In this crazy world we live in everything changes. We get new car designs, we see our computers do crazy new things, we see some total moron shut down 2D animation because he thinks 3D animation has taken over, and we see old website’s get new make-over designs every couple of years. Everything in the world changes, and so does the comic book industry. Old titles die, new titles are born, and the industry as a whole changes. After all, now we are seeing more manga being created then American comics, we see Marvel experimenting with digital comics, and we see new studios like Femme Fatale Studios showing up to give the comic world new titles to read. Things change, and they sometimes change for the better, and sometimes they change for the worst. But what happens when a company doesn’t change at all? Do people laugh at that company? Do people forget about that company? Or is that company so good that change isn’t necessary? That’s a tricky question to answer, and I don’t intend to try and answer that question here.

So what is this about then? This is about Archie Comics. Now you may be thinking to yourself “Archie Comics? What is it that they do that makes them worth talking about?!” Well...nothing, to tell you the truth. They have done nothing worth talking about for years, and that’s problem. Archie Comics is looked at as a big joke in the comic book industry, and it’s not hard to see why. This company used to be at the top of their game, selling a variety of different series to kids and families of all ages. They had their Archie characters, they were producing comics for hit children shows like “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Wild West C.O.W.: Boys of Moo Mesa” (Anyone out there remember THAT show), and they even had their own superhero’s like The Shield to compete with DC Comics and Marvel! Archie Comics used to have their own little world for kids, and they just produced original stuff for kids, and they made original comics off huge children’s franchises. However that is no longer the case these days.

These days, gone are all the superhero’s they used to draw (Went to superhero heaven I suppose). Gone are the TMNT and other franchises they used to make comics for, buried with all those other children shows that only live for so long. And gone are the risks that Archie used to take in the industry. Archie may have never been considered one of the most mature comic book companies in the industry, heck, they might be the only company out there that still goes by the rules of the outdated “Comics Code of Authority” that many comic book publishers have ditched a long time ago (And for good reason too), but they have always had their place in the hearts of many fans. Back in 1993 Archie made a mini-series to help promote a new game called “Sonic The Hedgehog,” which was coming from a new game company called Sega. Back then making this title was actually considered to be a pretty risky move believe it or not.

The company Sega had never created much of anything before, much less a hit franchise. Sonic was one of the biggest unknowns out there, and many people thought Archie was doing nothing but throwing away money on a mini-series that was sure to bomb (If something didn’t have even a remote chance of success, it was considered wasted money to even test it back then). However that title was successful enough that to this day the Sonic comic is Archie’s best selling title, it has passed 125 issue’s, and has a legion of loyal fans. That may not seem like much to you guys, but it’s things like this that shape your legacy. Archie used to take risks like this, testing the market for the next big title, and always willing to try something new. However these days they don’t do much risk taking. In fact, they don’t make much of anything at all.

Fast forward to today, Sonic is still there best selling title...however it’s also the only REAL comic Archie is making today! If you go to Archie’s website you will notice that they have about 7 different Archie comics, a comic for all his friends, and all these Archie digests that are about...you guessed it: Archie and his friends! Heck, if you look at their whole list of titles, Sonic and Sabrina The Teenage Witch are the only non-Archie series they have. I find that to be a little...sad. Archie Comics is at a point in their life when they are stuck doing the same old dance they’ve been doing for years. The last truly original thing they created was “Nights Into Dreams,” a comic adaptation of a game that was on the Sega Saturn. The series lasted for six issue’s. That was back in 1998, and they haven’t made anything new since. Can you believe it? Six whole years! And not ONE new creation?! No wonder Archie is considered the joke of the industry out there, they do nothing but sit on their lazy butts and remake the same old stuff they’ve been making since the 50's.

I hate to be all hard on you guys, but the industry is moving forward while you’re standing still. I’m not going to pat you guys on the back for even the slightest step you take forward, because quite frankly the steps feel rather phoney, and when I say phoney I mean cheap. For example, Archie decided that they would start releasing graphic novels of many of their titles, with more to come. Well you released “Sonic The Hedgehog: Beginnings,” “The Shield,” and “The Mighty Crusaders” (Among the titles), but nothing else. And from the looks of things you don’t seem to plan to release any more books in the near future. Also you announced that at least one title would go through a change. You announced that the “Sabrina The Teenage Witch” series would get a manga make over, to copy - excuse me - mimic the Japanese manga style! And that’s really all they’ve done recently (And when I say recently, I’m talking about the past several YEARS). No new series, no cutting back on unnecessary clones of the Archie and his friends, just a couple of graphic novel collections and a new art style for an already under selling series. Big whoop-de-do! While everyone else is creating something new, or at least trying to put new spins on some of their older styles (AKA, “Ultimate Spider-Man”), you’re idea of trying something new is make one of your under-selling titles have a new art style.

This, above all else, proves that Archie doesn’t know a thing about the comic book industry anymore. So my question is when is Archie going to realize that they are in serious trouble and change? Once Sonic ends its run what will they have that people will want to buy? Despite the fact that there are about 23 different comics and digests on Archie and his friends, no one really cares about him anymore (He’s been run into the ground, much like a certain game show I used to watch a lot). It’s time for a change. If Archie plans to stay in this competitive business they need a more solid line up, a better plan for the future, and they need to do better then style their comics after manga (News flash: If people want to read comics that look like manga, they’ll buy manga). Unless Archie changes their practices in the near future I fear they will not last. And that’s a shame because I really do enjoy reading the newest issue of Sonic every month.

I don't think that (style) is going to help much.

- -Kevin T. Rodriguez- -