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dantastic's review
3.0
Twelve-Cent Archie is an examination of Archie comics published in the 1960s, when the cover price was twelve cents.
I'm an Archie guy from way back and threw this on my Christmas list because I'm allegedly hard to buy for.
Divided into 100 short chapters, Bart Beaty examines every aspect of Archie comics during the twelve cent era. Almost every topic imaginable is covered, from every girl in Riverdale being drawn the same apart from their hair, except for Big Ethel, to various plot conventions, to Hiram Lodge being called Albert or JP in early appearances.
The plot devices and secondary characters common to a lot of Archie stories are dissected, put under the microscope, and have the fun sucked right out of them in some cases. The lack of continuity is discussed, noting exceptions like Jingles and Archie's black book. The super hero tales are covered, as well as the Man from RIVERDALE.
This is a pretty cool examination of Archie comics. My one gripe is that Bart Beaty takes every opportunity to throw sideways jabs at Dan DeCarlo and tout Harry Lucey as the best Archie artist of the time period, putting DeCarlo third after Samm Schwatz and making sure everyone knows it.
Apart from the blatant anti-DeCarlo bias, Twelve Cent Archie is a good examination of Archie comics during the 1960s. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Yeah, deducting that half star was for Dan DeCarlo.
I'm an Archie guy from way back and threw this on my Christmas list because I'm allegedly hard to buy for.
Divided into 100 short chapters, Bart Beaty examines every aspect of Archie comics during the twelve cent era. Almost every topic imaginable is covered, from every girl in Riverdale being drawn the same apart from their hair, except for Big Ethel, to various plot conventions, to Hiram Lodge being called Albert or JP in early appearances.
The plot devices and secondary characters common to a lot of Archie stories are dissected, put under the microscope, and have the fun sucked right out of them in some cases. The lack of continuity is discussed, noting exceptions like Jingles and Archie's black book. The super hero tales are covered, as well as the Man from RIVERDALE.
This is a pretty cool examination of Archie comics. My one gripe is that Bart Beaty takes every opportunity to throw sideways jabs at Dan DeCarlo and tout Harry Lucey as the best Archie artist of the time period, putting DeCarlo third after Samm Schwatz and making sure everyone knows it.
Apart from the blatant anti-DeCarlo bias, Twelve Cent Archie is a good examination of Archie comics during the 1960s. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Yeah, deducting that half star was for Dan DeCarlo.
kat2112's review
4.0
An exhaustive thesis on a specific era in Archie history, the 12-cent period of the 1960s. Beaty dissects the denizens of Riverdale and all the trappings that made Archie / Pep / Laugh, etc. what they were - formulaic stories (sometimes with plots) drawn as diversions for a young readership. You'll learn more Archie and the gang than ever realized and may come away realizing things you hadn't before - e.g. the progression of Archie comics through a changing decade, constant repetition of gags/tropes, etc.
Like the author, I grew up on comics like Archie, Richie Rich, and the like. I enjoyed reading about the comics from a scholarly perspective, particularly now with the recent attempts to reboot the brand.
Like the author, I grew up on comics like Archie, Richie Rich, and the like. I enjoyed reading about the comics from a scholarly perspective, particularly now with the recent attempts to reboot the brand.