Road to Riverdale

Gr 7 Up—"Archie" comics already existed for decades before they got a makeover in 2015. Since then, the Archie universe has expanded with the Riverdale TV series, which is attracting new fans to the franchise. This book collects the first issues of various revamped comics from the Archie world: Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Josie and the Pussycats, and Reggie and Me. Described on the cover as "Stories That Inspired CW's New Riverdale TV Series," the volume is clearly geared toward fans of the program who have not read the comics. The characters have evolved between the original comics and the recent relaunch, and many have changed again in the transition from the comics to the TV show. Readers may find themselves confused, especially since the cover (but not the illustrations throughout) features characters who resemble the actors on Riverdale, many of whom look different from their comic book counterparts. Also, while Riverdale often feels like a teen version of Twin Peaks, the Archie comics are more lighthearted in nature. Most of the material in this book was previously published, but there are some extra features, including a photo gallery of the Riverdale actors.