This week, Archie Andrews made headlines when he arrived at Comic Con in a cool new outfit. The 75-year-old comic book character is reimagined in “Archie #1,” a new series that brings Riverdale into the 21st century with the help of Converse sneakers and smartphones. The makeover is courtesy of Eisner award-winning writer Mark Waid and artist Fiona Staples.
Archie’s signature red hair is now styled kind of like the Biebs’ and his hippie flares have been replaced by hipster skinny jeans, but the trials and tribulations of teenagerdom have mostly stayed the same. Issue #1 closes with the “atomic breakup” of Archie and Betty (who now wears a crop top and boyfriend jeans).
“The most aggressive attempt to cater to a younger audience comes at the very end of the issue,” according to the A.V. Club, when Archie asks readers for girl advice via Twitter using the hashtag #lipstickincident. Its success has been limited, used only 200 times since the issue’s release on July 8, according to data from Topsy.
But while the hashtag isn’t garnering much advice, it’s accompanying plenty of praise.
Well, ARCHIE #1 is perfect. #lipstickincident @ArchieComics
— Joey Esposito (@joeyesposito) July 9, 2015
Archie #1 has got me hooked! I need #2 like now! Thanks @ArchieComics for the wonderful re-intro to Riverdale! Also, #lipstickincident
— Christian (@ManOfArrows) July 10, 2015
@ArchieComics @MarkWaid @fionastaples just put out one of the best first issues I’ve ever read. Hands down! #lipstickincident
— Sal Brucculeri (@SalveyB) July 10, 2015
Did you get your Archie #1 yet?? GET ON THIS!! #lipstickincident https://t.co/OeEnHT4f7e
— The Comic Book Shop (@ComicBookShopDE) July 9, 2015
Archie No. 1 was really good. Too early to call it best YA comic on the shelf? Don’t think so. @ArchieComics #lipstickincident
— Brandon (@level250geek) July 10, 2015
More in Marketing
Cannes Briefing: As the line between brand and studio blurs, creators hold the pen
At Cannes the ad industry comes to terms with its entertainment ambitions.
Digiday Podcast at Cannes: From center stage to closed doors, inside X’s quiet Cannes strategy
Once a Cannes hotspot, Twitter Beach is no more. In this episode, we explore X’s quiet retreat from the Croisette—and why no one’s talking about the TikTok ban either.
Cannes Briefing: The Croisette class of the outpaced
While people are here to celebrate the work, they’re also here to figure out what’s actually working.