Archie Vs. Predator II is a 2019 5-issue miniseries written by Alex de Campi and drawn by Robert Hack, released under the publication of Dark Horse Comics and Archie Comics.
A direct sequel to 2015's Archie vs. Predator, the story picks up where the original left off: Betty and Veronica wandering the ruins of Riverdale, now accompanied by the teenage Predator (now transformed into a copy of Archie). However, their attempt to undo the death and destruction unexpectedly leads to the three meeting their modern, rebooted counterparts.
Unbeknownst to any of them, though, more Predators are making their way to Earth...
This Comic Book Provides Examples Of:
- Adaptational Sexuality: After evading a Predator attack, Betty and Veronica confess their feelings for each other.
- Alternate Self: The Betty and Veronica from the original miniseries (who are treated as the "classic" versions of the characters) end up meeting the "modern" versions of themselves and all of their friends from Archie Comics (2015).
- Anyone Can Die: Just like the original miniseries.
- When the other Predators arrive in issue #2, Dilton and Moose are killed.
- In issue #3, Modern!Veronica is shot to pieces by the Predators. Hot Dog is later torn apart by the Predator's hounds.
- In issue #4, Midge dies from her injuries before being blown apart by a Predator.
- In issue #5, Reggie and Cheryl are shot to pieces by the Predators, then Jason, Archie, Toni, Kevin, and the Predators are blown up when the gas leak is ignited. Fortunately, Mr. Inferno hits the Reset Button.
- Art Shift: In contrast to Fernando Ruiz's "house-style" art from the first miniseries, Robert Hack's pencils are much more in line with the artwork of Archie Comics (2015).
- Befriending the Enemy:
- Classic!Betty and Classic!Veronica are fairly okay with hanging out with Archie!Predator, despite him being the one who murdered most of their friends.
- Jughead is able to tame one of the Predator's hounds after giving it a bunch of fast food.
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: The classic versions of Betty and Veronica eventually admit that their rivalry over Archie hasn't actually been about Archie for a long time. The two then reveal their feelings for each other.
- Big "WHAT?!": The classic Betty and Veronica have this reaction upon discovering that neither of their modern counterparts is dating their version of Archie.
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: When Betty and Veronica find the closed-down Memory Lane, Veronica wonders if it's a sign that they've been cancelled.
- Censor Box: Every swear word spoken by one of the "modern" Archie characters is obscured with one of these.
- Crossover: Not just between the Archie cast and the Predator, but also between the classic and modern eras of Archie Comics.
- Composite Character: The Betty and Veronica from the original Archie Vs Predator are treated as the "classic" versions of the characters (as opposed to their "modern" counterparts, who represent the versions of the characters introduced in Archie Comics (2015)). They're presented as having memories of basically every version of the characters from before the reboot, frequently referencing various different parts of the Archie Comics franchise from over the years.
- Continuity Reboot: Lampshaded to the point that it's a major plot point. The Betty and Veronica from the original miniseries (who are treated as the "classic" versions of the characters) wind up in the Riverdale of Archie Comics (2015), where they meet the rebooted counterparts of the Archie cast, including themselves. It's also deconstructed since the two angst over the idea of being wiped away and replaced like they never existed.
- Darker and Edgier: The first miniseries was a Dark Comedy, helped by the Art-Style Dissonance depicting the violence and gore in the classic Archie style. While not without humor, this series is more often played straight, signified by the art style looking more like the modern Archie comics.
- Denser and Wackier: The "classic" Archie era is treated as such in comparison to the "modern" one, since Classic!Betty and Classic!Veronica are well-acquainted with the supernatural and partake in far more exaggerated shenanigans, while their modern counterparts "do normal teen stuff."
- Discontinuity Nod: Lampshaded; the title of issue #3's Chapter Four literally reads "Don't Worry, None of This is in Continuity."
- Everyone Has Standards: While he may not be the nicest person, Modern!Reggie refuses to leave the set-to-blow Riverdale High before making sure he can't save anyone else, in contrast to Cheryl and Jason Blossom being cheerfully willing to abandon everyone.
- Facial Horror: The Predator's "Archie" face starts to flake off, revealing his original head underneath. Soon after, the Predator just straight up peels off the rest of it.
- Foreshadowing: More than once, Veronica mentions that she and Betty once summoned the devil. Sure enough, the two are eventually forced to summon Mr. Inferno himself for help.
- Give Me a Sword: When Toni is cornered by the Predators, the Archie!Predator throws her a machine gun, which she uses to deadly effect.
- Godzilla Threshold: Things eventually get so bad that Classic!Betty and Classic!Veronica perform a ritual to summon Mr. Inferno for help.
- Heel–Face Turn: The Predator from the original miniseries is now actively helping the heroes against the new Predators.
- Held Gaze: After evading a Predator in a steam-filled shower room, Classic!Betty and Classic!Veronica stare deeply into each other's eyes before admitting their feelings for each other.
- Lawyer-Friendly Cameo: When Veronica tries to call "Frank" for help, she accidentally gets someone named "Bucky" instead.
- Love Makes You Crazy: Lampshaded and played for Black Comedy:Classic!Veronica: Do you have any idea of the things we've done to try to win that carrot-topped buffoon from each other? Kidnapping! Mutual impersonation! Dodgy love potions! Voodoo! Betty summoned the devil!Classic!Betty: You summoned him first.Modern!Betty: Is it me, Archie, or do they seem kinda... crazy?
- Meet Your Early-Installment Weirdness: Both played straight and inverted; the modern versions of Betty and Veronica are weirded out by both the lengths their classic versions went to to try to win Archie, as well as the assorted supernatural phenomena the latter take for granted. In contrast, the classic versions of Betty and Veronica are stunned that neither of their counterparts are dating a currently-single Archie, while also being surprised by how different several characters look.
- Mythology Gag: Several!
- When Betty and Veronica are looking for Memory Lane, Ronnie mentions how they once came back from "an alternate timeline where [Betty] married Archie."
- The construction sign on the closed-down Memory Lane was put up by "Waid Enterprises." Mark Waid was the writer spearheading the relaunch of Archie Comics in 2015.
- Veronica mentions that she and Betty once summoned the Devil.
- Upon encountering their modern counterparts, Classic!Betty and Classic!Veronica mention Captain Pureheart, Sir Archibald, and Jughead traveling through time.
- At one point, Classic!Veronica tries to call "Frank" for help. When that fails, Betty suggests Cosmo, the Mighty Crusaders, the Shield, the Black Hood, and Superduck.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Dilton finds the teen Predator's helmet and accidentally activates it, which alerts other Predators in space to its presence and brings them to Earth.
- Off with His Head!: Both Moose and Dilton get their heads torn off by the attacking Predators.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: After Cheryl and Jason Blossom set off a gas leak in order to blow up the school, they refuse to help Reggie try to rescue anyone else from the Predators. In response, Reggie barricades the boiler room door to keep them from escaping.
- Pet the Dog: Mr. Inferno agrees to fix everything for free, then encourages Betty and Veronica to go out and live a life worth remembering.
- Retcon: Lampshaded; Betty, Veronica, and the teen Predator end up in the modern Riverdale of Archie Comics (2015) upon leaving their version of the town.
- Ret-Gone: Discussed by Veronica while lamenting what seems to be the end of Riverdale:Veronica: How long until they forget us, Betts?...And what happens to us, then? Does all this just... break apart, like ice on a spring river, and melt away?
- Rhetorical Question Blunder: When Classic!Veronica declares that she's texting for help, Toni sarcastically asks if she has an assassin on call. Betty replies that, yes, she's calling Frank.
- Set Right What Once Went Wrong: Veronica plans to try to undo all of the death and destruction from the first miniseries by finding and walking down Memory Lane. Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan. In the end, Mr. Inferno turns back time and prevents Dilton from receiving the Predator helmet, preventing the other Predators from coming to Earth.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: When Modern!Reggie splits from Cheryl and Jason to see if he can save anyone else from the Predators, Cheryl calls him a fool and coldly tells him that the others will never accept him. Reggie bluntly replies that the Blossom siblings wouldn't, either.
- Soft Glass: Veronica gets Predator!Archie to punch through a car window so they can steal it.
- Sole Survivor: As far as they know, Classic!Betty, Classic!Veronica, and Archie!Predator are the only survivors of their old continuity.
- Something Only They Would Say: Modern!Veronica is finally convinced that Classic!Veronica is telling the truth about her identity when the latter accurately deduces that the former is sneaking checks from her mother's checkbooks.
- Sympathy for the Devil: Classic!Betty admits that, even after he killed all of their friends, she and Classic!Veronica felt bad for the Predator.
- The Unintelligible: Predator!Archie only speaks in emojis, making it difficult for others to understand him. Toni from the "modern" Riverdale is the only one who's able to translate what he's saying.
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Ms. Grundy is so preoccupied with her phone that she doesn't quite register that there's two separate Archies, despite noticing one dressed as a pirate and the other having a Predator head.
- Wham Line: Two in quick succession, after Classic!Betty and Classic!Veronica evade a Predator in a steam-filled shower:Classic!Betty: You saved my life, Ronnie.Classic!Veronica: I don't know if I would have saved Archie's, though. Not like that.Classic!Betty: But then, it hasn't been about Archie for a long time, has it?Classic!Veronica: No. It hasn't.
- Wham Shot: After the above Wham Line, Classic!Betty and Classic!Veronica embrace, with the former kissing the latter on the head.
- Where I Was Born and Razed: At the start of the miniseries, most of Riverdale is either destroyed or on fire.
