# Archie is going to die! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170 "2014-07-15T16:06:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/1 "2014-07-15T16:06:55Z")
It’s true! Our local newspaper carried a squib about a story in a “Life with Archie” comic about Archie taking a bullet for Kevin Keller, the recently introduced gay character. Any comments? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/2 "2014-07-15T16:16:03Z")
[Previous thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=720531) I haven’t read Archie comics in years, if ever. I think I read a few in like my old barber’s shop growing up. But anything that lets me post [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBojt6fDVvw) clip again! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/3 "2014-07-15T16:21:32Z")
It’s two alternate universe stories they are currently running, one in which they have him married to Veronica and another in which they have him married to Betty. In this final story both stories take place at a political rally for Kevin Keller, a recently introduced gay character who in these alternate universes becomes a U.S. Senator. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/4 "2014-07-15T17:05:04Z")
Shouldn’t that be “Life Without Archie”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/5 "2014-07-15T17:10:59Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > It’s true! Our local newspaper carried a squib about a story in a “Life with Archie” comic about Archie taking a bullet for Kevin Keller, the recently introduced gay character. Any comments? On the plus side, this means Betty will be available. ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/6 "2014-07-15T17:16:12Z")
Zombie Archie? ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/7 "2014-07-15T18:38:31Z")
Two threads and not a single [Hooper X](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7jbDprab-4) reference? ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/8 "2014-07-15T18:49:38Z")
> [@Vita\_Beata](#): > > Zombie Archie? They are actually already doing something similar to that. Except Jughead is the “king zombie.” [Afterlife with Archie](http://www.afterlifewitharchie.com). ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/9 "2014-07-15T19:07:37Z")
> [@Calatin](#): > > They are actually already doing something similar to that. Except Jughead is the “king zombie.” > > [Afterlife with Archie](http://www.afterlifewitharchie.com). Which, by the way, is _really_ good. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/10 "2014-07-15T19:17:05Z")
And their upcoming _Sabrina_ series is going to be even better, from what I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/11 "2014-07-15T20:03:24Z")
> [@Calatin](#): > > They are actually already doing something similar to that. Except Jughead is the “king zombie.” > > [Afterlife with Archie](http://www.afterlifewitharchie.com). The King of Queen Archie’s world? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/12 "2014-07-15T21:44:07Z")
Hijack- I haven’t seen Archie comics since I was a kid, and even then, I never bought them- I just saw hem lying around doctor or dentist offices. I suppose I’ve seen Archie compilation books at supermarket checkout counters, but otherwise… I hadn’t seen or heard anything of Archie in more than 30 years. Obviously, they’ve been TRYING to reinvent themselves and have been trying to get publicity by creating some controversial storylines. But my basic question is: is anybody still reading "Archie’? Who? How many? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/13 "2014-07-15T22:31:30Z")
It’s a private company, but in 2010 they expanded their book publishing wing, partnering with Random House. Best of Archie 1 and Best of Archie 2 had combined sales of 300,000 copies. Hardly astronomical, but it reflects solid branding. > **[Archie Comics Grows Book Side](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/57204-archie-comics-grows-book-side.html)** > > Like most comics publishers, Archie Comics, home to America’s favorite fictional redheaded teenager, has historically focused its distribution on newsstand sales and the comics specialty market. They currently release over 40 titles. ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/14 "2014-07-15T22:52:05Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > The King of Queen Archie’s world? I think Ethel is queen, actually. And leave it to Reggie to bring about the zombie apocalypse. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/15 "2014-07-15T23:33:51Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Obviously, they’ve been TRYING to reinvent themselves and have been trying to get publicity by creating some controversial storylines. But my basic question is: is anybody still reading "Archie’? Who? How many? Zach from the Big Bang Theory still reads it… _Scene: The comic book store._ Zack: Wow, this place is awesome. Where do they keep the Archies? Sheldon: In the bedrooms of ten-year-old girls, where they belong. Zack: Oh, no, you’re thinking old-school Archie. It’s much more sophisticated now. Like, there’s two universes, and Archie’s married to Betty in one and Veronica in the other. Midge is even breaking up with Moose. Raj: No. Zack: About time, right? _Series 4 Episode 11 – The Justice League Recombination_ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archie-is-going-to-die/693170/16 "2014-07-15T23:40:44Z")
He’s just unconscious - the bullet grazed his skull. Seriously, the “grazed his skull” bit used to be in every other Archie and Little Archie adventure story.