Greetings,
everybody. And welcome to my new blog.
My
name is Matthew, and for seven years, I was the mastermind behind the blog
"A POP CULTURE ADDICT'S GUIDE TO LIFE". It was a good run when it lasted, and for what it was worth, I
had fun doing the blog for the first six years it was up and running. But I suppose like some relationships, I got
prone to the seven-year-itch, and I started to lose interest in all things pop
culture.
The
last half of 2017 and the first half of 2018 were challenging, and I had to do
a lot of personal reflections and take some TLC for myself (both the action and
the '90s girl group).
And the conclusion that I came up with was that I didn't want to do a pop culture blog any longer. While I took a hiatus from my first blog six months ago, I made the final decision that I would not be returning to it. I just don't have it in me to write about pop culture tidbits any longer because I find that I've lost interest in the vast majority of it. I look at it, and it's just too broad of a subject, and there is so much out there that I found it overwhelming.
And the conclusion that I came up with was that I didn't want to do a pop culture blog any longer. While I took a hiatus from my first blog six months ago, I made the final decision that I would not be returning to it. I just don't have it in me to write about pop culture tidbits any longer because I find that I've lost interest in the vast majority of it. I look at it, and it's just too broad of a subject, and there is so much out there that I found it overwhelming.
Taking
six months away from writing to focus on myself was probably one of the
greatest things I have done for myself because when I was on hiatus, I thought
about narrowing my focus to one specific topic. And the more I thought about it, the more the answer smacked me
right in the face.
Why don't I just do a blog on my favourite comic book series ever? A series that has lasted for seventy-seven years and counting.
Why don't I just do a blog on my favourite comic book series ever? A series that has lasted for seventy-seven years and counting.
Yes,
guys. This former pop culture addict
has gone into rehab and now it's all about PEP Culture.
Welcome to PEP Culture, my blog celebrating the world of Archie comics. I can't guarantee you that I will be writing
in this space every day like I did in my first blog for five years straight,
but I can promise you that with my encyclopedic knowledge about Archie comics,
I will strive to make this blog an informative, yet fun experience. If you're a huge fan of Archie, you're going
to love this new venture. And if not,
maybe I'll convince you to pick up a comic or two.
How
do I plan on doing this? Well, there
are a few ways.
Obviously,
this is going to be a study on Archie comics.
And when I say Archie comics, I mostly mean the classic ones. Not that I have anything against the Archie
comics reboots and the "Riverdale" television show on the CW. I like those too. But since most of my collection deals with the classics, I
thought I would stick to those.
And
what might some of the topics feature?
Here are my ideas.
CHARACTER PROFILES:
A character sketch on a random character, whether it be one of the members of the core five, or a tertiary character. If possible, I'll even see if I can locate their first appearances in the Archieverse. For newer characters like Kevin Keller, it's going to be easy. For older, obscure characters like Cricket O'Dell...that might take some research.
TITLE
PROFILES:
Did
you know that there have been more than fifty different titles released under
the Archie library? That gives me a lot
of material to choose from. And while
some titles only released three or four issues, others lasted for
hundreds. From PEP Comics to B & V
Friends Jumbo Digests, I'll focus on one title per month in one retrospective
post. And I may even take a look at some non-Archie titles in the Archie world. You know, titles like Josie and the Pussycats, Katy Keene, Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch, Lil Jinx, That Wilkin Boy, etc, etc, etc.
MY
FAVOURITE STORIES:
My collection of comic books right now stands between 3,000-4,000 books. In a standard double digest alone, you have at least 20 different stories featured. I'm not going to do the math here, but needless to say, I have read thousands of Archie stories. And while there is very rarely an Archie story that I don't like, there are many more that I do. And I'll occasionally feature some of my favourite tales complete with some scans. I'll try to find the original sources for these stories, but if not, I can at least point out where they have been reprinted.
My collection of comic books right now stands between 3,000-4,000 books. In a standard double digest alone, you have at least 20 different stories featured. I'm not going to do the math here, but needless to say, I have read thousands of Archie stories. And while there is very rarely an Archie story that I don't like, there are many more that I do. And I'll occasionally feature some of my favourite tales complete with some scans. I'll try to find the original sources for these stories, but if not, I can at least point out where they have been reprinted.
GRAPHIC
NOVELS AND COMPILATIONS:
Over the last ten years or so, Archie comics have released a series of graphic novels and books that are collections of past stories. While some of these graphic novels have been well put together, others have missed the mark. Since I have quite a few of these in my own collection, you know that I'll be talking about them.
Over the last ten years or so, Archie comics have released a series of graphic novels and books that are collections of past stories. While some of these graphic novels have been well put together, others have missed the mark. Since I have quite a few of these in my own collection, you know that I'll be talking about them.
ARCHIE
MEDIA:
Archie had a lot of television cartoons and television projects over the years (with "Riverdale" being the most recent). And once a month, I'll be talking about some of these shows. In fact, I may transport some of the reviews I did on "The New Archies" in my old blog and post them here. You know, for posterity.
Archie had a lot of television cartoons and television projects over the years (with "Riverdale" being the most recent). And once a month, I'll be talking about some of these shows. In fact, I may transport some of the reviews I did on "The New Archies" in my old blog and post them here. You know, for posterity.
ARCHIE
MERCHANDISE:
From toys to boxer shorts and everything in between, Archie has his image on a variety of different products. Some of them I own. Some of them I used to own. And some of them I WISH I owned. I'll have that section covered as well occasionally.
From toys to boxer shorts and everything in between, Archie has his image on a variety of different products. Some of them I own. Some of them I used to own. And some of them I WISH I owned. I'll have that section covered as well occasionally.
And,
of course, like I did with my other blog, I will be doing a PEP Culture Advent
Calendar. Even if I end up just posting
Christmas themed covers for a blog entry, I will find a way to make your
holiday season a little more Archi-fied.
So,
that is what you can expect to see in this new blog.
But
why do I have such an obsession for Archie comics? Why would I choose to shift my focus towards a subject that not
everyone might have heard of, let alone liked?
Well, I guess it's because Archie and his pals have been by my side since I was five years old. In the spring of 1987, I received my very first Archie comic. It was a Little Archie Digest from the local supermarket, and my mom decided to buy one for me because she thought I would like it. Not only did I like it...but it was the cornerstone for my obsession with Archie comics, which was followed very closely by a Jughead Jones Digest.
Well, I guess it's because Archie and his pals have been by my side since I was five years old. In the spring of 1987, I received my very first Archie comic. It was a Little Archie Digest from the local supermarket, and my mom decided to buy one for me because she thought I would like it. Not only did I like it...but it was the cornerstone for my obsession with Archie comics, which was followed very closely by a Jughead Jones Digest.
Whenever
I lost a baby tooth, all that money went towards a new comic book (which back
in the late 1980s actually BOUGHT a standard sized comic book). Whenever I had birthday parties, I asked for
Archie comics for a gift. Archie and
his friends were there for me through my highest highs and my lowest lows. Whenever I was feeling down, and when I felt
like I didn't have anyone to talk to, I could always pick up an Archie comic,
and transport myself to the world of Riverdale. Well, the classic version anyway. Where everyone treated each other with dignity and respect. Where people were kind and said hello to
each other on the streets. Where people
got along in perfect harmony...
...well,
provided you didn't try to hit on Midge, that is.
I've
been a fan of Archie for thirty-one years now...and I hope to be a fan for at
least thirty-one more. I love the comic
book series very much, and despite all the changes and alleged turmoil behind
the scenes of the comic book company, I will forever consider myself a
permanent member of the Archie Fan Club.
So, that's my story. I hope you'll stick around for this project. I promise that it'll be fun. You might even learn some interesting facts.
Sincerely, Matthew
The Reformed Pop Culture Addict and Current PEP Culture Blogger.
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