This has been a great series. Lots of great character development. The familiar Riverdale Gang is the same group of kids that we've known for 70 years (with a little tweaking for the sake of perversity -- I'm talking about you Blossom twins!!), but placed in a hellish situation. I think I learned more about Smithers' background in this issue than ever before.
It's unclear how much time has elapsed since this story began. It appears that only one or two days has passed since Jughead rose from the dead, but there is an insane about of decay coming out of that boy -- not to mention Big Ethel! Maybe this is a side effect of Sabrina's magic??
I mentioned before that all of the known survivors have made their way to Lodge Mansion. The survivors at this time include Archie, Veronica, Betty, Reggie, Kevin, Chuck, Dilton, Mr. Lodge, Smithers, Mrs. Andrews, Nancy, Ginger, Jason, and Cheryl.
Smithers spends most of this issue monitoring the kids via security cameras and reminiscing about his primary mission: protecting the Lodge family -- most particularly Veronica. He witnesses the crazy twincest drama that vomits out on Dilton's lap. He comforts Ronnie when Archie turns to Betty during a moment of grief. And he assesses the kids' skills during key flashpoints.
Speaking of flashpoints, here were a couple of my favorites. Reggie is losing it over Midge's death. Midge has been bad for Reggie. It was because of Midge that he was recklessly driving, which inadvertently led to Hot Dog's death. Now he appears to be grieving her loss in a very insane way. Like, insane enough to free her from his watery prison within Lodge Mansion! Fortunately, Dilton interrupts him at a key moment.
Everyone sees Reggie's distress. Kevin tries to help out, but that turns out bad. But it was fun watching everyone's favorite army brat put Reggie in his place!
Then there is the scene that everyone has been waiting for when he first learned of Riverdale's secret Sapphic romance! We all wondered what would happen when Nancy and Ginger reunited with Chuck. There's lots of tension as Nancy fights to keep Ginger from outing her to Chuck -- and Chuck has no clue! I really can't wait to see what happens when this powder keg explodes!
It eventually becomes clear that the survivors cannot safely stay at Lodge Mansion. Zombie Moose and Zombie Midge are pounding away at the pool cover and Jugdead is pounding away at the walls along with the rest of the ghouls. The group manages to escape into an uncertain new world filled with zombies and witches and black magic and very little protection!
I started listing the dead back when I reviewed the first issue. Nobody specifically died in this issue, but we learned the identities of three more zombies: Hal and Alice Cooper (Betty's parents) and Coach Clayton!
I keep hoping that the Riverdale survivors will run into Mrs. Jones and Jellybean out in the wilderness. It's not that I think that Jellybean should be immune from the apocalypse. I just think it would be fun to see a gun-toting tot surviving when far more capable teens and adults have fallen! I'd also like to see whether or not Jinx Malloy's unlucky energy would protect him during the end of the world. Match him with Cricket O'Dell and those two might be unstoppable!
"Exodus" is written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa with artwork by Francesco Francavilla.