Archie Horror: Post Seven: Vampironica

Earlier this year, after the successes of Afterlife with Archie, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Jughead: The Hunger, the good folks at Archie Horror introduced a new title to the imprint.

Vampironica

Created by Greg and Megan Smallwood, Vampironica follows Veronica Lodge in a Riverdale not quite like the one we know, as she is attacked by a client of her father's, and turned into a Vampire.

Part what what I've always found tricky about the rivals in Archie comics (both Veronica and Reggie) is how easy it is to simply write them off as necessary foils for good guys Archie Andrews and Better Cooper, but in turning Ronnie into a vampire herself, the character is actually able to shine in a way I have seldom seen her; as a no nonsense young woman intent on changing her world to one in which she sees value.

To be honest I wasn't really expecting much out of this title, but found it to be a fun read and one I'd happily recommend to others.

As the title is still fairly new (issue four comes out later this week), I don't want to go into too many details, but I have read that the creators cited by An American Werewolf in London and Fright Night as inspirations, so I think it's safe to say the title is a little closer to Shaun of the Dead than Dawn of the Dead on the Horror/Comedy meter.