Afterlife With Archie #10 Review

Three months is a long time to wait between issues, but it’s still better than two years, so I’ll take it.

This week, Afterlife with Archie gives us a standalone issue focusing on everyone’s favorite fictional all-girl band, Josie and the Pussycats.

Is it good?

Afterlife With Archie #10 (Archie Comics)

Observations

• Oh great, here we go with the birth certificate talk. It seems that the press is the same in an election year no matter what fictional universe you inhabit.
• I can totally believe that Josie and Pussycats would outsell Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift. Heck, I’m still sad we don’t get more from Veruca Salt these days.
• HA! Cabot Sisters. Well played, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Well played…
• Also, credit to Aguirre-Sacasa for dealing with the uncomfortable reality that a lot of folks in the early 1900’s would have gone into a bigoted rage over Valerie performing with the group.
• Ugh. Poor Pepper. Being phased out by editorial may have been cruel, but this is so much worse.
• Never trust a pale dude with red eyes (especially if he’s wearing a suit).
• At least they’re using their cursed powers for good…
• …mostly.
• Yikes. I’m not a big fan of tabloid press either, but c’mon.

Is It Good?

After nine incredible issues, I’m sad to report that Afterlife with Archie #10 just didn’t really do it for me.

Don’t get me wrong–it’s still a good comic. Artist Francesco Francavilla is still at the top of his game, this time rendering an emotionally charged (and surprisingly conventional) script with the same love and care that he gives the scary/gory stuff. When the monsters do make their appearances, however, he doesn’t disappoint there either.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t carry the same impact as the one told in the issues before it. Part of that may be the issue’s almost complete disconnect from the plot and characters we’ve grown so attached to. It also doesn’t help that the story’s big twist is telegraphed from miles away (especially for anyone who’s read horror fiction).

Still though, I enjoyed getting to see Aguirre-Sacasa’s dark take on the best girl band in comics (deal with it, JEM). It makes for a good tale, but not exactly a great one—which is what we’ve come to expect from Afterlife with Archie.