Free Comic Book Day 2018: Riverdale

Unlike the first FCBD comic from 2017, Free Comic Book Day 2018: Riverdale just tells one story that is initially set during the events of the show and then through flashbacks years before the start of the series. When Betty wants to interview Pop, the owner of the local diner, for an article to celebrate the town's 75th anniversary, he tells her several stories that include his dad forming it originally as a pharmacy and soda shop, several famous figures stopping to eat, a reporter going missing after he went to look for a mythological creature, and changing his place into a diner so as to compete against a fancy Italian restaurant. But the biggest story Pop has involves a mysterious man who walks in one night and asks him for a burger due to not having a reservation at the restaurant. When the man admits how delicious the burgers were he tells Pop not to worry about the restaurant and then leaves. A week later, the restaurant was destroyed by a fire and more people came back to Pop's prompting him to add new food and menus. As Betty wonders about the man's intentions, Pop asks her to leave as he's getting ready to check on inventory. Once Betty leaves, Pop starts to make burgers and fries with the mysterious man entering and sitting in the same spot as he did before. Pop's narration reveals the man has come in contact with other people just like him and in exchange for a burger once a year he'll ensure his success, with the window reflection revealing horns. This comic has a lot of tantalizing moments helped by its smart writing and highly stylish atmospheric tone. Pop's stories are a nice departure as he rarely gets any big focus in the actual show as well as showing how Riverdale has changed in 75 years. Unlike the more realistic depictions shown in the show, this issue's focus on the more supernatural is well done and still has a bit of the eery and mysteriousness that still connects it to its origin. With a story from series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and writing done by Will Ewing and Ross Maxwell, this FCBD issue not only has great dialogue but the use of flashbacks continues to add to the mystery of Riverdale without giving us too much or too little. What helps is Joe Eisma's artwork and the coloring from Andre Szymanowicz both give us something so brisk and beautiful while still giving us something mysterious to look at. Though if there's one complaint it would be a brief shot of Pop looking at some criminals that shows them as bullet ridden and then back to normal that's never explained. So other than that small moment, I do think that Free Comic Book Day 2018: Riverdale is a well made comic that does an amazing job at keeping you engage with such dark mysteries. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers FCBD 2018 Shattered Grid Special

2. Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1

3. Free Comic Book Day 2018: Riverdale

4. Free Comic Book Day 2018: 2000 A.D. Regened

5. DC Universe: Legacies #1

6. Free Comic Book Day 2017 I Hate Image

7. Shang-Chi (2020-2021) #1 (of 5): Brothers & Sisters Part One

8. Champions (2020-) #1

9. Infinite Frontier (2021) #0

10. Green Lantern Vol. 2 #76

11. DC Retroactive: Green Lantern - The 70s #1

12. Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020-) #1
13. Showcase (1956-1978) #17
14. Werewolf By Night (2020-) #1 (of 4)

15. Free Comic Book Day: Bongo Comics Free For All 2018
16. Free Comic Book Day 2017: Riverdale
17. Marvel Comics (1939) #1