Archie is more than just a comic…it’s a normal teen’s daily life
Archie Comics is one of the most lovable comic book characters. Archie’s gang includes Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Jughead Jones, Reggie Mantle, Sabrina Spellman, Katy Keene, Cheryl Marjorie Blossom, Hot Dog, Josie and the Pussycats, Moose Mason, Dilton Doiley, and Midge Klum. Don’t they sound familiar? Ever wondered how we came to love them after Archie, Betty, and Jughead made a debut in Pep Comics #22 in Dec 1941, almost 8 decades back? In 1946, with the growing success and fame among the masses, MLJ Magazines rebranded the company as Archie Comics
Archiekin Days
After making his debut in Pep Comics #22, the red-haired boy became everyone’s favorite soon enough to acquire a self-titled ongoing comic book series in the winter of 1942. Publisher John L. Goldwater and artist Bob Montana, in collaboration with writer Vic Bloom, created the initial characters of The Archies. This ran till June 2015. And after the hiatus, a second series featured some changes with a welcoming reboot like in the character design and art. The story also turned to a more mature format (Teen/YA) aimed at older, contemporary American teens and young adult readers everywhere.
As per Archie Comics Publisher/CEO Jon Goldwater, the relaunch will showcase a more humorous, edgy side of the characters and their origins, as well as create more gags and mis-happens in the famous Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, and Veronica Lodge love triangle. Introducing Veronica as a newcomer to Riverdale, in Pep Comics #26, while Archie, Betty, Jughead, and some of the other characters had lived their whole lives. With two love interests, and Archie perplexed about whom he should settle with, the stories portrayed a mature but fun-loving tone. And, the company has been successful in keeping the triangle alive in numerous intriguing ways.
To intrigue the fans and entice new readers, Archie Comics introduced plots that connect the characters and their town, Riverdale, to the changing realities of the real world. Sabrina Spellman is a popular character from Archies, other than Jughead, Veronica, and Betty.
Must-haves
This love triangle is much more than others. Instead of a boy going after two girls or a girl going after two boys, here Archie is not just pursuing Betty and Veronica, mainly. Even though they are pursuing, there are romances and crushes with/of other characters, especially Reggie Mantle, Cheryl Blossom, Harper, Moose, Midge, Jughead, and Ethel.
Some of the story arcs speak volumes, and if you’re a fan, you must have these for sure because they are epic!
- Archie: The Love Showdown
This is most probably the first crossover launched by Archie Comics after the crossover comic arc ‘Death of Superman’ made the news. This starts with Archie getting a letter from a mysterious source, and now Archie must decide between Betty and Veronica, once and for all! And there’s a twist!
- Archie marries Veronica/Archie marries Betty
This arc was split into two with the first arc of 3 issues detailing Archie’s decision to settle down with Veronica Lodge, and the second arc of another 3 issues has Archie choosing simple Betty Cooper over the high-class Veronica Lodge.
- Archie & Josie and the Pussycats
This two-issue arc shows Archie and Valerie Smith falling for one another when both of their bands decide to go together.
- Life with Archie
This arc is the further implications of Archie marries Veronica/Archie marries Betty with Archie being killed in a selfless sacrifice to save his gay friend.
- Archie marries Valerie
This arc showed a future where Archie married Valerie and fathers a daughter named Star. This also highlights the potential future for Archie with Cheryl Blossom, Sabrina Spellman, and Ethel Muggs.
- Afterlife with Archie
This is a story arc that differed a lot from any other Archie-related titles. It showcased a zombie-apocalypse breaking loose in Riverdale in an alternate reality. This was clearly not for children, as it depicted gore violence and more disturbing themes or acts, but a Teen+. The series was canceled after the #10th issue.
The Archie Horror imprint released four more series, but not connected, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Jughead: The Hunger, Blossom 666, and Vampironica.
On-screen Adventures
Archie won people’s hearts, and it came on-screen many times. Riverdale is the only ongoing Archie series, right now, from 2017, on the CW. There is a live-action film, ‘The Archies’ by Netflix/Tiger Baby/Graphics India, had a Dec 2023 release.
The Effects & Recognitions!
Unlike Superman, Archie is not an alien with powers raised on Earth, nor like Batman/Iron Man who hails from a wealthy family, and not at all like Cyclops/Wolverine who has mutant-gene in them; he’s just a simple red-haired human, who has whole time in the world to flirt with two gorgeous lasses in the town. Archie depicted a young high school/college guy in the normal world. The authenticity of the passion and trends adopted by the gang embraces realism in the world with each passing day. This passion was the main reason Archie and his gang became everyone’s lovable gang with their debut in Pep Comics #22.
Archie and his gang continue to grow with new trends and cultures. Archie Comics has sold over 2 billion comics worldwide. On 16th July 2010, the U.S. Postal Service honored Archie comics with the 44c Archie stamp featuring Veronica, Archie, and Betty sharing a chocolate milkshake.
Archie’s ongoing Kevin Keller comic won Outstanding Comic Book at the 2013 GLAAD Media Awards, presented in San Francisco after being introduced as the first openly gay character.
Kevin Keller is an Archie series and despite many protests for being Riverdale’s first openly gay character, it went ahead and won hearts. Kevin made his first appearance in Veronica #202.
But in none of the books, a conclusive answer has been ever provided. The adventures and the fun sees that no one wants this love triangle to end, no matter how long it’s been.
So, what do you think, this love triangle must go on, or should Archie choose someone or anyone? 😉
Pic Credits: Archie Comics
