Johanna's Reviews: Archie's Mysteries #31

Archie's Mysteries #31
Script: Paul Castiglia & Barbara Jarvie
Pencilling: Fernando Ruiz
Inking: Rich Koslowski
Archie Comics, 32 color pages, $2.19

Archie and his pals have formed the Teen Scene Investigators, where each 
uses their unique skills to help forensic professionals solve mysteries. 
Chuck is the forensic artist, for example, while Veronica investigates 
finance-related issues and Jughead is the Foodologist. 

In this issue, the gang is at the library for a school project when 
they're asked to help figure out who stole some books. This seems like a 
minor case to justify having police and forensics on the scene, but 
Riverdale apparently takes its literature seriously. Plus, it's a 
suitable crime -- after all, Archie investigating a murder might be too 
intense for some of the audience. 

I still can't get used to the art style used for the characters in this 
title. Archie and the other guys look fine, but the girls appear either 
vapid or mean. I think it's something to do with their noses being 
replaced by odd little shapes that don't belong on a supposedly human 
face. 

It's also a bit annoying to the long-time reader when Jughead won't shut 
up about food or Veronica about her riches. The new reader may need the 
introduction, but is there anyone who'd pick up this title who doesn't 
know Jughead's the hungry one? The best Archie stories go a bit deeper 
than this surface chatter. 

On the other hand, it's a pleasure seeing Reggie being used as a comic 
foil. Many writers don't seem to want to deal with an inherently mean 
character, but used thoughtfully, he provides some spice to what can be 
a bland group otherwise. 

There are all kinds of avenues to explore to investigate the crime, but 
the overall impression left is that it's solved based on a hunch. 
Perhaps real police work does work that way (although it's a little 
disconcerting to consider), or perhaps the writers ran out of space. The 
ending is rushed, with only two pages to tie up all the threads and get 
to a happy ending. I'd advise fewer food jokes, and more attention paid 
to structure. 

My favorite part, overall, was the one-page insert in which Jughead 
gives us the history of hamburgers. Interesting facts, and it made me 
hungry, too. This is a fine title for younger readers who've outgrown 
the antics of Scooby Doo and want more solid information with their 
comic mysteries.

-- 
Johanna Draper Carlson             
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