Sabrina #2 Review

Written by:  Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Art by: Robert Hack, Rachel Deering

Publisher: Jon Golowater

I’m going to be honest and say I didn’t read issue one. Sometimes there are just too many comics. However, by not bothering to read issue one, I can tell you that jumping straight to issue two doesn’t feel uncomfortable. It’s easy peasy to just jump right in there. Writer  Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa launches right into the dramatic life of Madam Satan making you completely forget about Sabrina and whatever she was doing with her Aunts, and that talking cat.

Now, as a product of the 90’s I remember that awful Sabrina the Teenage Witch sitcom with the animatronic, whiny, talking cat. I come from a long line of love for talking cats, like for instance Luna from Sailor Moon. Yet that sitcom made me hate talking cats, talking animals in general. If you did have an unfortunate experience with 90’s sitcoms (and various fashions from the era which are glaringly everywhere right now), then forget it while reading this comic. The comic bears no resemblance to the uncontroversial family entertainment of ABC. Luckily for both you and I, Sabrina the comic is a walk through horror (rather than comedy?) and the issue begins with retelling of a haunting story from the past walking clear to the present. The present being 1966 and Sabrina a young teenage witch about to face a lot of very big demonic problems.

You can’t know how relieved I am not to have to look at the fashion of the early 90’s in comic form. Additionally, how glad I am they wrote the story around it’s original date rather than the more recent incarnations from American family entertainment. Sabrina first appeared in Archie’s Madhouse in 1962. I commend the publisher for going to it’s roots. I’d also like to mention that I am particularly fond of the artwork for the issue. It has a familiar vintage look while giving the story an air of sophistication which lets us know this book is not intended for a very young audience. Archie Horror says that Sabrina is suitable for Teens+ and I would completely agree. There is implied violence and there are some scary faces. Perhaps too frightening for children under 12.

I am very happy with this issue. Not having read the first, I am very impressed with how it reads and the feeling of completeness I got at the very end. Too often these days series have become too complex with little room for new readers to jump in and join in the fun. At the end of the issue I found myself wondering where the story will go and that is always the ultimate goal for gaining success in monthly serials.