Archie #3 Preview: Vegas Runs Wild Through Riverdale
Archie’s goodest boy takes center stage as Ben H. Winters and Nick Cagnetti turn one runaway bath into a chaotic, funny, and surprisingly revealing tour of Riverdale.
Riverdale is going to the dogs.
Literally.
Archie #3 puts Archie Andrews’ faithful canine companion Vegas in the spotlight for a special issue that sends the lovable pup racing through virtually every corner of town — with Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Moose, and seemingly half of Riverdale trying to catch him.
Written by Ben H. Winters and illustrated by Nick Cagnetti, the latest chapter in Oni Press and Archie Comics’ new era promises something considerably different from a conventional Archie adventure.
Instead of following Riverdale through Archie’s eyes, readers get a street-level tour from the perspective of a dog who has absolutely no interest in slowing down.
What begins as an escape from a Saturday bath quickly turns into a wet, wild chase through alleys, businesses, restaurants, neighborhoods, and the everyday lives of Riverdale’s residents.
And judging by the premise, Vegas may accidentally reveal more about the town than anyone expects.
Vegas Gets His Day in the Spotlight
Archie Andrews has spent decades at the center of Riverdale.
This month, he can move over.
Vegas is running the show.
The trouble begins with one of the most ordinary situations imaginable: Archie is trying to give his dog a bath.
Vegas has other plans.
Once he slips free, the chase is on.
From shady streets to side entrances, alleys, laundromats, and even one of Riverdale’s fanciest restaurants, Vegas tears through town while Archie desperately attempts to keep up.
Before long, what started as Archie’s problem becomes everybody’s problem.
Betty joins the pursuit.
Moose gets involved.
Reggie enters the chaos.
Jughead and Veronica are dragged into the chase.
And Riverdale itself effectively becomes another character in the story.
That is where the premise becomes much more interesting than simply “Archie chases his dog.”
Riverdale Through a Dog’s Eyes
Writer Ben H. Winters is using Vegas’ escape as an excuse to explore Riverdale from a different perspective.
A dog does not care about social circles.
He does not care who is popular.
He does not care about the rivalry between Archie and Reggie or whatever complicated romantic situation might be developing between Archie, Betty, and Veronica.
Vegas simply runs.
That means his unpredictable route can carry readers between parts of town and groups of characters that might not normally occupy the same scene.
The official description promises that Vegas’ journey will intersect with the everyday lives of Riverdale’s colorful residents, revealing both explosive surprises and quiet victories along the way.
That gives Archie #3 the potential to work almost like a Riverdale snapshot.
Vegas provides the momentum.
The townspeople provide the story.
Ben H. Winters Continues Archie’s New Era
Ben H. Winters has been helping establish a noticeably different tone for this latest Archie series.
There is still comedy.
There is still romance.
There are still the familiar personalities fans expect.
But Oni Press’ approach has also created room for stories that can experiment with structure and perspective.
A full issue following Vegas around Riverdale is exactly the kind of concept that demonstrates that flexibility.
Rather than treating the cast as pieces of a single Archie-centered plot, the story can move through the community and briefly focus on characters who might otherwise remain in the background.
That makes Vegas the perfect guide.
He is connected to Archie, but he is not bound by Archie’s schedule.
Wherever the dog goes, the story follows.
Readers looking to catch up on this new era can revisit Comic Book Addicts’ Archie #1 review for a closer look at how Oni Press and Archie Comics launched the latest Riverdale series.
Nick Cagnetti Turns the Chase Into a Tour de Force
Artist Nick Cagnetti, known for work including Spirit of the Shadows and Pink Lemonade, is an especially strong choice for an issue built around constant motion.
The entire concept depends on movement.
Vegas cannot simply wander from location to location.
Readers need to feel the momentum of Archie desperately chasing a dog who believes he is having the greatest Saturday of his life.
Cagnetti’s energetic cartooning should give that journey the visual personality it needs.
The story can shift from slapstick to character moments and back again without losing the sense that Vegas is still barreling toward whatever disaster is waiting around the next corner.
That makes this issue less about a traditional destination and more about the journey through Riverdale itself.
Everyone in Riverdale Is Along for the Ride
The solicitation promises a story guest-starring, essentially, the whole town.
That is a big part of the appeal.
Riverdale works best when it feels populated.
Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and Reggie may form the center of the franchise, but the larger supporting cast has always been one of Archie Comics’ greatest strengths.
A runaway dog gives Winters and Cagnetti an organic reason to bring numerous characters together without forcing an enormous crossover event.
Vegas simply keeps moving.
One street brings another character.
One doorway opens into another situation.
One wrong turn sends Archie into another part of town.
By the end, Vegas may have connected multiple seemingly unrelated Riverdale stories without understanding any of them.
A Different Kind of Archie Story
There is something refreshingly simple about the premise of Archie #3.
No universe-ending threat.
No massive conspiracy.
No elaborate explanation needed.
Archie’s dog does not want a bath.
He escapes.
Everyone chases him.
That simplicity creates room for character.
A story like this can use humor on the surface while quietly showing what is happening throughout Riverdale when Archie and his friends are not necessarily paying attention.
Who is having a good day?
Who is struggling?
Who is hiding something?
Who simply happens to be standing in exactly the wrong place when a soaking-wet dog runs through?
The solicitation describes Vegas’ route as revealing the small victories and major surprises that keep Riverdale alive.
That sounds like an issue interested in the town as much as the dog.
Vegas Steals the Cover Spotlight
The cover lineup embraces the unusual premise.
Vegas appears prominently on several editions, while others focus on different pieces of Riverdale life.
Cover A – Stuart Immonen
Stuart Immonen’s Cover A makes Vegas the unquestioned star.
The golden dog occupies nearly the entire foreground while Archie and a huge collection of Riverdale residents appear behind him inside a geometric structure.
Vegas looks delighted.
Everyone else looks like they have been pulled into his adventure.
It is an effective visual summary of the issue: this is Vegas’ story, and Riverdale is coming along whether it wants to or not.
Cover B – Rachael Stott
Rachael Stott’s Cover B shifts focus toward Reggie Mantle.
The graffiti-inspired design features Reggie with a spray can alongside a large stylized portrait, giving the cover a modern street-art aesthetic that stands apart from the Vegas-centered main image.
1:10 Variant – Nick Cagnetti
Series artist Nick Cagnetti provides the 1:10 incentive variant, allowing collectors to pair his interior artwork with his own interpretation of the issue on the cover.
For readers who prefer covers directly connected to the storytelling team, this could be one of the more appealing options.
1:20 Legacy Variant – Dan Parent
The 1:20 Dan Parent Legacy Variant goes straight for classic Archie charm.
Vegas sits on top of his bright red doghouse while Archie relaxes inside beneath him.
It is playful, immediately recognizable, and distinctly connected to the visual tradition of Archie Comics.
For longtime collectors, Parent’s version may be one of the most nostalgic choices in the lineup.
1:50 Variant – Shaky Kane
The 1:50 Shaky Kane variant delivers perhaps the strangest interpretation.
Archie carries an enormous boom box while sporting a Josie and the Pussycats shirt, creating a deliberately retro design that feels pulled from another era of pop culture.
Collectors who gravitate toward unconventional Archie covers will likely want to keep an eye on this one.
1:100 B&W Variant – Stuart Immonen
Immonen’s artwork also receives a 1:100 black-and-white variant, stripping the Cover A illustration down to its linework.
With the enormous cast packed into the composition, the B&W version offers a strong look at the detail behind the finished cover.
Archie Continues Building Toward Its 85th Anniversary
This new series is unfolding during an especially important period for Archie Comics.
The franchise is approaching another major milestone, and Comic Book Addicts has already covered the upcoming Archie #4 85th Anniversary Special.
That makes issue #3 particularly interesting.
Instead of racing immediately toward the milestone, the creative team is spending an issue celebrating the thing that has kept Archie alive for generations:
Riverdale itself.
The people.
The neighborhoods.
The absurd problems.
And, apparently, one extremely fast dog.
Readers looking to explore the current publishing line can also visit Oni Press’ official Archie hub for more on the latest era of Riverdale stories.
Why Archie #3 Should Be on Your Pull List
Archie #3 offers a change of pace while still embracing what makes Riverdale work.
Readers can expect:
- Vegas taking center stage
- A story told through a dog’s chaotic journey around Riverdale
- Ben H. Winters continuing the new Archie series
- Energetic artwork from Nick Cagnetti
- Appearances from Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Moose, and more
- A town-wide chase
- Smaller character moments hidden inside the comedy
- Six different cover editions
- Incentive variants from Nick Cagnetti, Dan Parent, Shaky Kane, and Stuart Immonen
Most importantly, the issue sounds fun.
Sometimes that is exactly what an Archie comic should be.
Book Details
Title: Archie #3
Publisher: Oni Press / Archie Comics
Writer: Ben H. Winters
Artist: Nick Cagnetti
Cover A: Stuart Immonen
Cover B: Rachael Stott
1:10 Variant: Nick Cagnetti
1:20 Legacy Variant: Dan Parent
1:50 Variant: Shaky Kane
1:100 B&W Variant: Stuart Immonen
Pages: 32
Format: Full Color
Cover Price: $4.99
Final Thoughts
Archie #3 takes one of the simplest possible ideas and turns it into an excuse to explore virtually everything that makes Riverdale entertaining.
Vegas does not need to solve a mystery.
He does not need to save the town.
He does not even need to know where he is going.
He just needs to avoid the bathtub.
Ben H. Winters and Nick Cagnetti can use that chase to move through Riverdale at full speed, bringing familiar characters into the story while revealing smaller moments happening around town.
The result sounds like a celebration of Riverdale disguised as one very long game of “catch the dog.”
Vegas is loose.
Archie is running.
And everyone else should probably get out of the way.
Join the Discussion
Are you picking up Archie #3?
Are you ready for an entire issue starring Vegas?
Which Riverdale character are you hoping Vegas runs into during his escape?
And which cover are you adding to your collection — Stuart Immonen, Rachael Stott, Nick Cagnetti, Dan Parent, or Shaky Kane?
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