Are you ready to play truth or dare? Writer Ron Robbins is with the new Archie Comics book appropriately titled Chilling Adventures Presents… Truth or Dare, which is in stores now. In it, a revamped Trula Twyst shows up in Riverdale and seems to try to fit in. Only the only thing she’s trying to fit in is KNIVES in everyone’s BACKS.
“From the moment I was introduced to Trula, I thought she was wonderfully ridiculous,” Robbins told Comic Book Club via email. “Armed with a unique skill set in Behavioral Psychology, her main purpose was to take down Jughead. That character was ripe for a more sinister vibe.”
In the book, we see all the classic characters harboring dark secrets… Secrets that Trula knows, and reveals over the course of a deadly house party. To find out more about the book, including a little bit about the inclusion of Riverdale fan-fave couple Cheryl and Toni, aka Choni, read on.
Comic Book Club: First of all, as a born and bred Choni shipper, seeing Cheryl and Toni together in this comic, on behalf of everyone: thank you.
Ron Robbins: Oh, the pleasure is all mine. I really like that pairing, and seeing them together in stories makes me happy. I just hope they can survive Trula’s idea of fun and games.
I realize my first question was, let’s say, more of a statement, so talk a bit about the genesis of this book. It gets pretty dark, even for the Archie horror line!
What might make this story seem awfully dark is that it is not centered around supernatural creatures, witchcraft, zombies, or the Anti-Christ. We are dealing with a seriously traumatized teenager who shines a spotlight on the imperfections of a seemingly perfect group of friends. It’s scary because it could totally happen.
Like a lot of these horror books, you’re taking Trula Twyst, introduced as a comedy character, and making her something much more, well, twisted. What was key to keeping the core of her character, while turning up the contrast?
From the moment I was introduced to Trula, I thought she was wonderfully ridiculous. Armed with a unique skill set in Behavioral Psychology, her main purpose was to take down Jughead. That character was ripe for a more sinister vibe.
You’ve got a bunch of secrets that come out throughout this book… What was it like designing each of them for the characters? And were there any characters you wanted to bring in, but couldn’t?
It was a trip. I tried to create scenarios where a character could make a decision and commit an act that would deeply offend a friend, yet just as easily turn around and commit the same offense when confronted with the same choice. Sure, it’s painful when your crush kisses one of your other friends. One day, you’ll be the one who gets kissed, and you’ll have a greater understanding of how all parties feel.
You’ve been writing more classic-style Archie books, and are stretching out here with horror… What was it like playing around in this part of the line?
It has been incredible. I find such joy in writing all-ages digest stories, but I was definitely growing more and more interested in crafting a darker, more mature story. First, I was able to write a short anthology story for the WEIRDER MYSTERIES horror one-shot; the same length as a digest story, but for older readers. That was “Bingo Wilkin Day,” and a lot went down in just five pages. Then came TRUTH OR DARE, which allowed me to tell a fully fleshed-out story without skimping on any details, and I had a blast writing it.
To touch on some big spoilers, there’s a bit of a twist (no pun intended) ending here. What can you tease about that?
I always love a good tease at the end of a story, like a post-credits scene in a movie. I don’t want to give anything away, but Trula is a bit of a sensitive menace. You might actually feel bad for her by the end of this tale. After that last page, your heart might sink. And for that, I deeply apologize.
Chilling Adventures Presents: Truth or Dare #1 is in stores everywhere now from Archie Comics.
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