Serving as a prelude to the CW teen mystery drama based on the long running comic book series, Free Comic Book Day 2017: Riverdale is the very first comic I've ever read relating to the classic Archie Comics. It tells two stories, one focusing on Archie Andrews and the other on Veronica Lodge, during the summer before the show began. Archie's story is about him working for his dad's construction company, his affair with music teacher Ms. Grundy, and his interest in writing music. While Veronica's focuses on her privileged, rich lifestyle in New York buying expensive clothes, going to concerts with friends, and working for Vogue. Eventually, both of their lifestyles are upended by unforeseen events, such as Archie and Grundy breaking up for fear of being caught and Veronica's father's imprisonment by the FBI for embezzlement causing her family to move back to Riverdale. What makes this tie-in special is that the writers of both stories are from the show's actual writing staff. Showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and his staff manage to capture the same style that tone that the show is known for. It's very dramatic, over the top at times, and very easy to get through as it explains who both characters are without too much exposition. The stories have different people working on their artwork, with Archie's having Elliot Fernandez doing the art and Thomas Chu as the colorist, whereas Veronica's art is by Thomas Pitilli and coloring by Andrew Szymanowicz. Both are done perfectly as they manage to make the characters resemble the actors that play them, though while the first is very detailed it sometimes hinders them with overdramatic emotions. In both, John Workman's lettering acts as the best use of exposition since they're both done from Archie and Veronica's perspectives. They're very short and don't fill up too much space, acting like entries in diaries they're writing throughout the summer. Free Comic Book Day 2017: Riverdale is a great comic for those who are big fans of the show as it helps explain things in the show you never saw, and if you're not then it could be a good way to start. Over all: 94%
Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020-) #1
2. Showcase (1956-1978) #17
3. Free Comic Book Day: Bongo Comics Free For All 2018
4. Free Comic Book Day 2017: Riverdale
