Archie: The Best of Samm Schwartz #1

A perfect showcase of Samm Schwartz's warmly expressive style, this 2011 IDW collection opens with a cover that says it all: Veronica strolls by carrying a bowling ball and books, greeting Archie and Jughead (crowned and snacking on a fence), while a smitten, heart-surrounded Archie in the foreground sighs, "Man! That gal bowls me over every time!" Schwartz's pencils and inks capture the easy charm and comic timing that made Riverdale feel so alive, and the promise of "All Great Stories" on the banner is hard to argue with. Frank Doyle's writing paired with Schwartz's art — inked by Vincent DeCarlo and colored by Victor Gorelick — makes this first volume a genuinely delightful dive into some of the best Archie comics the duo ever produced.