Sunday, December 17, 2006

Another Blow to My Childhood Memories


So, there will be more realism in Archie comics. My first reaction to seeing this news on Mike Sterling's Progressive Ruin was WTF? I had to check the calendar to make sure I hadn't slept for a few months and it was April 1st (because the weather is very April-ish right now). Then I thought, well, it's not so bad. I don't read these comics, anymore, and haven't since I was a kid teen. Yeah, full disclosure here. I might've been reading superhero comics and James Bond when I was 11, but along with continuing to read adult fare in my teens, I was also reading Archie Comics titles and my younger sister's Bobbsey Twins books.

So, anyway, I think it makes sense to update the look in these books if it can bring in and keep new readers. Any comics success translates across the board, because comics are addicting and once you finish reading one batch, you must seek out more, as personal funds permit.

I'd be interested to see if the new style will allow for more artistic individuality. It was fun, when I was younger and first learned what artists got their starts drawing Archies, to pick out their work. Neal Adams was usually the easiest to spot because his style was so different than most others back then and harder to disguise or homogenize.

I just wish Betty and Veronica in the above cover didn't make me think of Paris and Nicole, tho. *shudder*

5 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:24 PM EST

    I had mixed reactions to the new Archie look, but ultimately have decided to go with it because, truth of the matter is that things change. As I commented on (postmodernbarney), none of the superheroes created back in the day have their original looks and we often see variations on them. The important thing is that kids can relate to them...although, I TOTALLY agree with you about not having Betty and Veronica look like Nicole and Paris!

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  2. Honestly, what is the big deal?

    I don't see the revamp sticking, but even if it does, so what? It doesn't change the characters in any significant way.

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  3. Not only do I not have a problem with it, I hope it's a big success. But for those of us who grow up with something a certain way, things that are iconic, we can need time to adjust and some folks never do. If they painted the White House blue, I don't know that it would be as traumatic for folks.

    There are still folks who think the original Battlestar Galactica was better than the new one. Fools. heh

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  4. Because the original Battlestar Galactica WAS better.

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    1. Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion. ;) But the remake was infinitely better because it was a long, sustained story about religion, politics, and the nature of humanity, a novel in an extended TV series, similar to Babylon 5.

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