2023 EDIT:
Reread: Not quite as good, or even, or well paced, as I remember. A few characters are barely characters and they appear out of nowhere for when it's convenient for the messy plot. But the comic is still enjoyable, colourful and magical. Hooray for Sabrina! The teenage witch and magical girl!
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
I think I might be falling under the spell of Sabrina Spellman. Enough to maybe read some of her original Archie comics from the sixties, despite review warnings of how sexist and dated they are.
'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' in 2019, as penned by Kelly Thompson, she of the usually mixed quality bag, isn't about Satanism, or anything particularly dark or "adult", or particularly light and fluffy for that matter. I'll just say that if you like witches, and you feel nostalgic for Sabrina in any one of her incarnations, then you are sure to enjoy this. The constant stays to her character are thus: She's white, platinum blonde and pretty, and hetero; Salem, everyone's favourite cat familiar; Sabrina's aunts Hilda and Zelda; a Witches Council (containing, more often than not, the high witch Della/Enchantra); and love interest Harvey Kinkle.
I don't think that Sabrina has ever been this introspective, self-aware, deductive, capable, brave, and full of independent agency (take note, 'Chilling Adventures'). She's still a messy teenage girl, who justly equates high school with hell and her peers with monsters. She makes mistakes, and is in a love triangle between two hot boys, but the direction it takes subverts expectations somewhat. One of its merits is that it criticises toxic masculinity. I can't believe I'm actually finding a love triangle interesting! It's not a main focus, at any rate, thank Circe.
Sabrina can fix anything, and fight for anything, when she puts her mind to it. She's proactive! Magical powers aside, she is a relatable heroine worth rooting for. She's a damn cool teen in this comic. Salem is as quippy, sarcastic and funny as ever, and receives his moments in the fun spotlight too.
And "fun" describes 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch (2019)' to a W, I, T, C, and H. It's modern magical fantasy witch action. It can be read by all ages - never mind its Teen rating. Its lovely, colourful artwork doesn't stray too much from the Archie aesthetic. How simultaneously sweet and soft, and dark and dramatic, it is!
A few plot threads are a little uneven, rushed, muddled and confusing, but it's not a tragic case. A few characters could have used more panel time, especially Sabrina's new friend Jessa Chiang, who is fat, Asian, and LBGTQ, and who leans towards tokenism. At least the obligatory mean girl, Radka Ransom, a POC (her brother Ren is also one of Sabrina's love interests), is interesting and is given depth and intrigue.
I love too that the comic's cover pays homage to 'Kiki's Delivery Service'. It fits so well, even though Sabrina never actually rides on a broom once in this volume.
Regardless, she is like a Magical Girl in this reboot. Her changing her hair colour from white to blonde every morning is just the beginning (she learns to embrace and love herself for who she is at the end, no worries!). Also she wears a crescent moon necklace, and a dark hairband and lipstick. To add anything more about her accessories and arsenal would be spoilery.
Final Score: 4/5
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