Archie Comic Publications; $2.99

As the first story arc draws to a close, we are once again forced to ask: Could this series get any better? We’ve repeatedly commented on the fine line writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Francesco Francavilla are walking as they are simultaneously faithful to both the spirit of the traditional Archie characters and the expectations of zombie fans, and that continues this issue.

Let’s take it a step farther, though.

With the number of zombie titles out there, it’s a safe bet that some folks picking up this title were not previously longtime Archie readers. So, what does it have to offer them in terms of introduction to Archie Andrews and his friends?

As it turns out, the answer is “A lot.”

While things are different and distinctly more adult, the characters have remained very much in character through this beginning phase of their zombie apocalypse. From Archie himself to Smithers, the Lodge family’s butler, none of the Riverdale regulars is doing anything that screams “He (or she) wouldn’t do that!”

For those new to the world of Archie, if they venture out from Afterlife With Archie into the company’s other titles, it’s not going to be a disorienting thing. Sure, the regular take on Archie and the gang will be in many ways how it has been for generations, but they’ve done a really superb job walking that fine line we’ve been talking about.

On the flip side, if you’re a longtime Archie fan without much exposure to the zombie genre, Aguirre-Sacasa and Francavilla have that right, too. Thus far there’s nothing missing from their interpretation of the undead either.

If it’s not clear, we’re looking forward to the next arc in this series.