Life with...Maybe Not

[John C]

This is going to be one really awkward series, after the fact.

http://laughingsquid.com/iconic-archie-comics-character-archie-andrews-will-die-in-the-july-2014-issue-of-life-with-archie/

If anybody wants to go back to the beginning...

http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/index.php?dlid=168
http://digitalcomicmuseum.com/preview/index.php?did=168&page=49

I can't wait for the gritty reboot, that "takes him back to his roots," myself, though I'm really hoping for "Reign of the Archies," where a bunch of posers tool around Riverdale for a year or so before launching into their own books that nobody's going to read.

[Yoc]

Can it be long before CNN, Entertainment Weekly and 200 blogs scream 'Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahn!! ... er Arrrrrrrrrrrrchie!' with a great weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But more importantly, will he be in the Academy Awards remembers video scroll with Mickey Rooney?

[JGray]

It is important to note that Life With Archie is, currently, an imaginary tale and not part of the main Archie universe. They split each issue into two storylines: one in which Archie married Betty and one in which he married Veronica. It is actually a very fun book, in a soap opera sort of way.

[Yoc]

Hi J,
Yes, I had heard that but it's the general media that is just as likely as not to believe it like the deaths of Superman and Capt. America.
Sadly Archie wants to follow the big-2 lead with 'event' books.

[crashryan]

Desperation, thy name is Archie.

[JGray]

I'm not sure this is desperation. The figures I have seen suggest Archie is selling better than it has for a long time. Their Sonic and Megaman lines are doing well and they've gotten a lot of good press for. Wing forward thinking on the subjects of gay marriage and interracial couples.

If anything, Archie is crawling out of the stereotype they've been stuck with since the 50s. They're expanding their lines, attracting top talent and bringing in new readers. We should be glad. For too long comics have been stuck in the superheroes boys only club mode. Stuff like this and Saga are opening up doors for our hobby to flourish again instead of being stuffed only into specialty shops.

I'm excited. Between these sort of books and Amazon buying ComiXology and all those small, creator owned comics and Webcomics out there? We have a good shot at a new golden age.

[Yoc]

The local news gave a blurb about the Archive death but added that it was an 'Elsewords' alternate reality with an adult Archie dying.  I didn't see it get any mention at all with the American stations or late night shows.  Surprising.

With Archie I keep hearing about the bizarre infighting with the owners more than about the comics.  I'm half surprised it didn't get turned into a reality show it was so strange!