One can compare the success of Seinfeld to the enduring popularity of Archie Comics. Both Jerry Seinfeld and Archie Andrews were just normal guys doing normal, everyday things. There was a familiarity about the laughs and a likable nature about the characters that appealed to a wide audience. When Archie Comics were first penned in 1941, super hero comics were the standard, so it was refreshing to read about the regular antics of Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica – characters who seemed so real, you felt you knew them. Their ability to morph with the times is perhaps why the epic Archie enterprise still circulates over 16 million copies annually.

Archie Illustrators

Bob Montana and Dan DeCarlo represent arguably the most famous of all Archie illustrators, although there has been many over the years – all with their own important nuances and specialties. “In my mind the male characters always maintained the Bob Montana look,” remarks freelance graphic designer and illustrator Burton Farnsworth, “but I will always remember the female characters as Dan DeCarlo drew them.”

Many people remember Archie most fondly during their era of Sunday funnies syndication, where Henry Scapelli and Stan Goldberg were the principal artists. “I’d have to say that Stan Goldberg is the definitive Archie artist,” says Buddy Scalera – the current writer of the Richie Rich comic book series and a contributor to Marvel Comics. He adds, “Right now I am enjoying the Archie books. They’re doing a nice job shaking things up and generating some buzz.”

Archie Topics

1940s: Archie debuts, “as American as apple pie,” according to Vincent Zurzolo of Metropolis Collectibles Inc. He explains, “They capture an innocence and timeless adolescence that has been a part of generations.” During this time, we see fraternity initiations, raccoon coats, dances and lettered jackets.

1950s: The Riverdale gang goes roller skating, throws sock hops and gets rid of their hula hoops. Betty and Veronica fall for an Elvis-like rockstar named Purley Gates. The gang even dabbles in beatnik culture and lingo a little bit.

1960s: As a reflection of the times, the gang watches The Ed Sullivan Show, participates in drag races and protest marches, they learn to surf, they speak of “brotherly love,” and they dress in love beads.  Betty and Veronica wear tight pants and mini-skirts.

1970s: Most long-time fans agree that the 1970s were a classic era for Archie. During these years, we see leather jackets, motorcycles, pet rocks, costume contests, Happy Days references, gas shortages, hippies, burger joints, and discos.

1980s: The Riverdalers aspire to be on “NTV,” get into breakdancing, meet movie stars, ride mechanical bulls, search for extraterrestrials, host game shows, work out to the soundtrack of Flash Dance, play Trivial Pursuit, skate in the roller derby, listen to hair bands, watch pro wrestling, play video games, and comment on the punk rock scene’s “convention of weirdos.”

1990s: This can be considered “the dark ages” of Archie comics. According to Paul Castiglia, who worked on assembling the Archie Americana series, “This was a period where some of the stories even lost focus a bit – when Archie and Reggie’s dialogue becomes interchangeable you know it’s time to shake things up.” Archie plays doctor, loses his ability to skate, the gang discovers the internet, and heartthrobs abound. The series suffered from poor writing at this point. As author Carla Ulbrich puts it, “They totally jumped the shark in the 90s with the Archie marries Veronica… no wait, Betty… no wait it was all a dream thing… not once, but twice. How dumb do you think we are?”

2000s: The latest decade of Archie comics represents a huge shift from the classic conservatism we’ve always known. Dan Parent added a biracial storyline into the mix, introduced the first openly gay character, and even added a visit from Barack Obama and Sarah Palin into the mix. While these bold moves were risky for the franchise, the decisions paid off, as Archie comics are enjoying a resurgence in popularity, mainstream media attention and sold-out issues yet again. In fact, Kevin Keller – the gay Archie character – was so popular he is set to receive his own spin-off series. Other startling changes include the death of Riverdale principal, Miss Lundy, and Archie’s marriage to none other than Veronica to commemorate the 600^th issue.

Who Is Your Favorite Archie Character?

I asked a diverse group of people who their favorite Archie character was and, not surprisingly, their answers really ran the gamut. Perhaps that would be a question for the psychiatrist’s chair: What does your favorite Archie character say about you?

• Archie

-          “He epitomized the penultimate teen gentleman in love with love and good times in an era that was innocent.” (Acharya Sri Khadi Madama, Author)

-          “He was most like a real person. He had up days and down days and he made both good and bad decisions. Of all the characters, he has the most to teach us.” (J. Lucy Boyd, RN, BSN Psychiatric Nurse)

• Jughead

-           “He’s fun and funny, sarcastic, can eat a very, very large amount of food and always seems to land on top. I also dig his odd crown. These were common in the 1920s and 30s and made from cut up fedoras. They usually are worn by mechanics and Jughead considers his a good luck charm.” (Vincent Zurzolo, Metropolic Collectibles Inc)

-          “The guy was just cool. He managed to dodge trouble, eat anything he wanted, and still be the friendly guy that everybody liked. He removed himself from the Archie/Bettie/Veronica love triangle to be friends with everyone. Plus, he set his own style. The dude wore a crown and didn’t apologize for it.” (Buddy Scalera, Comic Book Artist & Educator)

-          “Jughead was his own guy, off in his own world, did his own thing, and didn’t care what anyone else thought of him. He was not a slave to fashion, or caught up in swooning over the opposite sex. OK, so he had an eating disorder. No one’s perfect.” (Carla Ulbrich, Author)

-          “I had a friend back in the late 50′s-early 60′s, who was like Jughead. Jughead was great for coming out with wonderful quotations that I put to very good use.” (Acharya Sri Khadi Madama, Author)

• Veronica

-          “She was spoiled, rich and kept winning Archie’s affections over her rival, good girl Betty. In fact, I started calling my father ‘Daddykins,’ like Veronica did.” (Carole Lieberman M.D., Psychiatrist & Author)

• Betty

-          “I always liked her more than Veronica because she had far more substance as a human being. Veronica always had that ‘entitled’ air about her.” (T.S. Dickey, Long-Time Fan)

The Archie Legacy

“It ain’t summer without Archie, Jughead, Veronica, Bettie, Reggie and the gang at Riverdale High,” 63-year-old fan Acharya Sri Khadi Madama told me, adding that her beach bag always holds a copy of Archie comics.

“The straight forward visual story telling was great for a little kid not able to read when the office visits began and was influential years later as I embarked on a career as a graphic designer and illustrator,” Burton Farnsworth reflects.

“One of my favorite Archie comics as a kid was ‘The Fly’ published on the Red Circle Comics imprint [as part of Archie’s Adventure Series],” recalls radio personality Glenn Richards. “The Fly was a kind of hybrid looking hero, part man, part fly. I thought he was cool because he had a Buzz gun. I realize now, given “The Fly” early imprint names (Mighty Comics & Radio Comics), there must have been some influence as to the naming of my own artistic music imprint, Mighty Fleiss Radio. It’s been on the back of my mind.”

Carole Lieberman M.D., whose favorite character was Veronica, ponders, “Is it any wonder that I am now the author of a self-help relationship book called Bad Girls: Why Men Love Them & How Good Girls Can Learn Their Secrets?”

It seems that everyone who grew up with Archie comics was deeply touched by the memorable stories and characters. As the crazy world around us changes, there is something comforting about the predictable Archie universe. Their clothes and crazes may change with the decades, but as Paul Castiglia put it: “There is a basic ‘goodness’ shown in each of the decades – Archie and his friends, including their parents, the school’s faculty and people in the town are generally good-natured people that have a tremendous loyalty to the town of Riverdale and to each other and a heart and sincere willingness to help others.” We sit here in a world so heavily polarized, so divisive, so selfish, and so fragmented that it’s pleasant as a slice of warm apple pie to lose ourselves in this kind-hearted, innocent utopia.