"How Archie Became the Most Enlightened Publisher in Comics" Topic

"You could almost feel the disbelief when Archie Comics announced that Girls creator Lena Dunham will write a four-issue storyline next year. Sure, people were excited by a new Dunham project, but most reactions went something like this: "Wait. Archie Comics? Like, Jughead and Betty and Veronica? They still make those?"

Yes, they do. In fact, the characters celebrate their 75th anniversary in 2016. But you should set aside whatever preconception you might have about the fine people of Riverdale—Archie and his pals, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, or even Josie and the Pussycats, because Archie Comics has in recent years quietly become one of the most progressive publishers in the comic book industry…"
Full article here.
link

Amicalement
Armand

I thought I remember reading somewhere that the guy behind the original comics was also a big proponent of the Comics Code? If so that's a big turnaround.

The Comics Code was a brilliant piece of self-policing that kept the government out of their business and allowed publishers time influence cultural values and get their message out. The founders didn't really believe that comics should be censored, but they did believe that if they didn't internally censor, it would happen externally. Which would be horrible.

Nice article, BTW.

The Comics Code was pretty extreme… it didn't allow for anything but the most G-Rated fare… and had some sexist/racist agendas as well. Goldwater, the guy behind Archie, WAS one of the people pushing for it… a bit of a one-man Legion of Decency. He at least was a proponent of censorship.

Archie Comics were also one of the last lines to drop the code… so that's why I think it's interesting they've gone towards being a lot more accepting of diversity lately.

Glad you enjoyed it my friend etotheipi!

Amicalement
Armand