Written by Shannon Watters,
J Torres, Jamie L. Rotante
Art by Erin Hunting, Adrian Ropp, Jack Morelli
Agnes Garbowska, Matt Herms
Published by Archie Comics
Fun With Little Archie and Friends Special should have been called Fun With Little ‘Brina and Friends as the pre-teen Sabrina, her talking cat Salem, and most especially the magical class goat she’s watching, are the instigators of all the various stories contained herein.
Like a previous Archie book we reviewed, the several stories in this book take place at the same venue on the same day—in this case, a park, where Little Archie and all the Little Riverdale gang are hanging out.
It’s a clever way to do things.
It’s because of Arthur, the goat, that the boys become characters in a D&D-style game, the girls become a pint-sized biker gang to go up against a bully, and Kevin, Jughead, and the wheelchair-bound Harper become talking animals in a brought-to-life video game.
To me, the first full story is the best, with its almost animation-style artwork. The art in each one is a little different but all of the stories are quick, fun, and perfect for kids. It helps if they know the characters but here it doesn’t really seem necessary.
With several writers and several artists, these are simple, amusing, exciting but never scary stories of friends being friends on a lovely day in a beautiful park, all strung together with poor Sabrina, who’s in the closet with her own secrets, having to sort out the mischief caused by Arthur.
Maybe you miss days like this. Maybe there never really were days like this. Either way, for kids of all ages, Fun With Little Archie and Friends Special offers an enjoyable, magical, afternoon outing.
Booksteve recommends.
