The conceit of Archie: The Decision #1 from Archie Comics, written by Tom King with art by Dan Parent, is pretty simple. What if, after decades of going back and forth between Betty and Veronica, Archie finally made a choice? But as usual King has more on his mind with his first foray into the world of Archie Comics. And the end result is something far deeper, and way more sweetly nostalgic than you might expect.
As the issue opens, Archie is sick and tired of having to choose between the two ladies, once again. Jughead, also, is having a tough choice between two types of burgers. So they make a decision (sort of) to flip a coin and figure it all out. True to form, Archie flips the coin right out of the window, and it proceeds to roll throughout Riverdale as he chases it down to see whether it lands on heads or tails. Meanwhile, everyone else hears Archie is finally going to choose a steady girl, and starts chasing after him, too.
Given King’s dark take on classic DC Comics characters like Adam Strange, Mister Miracle, and currently Captain Atom via Jenny Sparks, you’d be forgiven for thinking this would be a grim journey to the center of Archie’s soul. And perhaps in one sense it is, because what King ends up with is the forever story of Archie Comics, and in fact all ongoing comics, is about the journey — not the destination. What’s at the dark soul of Archie Comics? Pure joy.
I’m going to spoil the end here because King has been pretty public about the outcome on his social media accounts, but I also think it’s helpful to know what happens going in here… The second read, for me, was even more enjoyable than the first. The reason? Archie forgets to call the coin flip. He chooses nobody. The only decision, per the title, is the decision to make a decision.
It should have been abudantly obvious this is the way King would go, to, given the choice of Dan Parent, the commensurate modern Archie Comics artist. Parent knows his way around the Riverdale characters like no other, and King’s script gives us the full gamut. The gang’s all here, and as usual it’s a delight to see them under Parent’s confident pencils.
But it would have been disappointing for Archie to actually choose Betty or Veronica, because that effectively ends the story. Instead, King, via Jughead, via a Kierkegaard quote, drives home the point of the tale in the final page: “Human understanding has vulgarly occupied itself with nothing but understanding, but it would only take the trouble to understand itself at the same time it would simply have to posit the paradox.”
That statement is itself a paradox. But also: aren’t ongoing comics? Always moving the story forward, and going nowhere at the same time? And nowhere is that on display better than Archie Comics, with its eternal teens always dating, always getting into messes. And while there’s a lot you could take from the quote, I’d venture the reason King puts it in there is to remind us, the audience, that we wouldn’t be more satisfied with understanding Archie’s choice; it’s more about understanding the joy we get from reading these stories. It’s clear King, and Parent, got joy from making it. And I certainly got joy from reading it, too. So what if there’s no decision? Surely Archie will make one in the next issue. Or perhaps the next…
Archie: The Decision #1 Rating:
Archie: The Decision #1 Official Synopsis:
Archie. Finally. Decides. At long last, the answer to the question generations of fans have asked will be answered. Who will Archie choose? Betty or Veronica? Written by Eisner Award-winning comics scribe TOM KING and illustrated by Archie legend and fan-favorite artist DAN PARENT, this is the tale only they can tell. Everyone in Riverdale is waiting for his choice, and all of your favorites, from Josie & The Pussycats to Sabrina the Teenage Witch (and even Hot Dog!), are joining in the fun. No matter who you want him to choose, you DEFINITELY don’t want to miss this ALL-NEW, FULL-LENGTH story!
