Blossoms 666 #1
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist, Cover Artist: Laura Braga
Colorist: Matt Herms,
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Review by Anelise Farris
The world of Archie Comics does horror so well, and if there is a family that is just begging for some dark, gothic scandal, it is the Blossoms. Blossoms 666 #1 takes a deep dive into the lives of Cheryl and Jason Blossom to reveal that one of the twins is, indeed, the Anti-Christ.
Like so many Archie Comics do, the story opens up at the high-school, and we encounter all of our familiar Riverdale characters: Betty, Veronica, Archie, Jughead, and the like. Cheryl makes a grand entrance, as only Cheryl can do, and puts everyone in her place. Meanwhile, Jason works his magic on Miss Grundy. From just the first few pages, you understand the Blossom’s influence on everyone: they are just playing a game in which everyone is a pawn.
That’s what makes this such a perfect horror story. The tension slowly builds, leading up to a pool party and rather murderous game of truth or dare in which Reggie might lose it all. The writing and the pacing are brilliant. If there is a comicbook writer that knows how to work the horror genre, then it is undoubtedly Cullen Bunn. The art here is also spot on with a dark, modern horror aesthetic that still pays homage to classic horror style. The wide black gutters and solid panel backgrounds let the characters really shine, and the letterer deftly balances different voices — even when the characters are off the page.
Verdict: Buy it.
Resident mean girl Cheryl Blossom and her twin Jason have a lot more up their sleeves than simply high-school domination in Blossoms 666 #1. With classic horror flair and up-to-date takes on the characters of Riverdale, this is definitely a must buy.
