Archie vs. Predator – Graphic Novel Review

by | Nov 30, 2015 | Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews, Reviews | 0 comments

61buRLDO2nL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_Archie vs Predator
Written by Alex De Campi
Illustrated by Fernando Ruiz
Dark Horse Books
November 17, 2015
Reviewed by Jess Landry

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I would say that if reading material were provided along that road, it would end up being Archie vs. Predator.

The idea of these two characters meeting was too intriguing to pass up, but in a car-accident-waiting-to-happen sort of way. And after reading it, I’m still not sure what to make of it. Even Archie Comics’ CCO, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, can’t quite comprehend exactly what this is as he talks about the mash-up in his introduction.

The story itself is pretty straightforward – the crew from Riverdale win a Spring Break vacation to Costa Rica and the usual drama ensues between the iconic ginger and the two girls who can’t seem to get enough of him. All is fine and dandy, with the exception of a sole Predator that has crash landed nearby the festivities and needs to collect some trophies. After a few dismemberments, the alien follows Archie and co. back to Riverdale. From this point on, it becomes an unexpected battle royale with surprisingly no lack of blood, guts and spines.

I’ll give Archie vs Predator this: throughout the series, both characters stay true to their roots. The familiarity of the Predator world is very present, from its heat-seeking hunting tactics to the spine trophies. However the character design of the Predator has been modified to fit Archie’s world, so its normally menacing facial expressions and buff alien body end up looking as threatening as the Care Bears doing the Care Bear countdown.

I haven’t picked up anything Archie related in, oh, a solid twenty years or so, but my memories of those comics are all wholesome, good-natured ones of high school drama and lovers quarrels. Archie vs Predator starts its story in familiar territory and (without inclusion of the Predator) could’ve easily passed as just another Archie tale. It has the recognizable house-style illustrations that have kept the franchise going for well over 70 years.

This hardcover edition from Dark Horse collects issues 1-4 of the Archie vs Predator series. Included after the story are a few bonus comic cross-overs ideas, because why the hell not? There’s also a variant cover gallery and character studies that show how series artist Fernando Ruiz began the process of “archiefying” the Predator.

But these two characters together…I can’t. It’s just too weird. Never in a million years would anyone in their right mind mutter Archie and Predator in the same sentence, so to have them sharing 100+ pages is just an unfathomable idea that has me questioning my own sanity. I can’t recommend you check this one out but, if you’re like me, you may be too intrigued not to.

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