Archie was first Harem Anime

[CharlieRock]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harem_%28genre%29


So there I was reading some GA Archie (The Best of Archie, vol. 1) when it occurred to me. Archie was the pioneer for Tenchi Muyo, Tsukune Aono, and many other manga characters in the sub-genre known as 'Harem Anime'. The above link is for more information on that sub-genre.

[chaard]

Interesting observation! I'll admit to not having read Archie for a long long time. But I recall that Archie is mostly sought by Betty and Veronica, so it's more of a love-triangle than a harem type. I'd even call POLLY AND HER PALS (from 1912) the prototype of the reverse-harem anime, as Polly entertains a constant stream of male suitors.

As for WHY various girls would chase Archie, who is neither rich nor a jock -- that's rather a mystery, eh?

[narfstar]

Besides the pretty girls, it was probably Archie's everyman aspect that allowed guys to read the books. If Archie could have two hot chick chasing maybe there was hope for us.

[chaard]

Everyman aspect, hmm? So that's why Archie never really resonated with me -- I've never been an 'everyman'. I was the tall weird guy, nicknamed Lurch. I only had short weird girls chasing me. No hope for hot chicks. No *way* could I identify with most human comic characters. I think my only mainstream role model was Mercury in The Metal Men.

Hey, this could lead to a general question: Which comic characters have we identified with? There was a recent question about our favorite imprints when growing up. (Mine were Classics Illustrated and Apex Novelties [Zap]). But favorite characters reveal a bit of our personalities. I guess mine were Alley Oop, Mercury, Trashman. I don't want to know people who identify with Evil Ernie. #8-(

[narfstar]

Unfortunately I can identify with Merryman in the Inferior Five