Archie Giant Series #590

May 9, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Back From the Future

Meet the Time Police!

Writer: Rich Margopoulos
Pencils: Rex Lindsey
Inks: Jon D’Agostino
Colors: Barry Grossman
Letters: Bill Yoshida
Editor: Victor Gorelick
Cover Art: Rex Lindsey
Publisher: Archie Comics

In the late 80s, Archie Comics tried a lot of experiments in expanding Archie’s universe, including giving titles to characters like Hot Dog and Dilton, goofy spin-offs like Jughead’s Diner, Faculty Funnies and Archie 3000 and attempts at adventure like Explorers of the Unknown and Archie’s R/C Racers. Most of these didn’t even last a year, but as they came out just when I was really heavily into Archie, they’ve always held a special place in my heart.

My favorite of this crop of experimental titles, however, was Jughead’s Time Police, a sci-fi series that had its roots in this issue of Archie Giant Series. It’s an exciting day in Riverdale when Senator Bailey, an important presidential candidate, is planning to make a speech in Pickens’ Park. Suddenly, a young woman suddenly appears to Jughead claiming to be from the distant future and warning him that he is fated to save Senator Bailey’s life, and that bandits from her own time are on their way there to stop him.

Jughead and the young woman, January McAndrews of the Time Police, are chased across Riverdale and time itself, racing from the bandits in an effort to keep the timestream flowing on its proper course. Jug learns he’s destined to become one of the most important figures in history (of course) and even gets to the cusp of learning the answer to the all-time greatest question (who does Archie choose, Betty or Veronica?) before drawn back into action. At the end of the adventure, Jughead’s memory of the future is removed, but it was restored when the Time Police got their own short-lived series and he was made a full deputy.

I recently managed to track down a copy of this issue, one of my favorites from my youth, and the story has held up very well. It’s a shame that Jan and the Time Police have been shuffled off as footnotes in Archie history, because it’s really a great concept, one that still has plenty of storytelling potential. Ah, dare to dream…

Rating: 8/10