I practically grew up on Archie comics and MAD magazines, so I feel great nostalagia for Archie and his gang.
But as a liberal-minded adult, I hate him. He's such a pathetic wimp that gets an instant boner when he's kissed on the cheeks by Betty or Veronica.
And don't get me started on my interpretations of the rest of his gang.
Yet, I still enjoy reading Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica, and a variety of other series. Ironic, isn't it? I guess sentiment gives way to current beliefs.
My dad has collected comics since the late sixties, mostly Archie, MAD, Cracked, horror comics, and a few superhero comics. Most of it were cartoon humor - so it explains my fascination with drawing cartoons.
In conclusion, I have to thank Archie and his gang for being an integral part of my childhood, yet as a liberal adult, I condemn his societal hypocrisy. His comics limit the use of the non-white characters (example: Chuck and Nancy; ) virtually no display of disabled individuals (so far I have seen NO comic story regarding Deafness at all. The best they could do was a few strips on wheelchair-bound people.)
And the recognition of minority lifestyles such as (gays, non-married couples, and so on,) has been portrayed in neither positive or negative light. It's as if Archie is stuck in la-la post WW2 world, ignorant of Jughead's private fantasies of Archie's stiff sausage up his toasted bun.
In other words, I bet you Archie's a fuckin' Republican. After all, he did not only easily escape the wrath - but also won support - of Joseph McCarthy during the massive comic-book witch hunt crusade of 1954. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
It's time that Jughead finally came out of the closet.