REVIEW: 'Archie vs. Predator' #4 by Alex de Campi, Fernando Ruiz and Rich Koslowski

★★★★★ (5/5)

In the climatic conclusion of Archie vs Predator #4, Betty and Veronica are Riverdale's last hope to bring down the deadly hunter from space. After a murderous killing spree, the Predator will come to know the wrath of Archie's beloveds in this spine-tingling final chapter.

The initial thought of science fiction movies' cult favorite anti-hero, the Predator against comic's legendary sweet kids from Riverdale seemed like a one-note joke. However, thanks to Alex de Campi's balanced approach to storytelling readers got the best of both worlds. All the corny shenanigans among friends combined will all the gratuitous violence and blood-splatter of a gory monster movie. De Campi had struck all the right notes in bringing these two popular worlds together. 

The magic as usual lies in the Archie house style of art left intact but reimagined in ways never before seen. Seeing characters spines ripped from their lifeless bodies still had a certain charm in the hands of Fernando Ruiz. Was it sinister to take glee in the demise of Jughead, Dilton, and so many others? Perhaps but it also made the story a lot of fun as only an alternate universe of Archie characters being hunted one by one can be. 

In this final installment it really came down to Betty and Veronica. The two famous rivals who've been fighting for Archie's attention for decades must now join forces to try and defeat a relentless killer. De Campi deftly illustrates what makes them so different while also finding common ground amid the frenzy and horror of blood around them. More importantly, they are fearless in their final moments as they battle one last time together. They are their own heroes and demonstrate a strentgh and will that transcends their usual behavior. 

Archie vs. Predator has been a great ride that stradles the line between campiness and ultra-violence. De Campi and Ruiz have created a wonderful mash-up worthy of each respective world. Impalements, hijinks, despining, jokes and blood. What more could you ask for in a comedy-action-science fiction-thriller?