Writer: Holly G! (Holly Golightly)*
Pencils: Holly G!*
Inking: Rudy Lapick*
Lettering: Bill Yoshida*
Coloring: Barry Grossman*
Original Publication: Cheryl Blossom, No. 21
Cover Date: April, 1999
Length: 5 pages
*Only the lead story in the issue is credited. I assume the credits apply to all of the stories.
Although I have the original issue, I’m reviewing this story from the digital edition.
Penelope is on the phone with a friend or relative named Sophie and talking about how Cheryl is just thrilled with her new puppy, Sugar Blossom. She says Cheryl is so responsible now. Cheryl grooms the pup, makes her gourmet meals, and even paints her little toenails. The pup is the center of Cheryl’s universe. Penelope doesn’t mind, because Cheryl seems so happy and is having more fun with Sugar Blossom than “any of her other pet projects” (whatever those are). The captions and panel layout on this page are a bit confusing. It took me a while to figure out in which order to read them.
Today, Cheryl and Sugar are going to Riverdale to see someone named Gigi for a fitting of matching outfits. Jamie drives them there. Gigi asks “Mademoiselle Cheryl” what she thinks of the black-and-white outfits, which have the initials “CB” and “SB” on them, respectively. A delighted Cheryl says the outfits are “too cute”, and Sugar gives out a “Yip!” of agreement. During her fitting, Cheryl calls her outfit “stunning”. Unfortunately, Sugar walks over to the open French doors that form the back entrance of Gigi’s Fashion Studio, gets curious, and runs outside.
Cheryl has green eyes in this story, though the intensity of it varies by panel, appearing almost blue at times. Anyway, Cheryl asks Sugar what it thinks but can’t find it. Gigi realizes what happened (exclaiming “Mon Dieu!”) and tells Cheryl. Cheryl freaks out and runs outside, calling for Sugar. Betty and Veronica are walking by and wonder what’s going on.
Betty asks Cheryl what’s wrong. Ronnie makes fun of Cheryl. A panicking Cheryl starts crying and explains her puppy is lost. We learn explicitly that Sugar is female. Ronnie is stunned and asks “Puppy?” It’s unclear why. Is she stunned to learn Cheryl has a puppy, or is she stunned to learn Cheryl’s freaking out over a puppy? Anyway, while Ronnie folds her arms and looks away with a scowl, Betty gently puts her hands on Cheryl’s shoulders and tells her to calm down, because freaking out is not going to find her puppy. Cheryl sniffles and admits Betty’s right. She says she’s too panicked to think and asks Betty what she should do. Betty asks her where she was last. Cheryl tells her and adds she and Sugar “do everything together”. Ronnie yawns. Cheryl adds she and Sugar are “so much alike”. Betty asks herself, if she was Cheryl, what she would do in Riverdale.
Betty and Ronnie both guess Archie (that is hilariously sexual). The three girls find Archie and run over to him. Cheryl asks Archie if he’s seen her puppy and gives him a description (reddish fur and “a lovely jeweled dog collar”). Archie just saw her at Pop’s and runs there. Cheryl runs after him, but Betty enters Pop’s first. Cheryl is happy to see her Sugar Blossom. Ronnie notes Sugar is “just like her owner”. Sugar is lapping water out of a glass on the floor while admired by two dogs (one of which might be Jughead’s Hot Dog). A distressed Pop thinks his shop is “going to the dogs”.
This story was lovely. As a pet owner, I would be devastated if any of them went missing, so Cheryl’s freakout is totally relatable. Ronnie was a useless bitch, but it’s really nice that Betty was much more understanding (perhaps because she has a pet cat) and decided to help Cheryl. I also love how this story continues from the previous one. This entire issue felt cohesive. I’d like to see more of this type of storytelling.
Riverdale Reviewed 