History ComicBook / ArchieMeetsThePunisher

* AllThereInTheManual: The assumption that ''Archie Meets the Punisher'' could be canon for the Archie universe is quite rational, but few would consider it part of the mainstream Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Right? However, the Marvel Handbooks state that the crossover takes place on Earth-616, meaning the residents of Riverdale have counterparts in the Marvel world. Previously it was believed that ''Archie Meets the Punisher'' takes place on Earth-7642 (the crossover reality) and occurs between the Punisher/Batman crossovers, as at the end Frank and Micro head to Gotham City. It's reasonable to think that it doesn't make any sense, but in fact there is an explanation: the 616 version of Gotham actually exists and appeared in the Golden Age comics (but it doesn't mean that the Punisher/Batman crossovers are 616 canon now: they're not and still considered part of the Crossover Earth).

* AllThereInTheManual: The assumption that ''Archie Meets the Punisher'' could be canon for the Archie universe is quite rational, but few would consider it part of the mainstream Franchise/MarvelUniverse. Right? However, the Marvel Handbooks state that the crossover takes place on Earth-616, meaning the residents of Riverdale have counterparts in the Marvel world. Previously it was believed that ''Archie Meets the Punisher'' takes place on Earth-7642 (the crossover reality) and occurs between the Punisher/Batman crossovers, as at the end Frank and Micro head to Gotham City. It's reasonable to think that it doesn't make any sense, but in fact there is an explanation: the 616 version of Gotham actually exists and appeared in the Golden Age comics.

After dealing twice with Creator/DCComics' Franchise/{{Batman}}, the next logical IntercontinuityCrossover for Creator/MarvelComics' no-nonsense vigilante Comicbook/ThePunisher was for him to try to shoot that delightful neighborhood rapscallion [[ComicBook/ArchieComics Archie Andrews]].

** The list for possible destinations in the train station includes such destinations as [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham]], [[ComicBook/TheAtom Ivy Town]] and [[Comicbook/JusticeLeague Happy Harbor]].
** Red takes his hostage Veronica to a building which stores giant balloon versions of Franchise/SpiderMan, Archie Comics' own CaptainPatriotic The Shield, and [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Sonic the Hedgehog]].

-->-- Cover Blurb

* INeedToGoIronMyDog: When Archie and the gang spot Punisher at the dance, everyone is quick to spring into action. Reggie, to avoid any trouble, announces that he'll check the bleachers. This a bad choice in hindsight, since Punisher's gunfight with the gangsters takes him there.

* INeedToGoIronMyDog: When Archie and the gang spot Punisher at the dance, everyone is quick to spring into action. Reggie, to avoid any trouble, announces that he'll check the bleachers. This a bad choice in a hindsight, since Punisher's gunfight with the gangsters takes him there.

* BaldOfEvil: Red is actually bald, a fact that he hides with a red-haired toupee.

** ComicBook/JosieAndThePussycats appear as the band playing in the 50s dance at the school.

* CassandraTruth: Archie tries to tell the local cops about the danger he is in due to the Punisher and the criminals after the Red Fever, but they don't believe him due to various calls he made in past, that turned up to be mistakes and misunderstandings from his part.
* CriminalDoppelganger: Red Fever looks exactly like Archie. Played more realistically than usual because the two are clearly distinguishable despite their identical facial features, and everyone, including Frank, is quick to notice the difference when seeing them up close. The ending also implies that Jughead has one as well, an Eastern European dictator.
* HostageSituation: Red takes Archie's [[BettyAndVeronica possible girlfriend]] Veronica hostage after Punisher catches up to him. Rest of the comic's drama comes from unravelling of the situtaion.

* INeedToGoIronMyDog: When Archie and the gang spot Punisher in the dance, everyone is quick to do something about it, and to avoid trouble, Reggie announces that he'll check the bleachers. This a bad choice in a hindsight, since Punisher's gunplay with the gangsters who are after Red takes him there.
* InternalMonologue: Frank has one while walking through empty halls of Riverdale's school, mostly about about what a nice place it is and how he would like to keep it safe by killing the bad guys... [[MoodWhiplash then he notices a mural]] that says "It's up to you to keep Riverdale clean!"
* LighterAndSofter: Deliberately invoked in-story, even Lampshaded by Microchip. It's implied to be because Riverdale's innocence reminds Frank of what could have been... he even spares Red Fever in an uncharacteristic move, because he doesn't want to expose Archie and the other residents of the town to the bloodshed and cruelty that he lives with every day. Also, it's telling that at the end of the story, Betty is providing the voiceover for the night's events while everyone is talking about the adventure and Frank and Microchip are preparing to depart. Betty makes a very astute observation that she thinks Frank really doesn't want to leave...
* MotifMerger: The comic has Punisher's skull-logo crossed with Archie's features.

* PetTheDog: Frank does one for the entire town, as it is obvious that Riverdale's innocence has touched him. It's very apparent when he lets Red escape. Sure, he justifies it to himself by saying he can always get him later, the Feds are closing in, etc. But there's also the fact that Archie and the rest of the gang are there, and Frank clearly knows that it's the night of the big dance, everyone had a little adventure, no one got hurt, ''and these kids don't need to see a man gunned down right in front of them.'' Riverdale's innocence would be gone forever if he did that.
* PieInTheFace: A mook mistaking Archie for Red has him on knifepoint. Punisher, currently unarmed, deals with him with a cake to the face just as the guy realizes that he has the wrong man.

** The list for possible destinations in the train station that Red escapes from Punisher to includes such destinations as [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Gotham]], [[ComicBook/TheAtom Ivy Town]] and [[Comicbook/JusticeLeague Happy Harbor]].

** One of Red Fever's aliases is stated to be "Montana Bob". Bob Montana was the original creator of ''Archie''.

* SueDonym: In Riverdale, Castle works under the name Castiglione (his family's original name).
* UnwillingSuspension: Red Fever ends up foiled when his leg ends up tangled in the rope for a parade balloon, and is lifted high up in the air.
* VersusTitle: Of old-school Franchise/UniversalHorror variety.

[[quoteright:338:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/punsgonnashootarch_3208.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:338:[[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer Yes, this really happened.]]]]

[[AudienceAlienatingPremise Wait... what?]]

* CriminalDoppelganger: Red Fever looks exactly like Archie. Played more realistically than usual because the two are clearly distinguishable despite their identical facial features, and everyone, including Frank, is quick to notice the difference. The ending also implies that Jughead has one as well, an Eastern European dictator.

* InternalMonologue: Frank has one while walking through empty halls of Riverdale's school, mostly about about what a nice place it is and how we would like to keep it safe by killing the bad guys... [[MoodWhiplash then he notices a mural]] that says "It's up to you to keep Riverdale clean!"

** Among the guests of said dance are [[Comicbook/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch Sabrina]], [[ComicBook/PatsyWalker Patsy and Hedy]],[[ComicBook/KatyKeene Katy]], and [[ComicBook/MillieTheModel Millie]].

* VersusTitle: Of oldschool Franchise/UniversalHorror variety.

* LighterAndSofter: Deliberately invoked in-story, even Lampshaded by Microchip. It's implied to be because Riverdale's innocence reminds Frank of what could have been... he even spares Red Fever in an uncharacteristic move, because he doesn't want to expose Archie and the other residents of the town to the bloodshed and cruelty that he lives with every day.
** Also, it's telling that at the end of the story, Betty is providing the voiceover for the night's events while everyone is talking about the adventure and Frank and Microchip are preparing to depart. Betty makes a very astute observation that she thinks Frank really doesn't want to leave...

* PublisherChosenTitle: Marvel and Archie published separate editions of the book, and both publishers ordered their character first in the titling.

* CriminalDoppelganger: Red Fever looks exactly like Archie, but luckily for him, everyone, including Punisher, is quick to realize that he just looks like Fever. The ending also implies that Jughead has one as well, an Eastern European dictator.

* SueDonym: In Riverdale, Castle works under the name Castiglione.

** Among the guests of said dance are [[Comicbook/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch Sabrina]], [[ComicBook/PatsyWalker Patsy and Millie]],[ComicBook/KatyKeene Katy]], and [[ComicBook/MillieTheModel Millie]].

** [[Comicbook/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch Sabrina]] is among the guests of said dance.

* LighterAndSofter: Deliberately invoked in-story, even Lampshaded by Microchip. Its implied to be because Riverdale's innocence reminds Frank of what could have been... he even spares Red Fever in an uncharacteristic move, because he doesn't want to expose Archie and the other residents of the town to the bloodshed and cruelty that he lives with every day.

** Red takes his hostage Veronica to a building which stores giant balloon versions of Franchise/SpiderMan, Archie Comics' own CaptainPatriotic The Shield, and [[ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog]].

After dealing twice with Creator/DCComics' Franchise/{{Batman}}, the next logical IntercontinuityCrossover for Creator/MarvelComics' no-nonsense vigilante Comicbook/ThePunisher was for him to try to shoot that delightful neighborhood rapscallion [[Franchise/ArchieComics Archie Andrews]].

[[caption-width-right:338:Yes, this really happened.]]

* InternalMonologue: Frank has one while walking through empty halls of Riverdale's school, mostly about about what a nice place it is and how we would like to keep it safe by killing the bad guys... [[MoodWhiplash then he notices mural]] that says "It's up to you to keep Riverdale clean!"

[[caption-width-right:338:This can only end in family-friendly shenanigans.]]

The premise started as a joke by Archie editor-in-chief Victor Gorelick when the company was trying to find an idea for its first IntercontinuityCrossover with a superhero publisher. Writer Batton Lash submitted an actual proposal for how the premise might actually work, and both Marvel and Archie decided the idea was just CrazyEnoughToWork.

* BizarroEpisode: No one can deny it's a strange outing for Archie.