A dog's eye view.
Everyone loves the bad guy. But what if the bad guy isn’t all that bad? That seems to be the track Tom DeFalco and Sandy Farrell are out to take with Archie’s latest Riverdale reboot, Reggie and Me #1. Following titular terror Reggie Mantle, this first issue is a charming, character driven affair, though one whose initial plot structure reads thin.
Borrowing a feather from Adam Hughes’ cap, writer DeFalco too uses an animal narrator as the book’s grounding focus. But where Hot Dog feels more like an omniscient narrator in Betty & Veronica, Reggie’s dog, Vader, has a much more personal connection. Playing up the pup’s obvious canine loyalties, DeFalco is able paint Reggie through an unfamiliar lens. He’s still a cocky, selfish braggart, but the way Vader sees it, deservedly so. It’s an interesting approach given how louse Reggie is usually portrayed, and the many instances introduced are ultimately stronger because of it. Rather than coming off as a one-sided villain, this Reggie is one stung by slights both real and perceived. Those same slights dictate his actions, and while readers won’t always support them, they can at least understand them.
This nuance aids Reggie in feeling less like a bye-the-numbers foil, but it’s still not quite enough to provide much sense of a driving force. For all the insight and information gained in regards to Reggie’s character and his relationship with others, there’s little hint as to what DeFalco plans to do with him. There are seeds to such exploration – most notably pertaining to Reggie’s crush on Midge and his past friendship with Archie – but aside from a flimsy lead-in to next issue, Reggie and Me’s debut is somewhat aimless. The many jokes and set-up gags mask this problem to an extent, but all the cute Vader moment’s in the world won’t last long without a clearer cut focus. There’s certainly potential, but as of now the general narrative is as shallow as Reggie’s relationship status.
One area that does start strong, however, is the book’s art. The new Archie-verse has done a great job of finding talent to match each book’s respective tone, and they strike again with Sandy Farrell. The artist hits a strong balance between classic and modern, Reggie’s trademark smirk every bit as perfect as Jughead’s hat or Archie’s hair. He also excels at non-verbal communication, which is key given the many nuanced moments DeFalco presents. For every bit of Reggie hot air, there’s an equal and more informative use of composure that tells a different story. That same attention extends to Vader as well, his many adorable team-ups often eliciting the book’s biggest laughs. Farell isn’t challenged too much in this first chapter, but he does seem to possess the requisite moxie this story requires.
All told, Reggie and Me #1 is another welcome entrant to the Riverdale roster. It’s easily entertaining and deceptively layered, with some strong early characterization. The bare-bones plot will need further attention in order for it to become a true hit, but for now its unique take and strong art are enough to merit a look.
The Verdict
Reggie and Me #1 doesn't find the same immediate assured footing as its predecessors, but it's a solid book with a dialed-in creative team. Tom DeFalco offers an interesting perspective through which to view his title character, adding some welcome depth to an often one note character. Sandy Farrell charms with his great character work, using well choreographed sight-gags and the impossibly cute Vader to reel readers in. It's tough yet to say what Reggie and Me wants to be, but nonetheless this first issue is an enjoyable read.
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