgehog."

Archie: Free Comic Book Day Edition #2

Archie Comics (September, 2004)

When it appears that Archie’s friend, Chuck Colton, could get a comic published, Archie decides he wants in. While Chuck works with different art style to find his “voice”, Archie is learning the hard part of writing: writing. As he tries to come up with ideas (while hitting on girls, of course), Chuck observes him and decides to just write a comic about Archie’s daily misadventures.

What they got right: It’s fun to see Archie and the gang in different scenarios, from a Legion of Superheroes style comic to manga-style, to horror and spy stuff, that shows off the fact that comics exist in so many genres. There are also cameos from some of the bigger comic stores.

What they got wrong: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. would get visited again, so why not some of the other titles? Or slip in references to Pureheart the Powerful (a comic where the Archie characters were done as superheroes) and (if it was released at the time) Archie’s Weird Mysteries, which was an Archie-style horror comic?

Recommendation: While I wouldn’t go to any effort to track this comic down (unless you comic store still puts out the leftovers next Free Comic Book Day), it’s still a fun read if you come across it.