Jughead the Hunger Volume One (2018) 

Writer – Frank Tieri 

Artists – Michael Walsh, Pat and Tim Kennedy, and Joe Eisma 

After finishing Archie Volume One, I was looking for another read within the Archie Comics universe and instead of reading Jughead Volume One (since the first issue was included in the volume), I opted for Jughead the Hunger #1. Of course, after finishing the first issue, I found the complete first volume including the one-shot that kicked off the whole shebang! I tend to do that from time to time. Oh well! 

Beloved teacher Miss Grundy is the latest victim of the Riverdale Ripper. Mr. Andrews shares the sad, unfortunate news with Archie and the gang. The kids must get home before curfew and Jughead runs into Dilton on his way. Fast forward to the next morning when Jughead finds a bloody pair of glasses and an appendage under his bed. Not only is Jughead the Riverdale Ripper – he’s an honest to goodness werewolf! The shocking revelations don’t end there as Archie discovers Jughead’s secret. Betty Cooper has a secret of her own – her family has been hunting werewolves for years as she sets her sights on her friend turned foe. 

I remember buying the first three issues of this series years ago but I never got a chance to read them until I borrowed the volume from Hoopla. This was a quick read over two days as I couldn’t put it down. Frank Tieri pays homage to classic creature features like Stephen King’s Silver Bullet and the Howling, while creating a mythology all his own. I do enjoy the dash of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Betty Cooper being “The Chosen One” to do battle against the Joneses in the here and now. If you think I’ve given away too much in the previous paragraph, don’t worry! There are other secrets and jaw-dropping revelations that will keep you enthralled until the very final page of the trade. 

When I reviewed Archie Volume One, I had mentioned the change in artists from issue to issue. Although there are three artists attributed to this volume, the art is seamless from beginning to end. Michael Walsh’s name is familiar to me as he was the primary artist on The Silver Coin from Image Comics. Mr. Walsh deserves to be added to the ever-growing list of new Masters of Horror eliciting gasps and gross reactions to comic readers near and far. I’ll need to take a look at Pat, Tim, and Joe’s art when I have time and see what other comics they have brought to life recently. 

This volume contains an added bonus – the first issue of Vampironica, which I previously reviewed back in September 2020. 

Before I returned this volume, I made a spreadsheet of all the Archie Comics that had been previously released so I can check out what I missed. My top three titles to check out in the near future – Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Josie and the Pussycats, and Reggie and Me. My other goal is to check out the rest of the Archie Horror titles that I missed as well. If you are keeping track at home, I have already reviewed: Chilling Adventures Presents Camp Pickens, Blossoms 666, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch -Something Wicked. 

If there are any pre-2010s Archie Comics I need to check out in the near future, please leave a recommendation or two in the comment section below! Thank you in advance!