Another Mystery Villain is Coming to Riverdale

[SPOILERS for those not caught up on Riverdale ahead.]

The Sugarman comes to Riverdale in next week's episode, 'Chapter Nineteen: Death Proof'. Riverdale showrunner and creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa previously teased that the mysterious figure known as the Sugarman would be coming to The Town With Pep in season 2, by posting a childhood drawing that shows kiddie versions of the Blossom siblings (including the now-deceased Jason) opposite an unfriendly looking fellow dressed in a multicolored suit and carrying a bag labeled simply "Sugar". However, 'Death Proof' will mark the first episode on the show where anyone actually mentions the mysterious villain by name, it seems.

Whereas most every other Riverdale season 2 episode so far has been titled after a cult classic horror/thriller (The Town That Dreaded Sundown, When A Stranger Calls, and so forth), 'Death Proof' gets its name from a more recent work - the 2007 Quentin Tarantino film of the same name, itself a throwback to 1960s and '70s B-movie horror/thriller fare. 'Death Proof' appears to be a fitting title for this episode all the same, what with its trailer promising a dangerous car race between Riverdale's Northside and Southside residents, to go along with the continuing mystery of the Black Hood, the fallout from Nick St. Clair's (Graham Philips) attempt to rape Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch), and the introduction of the Sugarman.

In fact, there's so much happening on Riverdale right now that The Sugarman isn't even mentioned by name in The CW's official trailer for 'Death Proof' (see the video above). However, the episode's synopsis - which you can read below - confirms that the character will be introduced in the episode and that poor Betty (Lili Reinhart) will find herself at the heart of the mystery surrounding the villain and what they want (much like she has been with the Black Hood this season already).

After a charge led by Mayor McCoy (guest star Robin Givens) threatens to further escalate tensions between the North and Southside, Jughead (Cole Sprouse), along with Archie (KJ Apa), tries to put a stop to a dangerous alliance being considered between the Serpents and a long-time rival. Betty (Lili Reinhart) turns to Veronica (Camila Mendes) for help when she’s thrust into the center of a burgeoning mystery surrounding The Sugarman. Finally, Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) confronts her mother Penelope (guest star Nathalie Boltt) after a traumatic run-in forces her to make a stark realization.

While Aguirre-Sacasa's original Sugarman tease indicated that the villain is connected to the Blossom family somehow, the synopsis for 'Death Proof' suggests that the situation will be more complicated than that suggested. With the wonderfully-named, Pixy Stix-esque drug Jingle Jangle being all the rage amongst Riverdale's teenagers this season, could The Sugarman's name be a hint that they're linked to the illicit substance in some fashion (and might even be the manufacturer)?

If nothing else, it's encouraging to hear that 'Death Proof' won't string out the tension that arouse between Veronica and Betty in this week's episode 'When a Stranger Calls', after Betty took steps to emotionally distance herself from her BFF on the orders of the Black Hood. Diehard 'Bughead' fans are no doubt still reeling from Betty and Jughead's (temporary?) breakup this week - something that Archie (KJ Apa), in typical fashion, managed to make worse despite his good intentions - but with Betty now finding herself at the heart of two perilous mysteries, it might be for the best that she put some space between herself and Jug (who's also busy trying to stop Riverdale from tearing itself apart, at the moment).