Suvudu Universe

Like a bad Saturday Night Live sketch, I got more entertainment out of the title and concept than I did from sitting through the content. Archie vs. Predator #1 is mostly a tease, as the title characters don’t even encounter each other — presumably, that’s to save something for the remaining three issues.

It’s written by Alex de Campi, drawn by Fernando Ruiz, and inked by Rich Koslowski. The kids win a beach vacation to Costa Rica, where the girls engage in a best-dressed contest. I miss the days when the artists paid a lot of attention to the most current and fashionable outfits, since Betty’s entry (borrowed from Cheryl Blossom — I also miss the days where her imagination and creativity would allow her to make her own) is pretty ugly and doesn’t resemble any high-fashion outfit I’m familiar with. The whole thing feels very retro, and not in a good way.

I can’t evaluate the Predator bits of the story, having never seen the movie, and not given any help from the comic in understanding the hint panels, beyond them being foreshadowing.

The personalities are more exaggerated than usual, with Veronica, particularly, acting like a spoiled diva. Jughead’s snarky, and Dilton’s spouting sexual innuendo at his telescope. There’s no subtlety here, but I don’t suppose I should expect any, given the title.

In a way, it doesn’t matter what I say about Archie vs. Predator, since it’s a curiosity that will attract attention (and presumably, customers) just based on the incongruity of the gag. The publisher has promised real deaths, in keeping with the new, more mature take of the direct market-focused titles, so watch for the body count to rise in future issues. (The publisher provided a digital review copy.)