First it was the Archie “wedding what if” to Betty or Veronica that got people talking. Now it’s an interracial romance brewing between Riverdale’s favorite super, super senior and Val (from Josie and the Pussycats) that’s stirring up controversy. This new, steamy story arc starts with Archie issue #608.
Scoured the net for any overt nerd bigotry and found nothing. HOWEVER, I did find plenty of posts that are prime examples of what I like to call – Bizarro Racism. The term is based on Bizarro Superman – A semi-evil super-freak that comes from Bizarro world. That’s the place where everything is mirror opposite of our earth. Bad is good, chocolate is vanilla…and you get the picture. If not, Seinfeld episode 137 sums it up way better.
Now here is my sample of a Bizarro Racist statement …
We’ve elected an African American president, and yet people are still shocked when they see an interracial kiss on a comic book cover. It’s just sad to think the good people at Archie comics will have to endure any bigot hate mail because of this. I applaud them for having the courage of their convictions.
Ugh! Makes me sick to my stomach just reading it. Essentially it’s taking a stand on something that shouldn’t need defending. Not in this day and age. It should simply be treated as just another cover. No soapbox needed. And that my friends is Bizarro Racism. Oh and besides, everyone knows Klan Grand Wizards don’t even read Archie. They love Marmaduke, Apartment 3G and Ninja Turtles.
FYI…right now Archie issue #608 is selling on ebay for 10 bucks. Better snag your copy now before all the Bizarro racists do.
You can cut the sexual tension with a knife in these panels.
I never knew Archie comic were so racy (ignore the pun)
ReplyDeletehttp://thisfactmightsaveyourbacon.blogspot.com/
I agree it should really not be that big of a deal! The so called controversy is about to get even worse because Archie comics just announced plans to add Gay characters.
ReplyDeleteOhno! what is the world coming to?! *sarcasm*
Bizzarro is right. Look up and look around people! It's 2010.
ReplyDeleteI think it's good that Archie is meeting new people. The three way relationship he's been in for decades has gotten stale.
ReplyDeleteThe bigger issue should be the shoddy quality of illustrations now in Archie comics.
ReplyDeleteDan DeCarlo made the crappiest of stories look gooooood.
When I look at these illustrations I think about one thing (and it has nothing to do with race): Who packed those two machetes into that box in the first panel?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, putting your machetes in the same box as your books is just weird (unless the books are about machetes, I guess) and second of all, they're too long and clearly don't fit into that box.
Wait a minute....you mean Archie comics are still around?!!! I've been missing them all these years?!!
ReplyDeleteAt his age, you'd think he would be in an established relationship by now.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful music, huh? That's what the kids are calling it?
ReplyDeleteI always thought Archie was gay! Seriously, didn't you feel the sexual tension between him and Jughead? To quote Seinfeld, "not that there's anything wrong with that!"
ReplyDeleteThey cut it out but in the last strip of Archie, he has a giant hard-on.
ReplyDeleteI love Seinfeld and the Bizzaro world scene is one of the best.
ReplyDeleteThere's also an interracial couple episode of Seinfeld, another classic.
Today I've read a post about discrimination against Lane Bryant and now this.
The world still has a lot of problems.
And now there's news of a gay character in the next Archie comic....
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