ARCHIE IS MR. JUSTICE, NO. 3 (OF 4)
ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.
STORY: Kenny Porter
ART: Maria Sanapo
COLORS: Glenn Whitmore
LETTERS: Jack Morelli
EDITOR: Jamie Lee Rotante
EiC: Mike Pellerito
COVER: Reiko Murakami
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Soo Lee; Matt Talbot
32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2025); on sale in comic book shops March 19, 2025
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 third issue is written by Kenny Porter; drawn by Maria Sanapo; 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.” Now, Archie has to choose between two loves – Betty Cooper and Riverdale.
Archie is Mr. Justice #3 opens in Pickens Park, Riverdale. There, Betty Cooper meets with Harper, a reporter. Betty has arranged this meeting in order to tell the story of how Mr. Justice changed her life, how he made her brave. This is also a story, however, of love and heartbreak.
With great powers comes great sacrifice, but when Archie is faced with having to choose between his responsibilities and his first love, Betty Cooper, will his duties to Riverdale win out over his heart? And what choices will Betty make? Plus, there are appearances by Kid Wicked, Mad Flame, and the rise of the “Defendo-Bots.”
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. 3 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.
For this third issue, writer Kenny Porter and artist Maria Sanapo delve into the complications that come from having both a superhero identity and a personal life, which the prior issue also did. Porter's script captures the birth of young love – in full bloom – and then, it captures the arrival of complications. I can say that the emotions and romance that Porter depicts resonate in the story. The coming on of romantic troubles and later, the hope of reconciliation and maturation engaged me; I was surprised to find myself investing, as a reader, in Archie and Betty's relationship.
Sanapo's art and storytelling offer a feeling of nostalgia and a sense of now. Her line work is classic comics cool, but the storytelling is a storm of complications and subtle conflicts of interests that readers were unlikely to find in comic book romance six or seven decades ago. Sanapo's art is a blending of eye-pleasing graphics and rich storytelling. Honestly, I think Sanapo's work here makes an argument that this story should have been a graphic novel instead of only being a single issue.
Glenn Whitmore's colors capture the nuance and shifting moods of this story, and I think he is perfect for Sanapo's art. Jack Morelli's lettering provides a steady beat for a story that finds the messiness of relationships with each page and also the fun of the explosive destruction of superhero fight comics
I am surprised by Archie is Mr. Justice #3. It is as strong as prior issues, but is also different. It stands out in a way that will hopefully attract readers.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Archie Comics' superhero titles will want to try Archie is Mr. Justice No. 3.
[This comic book includes a two-page section on the making of Archie is Mr. Justice No. 3. There is also a Q&A featuring Kenny Porter and Maria Sanapo.]
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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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