New Archie Pal Surprises Veronica

[Chernabog_Rocks]

Somebody in Riverdale is gay!

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/23/so ... jughead%2F

The sad thing is the Comments made by a lot of the people at the end. It will be interesting to see the character and his interactions with Archie and co.

[Escapay]

To be honest, I was more excited at learning that Archie has given up on Betty and Veronica and is now dating Valerie from Josie & the Pussycat. Yay for crossover and yay for Archie and Valerie! So nice to see him with a character who isn't such a bubblehead like Betty and Veronica can be.

albert

[Super Aurora]

lol i find it funny how article keep on indicating that having gays in comics is so revolutionary. In japan, they have gay(yaoi) comics coming out left and right, it's not even funny.

[Elladorine]

I'm really surprised the article doesn't mention Lawrence from the newspaper comic, For Better or For Worse . . . that was a pretty big deal back in 1993. I was a reader of the dailies back then and remember what a stir it caused. Our local paper (one of many) stopped running the comic until the story arc was over. At least a couple other gay characters were introduced in the following years.

http://www.fborfw.com/features/lawrence/

[pap64]

lol i find it funny how article keep on indicating that having gays in comics is so revolutionary. In japan, they have gay(yaoi) comics coming out left and right, it's not even funny.

This is true. But, the portrayal of gay characters is highly stereotypical and rarely used in a serious context (they also tend to be villainous in some children's manga and anime).

In this case, the portrayal is serious with attempts at character development and being current.

[Elladorine]

In this case, the portrayal is serious with attempts at character development and being current.

That was what I loved so much about Lynn Johnston's strip. No stereotypes, no attempt to shock people, just trying to tell a story within her world of characters that she felt was valid and important. She said the majority of the early response to the storyline was negative, but when it was all said and done about 70% of the mail she received was supportive and positive.

And here we are 17 years later, dealing with a similar issue. While we're looking at an overall younger target audience with Archie, have we gotten any further as a society?

[Siren]

My friend reads Green Lantern. Can't remember the name of the one she likes. Though I think it was Kyle. But she let me read a few and it was during a time when one of his best friends started to show signs he was attracted to him. And when he finally realized it, because really, he was so utterly clueless, he let him down easy, but it was the first time I read about openly gay characters in a comic book.

I think its a big deal with Archie because they were built on such a "wholesome gee-golly" kinda premise. Archie isn't/wasn't a comic that deals with teen pregnancy, drug use, gang violence, abortion, homosexuals, etc.

For Better or For Worse, that is a great strip, but still wasn't that surprising, for me anyways, that they added a gay character. The strip was always reality based. Like when Farley died, you know Garfield and Snoopy are never gonna be killed off. But For Better or For Worse, you have watched these characters grow up and grow old. Its really one of the better comic strips.

But like I said, its news with Archie because its so "not Archie" to have a gay man in the comic book. Its unexpected for many, but they gotta keep up with the Jones I guess.

I do get a bit tired when all these tv shows, comics, etc, gotta insert a gay character just to make a statement though. If you are gonna have a gay character, great, have one, but don't make it like its the After School Movie of the week. Then it just seems they are doing it just to keep up with the Jones and stay relevant. Its kinda like the"it" thing. Give your main characters a gay sidekick/friend. It just seems to exploit more than help. But I doubt Archie comics are all that relevant anyways.

[slave2moonlight]

Wait a minute, Archie is with Valerie now? I thought he supposedly "chose" Veronica. Frankly, I couldn't believe choosing Veronica over Betty. Not that she isn't attractive, but...

[Flanger-Hanger]

Archie isn't/wasn't a comic that deals with teen pregnancy, drug use, gang violence, abortion, homosexuals, etc.

It would be more entertaining if it did.

[Super Aurora]

Anyone who is an archie fan should go read the epic crossover of Archie and the Punisher.

[Disney's Divinity]

Wow. Those comments. Sometimes I read the comments to these things because I know what they'll say, and it's entertaining for some reason. But...wow. What a standard.

(Doubtless the Bible verses were drug out from Leviticus, but when someone mentioned the shell-fish, crossing fabrics, and shaving sins from the same passage, replies went like, "Stop spreading your lies" or "It would have been better if you'd never been born at all than to have spoken such evil." Sometimes it scares me that these people are real. I remember reading another psycho-Christian website talking about athiests and how they should all be put to death. Seriously. If you can't win, kill.)

[Siren]

Anyone who is an archie fan should go read the epic crossover of Archie and the Punisher.

[Giygas]

Anyone who is an archie fan should go read the epic crossover of Archie and the Punisher.

There are Archie fans?

[Siren]

Anyone who is an archie fan should go read the epic crossover of Archie and the Punisher.

There are Archie fans?

My 11 year old daughter just happened to pick up an Archie comic as we waited in line at the store. She paged through it and put it back, commenting on how it looked "weird".....When we got home, she grabbed her newest graphic novel, Angel: Smile Time and continued reading where to left off. The whole thing just made me laugh to myself.

[Super Aurora]

Anyone who is an archie fan should go read the epic crossover of Archie and the Punisher.

There are Archie fans?

For hardcore comic fans like myself, yeah they do have fans.


and siren you still haven't reply to my pm

[Elladorine]

I'm suddenly thinking of a specific romance comic from the 70's that appeared to star a lesbian character but buckled under the pressure of the comics code for its ending: http://thatsmyskull.blogspot.com/2008/0 ... -girl.html

"Agnes isn't shy once you get to know her."

[Escapay]

Anyone who is an archie fan should go read the epic crossover of Archie and the Punisher.

There are Archie fans?

I'm an Archie fan.

albert

[Elladorine]

There are Archie fans?

I'm an Archie fan.

albert

Me too. But I'm not as avid as I used to be; I read a lot of Betty and Veronica issues/digests when I was younger.

[JiminyCrick91]

I'd say I am too, a fan, but it's been some time since I've paid for a story. I got two issues of the Archie Marries Veronica/Betty arc last fall but lost track after not adding it to my pull box. Other than that I only get the Free Comic Book Day Story each year. (Dan Parent signed a couple of them for me at a Con I had gone to. Nice guy.)

Anyhow, this I may want to check out. Seems like a cute idea but I hope the backlash is not to great.

Oh and P.S. I've wanted Archie Meets the Punisher since I saw the ads for it in some of the books I inherited from cousins as a child. Alas, no luck.

-Sky

[Disney Duster]

Well, if the wholesome, family, cartoon world of Archie can have a gay character...maybe Disney's cartoons can have one someday soon, too?

I'd like to read this, actually. I'd be more impressed with them treating the issue as it really would be in the 1940's or 50's...but I guess these kids clearly never age though time clearly moves forward? And interracial love of course is also part of that. But in a way it shows these kids really were good, accepting people.

I dunno. I'll just look at it if I see it, and then who knows. They got my attention like they wanted...