BETTY & VERONICA: VIXENS #1
Written by Jamie L. Rotante
Art by Eva Cabrera, Elaina Unger, and Rachel Deering
Published by Archie Comics
Release Date: November 22, 2017
A biker gang has begun to harass the citizens of Riverdale, trying to take revenge on whoever picked a fight with them! But can they stand a chance against Betty, Veronica, and their brand new biker gang? Find out in this first issue of Betty & Veronica Vixens!
Rotante provides an intriguing premise – what if Riverdale just became some kind of 1950s biker gang thunderdome? Honestly, Archie Comics in general and their willingness to try different genres and scenarios on for size is always entertaining and I definitely approve of this biker gang alternate reality. I kind of love the amount of gangs that pop up out of nowhere in this comic. It’s like Oprah was just giving them out in Riverdale.
Could the critique on sexism and overall “girl power” vibe have been more nuanced and complex? Probably. It’s not necessarily bad, it’s just…fine. It’s minimal requirement “look at this sexism and look at how competent the girls are compared to the men”. It’s not making any interesting arguments or looking at how feminism and intersectionality can be complicated, but eh, at least it’s trying. I kind of wished Betty and Veronica let Reggie and Archie simmer and squirm in their poor choices, but hey, at least they get to do some super cool biker gang shenanigans.
Cabrera’s work is wonderful. I love the designs of the outfits Betty and Veronica wear. They all feel well thought out and lovingly created. I especially love Betty and Veronica’s date outfits.
I also kind of love the fact that Spotty’s, aka the Southside Serpents’ home base, feels like a hyperbole of what you’d think a biker bar is. There’s pictures of the devil on the wall, everyone’s dressed in leather or black, and yet none of them seem that intimidating in all honesty. There’s something goofy about the whole scene, but it kind of goes with the crazy biker gang alternate universe they’re establishing so I think the goofiness works.
If you have the time, do check out Betty & Veronica Vixens. It’s a fun enough comic with an interesting premise. I’m sure looking forward to see where it’s going.
The Verdict: 9.0/10
