Cheryl is meaner than Veronica and not connected to the past relationships that the rest of the gang are. She can bring in a more independent world-view and some very funny situations.

Chuck is a struggling artist that is seeking to break into comics. It would be hard to write this series without getting too self-referential towards comics, but it would make for some great satire/homage pieces.

Dilton could become a Jonny Quest/Tom Swift type of character – using the power of intelligence and science to foil evil plots! I see it more as an educational and/or adventure series.

Reggie. He’s a no-brainer. There is so much that exists already with this character that a series just makes sense.

Josie – also a bit of a no-brainer. The adventures and misadventures of a famous band. Plus, Melody. Did I mention Melody? You could always have stories about Melody.

What appeals to anyone 9+? The stories are pure and simple. You can pick-up any Archie in any order without feeling you “missed” something or need to buy the “Encyclopedia of Archie” to understand it. They are starting to do more multi-part stories, but they are rare.

I would disagree regarding Midge. Granted, while not fleshed out as much as Veronica, Betty, or Big Ethel, Midge isn’t *just* Moose’s girlfriend. Note, for example, how many times she actively flirts and cozies up to Reggie Mantle. She _knows_ Moose is going to find out, and she _knows_ Reggie’s going to get a beating because of it– but she does it anyway. (I think they’ve done this less in the last few years– just as Jughead no longer “hates” women– but I remember it being especially prevalent previously.)

For me, that’s interesting. Morally reprehensible? Yes! But interesting.

More interesting than Nancy at any rate.

As Brian said, Nancy does get the shaft. Not only is she the token African-American female, she’s the token girlfriend to the token black male. Granted, Midge also doesn’t have much of a personality besides being Moose’s girlfriend either….

I’ve always thought they were HILARIOUS, and its not like maintaining continuity is really a concern within the Archie universe.

The appeal is that they’re solid comics. They’re funny, character-based, and they read quickly. The characters themselves are appealing and iconic, yet also somewhat particular and peculiar.

A key part of their appeal– and I don’t mean this as a knock in any way– is that they’re also disposable. Once you’ve read a particular Archie story, I find it doesn’t really hold up to re-reading: I already know the punchlines, the character moments, the surprises in store for me. Even coming back to a story months or years later, I find I remember the entire thing verbatim– probably a result of the tight yet casual plotting. There’s no subplots or intricate continuity here.

Since re-reading them doesn’t really hold up, the only “cure” for someone’s hankering for Archie comics is… more Archie comics. And that’s why– when I do buy comics– I tend to buy Archie. It’s like a heroin addiction. But, y’know. Funnier.

She needs her own title again.

Also, I think they should give that “Punisher” guy a series. He only appeared the once, but I think they could get something out of it.

Chuck has actually had a respectable amount of stories in books like Archie and Pals where they talk about his interest in art.

The character who REALLY gets the shaft is Nancy, Chuck’s token black girlfriend.

Dilton, on the other hand, really only works best as a way to get other stories started. Just as I think Gyro Gearloose worked best when he was supporting/prompting the antics of others, I think Dilton works best as a supporting cast character.

Personally? Though I know it will never happen– I’d love to see Ethel in her own title. She’s got two great things going for her– two sources of humour that will never run dry. One, she’s completely and totally obsessed with Jughead and will go to any lengths to try and snag that man. Obsession, especially one that drives a character to ridiculous behaviours, is a comedy gold-mine.

Secondly– and this is the thing I love about Ethel– she is completely and totally herself. I still have (and cherish) a photocopy of an old pin-up image from the sixties or seventies, which shows Ethel in an overalls bathing suit. “I don’t know why the boys are always after Veronica– she has an old-fashioned bathing suit!” she decries.

That’s Ethel. A complete and total original. She’s not concerned with fitting in– she’s concerned with being herself. In many ways, she’s very similar to Jughead– which is probably why there are so many sparks.

It’d be possible, I think, to maintain Ethel’s weirdness, individuality, and obsession– qualities which, in the recent Archie comics I’ve read, have been seriously dilluted– but to be laughing with her, instead of– as was often the case in the past– making the joke at her expense.