The End of Archie, Betty, and Veronica?

Archie, the red-headed step child of newspaper comics, is finally moving beyond his high school antics. For those of you who missed it, Archie married Veronica back in August 2009 (issue #600). Whether or not we liked this choice, we can agree that the gag-a-day newspaper strip finally embraced a storyline with permanent consequences.

But wait, what's this? In Archie #603, available next month (November), Archie will also be marrying Betty. No, he's not a polygamist. Archie is getting a chance at an "It's A Wonderful Life" storyline where he sees the eventualities created from both choices.

So maybe Archie isn't really changing yet. Interestingly enough, the NY Times reports that Jughead is the third most popular choice for Archie's permanent beau. We'll know that Archie is becoming a truly modern comic when this happens. Until then, I'm guessing we'll read the same old story for a long time to come.

Comics after newspapers

Ryan North makes a couple hopeful predictions about usage of the word "comics" in a post newspaper world.

http://qwantz.livejournal.com/107040.html

Give It Up Already!

I don't normally read the newspaper comics these days (I get my news, like I get my daily comics, online), but whenever I'm around physical newspapers I feel compelled (as if by demonic possession) to read each strip. While I always find myself saying, "Arlo and Janis... fantastic!"the act of reading Ernie Bushmiller and Mort Walker never fails to upset me. I mean, how do these people have jobs? How have they not been stoned to death in the streets?

That's why things like Marmaduke Explained and the Dysfunctional Family Circus delight me so. If the original strips are supposed to speak to the child in me, it's the puerile adolescent that responds. Of course, there's also the brilliant, subtler protests of works like 5-Card Nancy and Garfield Minus Garfield.