Category: Independent Publishers (Comic Books & Graphic Novels)

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Dan Parent & Dan DeCarlo

SUMMARY:

Published by Archie Comics for May 2004, this 32-page comic features these tales:

“May We Have This Dance? Parts One & Two” (11 pages).  Script & Pencils by Dan Parent, with art by John D’Agostino; Dan Nakrosis; & Barry Grossman.  Appearing on TV’s “America Dance-A-Thon,” Betty & Veronica feud with Cheryl Blossom over who enjoys a spotlight segment with Archie.

“Dress You Up!” (6 pages). Script & Pencils by Dan Parent, with inks by Jim Amash.  Taking pity on a financially-strapped Cheryl Blossom, Betty secretly agrees to be her personal fashion designer.  

“You’ve Got a Gift” (6 pages).  Script & Pencils by Dan Parent, with inks by Jim Amash.  Inadvertently hurting Veronica and Betty’s feelings, Archie recruits Jughead’s help conjuring up some romantic damage control gifts.    

REVIEW:

Despite sporting good artwork, these stories aren’t even faintly amusing.  In fairness, writer Dan Parent isn’t pushing sitcom-style laughs, as there’s more of an effort at depicting poignancy.  An admirable surplus of fan interaction extras helps make Betty & Veronica Spectacular # 65 an okay single read.  Above all, the harmless content should placate Betty & Veronica’s pre-teen fans.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There is a page for fan artwork and another “Switching Styles!” page celebrates new fashions from fans for Betty & Veronica.  The “Editor’s Notebook” hypes the release of Archie cartoons on DVD and VHS.  ‘Betty & Veronica’ answer fan letters, with help from editor Sara Algase.  The girls offer their spring trend fashion tips.  A full-page ad hypes the ongoing ‘Riverdale Stars Talent Search.’        

BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING:                        4 Stars

Written by Bill Golliher

Art by Dan Parent; Rich Koslowski; Glenn Whitmore; & Jack Morelli

Cover Art by Dan Parent

SUMMARY:

Published by Archie Comics for June 2018, it’s a quartet of glossy five-page reprints spoofing Hollywood movies.  The stories are:

• “Quiet Riot on the Set:” Accompanying Hiram Lodge on his visit to Hollywood’s Global Studios, Betty & Veronica visit The Pirates of Cancun film set.  Veronica inadvertently sets a series of catastrophes, as she tries getting closer to the action.

• “Movie Mix-Up:” Double-booked for Friday night movie dates, the girls scheme to two-time their dates and an unsuspecting Archie. 

• “Extra Disastrous:” Landing gigs as extras for a big-budget disaster film filming in Riverdale, the girls bungle their way into a less-than-stellar movie cameo.  

• “An Unliving Doll:” Spoofing Child’s Play, Veronica & Betty are alone at Lodge Mansion on a dark and stormy night.  Veronica’s imagination suggests that her childhood doll, ‘Ms. Peevy,’ is on the loose stalking them. 

REVIEW:

For Betty & Veronica fans, it’s a super-fast read.  With its timeless look, Dan Parent’s vibrant artwork is wonderful.  Still, at a skimpy twenty pages, more stories would have been appreciated.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:             6 Stars

Written by Robert Kirkman

Art by Jason Howard & Rus Wooton

Cover Art by (Uncredited – probably Jason Howard)

SUMMARY:

Released for Free Comic Book Day in May 2007, this origin issue begins with a mysterious attack on wealthy New York businessman Gary Hampton during a family camping trip in Montana.  Rendered comatose, Gary’s wife is present when he revives in a New York hospital a month later.  That night, a transformed Gary rampages across the city rooftops.  Once fully recovered, Gary and his family return home.  Another thirty days go by before there’s another nocturnal transformation.  Security camera footage reveals the horrifying truth.  A mysterious visitor surfaces to train Gary in his adjustment to the supernatural world.   

REVIEW:

Badly hampered by rudimentary visuals (with the exception of a few terrific panels), writer-creator Robert Kirkman’s best asset is his tantalizing cliffhanger of sorts.  Still, this closing sequence probably should have been delayed a few issues to more convincingly build towards that moment.  It seems that Kirkman is needlessly hurrying to clue the incredulous Hamptons into Gary’s horrific alter ego.  Though his revelation scene isn’t clichéd, Kirkman should have given readers more acclimation time with the lead character’s family before dropping such a fantastic bomb on them.

Even if Gary Hampton comes off utterly bland, at least Kirkman sets up a sense of ambiguity as to whether this ‘Astounding Wolf-Man’ is really a vile menace or not.  Kirkman deserves credit for trying to revitalize horror’s werewolf genre, but the execution of this first issue, unfortunately, is deficient.        

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Kirkman provides a full-page letter to his readers.  There’s a four-page preview of Kirkman’s Brit series (by writer Bruce Brown and artist Cliff Rathburn).  The four-page Spawn: Godslayer # 1 preview includes two pages of black-and-white artwork (from Brian Holguin and Philip Tan).  Lastly, the well-illustrated First Born: Conception is a mini-series preview providing four full-page portraits: specifically, Sara Pezzini / Witchblade; Jackie Estacado / Darkness; Magdalena; and Danielle Baptiste / Witchblade.  The text is by Ron Marz, with artwork from Stjepan Sejic and Troy Peteri.                 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:              3½ Stars

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Dan De Carlo

SUMMARY:

Despite what the cover indicates, this comic isn’t the original Betty and Veronica # 8.  Published by Archie Comics for June 1997, this sixteen-page comic features these three Betty & Veronica tales:

“Achievement” (6 pages).  Script by Frank Doyle, with art by Dan De Carlo; Henry Scarpelli; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman.  Consoling a downcast Betty, Veronica recalls her best friend’s dubious summer highlights.

“Little Darling” (5 pages). Script by Kathleen Webb, with art by Dan De Carlo & Henry Scarpelli.  Veronica visits Betty, who is busy babysitting her two young cousins.  

“Dune Disaster” (5 pages).  Script by Frank Doyle, with art by Dan De Carlo & Henry Scarpelli.  At the beach, Veronica & Betty egg arch-rivals Archie and Reggie into a sand-sculpting contest. 

REVIEW:

Sporting reliable artwork, these mildly amusing stories offer light kiddie humor.  Of them, “Little Darling” has a sweet ending while “Dune Disaster” has an amusingly guilt-free punchline.  Though instantly forgettable, this super-fast read is harmless entertainment for pre-teen fans.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The inside front cover is an uncredited Betty & Veronica misadventure roller-skating entitled “Wheel Wail.”  The back inside cover is an uncredited puzzle to figure which two images of Betty & Archie are exactly the same.   The back page by artist Rex W. Lindsey is a casual pin-up of The Archies entitled ‘Ye Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole.’      

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   5 Stars

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Stan Goldberg & Henry Scarpelli

SUMMARY:

Despite what the cover implies, this comic isn’t really Archie # 7.  Published by Archie Comics for June 1997, this sixteen-page comic features these three Archie tales:

“Slip Sliding Summer Fun!” (6 pages).  Script by Mike Pellowski, with art by Stan Goldberg; Henry Scarpelli; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman.  On a scorching summer day, Betty & Veronica share Archie at an ice-skating rink.

“Disguise the Limit” (5 pages). Script by Frank Doyle, with art by Stan Goldberg & Henry Scarpelli.  Suspicious that Veronica is cheating on him, a disguised Archie takes Jughead to stake out a beach that Veronica has been frequenting.  

“Caddy Shock” (5 pages).  Script by Mike Pellowski, with art by Stan Goldberg & Henry Scarpelli.  At the country club, Mr. Lodge is horrified that his new golf caddie is Archie. 

REVIEW:

Sporting good artwork, these predictably harmless stories offer little in the chuckles department.  Still, this issue offers an okay read for pre-teen fans.  The cover image is frankly funnier than the actual stories. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The inside front cover is an uncredited Archie comic strip entitled “List Twist.”  With uncredited artwork, the back inside cover is a puzzle entitled “Archie’s Word Fun.”  The back page has artist Rex W. Lindsey’s rendition of an Archie, Betty, & Jughead pin-up entitled “Windsurfin’ Fools.”     

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     4 Stars

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Rex W. Lindsey

SUMMARY:

Despite what the cover implies, this comic isn’t actually the original Archie’s Pal, Jughead # 6.  Published by Archie Comics for June 1997, this sixteen-page comic features these three Jughead tales:

“Fat Free Fervor!” (6 pages).  Script by Bill Golliher, with art by Stan Goldberg; Mike Esposito; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman.  Betty, Veronica, and Mr. Lodge jump in on Jughead’s super-tasty, ‘fat-free’ chocolate chip fudge pudding treats.

“The Big Apple” (5 pages). Script by Hal Smith, with art by Stan Goldberg & Mike Esposito.  Dilton’s experimental plant food mixture accidently causes Jughead some complications.  

“Book Wormed” (5 pages).  Script by Frank Doyle, with art by Stan Goldberg & Mike Esposito.  At the beach, Reggie obnoxiously tries disrupting Jughead’s reading downtime. 

REVIEW:

Sporting reliable artwork, these stories are faintly amusing.  While “The Big Apple” isn’t much, the other two tales offer a few guilt-free chuckles.  This super-fast read should be likably tame for pre-teen fans.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The inside front cover is a Jughead comic strip by ‘Gladir’ & ‘Kennedy’ entitled “Wheel Spiel.”  With artwork by ‘RGO,’ the back inside cover is a word un-scramble for Archie & Jughead.  The back page is an uncredited Jughead pin-up with Betty and Moose at Pop’s diner.     

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:              4 Stars

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Dan Parent & Henry Scarpelli

SUMMARY:

Despite what the cover implies, this comic isn’t really the original Veronica # 3.  Published by Archie Comics for June 1997, this sixteen-page comic features these three Veronica Lodge tales:

“Putting on the Dog” (6 pages).  Script by Mike Pellowski, with art by Tim Kennedy; Rudy Lapick; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman.  Hiding a litter of abandoned puppies, Veronica tries to avoid disrupting her parents’ swanky party.

“The Idle Rich” (5 pages).  Script by Mike Pellowski, with art by Tim Kennedy; & Rudy Lapick.  A typical summer playday wears out Veronica.  

“One Great Date” (5 pages).  Script by Mike Pellowski, with art by Tim Kennedy & Pat Kennedy.  For a televised dating program, Veronica is blind-sided by some unexpected surprises.

REVIEW:

Sporting reliable artwork, these faintly amusing stories paint Veronica in a solid light.   Though instantly forgettable, this super-fast read offers harmless entertainment for her pre-teen fans.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The inside front cover is an uncredited Veronica & Mr. Lodge fill-in-your-own punchline comic strip.  With artwork by ‘RGO,’ the back inside cover is a word puzzle entitled “Veronica’s Puzzle Page.”  The back page is an uncredited Veronica fashion montage entitled “’a la Texas.”     

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 4½ Stars

Written by (See Credits Below)

Art by (See Credits Below)

Cover Art by Stan Goldberg & Henry Scarpelli

SUMMARY:

Despite what the cover implies, this comic isn’t really an Archie # 1.  Published by Archie Comics for June 1997, this sixteen-page comic features these three Archie tales:

“Food Choice” (6 pages).  Script by Joe Edwards, with art by Stan Goldberg; Henry Scarpelli; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman.  Seeking advice from various friends re: an ideal Mother’s Day gift, Archie inadvertently dodges a summons from his parents to come home.

“Diamond Demon” (5 pages).  Script by Frank Doyle, with art by Stan Goldberg and Henry Scarpelli.  Archie, Jughead, & Reggie are stunned by Dilton’s unexpected baseball talents.  

“Blow the Man Down” (5 pages).  Script by Frank Doyle, with art by Stan Goldberg & Henry Scarpelli.  Archie is caught in a lawn feud between his dad and their next-door neighbor, Horace Nelson.

REVIEW:

Sporting reliable artwork, these stories are at best mildly amusing.  Though instantly forgettable, this super-fast read is harmless entertainment for pre-teen fans.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The inside front cover is an uncredited Archie comic strip entitled “On the Lookout.”  The back inside cover by Rod Ollerenshaw is a “Mind Maze Puzzle” shaped like Archie’s silhouetted head profile  Entitled “Archie’s Goofy Golf,” the back cover by artist Rex W. Lindsey depicts Archie’s efforts on the golf course with Betty, Veronica, and Jughead.      

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     4½ Stars