Comics Review: "ARCHIE IS MR.JUSTICE #1" Certainly Surprises

ARCHIE IS MR. JUSTICE, NO. 1 (OF 4)

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.

STORY: Tim Seeley

ART: Mike Norton

COLORS: Glenn Whitmore

LETTERS: Jack Morelli

EDITOR: Jamie Lee Rotante

EiC: Mike Pellerito

COVER: Reiko Murakami

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Francesco Francavilla; Matt Talbot

32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2025); on sale in comic book shops November 20, 2024

Rating: Teen+

Eternal high school student and teenage boy, Archie Andrews, and his friends made their debut in M.L.J. Magazines' Pep Comics #22 (cover dated: December 1941), and before long, Archie was the publisher's headliner character.  In 1946, the company changed its named to Archie Comic Publications, also known as “Archie Comics.”

Archie Comics has also published superhero comic books featuring offbeat characters.  The latest is a new four-issue comic book series, entitled Archie is Mr. Justice.  The first issue is written by Tim Seeley; drawn by Mike Norton; colored by Glenn Whitmore; and lettered by the great Jack Morelli.  Archie is Mr. Justice focuses on teenager Archie Andrews and his superhero persona, “Mr. Justice.”  With the aid of his friend, Jughead Jones, Archie battles the greedy real estate magnate, Hiram Lodge.

Archie is Mr. Justice #1 is a tale told by the dearest friend of Mr. Justice.  That would be Jughead Jones.  Young Archie Andrews is your typical teenager, except for the fact that he has super-powers.  Archie also has an undying urge to do what’s right, which inspires him to create a superhero persona, “Mr. Justice.”  Guiding Archie on the path of super-heroism is his best friend, Jughead, who provides the comic book template for Archie's alter-ego.

The pair aims to right the wrongs of Hiram Lodge, a greedy developer and real estate tycoon.  Lodge has turned Archie and Jughead's tranquil hometown of Riverdale into a luxury city, forcing families out and big businesses in – creating a city of haves and have-nots.  Can Archie’s brand of justice bring Riverdale into a new prosperous era, or will his need to do good ultimately be his downfall?

THE LOWDOWN:   I have been reading comic books, on and off, for decades.  I have sporadically read Archie Comics titles over that time.  For many years now, Archie's marketing department has been sending PDF copies of some of their titles for review.  Archie is Mr. Justice No. 1 is the latest.

Archie Comics has been reviving some of the old M.L.J. “Golden Age” superheroes for several years now.  The latest to rise from the grave is “Mr. Justice,” also known as “the Royal Wraith.”  Created by writer Joe Blair and artist Sam Cooper, Mr. Justice was an 18th century English prince who was murdered by rebels.  Chance and circumstance brought about his return to the mortal world in the 1940s in the form of Mr. Justice.  Mr. Justice first appeared in Blue Ribbon Comics #9 (cover dated: February 1941; M.L.J. Magazines), which, in a bit of meta-fiction, is the comic book that appears in Archie is Mr. Justice #1 as one of Jughead's comic books.  From this particular comic book, Archie takes inspiration for his “Mr. Justice” identity.

Writer Tim Seeley offers in this first issue an enjoyable comic book that captures both a superhero coming of age and also a young hero who initiates the crusade that may likely bring about his downfall.  In a way, Seeley spins a comic book yarn that reads as if it came from age at least 40 years ago.  It is straightforward, dramatic, melodramatic, and poignant and tragic in a way that engages the reader without unnecessary complication.

Artist Mike Norton is a veteran storyteller whose clean drawing style also recalls a classic era of comic books  He conveys the light and darkness in Archie's mission, while also capturing the nuance and darkness in Jughead's narration.  Glenn Whitmore's colors also captures the nuance and shifting moods of this story, and Jack Morelli's lettering provides a steady beat for a story that gets more intense with each page.

I am surprised by Archie is Mr. Justice #1.  It is a powerful first issue when I expected it to be no more than mildly entertaining.  I am more than mildly shocked, dear readers. Give this a try.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Archie Comics' superhero titles will want to try Archie is Mr. Justice No. 1.

[This comic book includes a two-page section on the making of Archie is Mr. Justice No. 1.]

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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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