It's a comic where somebody MEETS somebody else...

[auggie18]

How many of you read Archie when you were kids? How many of you read the Punisher? How many of you knew that there was a crossover? Long before Aliens fought predators, there was a far grander battle: ARCHIE VS PUNISHER.

Just got it fairly recently and against all reason, it's actually a fairly enjoyable read. Not for the story, which can best be described as a reach, or the art, which can't seem to pick a style, but rather for the in-jokes. There are constant references from Archie's past-

Don't remember That Wilkin Boy? Me neither!

There's also a ton of references, ranging from Josie and the Pussycats playing during a dance to the old Marvel models talking shop. Even Sabrina shows up, telling a friend about a conversation with another big time comic magic user, a certain Dr Strange.

Guess Riverdale is the afterlife for less relevant characters.

There's even some shout-outs to the Distinguished Competition.

Now I really want a Punisher/Archie/Atom crossover. Damn.

There's even something for people who like cross-continuity couples!

I'm expecting fan-fiction, people!

And last, but not least, there's a teaser for a comic that will sadly never be made.

His power has something to do with that stupid "S" shirt, I just know it.

All in all? It's a cute story, but people who aren't huge nerds won't get as much out of it. The story goes out of it's way to include as many characters as possible, which makes the flow a bit awkward. AVP is sort of like a drunk cygnet. It's amusing to watch, but it's much better if you know what the hell a cygnet is.

Also, a shameless plug for my new website: http://www.freerangenerdity.com/

Suggested Tags: char:punisher/frank_castle, char:archie_andrews, char:jughead_jones, char:millie_the_model, creator:Batton_Lash, creator:John_Buscema, creator:Stan_Goldberg

 

 

Comments

[thokstar]

the art, which can't seem to pick a style

This is actually deliberate. All of the Archie stuff is drawn by one artist, and all of the Punisher stuff is drawn by a different artist.

[sianmink]

But then you look at the list of train destinations, where the frame is in perspective but the text itself is not, and actually is lettered just like a speech balloon.. (And Gotham is written differently than the others!)

[thokstar]

Gotham being there was specifically a reference to an upcoming Batman/Punisher crossover. Presumably it was added in first.

[punishermax]

~Riverdale is coated in shadows. Storm clouds pass by overhead with the promise of a powerful downpour. The sun is making it's descent, marking the dusk of the last day of school for the students of Riverdale High. School ended hours before but Jughead had a long detention to serve and he has only one thing in mind as he leaves......~

"Hamburgers....."

~He speaks with a slight slur, lust entering his very being as he imagines the slabs of rich , thick beef covered in ketchup and packed onto a soft baked bun. He stares around him, shivering lightly~

"Golly...sure feels weird tonight...like I'm watched or something..."

~he walks forward to the hamburger shop as a pair of eyes watch his every step. They are cold and determined, staring at the crowned man, analyzing his every step and movement, the eyes move quickly to follow him through a wooded area of Riverdale. A low rumble of thunder announces that rain is on it's way~

"Gosh, I hope I get there soon...Mmmmm can't wait to get some burgers! Maybe I'll eat-"

~his words are cut off as a sharp crack shatters the soft sounds of the forest. For a moment he stands stiff and silent...slowly though, he falls to the ground~

~the figure steps out of the darkened forest, skull on his chest reflecting the light of the lamp near a bench, he looks over the body of the boy with the crown~

~a book entitled "Hamburgers through History" is tossed onto the body~

"You shoulda payed your library fines...."

~rain starts to gentle patter down onto the ground, the man walks away, stepping on and crushing the crown, the ink begins to run from the pages of the book as Jughead stares blankly up to the sky, are those raindrops on his face?.....or are they tears?~

~softly he speaks one final word as he fades away~

"....Ham...burgers..."

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

[fungo_squiggly]

I remember reading this comic and being surprised by how good it was (even though I'd heard beforehand that it actually was pretty good).

I liked the little touches, like Frank believing that Riverdale was a lie at first, but then slowly being won over by it.

[thanekos]

And this fall, something of slightly less WHUT happens!

[joasakura]

gaah! SO CUTE.

[darkblade]

Page not found?

[auggie18]

Little Archie/Tiny Titans.

[sianmink]

Waiting for Little Authority, myself.

[auggie18]

Wasn't Teen Authority in Gen13? I seem to remember that. They tried to kill Grunge and he took Cat's powers and got breasts, to the disgust of Kidnighter.

[darkblade]

Yes, they were called the AutoriTeens.

[sianmink]

Sure, Authoriteens are.. meh.

Imagine Authority in the style of Mini Marvels or Tiny Titans though, and you've got something that could be cracktastic.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Wow! That's pretty cool. I wonder if they'll make any references to the classic 'Little Archie' series, with Mad Doctor Doom and all that?

[thatnickguy]

Archie Meets Punisher is one of the comics that, back in the day when it first came out, I had the chance to buy it...and I didn't. To this day, I STILL regret that and have been trying to hunt this bastard down ever since.

[lbd_nytetrayn]

Same, except the last part. Haven't been so adamant about it, but that may be because I already read it.

--LBD "Nytetrayn"

[wasabi.livejournal.com]

Frank: Punish me, Geraldine. Punish me like I've never been punished before.

Mrs. Grundy: Detention, three o'clock. You know where homeroom is.

[kingrockwell]

Creator tags?

[icon_uk]

The cut appears to have disappeared on this post.

[foxhack]

Yeah, that's weird. I suppose it has something to do with the tag list. o_O

[psychopathicus_rex]

Who's the brit in the first panel?

[wasabi.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing you mean Mr. Svenson, the Swedish custodian at Riverdale High:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Svenson

[psychopathicus_rex]

No, I know who Mr. Svenson is - I'm referring to the brown-haired person (could be a man or a woman; I'm not sure) who's telling Betty to hurry up with the phone call. 'Luv' is not a common American phrase, as it's used here, so I assume that he or she is meant to be British.