So interesting to revisit Archie. When I was young they were only available to me on summer vacation in Canada. I loved getting new ones or second hand ones.
I never realized the pin up style until now. A lot of the plots ruffled my young feminist and 90s sensibilities. Especially Betty. It’s interesting to see their evolution.
You absolutely can write and finish your project. The world is full of 10 year overnight successes. I recently got surgery on my dominant hand so writing/drawing is at a standstill. But I sat at our kitchen counter channeled Scarlett O Hara and declared to myself, and the world, and to a slightly shocked hubby serving as witness that I would not give up on my dream of being a career writer ever again. That I was in it for the long haul.
Maybe you’re just on the other side of that valley 🩷 hang in there.
I love Archie too-specifically the fifties Archie comics that were part of the extensive collection of comics at my grandfather’s cabin. Once I year I got to dive in. I learned a lot about dialogue and humor from those strips that made its way into my work. In fact, a new project I’m working on will have a lot of Archie DNA in it.
And I’m feeling the exact same way you are about my work. So I have to say your work is amazing and I always like it when it shows up in my feed.
DNA is a great way to put it - Archie is definitely baked into me, the same way the Simpsons are. So much of my style and decision making is born from those formative years consuming so much of them haha
They are a little early on. I k ow that the sixties Archie are prime Archie. Sadly, they remain uncollected in a form that makes sense. The digests are fine, but I think they wander off a bit in quality. I didn’t need to see stories about Miss Grundy.
Ah! I used to read these all the time—my mom would get me one at the start of every grocery trip and I’d read it from cover to cover the whole time we were there (also, subsequently, keeping n me out of her hair). I recently went back and read the Archie Gets Married mini-series, which was interesting watching it cope with the modern era and quite nostalgic. I remember bonding with my step-grandmother over them, as she was a teen in the 50s. I also mainlined Riverdale which was so freaking dark (in the best of ways) and that sparked some revisiting thoughts, too.
The reason for Archie’s long term success is the magazines are placed where people see them. They never went exclusive to specialty hobby shops. That is the secret. Just put the thing where people go buy other things.
So interesting to revisit Archie. When I was young they were only available to me on summer vacation in Canada. I loved getting new ones or second hand ones.
I never realized the pin up style until now. A lot of the plots ruffled my young feminist and 90s sensibilities. Especially Betty. It’s interesting to see their evolution.
You absolutely can write and finish your project. The world is full of 10 year overnight successes. I recently got surgery on my dominant hand so writing/drawing is at a standstill. But I sat at our kitchen counter channeled Scarlett O Hara and declared to myself, and the world, and to a slightly shocked hubby serving as witness that I would not give up on my dream of being a career writer ever again. That I was in it for the long haul.
Maybe you’re just on the other side of that valley 🩷 hang in there.
Only available to you in Canada!? The All-American Archie Andrews? I thought he was all over the states!
Thanks so much for reading Rebecca! Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Thank you for sharing! It's so supportive to read about shared concerns and positive messages. I remember Archie comics and reading those!
Thanks for reading Marisa!
I love Archie too-specifically the fifties Archie comics that were part of the extensive collection of comics at my grandfather’s cabin. Once I year I got to dive in. I learned a lot about dialogue and humor from those strips that made its way into my work. In fact, a new project I’m working on will have a lot of Archie DNA in it.
And I’m feeling the exact same way you are about my work. So I have to say your work is amazing and I always like it when it shows up in my feed.
50s! Oh man those are probably fascinating.
DNA is a great way to put it - Archie is definitely baked into me, the same way the Simpsons are. So much of my style and decision making is born from those formative years consuming so much of them haha
Thanks so much for reading David!
They are a little early on. I k ow that the sixties Archie are prime Archie. Sadly, they remain uncollected in a form that makes sense. The digests are fine, but I think they wander off a bit in quality. I didn’t need to see stories about Miss Grundy.
I'm pushing 59, didn't start writing until a little over two years ago.
YOU ARE NEVER NEVER NEVER TOO old.
Keep writing. Keep drawing.
Many hugs.
Never too old!!!!!
Ah! I used to read these all the time—my mom would get me one at the start of every grocery trip and I’d read it from cover to cover the whole time we were there (also, subsequently, keeping n me out of her hair). I recently went back and read the Archie Gets Married mini-series, which was interesting watching it cope with the modern era and quite nostalgic. I remember bonding with my step-grandmother over them, as she was a teen in the 50s. I also mainlined Riverdale which was so freaking dark (in the best of ways) and that sparked some revisiting thoughts, too.
Riverdale was SO dark and unexpected and great! That's exactly what I'm talking about!
Reading it at the start of the grocery trip - your mom is a GENIUS.
It was! I’d keep my elbow crooked around the shopping cart handle and just blank out on comics until checkout 😅 better than time travel!
The reason for Archie’s long term success is the magazines are placed where people see them. They never went exclusive to specialty hobby shops. That is the secret. Just put the thing where people go buy other things.