‘the Art Of Archie Comics’

[RikOffenberger]

from the New York Times
Arts Section,

‘THE ART OF ARCHIE COMICS’



This is proving to be a banner year for Archie Andrews, the redhead from Riverdale. In May it was announced he would marry longtime love interest Veronica Lodge. That was followed in October with the twist that he would marry the girl next door, Betty Cooper. (Don’t worry. He’s not a bigamist. It was all part of a possible alternative-futures story line concocted to commemorate the August publication of Archie No. 600.) Now Archie, who first appeared in December 1941, is being honored in an exhibition of artwork, vintage house ads, toys and more at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. Included is “Smack!” (right), by Harry Lucey, from the late 1950s.

One of the best discoveries is a 13-page story featuring Andy Andrews, Archie’s cousin, that never saw the light of day. “It was in an old art file that we had in the warehouse,” said Victor Gorelick, the co-president and editor in chief of Archie Comic Publications. “It was still in the original wrapping from some 50 years ago.” Mr. Gorelick, who began working for the company in 1958, said the story was written and drawn before his arrival. The plot was described as a cold-war thriller. Another highlight is a reproduction of the cover of Archie No. 1 by Dan DeCarlo. The cover was drawn by Bob Montana, who developed the initial look of the characters. Mr. DeCarlo, the artist who modernized Archie and the gang in the late 1950s and early ’60s, later redrew the cover as a giveaway poster.

(Through Feb. 28, Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, 594 Broadway, Suite 401, between Houston and Prince Streets, SoHo, 212-254-3511, moccany.org; admission, $5; free for children 12 and younger.) GEORGE GENE GUSTINES