Archie is Mr. Justice is a four-issue miniseries from Archie Comics, reimagining Riverdale as a large city with towering skyscrapers and busy streets. The teenage redhead Archie Andrews is reimagined as a kindhearted superhero and a symbol of hope with superpowers similar to Superman. Every issue in the miniseries will have a different creative team and introduce a new superhero. Archie is Mr. Justice #2 was written by Amanda Diebert, drawn by Brent Schoonover and published on Jan. 22. It introduces Veronica Lodge as the superhero Visionary.

The central antagonist in Archie is Mr. Justice is Lodge Industries CEO Hiram Lodge, a real estate developer, green energy investor and Veronica Lodge’s father. Archie is Mr. Justice #2 effectively continues the story and depicts a new conflict between Visionary and Mr. Justice, who have different ideas about Lodge Industries and Riverdale. Lastly, Archie is Mr. Justice #2 expands on how Riverdale is a character in and of itself with a compelling narrative about social strife, gentrification and private infrastructure that puts profit before people.

Veronica Lodge Becomes Visionary, a Superhero with a Flying Suit and Neat Gadgets

Lodge Industries has what Veronica described as a city-wide “renovation plan” for Riverdale in Archie is Mr. Justice #2. As Hiram put it:

In other words, Lodge Industries is replacing the existing infrastructure in working class neighborhoods with its own development projects, incentivizing the wealthy to move to Riverdale. Additionally, Hiram is tearing down the city’s affordable housing stock to build luxury condominiums. While clean energy production and combatting urban blight are admirable goals, Hiram’s plans are displacing everyday citizens and increasing the city’s homelessness.

When Veronica asked her father about those who’ll no longer be able to afford housing because of his company’s actions, he coldly replied:

This made perfect sense to Veronica. In her worldview, Hiram deserves his wealth and power. She thinks Riverdale’s working class should be grateful for the jobs he provides. If they can no longer afford to live in Riverdale because of Lodge Industries’ redevelopment, Veronica believes her father that they’ll find somewhere else outside the city.

Veronica organized a Lodge Industries charity fashion show in Archie is Mr. Justice #2 to benefit the people displaced when Lodge Industries bulldozed their homes. Instead of recognizing the irony of a powerful corporation trying to “fix” the problem it caused, Veronica genuinely believed this charity work to be an unambiguous force for good. This put Veronica at odds with Mr. Justice, who, despite having danced with her at the Lodge Industries charity ball, had a more radical worldview.

Visionary and Mr. Justice Don’t See Eye to Eye

Demonstrators protested Lodge Industries with signs like “Riverdale citizens no longer welcome” and “Get lost, Lodge.” As the police removed the protesters from the property site, Mr. Justice arrived. Veronica hoped that he’d be an enforcer of the status quo and, as she put it, “talk to the protesters.” Instead, Mr. Justice expressed solidarity with the protesters by blowing up a Lodge Industries bulldozer with his laser eyes. The crowd cheered in celebration but Veronica wasn’t happy. As she put it:

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Veronica initially donned her purple superhero costume and became Visionary because of this incident, believing herself a different type of superhero than Mr. Justice. She transformed a research lab at Lodge Industries into her superhero hideout. She tasked a Lodge Tech intern to create a superpowered flying suit, high-tech gadgets and a grappling hook gun so she could swing from rooftop to rooftop. Veronica initially explained her mission as Visionary, saying:

Veronica began as a character akin to Lois Lane in Archie is Mr. Justice #2. She was a tough and resilient love interest for Archie and Mr. Justice alike. Veronica then became Visionary, a Batman-like superhero who bumped heads with Mr. Justice similar to how Batman and Superman bumped heads in the Bronze Age.

That being said, Archie is Mr. Justice #2 isn’t really a story about two superheroes with different ideas about what it means to be a hero. Visionary starts as a misguided character defending the interests of a powerful corporation until her true hero moment on the final pages of Archie is Mr. Justice #2.

Riverdale is Like Every Major American City

Riverdale is often a character in and of itself in Archie Comics publications. If there was anything negative in my review of Archie is Mr. Justice #1, it was the assertion that it didn’t explore Riverdale as a character in any meaningful way other than “it’s a big city like Superman’s Metropolis now.” However, after reading Archie is Mr. Justice #2, it seems as if maybe this conclusion was made too hastily.

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The theme of class conflict is ongoing in this miniseries. Archie is Mr. Justice #1 introduced Riverdale as a city with wealth disparity, an exploitive ruling class and a police force that evicts homeless encampments. Archie is Mr. Justice #2 introduced gentrification and a ruling class that’s either out of touch with or doesn’t care about the city’s poor and disadvantaged. While these are familiar themes to Superman and Action Comics readers, especially from the Golden Age, they’re also familiar issues to residents of major American cities.

The City’s Poor Population Is Displaced to Make Way for New, Wealthier Residents

One interpretation of Riverdale is that it’s Everytown, U.S.A. In other words, it’s a charming, small town full of people and places familiar to suburban and rural United States residents. Similarly, in Archie is Mr. Justice, Riverdale can represent virtually any major, American city. Readers from Chicago, New York, New Orleans, Houston or San Fransisco are all likely to recognize the social strife and the displacement of everyday citizens in the name of economic development on the pages of Archie is Mr. Justice #2.

Veronica’s narration in Archie is Mr. Justice #2 is good but not as effective as Jughead’s narration in Archie is Mr. Justice #1 – which was full of raw and relatable emotion that influenced how the reader felt about the unfolding story. In Archie is Mr. Justice #2’s narration, Veronica is telling a reporter about Visionary and Mr. Justice. Because she can’t give away her secret identity as Visionary, there’s dissonance between some of what Veronica says and what readers can see in the artwork. This is clever and amusing. Additionally, there are moments when the reader can see that she’s being self-congratulatory but the reporter hears it as praise for someone she respects.

The Plot Thickens in Archie is Mr. Justice #2

Archie is Mr. Justice #2 has a different writer and artist than Archie is Mr. Justice #1. The final two issues will also have new creative teams. This model of making comics could be potentially disastrous. Someone should steer the ship toward a cohesive story with a satisfying beginning, middle and end. Jamie Lee Rotante, the senior director of editorial at Archie Comics and the writer of the excellent miniseries, Betty and Veronica: Senior Year, appears to be this visionary (pun intended.) While Rotante isn’t credited as a co-writer, Archie is Mr. Justice #1 and Archie is Mr. Justice #2 have behind-the-scenes notes from her in the back pages of the issues.

Readers skeptical about transitioning creative teams shouldn’t skip this miniseries. Archie is Mr. Justice #2 is a satisfying and fully coherent continuation of Archie is Mr. Justice #1. Nothing in the comic book felt like a different interpretation of Archie, Veronica, Betty, Jughead, Reggie, Lodge Industries or Riverdale. Instead, Archie is Mr. Justice #2 helped the reader understand them better. Additionally, the plot was thickened with the introduction of Visionary and additional hints about Kid Wicked, a supervillain with a black mask and red costume likely to play a key role in the story before its end.

Mr. Justice Is a Champion for the Oppressed Like Superman Was in the Golden Age

Archie is Mr. Justice #2 isn’t as emotionally resonant as Archie is Mr. Justice #1 or as exciting in terms of the possibilities being opened up. However, it’s more action-packed and introduces intriguing ideas about Veronica, Lodge Industries, and the city they inhabit. Archie Comics fans will likely find Archie is Mr. Justice #2 a solid, worthwhile read. Despite being a superhero story, the spirit of the characters remains intact.

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Superman was described as a “champion for the oppressed” in Action Comics #1, his first appearance. In the comic book, published in 1938, Superman confronted a Washington D.C. lobbyist, got an innocent woman off death row and beat up a domestic abuser. Golden Age Superman fans are likely to appreciate Archie is Mr. Justice as it pays loving tribute to this idea of a superhero. In these trying times, this type of superhero story is especially relevant. Kudos to Archie Comics for publishing it.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Archie is Mr. Justice #2 is available at your local comic shop and in the Archie Comics webstore. Read it.