Publisher: Archie Comics
Release Date: November 2019
Price: $14.99
Creator(s): Kelly Thompson (author); Veronica Fish and Andy Fish (illustrators)
Format: 144 pgs., Full-Color, 6"x9", Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-6825-5805-8
Age Rating: Teen
ICv2 Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5
Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish, both better-known for their Marvel Comics work, along with Veronica’s talented but less-known husband Andy Fish, have turned in an excellent restart to this classic series. Magic, monsters, teen angst, teen romance, and even Sabrina’s snarky familiar cat all make this story a treat to read. For readers or viewers of earlier versions, this is a very good continuation or remake. For those new to the character, it’s an excellent starting point.
Also, there is some excellent scene writing in this story, such as a point where Sabrina is trying to explain some remarkably odd events to her aunts, who are very calmly trying to be maternal and protective in a situation where that just isn’t going to keep her away from danger.
So why not five stars? Because the book contains over 20 pages of filler in the form of an excerpt, in effect a really long ad, for a different Sabrina project with a different creative team, and more directly related to Archie and Riverdale. That might be an interesting project on its own, but asking readers of this version to pay for that excerpt seemed odd. Also, highlighting a possible romance between Sabrina and Archie in that book, while this one covers her starting potential romances with two other teens, seems awkward at best.
For teens, as well as for adults who have enjoyed earlier versions of Sabrina over the years.
--Nick Smith: Library Technician, Community Services, for the Pasadena Public Library in California.