Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 Review: Dynamite Entertainment Delivers a Groovy Riverdale Finale
Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 from Dynamite Entertainment brings the Riverdale Deadite invasion to a loud, ridiculous, chainsaw-swinging close.
This finale knows exactly what kind of comic it is. It is spooky, silly, chaotic, cartoonish, and packed with enough Ash Williams attitude to make the whole crossover feel like a lost horror-comedy episode from another dimension. If you have been following this wild mashup from the start, issue #5 delivers the payoff: Archie and the gang fighting for their town, Ash trying to keep everyone alive, and the Deadites turning Riverdale into one big supernatural disaster zone.
Written by Erik Burnham, with pencils by Bill Galvan, inks by Ben Galvan, colors by Ellie Wright, and letters by Carlos M. Mangual, Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 is a fun finale that understands both sides of the crossover. It keeps the Archie cast bright and expressive while letting the Army of Darkness energy crash through the story with monsters, mayhem, bad jokes, and a little boomstick justice.
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Riverdale Goes Full Deadite
The best thing about Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 is how committed it is to the madness.
This is not a crossover that quietly places Ash Williams in Riverdale and plays it safe. By this point, the town is under siege, the gang is armed with whatever they can find, and the Deadites are closing in from every angle.
Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, and the rest of the crew are not just standing around waiting for Ash to save them. They are in the fight, improvising, panicking, swinging, blasting, and trying to survive a horror problem that absolutely does not belong in their usual world.
That contrast is the joke, and it still works.
Riverdale is supposed to be milkshakes, high school drama, and goofy misunderstandings. The Army of Darkness brings chainsaws, demons, cursed books, and undead chaos. Put them together, and you get a finale that feels like Halloween broke into Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe and refused to leave.
Ash Williams Fits Riverdale Better Than He Should
Ash is the obvious chaos agent here, and Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 uses him well.
He is overconfident, sarcastic, reckless, and somehow still useful when things get truly ugly. The issue gives him plenty of action-hero energy, but it also lets him bounce off the Archie cast in a way that feels naturally funny.
The great thing about Ash in a crossover like this is that he treats the whole situation like another terrible day at work.
Deadites in Riverdale? Fine. Teenagers with weapons? Not ideal, but manageable. A supernatural showdown at Pop’s? Sure, why not.
His presence gives the finale its horror-comedy backbone. He is not polished. He is not inspirational in the traditional sense. He is just the guy who has seen this kind of evil before and knows the solution usually involves a weapon, a one-liner, and a lot of property damage.
That makes him a perfect guest star for Riverdale’s most absurd nightmare.
Archie and the Gang Get Their Big Hero Moment
While Ash brings the Army of Darkness flavor, the issue still remembers that this is an Archie crossover.
The Riverdale gang gets to be scared, funny, brave, and ridiculous all at once. Archie steps into the “chosen one” role with the kind of earnest confusion that fits him perfectly. Betty and Veronica bring personality and nerve to the fight. Jughead, naturally, remains Jughead even when surrounded by supernatural horror. Reggie adds his usual brand of attitude and comic timing.
The book works because it does not turn the Archie cast into generic horror survivors.
They still feel like themselves.
That is important. A crossover like this only lands if both worlds remain recognizable. Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 keeps the Archie characters colorful and expressive, then throws them into a situation that is completely outside their comfort zone.
That is where the fun comes from.
Erik Burnham Keeps the Tone Fast and Funny
Writer Erik Burnham understands the rhythm this finale needs.
The issue moves quickly from setup to chaos to showdown, keeping the jokes and action flowing without overcomplicating the plot. There is no need for heavy exposition at this stage. The Deadites are here. Riverdale is in trouble. Ash and the gang have to stop the madness before things get even worse.
Burnham’s script balances horror stakes with cartoon timing. The jokes do not undercut the story; they are part of the story’s identity. This is Army of Darkness horror, not slow-burn dread. The monsters are nasty, but the whole thing is supposed to be fun.
That tone is harder to manage than it looks.
Push too far into horror, and the Archie side gets lost. Push too far into comedy, and the Deadites lose their bite. This issue keeps the balance right where it needs to be.
Bill Galvan and Ben Galvan Nail the Archie Horror Style
The art team is a major reason the issue works.
Bill Galvan’s pencils and Ben Galvan’s inks give the book a clean, classic Archie foundation while still making room for Deadite horror. The characters remain instantly recognizable, with big expressions, clear body language, and a bright Riverdale energy.
Then the monsters crash in.
The Deadites look exaggerated, creepy, and fun rather than grim or overly realistic. That is the correct choice for this crossover. The horror needs to feel dangerous, but it also needs to exist inside an Archie-style world. The art finds that middle ground by giving the undead enough menace without losing the book’s comic-strip charm.
Action scenes are easy to follow, reaction shots land well, and the physical comedy gives the issue a lot of personality.
This is a good-looking finale with the right visual tone.
Ellie Wright’s Colors Keep the Chaos Bright
Colorist Ellie Wright gives the issue a strong visual pop.
The colors keep Riverdale bright and readable, even when the story moves into darker supernatural territory. That contrast helps the horror-comedy tone work. The world still looks like Archie’s world, but now it is being invaded by something ugly, glowing, and wrong.
The supernatural moments use sharper, louder color shifts to make the Deadite energy stand out. Explosions, demonic effects, and action beats all land with strong comic book impact.
This is not a muted horror comic. It is bright, weird, and theatrical.
That is exactly what the story needs.
Carlos M. Mangual Keeps the Action Moving
Letterer Carlos M. Mangual keeps the pace snappy through action, jokes, screams, Deadite dialogue, and Ash’s dramatic delivery.
A comic like this depends heavily on timing. The punchlines need space. The action beats need impact. The horror noises need to feel big without overwhelming the page.
Mangual’s lettering helps the finale move cleanly from gag to fight to supernatural chaos, keeping the whole issue easy to read even when the page gets crowded with monsters, weapons, and panic.
The Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe Showdown Is a Blast
The finale makes great use of Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe.
Turning one of Riverdale’s most familiar safe spaces into a Deadite battleground is exactly the kind of absurd idea this crossover should embrace. Pop’s is usually where the gang gets burgers, shakes, and teen drama. Here, it becomes the last stand against undead chaos.
That setting gives the issue its best visual and comedic contrast.
You have classic diner colors, Archie characters, monsters, weapons, demonic threats, and Ash Williams charging through the whole thing like he has been waiting all day for someone to say the magic words.
It is goofy in the best possible way.
A Finale That Leaves With a Smile
Without spoiling every beat, Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 wraps things up with the kind of cheeky ending this crossover deserves.
There is action. There is damage. There is a little emotional payoff. There is some classic Riverdale awkwardness. And, of course, there is Ash being Ash.
The ending does not try to make the crossover more serious than it needs to be. Instead, it closes with a wink, a little weirdness, and the sense that Riverdale may never fully understand what just happened.
That is part of the charm.
Final Verdict: Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 Is a Groovy Good Time
Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 is a fun, energetic, and satisfying finale to one of the strangest crossovers of the year.
It delivers what readers came for: Archie characters fighting Deadites, Ash Williams acting like a reckless horror-comedy legend, and Riverdale getting dragged through supernatural chaos. The issue is fast, colorful, silly, spooky, and fully committed to its own ridiculous premise.
Erik Burnham writes the finale with the right mix of jokes and danger. Bill Galvan and Ben Galvan keep the art expressive and clean. Ellie Wright’s colors make the whole thing pop. Carlos M. Mangual’s lettering gives the comedy and chaos the right timing.
If you like Archie, Army of Darkness, horror-comedy, or crossovers that proudly embrace their own absurdity, this finale is worth picking up.
Review Score: 8/10
Comic Book Details
Title: Archie x The Army of Darkness #5
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: Erik Burnham
Penciller: Bill Galvan
Inker: Ben Galvan
Colorist: Ellie Wright
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Editor: Matt Idelson
Release Date: June 10, 2026
Rating: Teen+
Genre: Horror-Comedy, Crossover, Supernatural Adventure
Cover and Collector Information
Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 features a dramatic horror-style cover spotlighting the split between Riverdale and Ash Williams’ Deadite nightmare.
The cover captures the tone of the issue well: Archie innocence on one side, Army of Darkness menace on the other. The red-heavy design gives the book a pulpy horror look, while the character focus reminds readers that this finale is built around the collision between two very different worlds.
Collectors following the full crossover will want this issue to complete the run. It is also a strong pickup for fans of Archie horror, Army of Darkness comics, Ash Williams appearances, and Dynamite Entertainment crossover events.
Why New Readers Should Check It Out
Since this is issue #5, new readers will get the most out of it by reading the full miniseries first.
That said, the appeal is easy to understand immediately.
If the idea of Archie and friends teaming with Ash Williams against Deadites makes you laugh, this book is doing its job. It is a weird crossover with a clear identity, and issue #5 pays off the premise with exactly the kind of loud, messy fun readers would expect.
This is a strong choice for fans who enjoy horror-comedy comics, supernatural crossovers, and stories that are not afraid to be ridiculous.
Join the Conversation
Are you picking up Archie x The Army of Darkness #5 from Dynamite Entertainment?
Did this crossover give you enough Deadite chaos in Riverdale, or do you want to see Ash Williams return for another Archie horror event?
Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know which unlikely crossover Dynamite should tackle next.
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