Archie Andrews will die taking a bullet for his gay best friend.
The famous freckle-faced comic book icon is meeting his demise in Wednesday's installment of "Life with Archie" when he intervenes in an assassination attempt on Kevin Keller, Archie Comics' first openly gay character. Andrews' death, which was first announced in April, will mark the conclusion of the series that focuses on grown-up renditions of Andrews and his Riverdale pals.
"The way in which Archie dies is everything that you would expect of Archie," said Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics publisher and co-CEO. "He dies heroically. He dies selflessly. He dies in the manner that epitomizes not only the best of Riverdale but the best of all of us. It's what Archie has come to represent over the past almost 75 years."
"We wanted to do something that was impactful that would really resonate with the world and bring home just how important Archie is to everyone," said Goldwater. "That's how we came up with the storyline of saving Kevin. He could have saved Betty. He could have saved Veronica. We get that, but metaphorically, by saving Kevin, a new Riverdale is born."
This may seem trivial to some, and of no importance in the real world, but I beg to differ.
Archie comics have been around for several generations.
My mother loved Archie comic books.
I loved Archie comic books.
And my daughter loved Archie comic books.
To have such an iconic figure die is huge. And to have him die literally defending a member of a group who are constantly under attack by a certain segment of the population is incredibly powerful.
There have recently been a slew of comic book characters who have come out as gay, however that will undoubtedly pale in comparison to such an established character literally sacrificing his life to stand up to homophobia and intolerance.
Update: You know I was so focused on the LGBT part of this "death" that I totally forgot that it happens due to gun violence as well.
Damn is this going to have conservative heads asploding all over the place.
I had a few Archie comics growing up, including Little Archie. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteHe's not going anywhere. This series began in 2010.... It's a fantasy series.
DeleteArchie is still alive in the regular Archie comics with Betty/Veronica/Jughead and gang.
'To have such an iconic figure die is huge. And to have him die literally defending a member of a group who are constantly under attack by a certain segment of the population is incredibly powerful.'
ReplyDeleteWow for a second there I though Archie perished trying to bring medical supplies to the world's largest open air prison.
Famed Comic Star Archie Dies In Two Days Over Gun Control (VIDEO)
ReplyDeleteGoldwater emphasized that Archie’s passing is not simply a publicity stunt, but a teachable moment regarding gun violence, diversity, and humanity, hailing a new era in Archie Comics.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/07/14/famed-comic-star-archie-dies-two-days-over-gun-control-video/
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/archie-die-bullet-gay-friend-comic-book-article-1.1865719
Would've been better if he died trying to save African women from being sterilized as condition of asylum. Funny I don't remember MSNBC covering this outrage.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.forbes.com/sites/eliseknutsen/2013/01/28/israel-foribly-injected-african-immigrant-women-with-birth-control/
I grew up in the 70's ...loved Archie.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Archie being murdered though. Tough
When I was growing up and reading Archie comics, I don't recall them being political, but maybe I'm not remembering clearly. I guess these days it's all political in one way or the other. Even though I don't read those comics anymore, I feel a pang of sadness that Archie will die, but the reason for his death seems to be noble, which he always was. Of course the ammosexuals will be losing their gourds, but hey, if it takes Archie dying to make a point about gun control, then more power to him!
ReplyDeleteEven a pre-teen in 1960 could see how the girls in those comics existed to be in supporting roles. That was true in the entire entertainment industry at that time. But I reveled in being able to boycott those comic books with my tiny economic power.
ReplyDeleteGryphen,
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you didn't post the story about the gay police chief in a small South Carolina town who was fired by the mayor. The town stripped the mayor of his powers and re-hired the police chief. I gave you the link yesterday. That's a huge story. That's real America.
He is a she...
DeletePatience, please. Gryphen posts links left for him when he does, or he doesn't. I've learned that having shared linked on the blog for many years now. Trust him to do it in his own time. He rarely disappoints. He has his finger on the pulse of things important to his readers more than you might think, so be patient.
DeletePlease also remember that Gryphen grew up during a time in history that certain things matter greatly to him. If you read his post, you would have noticed that. I understand his nostalgia because I share it.
5:56
DeleteThe mayor is a she? I don't think so. That was the antecedent for "he."
6:01
DeleteAre you Gryphen's spokesperson? I didn't know he had one!
I loved reading Archie comics when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteI always had a thing for Veronica.
DeleteOT
ReplyDeletePalin will absolutely HATE this on MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.com/hardball-with-chris-matthews/watch/forgetting-sarah-palin-304701507605
You know, I watched this and still cannot fathom how anyone could still think that Palin is a Republican figure head with any sort of political magnetism. It was also interest to note that Joni "Pig Bullocks" Ernst (a Palin endorsee) is backing away from Palin's rhetoric. Some thanks, eh Sarah?
DeleteA fool and her endorsements are soon parted...and deservedly so.
Archie comics certainly helped me with self identity. I was reminded of my heterosexuality very time Veronica appeared.
ReplyDeletePalin PAC donations don’t include Alaska race
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newsminer.com/news/politics/palin-pac-donations-don-t-include-alaska-race/article_cfd8acd4-0bb7-11e4-a7b5-001a4bcf6878.html
Although I'm sorry to see him go, maybe, just maybe, something good will come of art imitating life, or what life should be like.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't news, it has been know for some time now.
ReplyDeleteEven tho I really never payed much attention to Archie when I grew up and reading his comics, may he rest in peace and knowing he fucked up Sarah Palin and everyone of the tea parties homophobic asses on the way out. :-)) Good job Archie!
ReplyDeleteSo, is this the end of all Archie comic books or just that particular branch, universe or whatever?
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking. I'm wondering the same thing.
DeleteI also grew up reading Archie comics in the 1960s. I gave them up when I was a teen and figured out that I was gay. So the end is intriguing that he dies by defending a gay friend. I wish I could have had that kind of comic book in the 1970s. I'm glad though they're doing it now. It's good.
THIS particular Life with Archie series began in 2010. The author had nothing to do with the 1958-1991 books.
DeleteYou should have done a spoiler Alert. Some of us had been waiting patiently to read it. I'm mad at you.
ReplyDeleteIt's been all over the news, so Gryphen didn't spill the beans. But nothing is revealed as to WHO will do it and how it will unfold. So chill, and enjoy it when it comes out.
DeleteI have successfully avoided all reports of it till now. It doesn't matter how or who as I already know how. I will like you again in a few days Gryphen lol . OT what is going on with Shailey Tripp.
DeleteThis is stupid. Archie gets shot and killed? Stupid.
ReplyDeleteBristol's blog pimps some other blog with the provocative question "Barack Obama Doesn't Care about Black People?
ReplyDeleteSorry but my dendrites start screaming in agony whenever I listen to or read something Brancy or Bristol says. They are too stupid to deserve my attention.
DeleteArchie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and Reggie. Yeah, I guess they are iconic. I'm sure I haven't bought or read an Archie comic since middle school in the 60s and yet I've never forgotten their names. Still have "Sugar Sugar" and "Jingle Jangle" in the record boxes somewhere too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how I feel about this. Why should any of The Archies have to die so Kevin can live in peace? Shall there be an offshoot series dealing with Kevin's survivor's guilt? Even without making political statements on gay acceptance and gun violence however, I don't mind the series ending. The characters have always felt the peers of baby boomers, and as we hit the sunset trail, I don't mind if they come with us.
I read recently that there were several different Archie series and that he would die in only one of them, Life With Archie.
ReplyDeleteFrom Wikipedia:
On April 9, 2014, Archie Comics announced that the adult Archie Andrews will be killed (the manner not yet specified) in the July 2014 issue (#36) of Life with Archie as he tries to save one of his friends in what will be the final issue of that title,[1] while the teenage Archie will continue in the other Archie comic series titles; on July 14, 2014, more details about Archie's death were released, saying that Archie would be killed taking a bullet meant for his gay friend Kevin Keller.[2]
Not to worry, Archie fans. "Life with Archie" represents an alternate universe for the character and his friends. So he's ONLY dying in that universe. He lives on in the regular series.
ReplyDeleteTY @ 4:16 AM- I was going to say the same thing. The author of this issue has only written 40 comics for Archie. This is a fantasy series and the comic book will not end because Archie is not really dead in the main comic strips. It sure put Archie back in the headlines though. Most kids have no idea who he is.
ReplyDeleteCannot help but wonder what those old, old comic books would bring their owners! Bet a pretty penny!
ReplyDeleteWell, well, welly!
ReplyDeleteAnother no shitter hits American pop culture.
Gays are human beings.
Superior human beings, I might add.
BTW, I always read Daredevil, Spiderman, etc.... Archie I never heard of until my freshman year in high school. The girl who sat next to me in chemistry class blurted out one day it was her favorite comic book. That girl was a straight A student, a babe, and one of the most popular girls in my school.
Of course, I started to read Archie comics. And, damn, why didn't Archie fall for Betty instead of Veronica?
That girl in my chemistry class is now an engineer and the mother of my children.
Sweet
Delete