Sabrina is not around, so Salem has the night off to himself. But why is a mysterious sorcerer collecting people’s pets? Find out in the Chilling Adventures of Salem one shot from Archie Comics!

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM

Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Dan Schoening
Colorist: Matt Herms
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Editor: Jamie Lee Rotante
Publisher: Archie Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 12, 2022

Previously in Chilling Adventures in Sorcery: We revisit the chilling side of Riverdale to see the unsuspected dark side of many of our favorite characters. In the sunlight, Riverdale seems so normal. But when night falls and we look at everything through a different lens, who knows what we may see?

A NIGHT ON THE PROWL

Chilling Adventures of Salem falls under the umbrella of the Chilling Adventures, the horror takes on the world of Archie and Riverdale. This time we are exploring Salem, Sabrina’s familiar. Sabrina is not around, but that does not mean that Salem’s life is dull. The story opens at night as Salem is on the hunt. He catches a rat, but something else catches his eye. He releases the lucky rodent and follows the sorcerer he spotted, a man who seems extremely interested in the lost pet posters hanging around the neighborhood.

The sorcerer enters a house and Salem turns around and is attacked by several animals – dogs, a ferret, a bunny, a parrot, and even a hedgehog. Salem is no ordinary cat and puts up a good fight, but there are too many of them.

He awakens in a cage, one cage among many, all filled with pets. In the center of the room, the sorcerer sets up a ritual, brings out a puppy, and puts it into the circle. I was nervous, but the puppy is not there as a sacrificial victim; it is there as the vessel for a demon. The sorcerer has big plans that involve an army of demonic pets.

After the sorcerer leaves, Salem gets the attention of one of the dogs. Why would a demon allow this sorcerer to bind it into an animal? What’s in it for him? Salem would never stoop to this. The ensorcelled animals realize that Salem is not a mere alley cat, especially when he tries to talk them into turning on the sorcerer. But that is no simple task – they have been bound by a pact and the consequences of breaking it are dire. They do not listen.

When the sorcerer returns, it is Salem’s turn in the circle. Salem is supremely nonchalant, and the ritual does not work. He explains, much to the sorcerer’s surprise, that he is a magician who has already been cursed into the form of a cat. Didn’t his minions tell him he was no ordinary cat? Apparently not. And how will his demonic lords react when there are unexpected…complications? Not well.

This is an entertaining story that fits well into the Archie horror universe. There is just enough drama to keep the tension high and to keep us wondering how Salem is going to get out of this. I also like the way it feels like a secret – like this is all part of his life as a magical cat.

A NEW CLASSIC

The art of Chilling Adventures of Salem is so perfect for the story. Both the sorcerer and all the animals are drawn well. That sense of realism heightens the drama, especially when we first see all the possessed pets. The color palette tends toward orangey, fall colors. I like the way this captures the sense of rituals by candlelight, but it also solidly reminds us that this is October. The coloring has a slightly grainy look reminiscent of zipatone that I love because it is a subtle connection with the classic horror books of the past. The team pulls out all the stops to give this book all the flavor.

Salem is wonderful throughout. He looks and moves like a cat, but in some of his reactions, we see that added intelligence he has. He can be thoughtful, calculating, superior, and nonchalant. I particularly like the scene where he is the center of the ritual. As soon as we see his face, we know he has the upper hand. When eldritch tentacles appear, they cause a lot of chaos, including releasing other animals, but they do not land on Salem. In fact, he does a little grooming while he waits for the sorcerer to realize things are not going his way, as though he expects a human to be a bit slow on the uptake.

BOTTOM LINE: FUN WITH THE CLEVEREST CAT

Chilling Adventures of Salem is a terrific one-shot, and it is especially fitting that it is coming out during the Halloween season. If you love the Archie Horror line-up, it is a solid addition to the collection featuring a favorite character.

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