Archie Andrews is making his TV debut on the CW’s “Riverdale,” but those who’ve grown up with the iconic character from the comics will barely recognize him.
Archie Andrews made his comic book debut in 1941, drawn by artist Bob Montana. The character’s iconic design remained largely unchanged for more than 70 years.
After Jon Goldwater, CEO of Archie Comics and the son of the character’s original creator, took control of the company, he made the shocking decision to kill off the character in 2014. The following year, the entire franchise was rebooted with a more modern look drawn by artist Fiona Staples.
New Zealand actor K. J. Apa is the newest face of the red-headed teen in The CW’s “Riverdale,” from Archie Comics’ Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and executive producer Greg Berlanti.
The “blonde bombshell” Betty Cooper was introduced alongside Archie and her best friend/romantic rival Veronica Lodge in 1941’s Pep Comics #22.
In 2015, Betty was redrawn with a modern, sportier image and more complex facial expressions. The “Betty & Veronica” title got its own reboot in July 2016.
Lili Reinhart plays Betty on The CW series, which hints that the girl-next-door character could have a bit more edge than readers have come to expect.
“Rich girl” Veronica Lodge was also introduced Pep Comics #22 in 1941, and has vied with Betty for Archie’s affections ever since.
Veronica made her debut in Mark Waid and Fiona Staples’ reboot in Archie #3, showing up to Riverdale with a shorter haircut and more stylish wardrobe.
Camila Mendes plays the new girl at Riverdale High who moves to town after a mysterious scandal involving her father.
Forsythe Pendleton “Jughead” Jones III was introduced in 1941 as a crown-wearing teenager with an insatiable appetite and lackadaisical attitude.
Chip Zdarsky and Erica Henderson collaborated to reboot the Jughead series in late 2015, and shortly after the character came out as asexual.
Cole Sprouse plays Jughead on The CW’s “Riverdale,” swapping the character’s signature crown for a beanie and dreams of becoming a novelist.
Josie, the lead singer and guitarist of Josie and the Pussycats, was first introduced in 1963’s Archie Pals ‘n’ Gals #23 as a scatterbrained redhead.
The Josie and the Pussycats title was rebooted in 2016, like much of the rest of the Archie Comics library, by writers Marguerite Bennett and Cameron DeOrdio with art by Audrey Mok.
In The CW’s “Riverdale,” Josie is played by Ashleigh Murray as an ambitious, hard-nosed teen determined to make it as a musician without Archie’s input as a songwriter.
Created by writer/artist Dan Parent, the blond-haired, blue-eyed Kevin Keller became Archie Comics’ first openly gay character in in 2010’s Veronica #202.
In 2016, Kevin became the star of the digital-first series “Life With Kevin,” which follows the character post-high school as he explores life in the big city.
Newcomer Casey Cott fills the role of Kevin on the CW series, playing confidant to Betty as she struggles with a crush on her childhood best friend.
First introduced in 1982, Cheryl Blossom, of the high-class neighboring town of Pembrooke, became the rich, conniving rival to Veronica for Archie Andrews’ heart.
Cheryl made her first appearance in the New Riverdale canon in Archie #13 as the haughty queen bee of Pembrooke Academy attended by Veronica.
Madelaine Petsch plays the rich, entitled head cheerleader whose brother’s mysterious disappearance becomes the central mystery of “Riverdale.”
