Superman Through the Ages! Forum

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=94511

http://www2.archiecomics.com/index.html

the art looks fair enough, until you realize what it is suppose to be!

This reminds of that Bugs Bunny nonsense.

I was never a fan, so it's not that important for me, but I get the feeling that this test will not last very long as people stop buying the books.

It's an intriguing experiment. I never thought the "style" as such was a big selling point for Archie anyway.

Anyway, this doesn't change the immutable fact that real men prefer Veronica.  ;)

I BEG TO DIFFER!!

Betty's more down to earth..

Anyway, BIG MISTAKE!  Archie needs that tic tac toe haircut.  This isn't Archie and the gang... it's blasphemy!

Where's Captain Pureheart when you need him?

Hmmm, now B & V look like DIFFERENT GIRLS, rather than exactly the same but with different hair-color.

Yes, but neither one is attractive.

The key to going "realistic" is hiring an artist who can draw.   Given the dearth of those (as evidenced by this image), this is not such a brilliant plan.  Archie is the last holdover of a tradition where a stable of artists followed a "house style" closely, like Fawcett artists followed Beck's Captain Marvel model in the old days.  And it's much easier for multiple artists to stick to a "look" that's highly stylized than one that's "realistic".  Not to take anything away from the late Dan De Carlo, but I think it'd be easier to ape his style than, say, that of Neal Adams or Joe Kubert.

It's funny that even as superhero artists are increasingly copping out of learning anatomy by going all "cartoony," here's a strip that's been cartoony for 60 years deciding to get more "realistic."

 

I gotta agree about Veronica. But I've always been partial to dark haired women. Growing up it was Lois, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, and Isis. Now am I grown up and engaged to a girl with long dark hair.  ;)

On the style change for Archie. I enjoy realistic artstyles and cartoony artstyles and manga/anime. What turns me off is heavily shadowed, really jagged shaped and scratchy artstyles along the lines of a Lenil Yu. (Which I still say that even more than DC's non-commitment, hurt BR's sales.)

For Archie I think this style may be almost too realistic. I think they needed more of a middle ground. Someone like a Mike Weringo. Not that I would Ringo to stop drawing superhero stuff.

Ugly and wrong-headed.  Not against change but maybe more manga was the way to go?  Or continue with de-evolution of the DeCarlo style --still clunky and dated, but less obviously.  Hard to say what Archie should do --amazing that they still exist.

(In comics, I mainly "collect" 2 things: Silver and Bronze Age Superman Family and Silver and Bronze Age Archie comics --not sure which are better.)

"amazing that they still exist"

Can most of it be attributed to Supermarket checkout "Digest" sales?

Somehow, I can't help thinking they both have YouTube accounts and like to film themselves lip-synching to Britney Spears songs.

Maybe this article from The Onion IS true:

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/new_archie_graphic_novel

There are four pages of preview art online:

http://www.archiecomics.com/news/firstlook/bvdd151/firstlook.htm


Based on the inside artwork (which is very different from the cover) - I'd pick Betty in a heartbeat.  I think the new style is very fun and friendly - I like it.

Archie Comics has responded to the hoopla:

http://www2.archiecomics.com/blogs/management/

The first installment finally hit the stands.

Review, sample pages, and comments:

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/05/15/betty-and-veronica-double-digest-151-review/

Archie Comics has also updated their comment page:

http://www2.archiecomics.com/blogs/management/

I read the story.  I liked the "new look" even though the artwork could have been better - it just wasn't well done.  Sort of like a poor artist drawing from good model sheets.

Saw it at the supermarket but was in a hurry.  I only bought some spaghetti sauce and a chocolate bar.

You simply must have me over for dinner one day.

It's a date!  You bring the beers!

Aah, chocolate, spaghetti sauce and beer! We'll eat like kings!

to paraphrase reese's peanut butter cups: 3 great tastes that go great together!