ARCHIE VS. PREDATOR II #5

“Escape Velocity”
Writer: Alex de Campi
Artist: Robert Hack

Archie lies on the gym floor begging for help. The Predator-Archie is getting his ass kicked by his fellow Predators. In space new Betty and Jughead are flying in the captured Predator ship. They talk about their feelings and Jughead names the Predator dog Bratwurst. Jason and Cheryl are locked in the gym basement with the gas leaking. A Predator comes in and Cheryl loses it. She attacks and the Predator shoots. This causes the whole gym to explode.

At the football field the classic Betty and Veronica are sitting with the devil. They are joined by the Predator-Archie which survived. There is some more talking about feelings. The devil turns out to be a really cool guy and puts everything back to normal. At the end the classic Betty and Veronica are sitting in an outdoor café in New York. Predator-Archie is with them. The end.

Well this was a disappointing ending. So they go through all this and the devil just sets thing back to normal. Betty and Veronica get tattoos and lesbian power haircuts. Everything is just hunky dory. Wow what an anti-climatic ending. Just a really disappointing ending. This whole series both the first and second should have been called Betty and Veronica vs. the Predator. Archie was for the most part a minor character that didn’t have any real relevance in the plot. I don’t mind that since I do think the girls are more interesting than Archie. The first series I enjoyed and loved the weird ending. This one well it started with some potential but the lazy writing and the dumb ending just ruined it for me. Can’t see any reason to make a third series. If you want a really cool crossover check out the Batman vs. Predator. Now that was awesome. Someday I will do those on this site.

ARCHIE VS. PREDATOR II #4

“Dance of Death”
Writer: Alex de Campi
Artist: Robert Hack

The Axis of Evil lead by Cheryl has a plan to destroy the Predators. She starts a gas leak in the basement to blow up the gym. That it will probably kill everyone else is of little importance. Reggie decides to do the right thing and locks her in the basement so she can’t carry out her plan. He goes and helps the survivors in the gym who are battling the Predators. Kevin, Toni and Archie are the only survivors. The Predator-Archie has just been impaled with a pennant. Jughead and new Betty have made it to the Predator’s ship. Jughead manages to win over the loyalty of one of the Predator dogs by giving him hamburgers. Betty accidentally hits a button and they take off. Classic Betty and Veronica invoke a ritual that summons Mr. Inferno.

Well you can’t say that this issue wasn’t fast paced. The action is going strong. Now I’m not familiar with the Archie characters so I don’t really have any type of connection to them. Still the story moves along at a quick pace and I do find it interesting. So now they have I guess the Devil come to help them. I wonder how that works out.

ARCHIE VS. PREDATOR II #3

“A Kiss Before Dying”
Writer: Alex de Campi
Artist: Robert Hack

Archie, Predator Archie and old Betty and Veronica confront the Predators in the high school gym. Archie tries to be nice but the Predators open fire. Predator Archie manages to take Archie to the safety of the rafters. Yet Archie can’t stand to see the Predators continue to take out their anger on his friends. So he throws his smart phone which attracts them. So the Predator Archie gets into the fight. New Veronica dies while leading the students in a charge. New Betty and Jughead decide to take over the Predator spaceship and sneak out. The Predators see and sic their dogs on them. Old Betty and Veronica sneak out so they can call the Devil for help. They hide out in the showers where the hot water conceals them from the Predators thermal sight. They then decide they love each other and start to kiss.

So Betty and Veronica are now lesbians. Well why the Hell not? Seems everyone is a lesbian these days. Actually it is pretty hot. I guess you can’t leave women in the showers without them going lesbian. So besides the hot lesbian action there isn’t much to this issue. A lot of people talking about their feelings. Which I guess is a typical Archie comic. Throw in some Predator head/spine tear outs and you got a typical Predator story. I love the retro Sidaris cover. So hopefully with the Devil in the mix we might get the plot moving forward.

ARCHIE VS. PREDATOR II #2

“Pleased to Meet Me”
Writer: Alex de Campi
Artist: Robert Hack

Betty, Veronica and Predator-Archie have met the gang from the alternate universe. They find out that the two universes have some major difference. The new Betty and Veronica are not interested in Archie. They also don’t have flip phones like the old universe has. Anyway they don’t have time for much since Archie-Predator is reverting to his predator form. Also his friends are coming. At the high school a Halloween party is starting. The predators land and start to take heads at the party. Archie-Predator with the original Betty, Veronica and new Archie go to confront them in the gym.

Well this was kind of a wild issue. De Campi seems to have some fun at poking fun at the original Archie. Betty and Veronica are shocked that their counterparts have no interest in their Archie. They have never used Voodoo or Satanism or magic love potions. In fact this new Riverdale is pretty dull and normal. Of course the predators are coming to do what they do best. Shoot laser holes in people and tear their heads and spines out of their bodies. A strange series so far but also interesting.

ARCHIE VS. PREDATOR II #1

“The Darkness at the End of the Lane”
Writer: Alex de Campi
Artist: Robert Hack

Betty, Veronica and Predator-Archie are wandering the streets of a destroyed Riverdale. Everybody is dead. Betty is narrating to the audience what happened. They decide to go down Memory Lane which should restore everything. Only Memory Lane is gone. Veronica worries that the series has been cancelled. The group decides to head out and hot wires a sport car. They drive out only to find themselves back in Riverdale.

Meanwhile in an alternate reality Dilton has bought a Predator helmet on e-bay for his Halloween costume. He activates it which I guess somehow transports Betty, Veronica and Predator-Archie to this new Riverdale. They are only mildly surprised to meet alternate version of themselves. Also the Predators have traced the helmet and are about to land in Riverdale.

So they decided to do a sequel to the first crossover. So far the same writer has decided to do a sort of existential story. We have the main characters very conscious of them being comic characters. They are also a bit worried that their series seems to be cancelled. Not really explained well how these two realities have crossed. A very weird story but I do admit I have some interest to continue reading and finding out where its going.