Archie Andrews' 75th birthday
April 20, 2015 4:20 AM Subscribe
As Archie Andrews turns 75, Archie Comics releases a "new look" flagship series, Archie #1. Archie #1 will be released in 2015 from writer Mark Waid, known for his work for DC and Marvel comics, and artist Fiona Staples.
The series will "reenergize the story of Archie and his friends, presenting for the first time ever the origins of everyone’s favorite redheaded teen and his friends while showcasing the beginnings of the historic love triangle between Archie, Betty and Veronica".
Mark Waid discusses how he got involved with the project, and his intention to leave readers "slackjawed". Archie Comics have revealed the stunning full line of variant covers for Archie#1.
And that's not the only way Archie Comics are planning to celebrate Archie's 75th birthday. Lena Dunham will also be penning an Archie story in the coming year. The venerable teenager and his friends will also feature in a new TV series, "Riverdale", coming to Fox in 2015 and described as "Archie meets David Lynch". Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Chief Creative Officer at Archie Comics, discusses the project.
Mark Waid discusses how he got involved with the project, and his intention to leave readers "slackjawed". Archie Comics have revealed the stunning full line of variant covers for Archie#1.
And that's not the only way Archie Comics are planning to celebrate Archie's 75th birthday. Lena Dunham will also be penning an Archie story in the coming year. The venerable teenager and his friends will also feature in a new TV series, "Riverdale", coming to Fox in 2015 and described as "Archie meets David Lynch". Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Chief Creative Officer at Archie Comics, discusses the project.
I was skeptical of "Archie meets David Lynch", but after reading the article, I must admit I will at least give it a try.
posted by wittgenstein at 4:58 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by wittgenstein at 4:58 AM on April 20, 2015
If you are a teenager with no superpowers, isn't your origin basically "your parents had sex?"
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:02 AM on April 20, 2015 [21 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:02 AM on April 20, 2015 [21 favorites]
Jughead was reportedly fired from Riverdale after eating the entire inventory of garminbozia.
posted by dr_dank at 5:14 AM on April 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 5:14 AM on April 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
"Archie meets David Lynch" instantly made me picture Archie in the Black Lodge, and meeting himself from the future, and his future self is played by Louis CK. Awkwardness ensues.
posted by chambers at 5:16 AM on April 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by chambers at 5:16 AM on April 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
Yeah, I didn't know Archie had an origin, in the comic book sense.
posted by marxchivist at 5:18 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by marxchivist at 5:18 AM on April 20, 2015
"... born a blonde haired lad of greater than average size and strength, a freak science accident turned him into a red haired lad of normal size and strength. Forced to attend a public high school in an affluent suburb, he and his misfit friends - a rich girl, a lower middle class girl, a guy who eats a lot, and a snob - face the challenges that typical teenagers face..."
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:22 AM on April 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:22 AM on April 20, 2015 [6 favorites]
I'm not like a huge fan or anything, but I think it's a bit sad that they're ditching Archie's timeless art style for a very of-this-particular-moment style.
posted by rodlymight at 5:27 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by rodlymight at 5:27 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
I'm getting old.
Archie was old when we were kids.
posted by Mezentian at 5:29 AM on April 20, 2015 [5 favorites]
Archie was old when we were kids.
posted by Mezentian at 5:29 AM on April 20, 2015 [5 favorites]
There is only one answer to that timeless question of Betty vs. Veronica.
Go for the rich brunette.
That is all.
posted by math at 5:30 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
Go for the rich brunette.
That is all.
posted by math at 5:30 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
but I think it's a bit sad
Nah. The regular established style is still published and will continue to be published. These are just alternate takes. Riverdale wasn't "really" invaded by zombies, either.
posted by Ipsifendus at 5:31 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Nah. The regular established style is still published and will continue to be published. These are just alternate takes. Riverdale wasn't "really" invaded by zombies, either.
posted by Ipsifendus at 5:31 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Archie was old when we were kids.
A statement that's true without knowing the other person's age.
posted by frimble at 5:31 AM on April 20, 2015 [10 favorites]
A statement that's true without knowing the other person's age.
posted by frimble at 5:31 AM on April 20, 2015 [10 favorites]
I laughed at the "calm the fuck down, nerds" paragraph in the "slackjawed" link where they assured everyone that this wouldn't interfere with "Saga", but I admit having a sad that Fiona Staples is only doing three issues. Her style is perfect for this project.
Nah. The regular established style is still published and will continue to be published. These are just alternate takes. Riverdale wasn't "really" invaded by zombies, either.
I get the sense that feelings are hella divided over what they've done at AC. My LCS owner is pretty flummoxed about it all, and understandably. Mine is a conservative state where evangelical parents were the only ones buying Archie, and now they're not because they got pissed off about Kevin Keller, but there aren't a whole lot of more left-leaning locals who are hip to what's going on, so Archie sits on the shelf. "Afterlife" (which is great) is selling pretty well because zombies, but the death of Archie issue sold zippo here, evidently.
So I understand the nostalgia pangs and concerns, but from the company's perspective, nostalgia is a shitty business model unless you want your market to be a dwindling shelf section of a Cracker Barrel. You're going to have to risk alienating the traditional crowd if you want to keep pushing forward.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:38 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
Nah. The regular established style is still published and will continue to be published. These are just alternate takes. Riverdale wasn't "really" invaded by zombies, either.
I get the sense that feelings are hella divided over what they've done at AC. My LCS owner is pretty flummoxed about it all, and understandably. Mine is a conservative state where evangelical parents were the only ones buying Archie, and now they're not because they got pissed off about Kevin Keller, but there aren't a whole lot of more left-leaning locals who are hip to what's going on, so Archie sits on the shelf. "Afterlife" (which is great) is selling pretty well because zombies, but the death of Archie issue sold zippo here, evidently.
So I understand the nostalgia pangs and concerns, but from the company's perspective, nostalgia is a shitty business model unless you want your market to be a dwindling shelf section of a Cracker Barrel. You're going to have to risk alienating the traditional crowd if you want to keep pushing forward.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:38 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
I honestly have no idea who is reading Archie these days but good on them for having a gay character, Kevin Keller.
posted by LastOfHisKind at 5:39 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by LastOfHisKind at 5:39 AM on April 20, 2015
Only Lena Dunham can save Archie.
posted by Obscure Reference at 5:43 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by Obscure Reference at 5:43 AM on April 20, 2015
Speaking of gay, in my own alternate reality take on Archie Comics—which I've been "reading" for years, since I was about 14 as a matter of fact—Archie and Jughead own up to being a thing and that they've been "getting together" for years. Ditto, Veronica and Betty.
And oh yeah there's a three-way alright, but it's not Archie, Betty, and Veronica: it's Archie, Jughead, and Moose. Ah but what a pickle that leads to!
posted by Mike Mongo at 5:48 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
And oh yeah there's a three-way alright, but it's not Archie, Betty, and Veronica: it's Archie, Jughead, and Moose. Ah but what a pickle that leads to!
posted by Mike Mongo at 5:48 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Did Sabriba have sex with a Great Old One, or am I mis-remembering?
posted by Mezentian at 5:51 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Mezentian at 5:51 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
Mark Waid and Fiona Staples. They sure doubled down on getting the best possible creators.
posted by painquale at 5:57 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by painquale at 5:57 AM on April 20, 2015
some strange details on the covers.......toilet flush lever on the guitar with 4 pickups? Codpiece/parkour Archie?
posted by thelonius at 6:06 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by thelonius at 6:06 AM on April 20, 2015
Archie has made serious inroads diversifying their characters over the last ten years. They have also taken big risks with their look and style. It is probably the most underrated and unappreciated comics publisher in the U.S. right now, and that's a shame. They get high marks for nerve and bravery...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 6:07 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 6:07 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
Anything that gets people talking about non-superhero comics is a good thing from my perspective, and I say this as a person who watches a lot of TV and 50% of it is probably based on superhero comics that I like or love. I, for one, welcome our newly designed red-headed bespeckled overlord.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:18 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by MCMikeNamara at 6:18 AM on April 20, 2015
The following is in my Metafilter All-Star Posts list, and seems appropriate to share here: What's the deal with Jughead's weird crown cap?
posted by leotrotsky at 6:43 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:43 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
Yeah, I didn't know Archie had an origin, in the comic book sense.
I thought Archie's origin story involved the original creator seeing a bunch of Andy Hardy movies in the '30s and realizing that they could make the same thing, but without having to pay for Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:45 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I thought Archie's origin story involved the original creator seeing a bunch of Andy Hardy movies in the '30s and realizing that they could make the same thing, but without having to pay for Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:45 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Nah. The regular established style is still published and will continue to be published. These are just alternate takes.
Ah cool, I misunderstood. Thought this was like a new coke thing.
Riverdale wasn't "really" invaded by zombies, either
Now that's going too far! Canon, I say!
posted by rodlymight at 6:48 AM on April 20, 2015
Ah cool, I misunderstood. Thought this was like a new coke thing.
Riverdale wasn't "really" invaded by zombies, either
Now that's going too far! Canon, I say!
posted by rodlymight at 6:48 AM on April 20, 2015
As her business card says, "It's not comics without Staples."
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:50 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:50 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
When did the modern re-invention of Archie start, if one was interested in getting into it?
posted by Auden at 6:54 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by Auden at 6:54 AM on April 20, 2015
chambers: "Archie meets David Lynch" instantly made me picture Archie in the Black Lodge
Seeing how the Archie female lead characters have the last names Lodge & Cooper, I think Lynch is bound to turn up.
posted by dr_dank at 7:04 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
Seeing how the Archie female lead characters have the last names Lodge & Cooper, I think Lynch is bound to turn up.
posted by dr_dank at 7:04 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
When did the modern re-invention of Archie start, if one was interested in getting into it?
Life with Archie and Afterlife with Archie are key re-invention points, I'm not sure if that is where it started, but they're both really quite good and definitely worth reading, if you are interested in Modern Archie.
Life with Archie is a flashforward series which posits two alternative realities, one where Archie married the girl next door Betty, and the other where he married the rich, snobbish Veronica.
Afterlife with Archie is basically Archie with zombies.
Both series do a lot to explore and redefine old stereotypes, so that "dumb" Moose is dyslexic, "jerk" Reggie is actually kind of nice (he is probably my favourite character), etc. I don't know, I've always unironically enjoyed Archie Comics and I really enjoy the new lease of life that the comics are enjoying and the new directions they're taking.
posted by Ziggy500 at 7:06 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Life with Archie and Afterlife with Archie are key re-invention points, I'm not sure if that is where it started, but they're both really quite good and definitely worth reading, if you are interested in Modern Archie.
Life with Archie is a flashforward series which posits two alternative realities, one where Archie married the girl next door Betty, and the other where he married the rich, snobbish Veronica.
Afterlife with Archie is basically Archie with zombies.
Both series do a lot to explore and redefine old stereotypes, so that "dumb" Moose is dyslexic, "jerk" Reggie is actually kind of nice (he is probably my favourite character), etc. I don't know, I've always unironically enjoyed Archie Comics and I really enjoy the new lease of life that the comics are enjoying and the new directions they're taking.
posted by Ziggy500 at 7:06 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
There are some things that were cultural icons and now need to accept the inevitability of changing interest. Archie is one of them. Looney Toons. Three Stooges. I love Lucy. I'm also pretty tired of Mickey Mouse but I could be an outlier there.
One day my beloved Ghostbusters, Star Wars, GI Joe etc. will also go there.
Like, my kid will grow up looking at Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt the way I looked at Elizabeth Taylor and Charlton Heston. Who cares about these old farts?
Anyways those are my thoughts on that.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:07 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
One day my beloved Ghostbusters, Star Wars, GI Joe etc. will also go there.
Like, my kid will grow up looking at Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt the way I looked at Elizabeth Taylor and Charlton Heston. Who cares about these old farts?
Anyways those are my thoughts on that.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:07 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
tl;dr: get off my lawn
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:07 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:07 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Didn't Archie get killed last year?
Yeah, so did Wolverine.
Your point?
posted by Mezentian at 7:08 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah, so did Wolverine.
Your point?
posted by Mezentian at 7:08 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
And even if they dont succeed with Archie in the modern era, they have a long history of success with their franchises of Sonic and Mega Man- MM in particular has been knocking it out of their park from day one as a truly legit all ages comic that's getting a lot of rave reviews.
posted by Queen of Robots at 7:12 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Queen of Robots at 7:12 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
There is also a new Sabrina the Teenage Witch series (two issues out so far), but it is like way too scary and the art is really creepy. It's probably a good read if you are not a huge chicken who is scared of lady witches who steal faces and eat live fish.
posted by joelhunt at 7:14 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by joelhunt at 7:14 AM on April 20, 2015
Oh damn that Sabrina book looks terrifying. I've been buying Afterlife with Archie for my wife because she likes horror books and man they have apparently been knocking it out of the park with those.
posted by griphus at 7:41 AM on April 20, 2015
posted by griphus at 7:41 AM on April 20, 2015
Forgot the link: The Chilling Tales Of Sabrina, Teenage Witch (NSFWish)
posted by griphus at 7:42 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by griphus at 7:42 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I will never watch Riverdale because major network television never fails to be terrible but James "Ziggy Sobotka" Ransone would make a perfect Jughead.
posted by juiceCake at 7:53 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by juiceCake at 7:53 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
No disrespect to the material or its fans, but Archie seems like such an artifact from a different era, the continued popularity of these comics never fails to surprise me. It's a bit like seeing old school Jiffy Pop foil packs on the grocery store shelf or jars of Dippity-Doo in the hair care aisle. Surprising a bit, is all.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:31 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:31 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have been enjoying the hell out of Afterlife with Archie, because, like all the good stuff in the zombie genre, it's not actually about the undead. The first issue and the Sabrina parts are all pretty disturbing and scary though. Do yourself a favor and go start reading it, not now but right now.
Another one of my favorite deconstructions of Archie and Riverdale can be found in Volume Six of the Criminal TPBs by Ed Brubaker: Last of the Innocent (Amazon link). Basically, "Archie" grows up and marries "Veronica"...and it ain't exactly happily ever after.
I'm not so keen on Archie crossovers, but the core Archie universe and the alternate 'verse takes on it are some of my favorite parts of the world of comics.
posted by lord_wolf at 8:49 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Another one of my favorite deconstructions of Archie and Riverdale can be found in Volume Six of the Criminal TPBs by Ed Brubaker: Last of the Innocent (Amazon link). Basically, "Archie" grows up and marries "Veronica"...and it ain't exactly happily ever after.
I'm not so keen on Archie crossovers, but the core Archie universe and the alternate 'verse takes on it are some of my favorite parts of the world of comics.
posted by lord_wolf at 8:49 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
There is only one answer to that timeless question of Betty vs. Veronica.
Excuse me? Cheryl Blossom?
posted by cmoj at 8:59 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Excuse me? Cheryl Blossom?
posted by cmoj at 8:59 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Archie meets David Lynch"
Wouldn't that be "Blue Velvet"?
posted by Nevin at 9:00 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Wouldn't that be "Blue Velvet"?
posted by Nevin at 9:00 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Archie would dump them all in a heartbeat if he knew Cherry Poptart. (Wiki link is about as worksafe as Cherry gets.)
posted by delfin at 9:13 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by delfin at 9:13 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Going back to Archie's origins?
Does that mean we have to call him "Chick" if we value life and limb?
Yes, that's the very first page of the very first Archie story.
Blessings upon the Internet and its endless treasures.
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 9:16 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
Does that mean we have to call him "Chick" if we value life and limb?
Yes, that's the very first page of the very first Archie story.
Blessings upon the Internet and its endless treasures.
posted by Harvey Jerkwater at 9:16 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'm also pretty tired of Mickey Mouse but I could be an outlier there
I never could stand the sumbitch
posted by thelonius at 10:01 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
I never could stand the sumbitch
posted by thelonius at 10:01 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
Not even when he and Minnie end up having sex in Goofy's stomach?
posted by MartinWisse at 10:18 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by MartinWisse at 10:18 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm already an introvert so going to parties and dinners with couples (ugh) is a rather traumatic event (not as bad as kids b'day parties, where nobody wants to be there, though).
As soon as the conversation changes to "Betty vs. Veronica" (or old TV shows) - that's my trigger point, and I drag my unwilling wife out the door (I don't actually).
I loved Archie as a kid, but man did it warp my impression of what highschool life was supposed to be. I went to a all-boys school and I was miserable there. No friends, no social life, no respect from my peers. Girls were a mystery to me. I didn't really understand who I was, as a kid, and I believed that if I went to a co-ed school all my problems would disappear. Archie comics helped fuel this illusion. The bright colours. the social life that everyone seemed to have; the loving parents; the supportive friends. That's what I dreamed about every single night (and still do, to a certain degree today). Heck there was even a school named Riverdale in my city, and I fantasized more than once of how life would have been like if I went to that school, while everyone else just joked about their name.
Now that I'm older and wiser and bitter, I look at Archie with contempt. For lying to me. For giving me a dream I could never attain.
I wanted to share these with my son, since they gave me so much joy, but I don't know now.
Archie's a jerk.
posted by bitteroldman at 10:43 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
As soon as the conversation changes to "Betty vs. Veronica" (or old TV shows) - that's my trigger point, and I drag my unwilling wife out the door (I don't actually).
I loved Archie as a kid, but man did it warp my impression of what highschool life was supposed to be. I went to a all-boys school and I was miserable there. No friends, no social life, no respect from my peers. Girls were a mystery to me. I didn't really understand who I was, as a kid, and I believed that if I went to a co-ed school all my problems would disappear. Archie comics helped fuel this illusion. The bright colours. the social life that everyone seemed to have; the loving parents; the supportive friends. That's what I dreamed about every single night (and still do, to a certain degree today). Heck there was even a school named Riverdale in my city, and I fantasized more than once of how life would have been like if I went to that school, while everyone else just joked about their name.
Now that I'm older and wiser and bitter, I look at Archie with contempt. For lying to me. For giving me a dream I could never attain.
I wanted to share these with my son, since they gave me so much joy, but I don't know now.
Archie's a jerk.
posted by bitteroldman at 10:43 AM on April 20, 2015 [8 favorites]
Wow, that's possibly the most eponysterical thing I've ever read here.
posted by Naberius at 10:46 AM on April 20, 2015 [22 favorites]
posted by Naberius at 10:46 AM on April 20, 2015 [22 favorites]
I think Archie continues to appeal because he's been around so long, and he's such a non-entity. Archie doesn't have much of a personality, so you can project whatever personality you want on him, or concentrate on the more interesting side characters (Betty and Veronica have tons of issues dedicated to just them. Likewise the other characters.)
I think people remember them fondly because Archie comics are kind of a nice, safe place for younger kids to think about being a teenager. Even though it's so stuck in the 50s in so many ways. It's still comforting, like a Disney teen sitcom. There's a crisis, it's resolved, some dumb jokes will be told, there will be romance but nothing too serious, all the parents love their kids, no-one goes hungry or comes to real harm. Riverdale stays the same place it's always been.
posted by emjaybee at 10:51 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think people remember them fondly because Archie comics are kind of a nice, safe place for younger kids to think about being a teenager. Even though it's so stuck in the 50s in so many ways. It's still comforting, like a Disney teen sitcom. There's a crisis, it's resolved, some dumb jokes will be told, there will be romance but nothing too serious, all the parents love their kids, no-one goes hungry or comes to real harm. Riverdale stays the same place it's always been.
posted by emjaybee at 10:51 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]
I loved Archie as a kid, but man did it warp my impression of what highschool life was supposed to be. I went to a all-boys school and I was miserable there. No friends, no social life, no respect from my peers. Girls were a mystery to me. I didn't really understand who I was, as a kid, and I believed that if I went to a co-ed school all my problems would disappear. Archie comics helped fuel this illusion. The bright colours. the social life that everyone seemed to have; the loving parents; the supportive friends. That's what I dreamed about every single night (and still do, to a certain degree today). Heck there was even a school named Riverdale in my city, and I fantasized more than once of how life would have been like if I went to that school, while everyone else just joked about their name.
I went to the sort of high school that was satirized in the movie Heathers. So I can understand where you're coming from.
However, my son seems to be having a different experience. While I doubt the social scene is ever easy to navigate, my son seems to have a great group of friends, and that includes girls. I think a large part of it has to do with the fact that he's in a French immersion program, and a lot of the kids have been together since the early primary grades, and they all seem to have high EQ's for their age. So it is a bit like Archie and Veronica. A nice group of kids, a gang.
I know that my father still keeps in touch with friends from elementary school.
posted by Nevin at 11:21 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
I went to the sort of high school that was satirized in the movie Heathers. So I can understand where you're coming from.
However, my son seems to be having a different experience. While I doubt the social scene is ever easy to navigate, my son seems to have a great group of friends, and that includes girls. I think a large part of it has to do with the fact that he's in a French immersion program, and a lot of the kids have been together since the early primary grades, and they all seem to have high EQ's for their age. So it is a bit like Archie and Veronica. A nice group of kids, a gang.
I know that my father still keeps in touch with friends from elementary school.
posted by Nevin at 11:21 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Aw, Archie was such a staple of my childhood. They were super popular in Bangladesh (where my relatives lived), so whenever we'd go back to visit the cousins I'd tear through their collection and add a few more. I too had a horrendous experience with high school, but it was in Malaysia - I've always wondered if the American experience would have just been better for me overall, any resemblance to Archie comics or not notwithstanding.
How does one get cast in Riverdale? Because WANT.
Have an AU fic.
posted by divabat at 1:10 PM on April 20, 2015
How does one get cast in Riverdale? Because WANT.
Have an AU fic.
posted by divabat at 1:10 PM on April 20, 2015
Bearing in mind my comments above, when I went to middle school in the mid-80's in suburban Canada, the atmosphere really was a lot like the River's Edge.
posted by Nevin at 1:39 PM on April 20, 2015
posted by Nevin at 1:39 PM on April 20, 2015
No disrespect to the material or its fans, but Archie seems like such an artifact from a different era, the continued popularity of these comics never fails to surprise me.
They have gotten better with time. Afterlife With Archie alone puts that theory in the "debunked" column.
Excuse me? Cheryl Blossom?
Now you are talking about my girl. Had the entire run of her series. My moment of pop culture bliss was watching an old episode of Miami Vice and watching Stanley Switek reading a comic book and immediately recognizing Cheryl and Jason Blossom...because I had that story in my stash...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 3:13 PM on April 20, 2015
They have gotten better with time. Afterlife With Archie alone puts that theory in the "debunked" column.
Excuse me? Cheryl Blossom?
Now you are talking about my girl. Had the entire run of her series. My moment of pop culture bliss was watching an old episode of Miami Vice and watching Stanley Switek reading a comic book and immediately recognizing Cheryl and Jason Blossom...because I had that story in my stash...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 3:13 PM on April 20, 2015
Oh damn that Sabrina book looks terrifying.
Sabrina has been doing terrifying things for a while now.
posted by delfin at 4:07 PM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sabrina has been doing terrifying things for a while now.
posted by delfin at 4:07 PM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
There are some things that were cultural icons and now need to accept the inevitability of changing interest. Archie is one of them. Looney Toons. Three Stooges. I love Lucy. I'm also pretty tired of Mickey Mouse but I could be an outlier there. One day my beloved Ghostbusters, Star Wars, GI Joe etc. will also go there.
All of these things I see happening except for (the original) Looney Tunes. Even when I watched them as a kid they were old, but they are still nearly as hilarious and brilliant then, and now, as when they were first written.
If you want the fifties' version of the plays of Shakespeare, populist entertainment when new that rises up into greatness for centuries to come, you'll find it in Bugs Bunny and friends.
Archie doesn't hold nearly as well. It's only as timeless as the fifties in American small town is timeless, which despite what some my tell you isn't really.
posted by JHarris at 5:02 PM on April 20, 2015
All of these things I see happening except for (the original) Looney Tunes. Even when I watched them as a kid they were old, but they are still nearly as hilarious and brilliant then, and now, as when they were first written.
If you want the fifties' version of the plays of Shakespeare, populist entertainment when new that rises up into greatness for centuries to come, you'll find it in Bugs Bunny and friends.
Archie doesn't hold nearly as well. It's only as timeless as the fifties in American small town is timeless, which despite what some my tell you isn't really.
posted by JHarris at 5:02 PM on April 20, 2015
There are some things that were cultural icons and now need to accept the inevitability of changing interest. Archie is one of them. Looney Toons. Three Stooges. I love Lucy. I'm also pretty tired of Mickey Mouse
The Donald Duck shorts from the 50's are pretty awesome actually. If we are talking about actual comic books (like Archie), the Carl Barks Donald Duck comics are true classics. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
posted by Nevin at 9:15 PM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Donald Duck shorts from the 50's are pretty awesome actually. If we are talking about actual comic books (like Archie), the Carl Barks Donald Duck comics are true classics. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
posted by Nevin at 9:15 PM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
Mickey was a sucker, Donald all the way! I loved Archie when I was a kid! I love that's he's still around! But what I really, really want to know is, does every single sentence in an Archie comic dialogue balloon still end in an exclamation mark? (or a question mark!) previously
posted by h00py at 5:37 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by h00py at 5:37 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I quite liked the Li'l Archie stories. I dunno, growing up in the 70's and 80's, and Archie digest was just something you got in your Christmas stocking. Or something to read in the tent on a family camping trip.
It's just gag humor.
posted by Nevin at 7:55 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's just gag humor.
posted by Nevin at 7:55 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not like a huge fan or anything, but I think it's a bit sad that they're ditching Archie's timeless art style for a very of-this-particular-moment style.
They've done it before and will do it again. I don't think the old look ever actually goes away since they have a few comic lines going on at one time. But they don't correct anyone because "Archie is changing forever" gets them mentioned on CNN and riles up the baby boomers.
posted by Gary at 10:13 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
They've done it before and will do it again. I don't think the old look ever actually goes away since they have a few comic lines going on at one time. But they don't correct anyone because "Archie is changing forever" gets them mentioned on CNN and riles up the baby boomers.
posted by Gary at 10:13 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Archie was the comic book that was brought home to me when I had a cold. I associate it with warm blankets and apple juice. Even though I don't read it anymore (ok maybe I page through the digests at the grocery store) I spent many a day in safe, fun Riverdale. For that reason I will always love it, like I love my tattered blanket and childhood doll. Happy birthday Archie, you lovable idiot.
Now that I'm older and wiser and bitter, I look at Archie with contempt. For lying to me. For giving me a dream I could never attain.
For me, that would be the movie Grease. No televised prom? No year-end carnival? No chance to switch castes, even with amazing heels? WTF?
posted by kimberussell at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now that I'm older and wiser and bitter, I look at Archie with contempt. For lying to me. For giving me a dream I could never attain.
For me, that would be the movie Grease. No televised prom? No year-end carnival? No chance to switch castes, even with amazing heels? WTF?
posted by kimberussell at 10:45 AM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
oh yeah the Betty vs. Veronica debate. Man that pissed me off to no end. I hated Archie for not being able to make up his mind, and I hated Betty and Veronica for demeaning themselves to chase after him time and time again. If they wrote an askme, 100% the answer would be DTMFA.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:14 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 7:14 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
"I don’t know about you, but I did not wake up this morning expecting to see the phrase, “Jughead relaunch from the writer of Sex Criminals.” And yet, here we are."
posted by frimble at 6:32 AM on May 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by frimble at 6:32 AM on May 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
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Left disappointed, or would have if Mark Waid wasn't mentioned.
He's amazing.
posted by Mezentian at 4:52 AM on April 20, 2015