Chilling Adventures of Sabrina 1 & 2.
Review by Paul Fiander
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Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art: Robert Hack Published by Archie Horror |
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To kick things off I feel I would be remiss not to talk about the major problem with this series, the time lapse between the first and second issues would be a decent reason to give up on the series. However thanks to the strength of the first issue I was more than willing to invest the time in the Teenage Witch’s second outing. The delay has been dealt with in the back matter of the second issue in the form of an apology from Aguirre-Sacasa. It’s a nice touch but honestly this series needs to have a schedule to keep the traction it has already built.
I originally had no idea that Sabrina was from the Archie universe so seeing her in the first issue of Afterlife with Archie issue was a slight shock but this series is a step aside from the Afterlife series. Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa however is a tying link between the two series, he takes his time building his narrative but has made both equally compelling. The first six pages help to set the scene as we learn about why Sabrina is such an important cog in the world of the Witches. This importance is made more interesting due to her parentage which creates the crux of these two issues. Sabrina’s father married a mortal which is a no no in the Witching world this helps to set the main plot in the second issue. |
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We are first introduced to Madam Satan at the end of Issue 1 and she is the main focus of the second issue as she returns from the worst circle of Hell to Greendale via a summer camp, Asylum and a crop of trees. Her menace is obvious as her story is told mostly from the third person perspective but when she does speak it becomes even more apparent this is not a Lady to be trifled with. Her representation by Robert Hack has a huge part to play in this, his painted style allows a certain amount of wiggle room as her face alters (due to plot device) through the issue. However it’s towards the end of her section that we really begin to see the menace this Witch possess.
Sabrina herself looks like a sweet 16 year old and her supporting cast all feel wonderfully cast by Hack. From their body types to their looks across the breakfast table all the art feels authentic to the characters within the story. This is vastly important in a story like this as the last thing it needs is over designed characters that do not feel at home with the pages of the comic. You get the feeling this will be a slow agonising build to a crescendo as Archie Comics begin to fully embrace their horror wing and with this creative team at the helm it looks like they will have a second hit on their hands. We just need two things, more of the same and a more reader friendly release schedule. |
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Previews
Issue 1 |
Issue 2 |
