I was looking for the new Life with Archie magazine, but found this and Veronica #200 instead.  This was the first time I’d seen Archie’s new glossy format and I’m impressed.  The colors really pop off the page, with sharp, clearly defined lines. 

This is the Riverdale Shore issue.  I’ve only ever seen one episode of the Jersey Shore, upon which this story was based.  I was horrified and disgusted by the show.  (And this coming from a guy who watched The Hills all the time.  Blame that on my crush on Lauren Conrad.  My only weak defense of that show is to say that it’s the worst show I’ve ever seen, with the best looking cast.) 

How do you parody something that is already a joke?  This reminds me of a gag from Penny Arcade.  “It’s like making fun of a clown.”  Wisely, Dan Parent, the writer, chose Mr. and Mrs. Lodge as the foils for most of the comedy.  Seen through their mature eyes, the orange skin and the return of Frankie and Annette hyper hair of the beach, cannot help but look amusing.  Jughead, while he goes along the fad (as long as the food is plentiful), is also right there with a seasoning of sarcasm. 

Some have wondered about Archie using a show, which is inappropriate for kids, as a backdrop for this issue.  Don’t worry too much.  Especially given that the best scene in the book is Hermione issuing a parental smackdown on the Complication (Reggie).  This is then followed by a gag that would comfortably fly over most kids’ heads, as she is then referred to as a “cougar.” 

Then it’s time for bed.  Mrs. Lodge directs the kids at the beach house, “Boys that way, Girls this way.”  And Kevin?  Where would he go?  Errr… Way to think things through Archie Comics.  Given how nearly neutered the romance has been in most of your modern stories, it was really a great idea to introduce a new character whose entire identity involves sex.  I’m sure this will work out well.

Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Lodge end up getting sucked into the culture.  Cheryl and Jason show up to steal the spotlight.  And then Jughead, rather explosively, climaxes the issue.  The story ends with a wide-open invitation for a sequel.  Hopefully this will happen, as this issue was a lot of fun.   

And what about the real Jersey Shore.  To quote the show producer in the comic book, “We’ve got our unique cast of characters, combined with these regular kids.  We’ll have reality TV gold!”  Let’s hope nobody at MTV is reading this issue.

Gah. I need this issue as well. Anyone willing to buy it for me?

You can order recent issues off most comic retailers, http://www.milehighcomics.com/ prices are high unless you know the discount keyword though.  http://www.mycomicshop.com/ and http://www.midtowncomics.com/ are other alternatives I know of.

I get all my comics from my local comic shop, he orders them in specifically for me, and they are a couple weeks "ahead" of the newsstand, and I get a discount off the cover price.

TM, thanks for the compliment.  It's a great, funny issue.  I hope I haven't spoiled anything too bad in the review.