IF “ARCHIE” doesn’t make you feel nostalgic, I don’t know what will. Back in the 1990s, it was a favorite of kids and adults, along with “W.I.T.C.H.,” “The Amazing SpiderMan” and our very own “Culture Crash.”
Growing up, I thought there was no better present to receive than a copy of “Archie Digest.” I remember tugging at my mom’s arm and pointing to the comic book each time I saw it in a bookstore.
I like reading superhero comics just as much as the next guy, but no character came close to piquing my interest than this cool redhead from Riverdale High.
Typical teen
What I like about Archie Andrews is that he’s a typical American teenager trying to get through high school the best way he can. He’s very awkward, which makes him a regular target of Riverdale High School’s principal (and Veronica’s dad) Hiram Lodge.
Archie also has a car that’s on the verge of falling apart, but he can’t get a decent part-time job to earn money for its repair.
He’s good with music but is average academically. This makes him very relatable, which is why I think he remains appealing even to kids today.
Fans know the story: Archie is in a love triangle with the blonde Betty Cooper and raven-haired Veronica Lodge.
I can’t blame our freckle-faced hero for not knowing who to commit to. Betty is a nice and pretty girlnextdoor who’s good with cars, plays video games and loves animals, while Veronica is a gorgeous, fashionable daughter of a millionaire.
Rounding up the gang is Archie’s best friend, Jughead Jones, who never says never to burgers; and frenemy Reggie Mantle, a vain fellow who likes to be ahead of the latest trends.
Rebooted
If you’ve surfed the Internet long enough, you might have noticed that “Archie” comics has been rebooted; it’s now written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Fiona Staples.
Like the proverbial kid in a candy store, I couldn’t resist buying the latest issues to see what the hype is all about.
It turns out that this reimagined version of the classic comics is so great I decided to draw my own version of the gang!
Using watercolor and gouache, I painted fan art of the new Archie, and incorporated digital halftones and fonts for the background.
Whether you’re a loyal follower of the old-school Archie or a fan of the new version, you can never get enough of this timeless teenage icon.
Visit us on Instagram InquirerToBeYou; Facebook: 2bU; e-mail [email protected]
