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KC bucking the pattern as well as going with cheese for a hat.
a KC COLUMN by KC Carlson
It’s weird to believe that I’ve been doing these columns for Westfield Comics for close to 10 years now. The only reason I’m bringing this up is that I’ve decided to compose about Archie Comics’ new Josie as well as the Pussycats series, as well as rather frankly, I couldn’t keep in mind exactly how much I’ve written about the series in the past. utilizing Johanna’s handy-dandy index of my columns at the Comics worth reading site, I found that I’ve only substantially written about it when — particularly to discuss the contributions of the strip provided by Josie DeCarlo (wife of artist as well as co-creator of Josie, Dan DeCarlo) at the time of her passing in 2012. (Dan passed away in 2001.)
Josie as well as the Pussycats #1 Audrey Mok cover
I have a predilection for championing comics’ “cult” characters over the obvious stars. I prefer legion of Super-Heroes to Superman as well as Josie as well as the Pussycats (first introduced as just “Josie” or “She’s Josie” in 1963) over quite much all the other Archie titles (except for perhaps traditional bit Archie). I like finest the older (1960s) Dan DeCarlo-drawn series, however this new series has genuine promise, presuming it calms down a bit. This new Josie as well as the Pussycats series is by Marguerite Bennett, Cameron Deordio, as well as Audrey Mok. Those very first two are the writers as well as the latter, the artist. Also, if it’s not clear, the very first as well as last are women, as well as the one in the middle is a guy. After years of comics made by as well as for only men, I’m excited to see a higher variety of creators working these days.
“EAST, WEST, NORTH, OR SOUTH, GUARANTEED TO rock THE HOUSE”
Josie as well as the Pussycats #1 Derek appeal cover
Josie as well as the Pussycats isn’t your usual Archie comic book. Panel three of the very first problem is captioned “Win Some, Booze Some. Riverdale” as we see Josie bombing on stage of a regional dive bar (named Win Some, Booze Some). Although that’s an unusual setting for an Archie comic, it makes sense. In the genuine world, music — the kind that the proto-Pussycats aspire to — largely takes location in dive bars — at least up until you’re successful.
The feisty bartender, named Pepper, ejects the only paying client in the bar for not paying interest to Josie on stage. longtime Archie fans understand Pepper as Josie’s feistiest good friend from the early days of the Josie comic book, before she vanishes without explanation when the band idea takes over the book in the late 1960s. There are a number of things going on in this scene that have never taken location in a traditional Archie comic book — like it’s set in a bar! as well as the characters are really rude to every other.
Josie as well as the Pussycats #1 Veronica Fish cover
This title is likewise a bit more mature than the traditional Archie comics of the past. It’s not obviously mentioned, however right here the Josie characters are a few years older than the concurrent high institution Archie characters. There are hints throughout the issue: Josie as well as Melody are roommates. most of the characters have tasks (or aspire to have them). Their parents are not shown. They are enabled to work in dive bars. nobody talks about school. In problem #2, they decrease whatever they’re doing to go “on tour”. They are young adults, out on their own.
It likewise should be noted that, like the entire new Archie comics line, this when traditional comic for kids is now rated teen — mainly for dialogue, double entendres, as well as such. It’s not particularly harsh, however if you’re older as well as keep in mind reading the Archie line as a kid, it’s an preliminary shock to hear more mature dialogue coming from these iconic characters. Again, since the Josie cast is a number of years older than the other Archie characters, a few of their dialogue as well as expressions are somewhat more mature than you may be expecting.
FRIENDS as well as FRENEMIES
Josie as well as the Pussycats #2 Chrissie Zullo cover
Also right here is the debut of Josie frenemy Alexandra Cabot, one of the Riverdale rich elite. She appears in a number of scenes in the very first issue, interacting with many of the primary characters, as we watch her jealousy of Josie slowly develop as she attempts to twist characters to find to her method of thinking. It will be fascinating to see exactly how she’ll be utilized in the future, as the series so far seems to be headed beyond Riverdale into expert show biz. It stays to be seen exactly how some supporting characters will adapt to that change.
Of course, Melody as well as Valerie are introduced. Melody is still as sweetly ditzy as previous, as well as now she’s Josie’s roommate. Melody is even more consumed with little animals than she utilized to be, particularly abandoned ones, which leads us to satisfying Valerie, who just occurs to be working at the Riverdale animal Shelter. After Melody triggers an incident by falling in like with every animal in the place, only Valerie can calm the excited animals by singing to them. Her remarkable voice means an offer to ended up being a Pussycat is prolonged as well as accepted — leaving the three just six hours for some serious woodshedding before a charity show in the park.
PUSSYCAT CONCERT
Josie as well as the Pussycats #1 Colleen Coover cover
The show doesn’t go that well, with great deals of improvised (and nonsensical) lyrics as well as (visually hinted) bum notes. The crowd is restless as well as rude as well as includes Alexandra, who seems to be the only person present to be influenced by the band. Unfortunately, she’s influenced to dislike them.
What keeps Alexandra fascinating as a character (beyond what would otherwise be the one-note rival role) is exactly how deviously clever she is with her manipulations. Both Melody as well as Valerie are influenced to turn on Josie within a few minutes of speaking with Alexandra, who increases doubts about the band in them both. Thankfully, the proto-Pussycats are all rational people, able to work out their differences before their second set — which, as we’ve seen in all excellent musical stories, is SO totally remarkable that not only is the crowd totally blown-away, the band is invited to satisfy a “most renowned as well as skilled music producer — Mr. Alan M.”
Long-time Josie visitors understand Alan M. (the M. means Mayberry — or at least it did…) as the sweetly dimwitted, seemingly super-strong, guitar-playing hunk who ended up being the road manager for the Pussycats, in addition to the third part of the charming triangle which included both Josie as well as Alexandra. In this new series, it seems like he’s going to be nothing like his previous incarnation (excepting perhaps the hunk bit). So far, he’s the somewhat mysterious music executive who directs the musical future of the Pussycats. But…
ISSUE #2 PREVIEWED
Josie as well as the Pussycats #2 Audrey Mok cover
…We’re not going to discover that right away, since Alan M. does not appear in Josie as well as the Pussycats #2. (Available TODAY!) Sure, he’s constantly mentioned behind the scenes in this new issue, however the bulk of #2 features the Pussycats on Tour!
It’s not a glitzy superstar jet tour just yet. however they have a extremely nice bus (which seems designed to have all three women sleeping in one significant high-end bed), which they will most likely need, since the tour seems to include every dump around where the bar fights draw more rate of interest than the band.
However, the plot turns totally nonsensical in a matter of pages. The Pussycats have “accidentally” (thinking they are signing autographs) signed a contract indenturing them to play perpetually in a dive bar in the middle of nowhere. The resulting series of events includes hoodlums, a drag race, “comic book science”, as well as a weird desert vision.
My head was spinning. I’m sure pleased there’s a Frank Doyle/Dan DeCarlo Josie reprint in the back which features the old lunkhead Alan M. as well as crazy-obnoxious Alex Cabot, who hasn’t yet appeared in the book, however will most likely be reinvented in a method that’s a surprise to old fans when he does.
CAT CALLBACKS
Josie as well as the Pussycats #2 Allison Sohn cover
I want to such as this book a lot, however I’m discovering the stories so far a bit as well much around the place. many of the circumstances resolve because of the “because I stated so” composing rule rather than with character. The origin problem (#1) had things occur precisely when they needed to happen, just since it was trying to get to where the characters needed to be. In other words, we understood we were going to get a trio of women with a feline style in a band, as well as the writers seemed to have worked back from there in as well bit area to make the sequence of events plausible.
I likewise (and this is surprising for me to say) believed there was as well much “happy ending” for a very first issue. Luckily, a bit of truth set in (eventually) in problem #2. It’s much more fascinating watching characters struggle for their successes, rather than having things served as much as them on silver platters.
Since this is a reboot of an existing residential property (a few of them, if you count the comic books, cartoons, movie, as well as even the music), we already quite much understand where whatever is generally going. What will make or break this series is exactly how well the struggle for success is depicted — for much better or for worse — as well as exactly how the characters will increase as much as climb that ladder. I see sufficient great stuff right here on which to build, however I’m reserving judgment on exactly how well the authors handle it as well as whether I will agree with their approach in the future.
Josie as well as the Pussycats #1 Marguerite Sauvage cover
If I might offer up a two-sentence piece of advice, as an old retired comic book editor, it would be: As much fun as it is to find up with wacky/funny character as well as circumstance bits, excellent storytelling needs having the story be the main focus of each issue. as well as if you’re true to your characters, they’ll be there for the fun character bits as well as radiate even brighter with a excellent story to anchor them!
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KC CARLSON: reading as well as collecting Archie Comics for over 50 years. You requirement something to checked out beyond superheroes. special thanks to Josh Crawley from Westfield: east for the loan!
WESTFIELD COMICS is not accountable for the stupid things that KC says. particularly that thing that truly irritated you. “Hot lips, we’ll provide you that. stone foxes, that’s a fact. Josie as well as the Pussycats.” (Less heard lyrics from the movie version of the famous style song, as was the title of this column. You did understand that there were two unique versions of the style song, right? The original TV style as well as the rewritten version for the 2001 film. Which is greatly underestimated. It was ahead of its time in satirizing immersive advertising as well as an overload of industrial culture. as well as you’ve got to like Parker Posey as well as Alan Cumming teamed up as the jealous poor guys!)