Anyone who has read a bunch of Archie comics knows that the original series is no stranger to goofy crossovers. We’ve seen Archie cross over with the cast of Glee, Sharknado, The Punisher and more. The books are always fun, pointing out the goofy differences between each series, and Riverdale is no different in this case.
Despite the fact that Riverdale is an Archie adaptation, anyone who has seen Riverdale can tell you the show is nothing like any Archie comic — not even the excellent 2015 reboot which saw a more serious tone with linear storytelling. Archie Meets Riverdale has fun with the concept of the silly Archie characters crossing over with the equally-as-silly in a completely different way Riverdale characters.
The tonal shift between the Archie world and the Riverdale world is so funny and you can tell the writers are quite aware of this while they’re writing the story. While Archie is worried about whether he’ll take Betty or Veronica to the dance — the same predicament he always has in that universe — the Riverdale kids are greeted with a narration box that says “Riverdale is a serious town.” There’s also a hilarious exchange where Riverdale Betty asks comics Jughead if his town is also riddled with cults — you know, the plot of Riverdale Season 3 which featured a cult who stole organs from its members.
Is Riverdale a faithful Archie adaptation? No. Is it a hilarious and wild ride that keeps you tuning in for no other reason than to see what bonkers plot they pull this week? Yes! And the writers of this comic know that and they have a blast joking about it. It’s funny to see the comic point out how absurd things are like Betty and Jughead’s romance, showing comic Jughead react quite negatively to that news. They also make fun of how often KJ Apa just ends up shirtless on the show and the book is full of little Easter eggs like that for people who have kept up with the show.
The plot in these books is never that serious or worthwhile because the fun comes from the tongue-in-cheek humor of the crossover itself. The art is perfect for this book and the writing is so fun, making it a light, enjoyable read for a good laugh.
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