Jughead #10 Review

Jughead #10

Writer: Ryan North
Artist/Colorist: Derek Charm
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Cover Artist: Derek Charm
Publisher: Archie Comics

Review by Insha Fitzpatrick

JUGHEAD JONES IS ON A DATE?! WITH SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH?! *INCOHERENT LOUD SQUEES OF EXCITEMENT*

There’s no secret of how much I love this couple, so let me make this clear, I love everything about this pairing of teenagers and I want to make it known to the world! With that, onto the review!

In our previous issue, Jughead Jones is faced with a crush and disappointment all in the same week! (It might be a week, comic book time guys, don’t judge me.) He meets a burger mascot lady who he falls head over heels for, but then he finds out there’s a real girl under that burger suit and her name is Sabrina. You may know this teenage witch and now she’s here with Jughead and their going on a date. Yes, a date.

Jughead #10 follows that date. Jughead is trying to figure out how to make this situation either go away or a little bit better. He knows there’s expectations for dating situations, but he never expected… this. He has to tell Sabrina some things and doesn’t want to hurt her, but he hurts her very unintentionally by breaking every single date role in the book. He enlists everyone he can to either be a distraction or give him some advice, but he doesn’t know how to enjoy himself in this situation and it becomes real awkward, real quick. Sabrina wants to make this date the best one that they can make it, but to her, Jughead isn’t being himself (which is true). It’s an awkward date to say the least and an angry Sabrina is not about to put up with it either.

This issue felt very close to home on some occasions. I am very awkward with first dates (or dating in general, why is dating a thing? Soulmate… fall into my lap, please), but I can’t imagine what it’s like for both parties of this. Sabrina just wants to hang out with a guy she thinks is cool and cute and Jughead doesn’t know the first thing about doing any of this stuff. As awkward as the issue is, Ryan North does an excellent job of capturing the confusion and calamity within it. He stays with Jughead’s limitations. He understands the situation he’s in and he does a good job in capturing a side we’ve never seen of him. Sure, some of it was a bit fumbling and not represented quite how we would have imagined, but you have to crawl before you walk and this feels like it’s starting on the right path.

Another thing I really loved was Ryan North’s Sabrina as well. She’s very much herself, but it’s so cool to see her in this type of setting and I think North is the perfect person to capture her within Jughead #10. She’s funny, energetic, smart and she’s a pleasure to have in this universe, especially when she has to go “against” Jughead. I also absolutely love how Ryan North completely just captured how much of a jackass Archie is in a page.

Derek Charm continues to be the absolutely perfect person to draw Jughead. He is really dominating both art and colors with this issue and completely nails it. I love seeing the different colors and designs he can come up with in these issues and he completely delivers. I also need to talk about this, I absolutely love Derek’s character design for Sabrina. I feel like I can praise this all day long, but I’ll keep it light and sweet. It continues to have me swooning. Her date dress?! Where can I buy that!? Her kitty shirt?! GIVE IT TO ME NOW. I love what Derek puts into these issues with his art. It never fails to put a smile on my face.

The Verdict
BUY IT! Jughead #10 is a turning point in the Jughead and Sabrina adventures. I hope they end up working it out because I think they fit very well as a pair, but it’s still one funny issue to read and digest, even if you want to read the disaster that is their first date. Also, a lot of people miss this, don’t forget to read Ryan’s funny captions at the bottom of the page. He includes them in all his work and they’re EVERYTHING!