Lena Dunham Is Writing Archie Comics Now
She's just been announced as the author of a 4-part series set to be published in 2015.
“Betty or Veronica?” was the age-old dilemma facing ginger prankster Archie Andrews in the classic Archie Comics. Maybe the question “Naked ping-pong with Hannah Horvath?” is about to be added to his daily conundrums.
Earlier today, Archie Comics‘ new Chief Creative Officer — former Big Love staff writer, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa — announced that Girls creator Lena Dunham will be penning a special four-part series of the comic, set to be published sometime in 2015. To mark the announcement, Archie illustrator Dan Parent even offered his own Riverdale version of Girls‘ Season One promo poster.
The move apparently came about after Dunham expressed her love of the franchise during a Q&A hosted by JJ Abrams in November last year. “I was an avid Archie collector as a child — conventions, first editions that l kept in plastic sleeves, the whole shebang. It has so much cultural significance but also so much personal significance, and to get to play with these beloved characters is a wild creative opportunity,” she added in an official statement released today.
According to Aguirre-Sacasa, Dunham was instantly eager to get started on the series. “We sent her a box of tons of Archie books, she devoured them all, and maybe a week or two later came back with her pitch,” he told Comic Book Resources. “I’m not going to spoil it, but it’s really, really funny. It’s incredibly contemporary. It’s a classic Archie story, with a definitely unique, Lena spin. She brings a unique point-of-view to all these characters, but she also loves them, and knows what makes them work. It’s really good stuff, and obviously it’s going to be a huge deal for Archie, the closer we get to it.”
Dunham’s involvement is the latest in a bunch of major reboots for the series in recent years, as it expands from the signature look and lovable ‘Aw shucks’-ish high school shenanigans (and awesome clothes) of ’50s/’60s writer and illustrator, Dan DeCarlo. A new teen-horror incarnation titled Afterlife With Archie — featuring a zombie apocalypse, incestuous relationships, and Undead Jughead — was an instant smash last year, even leading to an upcoming movie project.
But can you even imagine what Lena Dunham will do with these characters? Archie’s gonna start a noise band, Reggie’s gonna get into weirdo sex, and Betty’s gonna go to rehab? Yep, this is gonna be awesome.