Remember Archie and the gang? All perfectly normal hearing teenagers. I have never seen a recurring deaf teenage character in Archie comics. (One of the gang, Moose, does have dyslexia.) Aside from Moose, the only disabled teenage Archie characters I have seen have been in public service announcement comic strips. As far as deafness in Archie comics, I know of only two stories in Archie comics that featured deafness: the first one was Archie meeting a little deaf girl in the early 70s, and the other one was about a hearing teen girl with a deaf mother.
If you want to see a deaf recurring character in Archie comics, you can send them e-mail via their Talkback page. In case the link goes dead, the e-mail address is talkback@archiecomics.com.
Why am I blogging about this? I am blogging about it because as silly as it may sound, I believe Archie comics is presenting an unrealistic picture of teenage life to their young child readers. When I was a child, I eagerly read Archie comics, wondering if my own teenage years would be like that. When today's children read Archie comics, they are seeing a world in which none of the teenagers has a disability except for Moose, and his dyslexia is not mentioned much.
The newspaper comic strip "For Better or For Worse" does have a recurring teenager with a disability: April's friend Shannon.
Hey, after all the Gallaudet stuff, I wanted to post something fun...what can be more fun than comic books?
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
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5 comments:
Nice analysis, and sentiment, but I don't think that this would be a good move. On one hand, you may say that it will snowball through other comics. However, by PC-ing the comics, it will end up with watering down things to ensure that various groups are portrayed, and then in what percentage? I think it best that if they show up (deaf, blind, whatever) that they're either put in a good light - ie made to be a "normal" teen/person, and not a characture. Most importantly, it can't get preachy... After all, it's the escape from all that on the outside!
I try to remember but still forget name of comic strip. They had short time appear deaf guy role at ice sail racing. Maybe, they disappear comic strip in earlier 1980's.
I am an Archie Comics fan - been reading them since I was in elementary school and they were instrumental in my love for reading and writing skills. I know of several other deaf adults who started reading Archie comics as children who proceeded to excel in reading and writing.
Anywaym case in point, lack of diversity and realism in Archie Comics is a classical approach of the writers throughout the years - much like Walt Disney movies. Nothing bad ever happen to any of the characters or any tragedies. Their lives seem "sheltered" and free from the harshiness of the real world. That makes Archie Comics a good escape for many readers. The stories are funny and often predictable in contrary to real life which could be so unfair and oh so unpredictable.
I also am a loyal fan of For Better and For Worse. The characters age (the only of its kind, actually)and face the daily tribulations just as we do but with some humor and insights for us to ponder upon.
Shannon appeared in today's strip, actually.
And I don't ever recall any deaf guest appearances in Archie Comics. I'd love to read these issues. I collect many and have several from 1930s, 1940s, 1960s, and many from 1970s when I was a child.
Just because you guys managed to rid the University of Fernandes does not mean the world should STOP and INCLUDE you guys. What's next? Are we going to boycott Archie Comics?
I'm actually having second thoughts about this whole thing and I've been one of the major players in this protest.
Its not enough ... its never enough is it? Who cares if the comics don't have a recurring deaf character.
Omg shut up! If people enjoy reading it then it doesn't matter. Kids also watch Barney... there are no purple dinosaurs. Who cares!
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