Pep Comics (1940) 22

Another January 12 and another National Kiss a Ginger Day.

Today is the day to celebrate that two-percent of the population with the red tresses. The scant scarlet-haired few who turn our heads. Those Balkan/Central/Western European descendants that established the geographical and historical homeland of red-haired culture as National Today puts it.

In the past we’ve celebrated with Wally West and Mary Jane Watson/Parker. Today it’s the perennial teen, Archie Andrews.

Pep Comics (1940) 22

Archie made his first four-color appearance in Pep Comics (1940) issue 22. Pep Comics was originally the home of Golden Age masked men The Shield and The Comet.

Vic Bloom and Bob Montana introduced Archie to the world in December of 1941, the month that would live in infamy for another reason. Also, appearing for the first time were the nucleus of the Archie Comic Universe with Jughead and Betty Cooper.

By war’s end, the mystery men were becoming old hat and their teen roommate the star of the show. Issue 42 marked the changing of the guard as former headliners The Shield and Hangman stood in the background while the cover trumpeted Archie and his new-found fame.

Ownership changed from the former MLJ Publications to Archie Publications, another indication of Mr. Andrew’s popularity, with issue 57.

Over the years, Archie has appeared on radio and television as well as starring in a syndicated newspaper strip. His first TV appearance was The Archie Show in 1968 with The New Archies following in 1987, both animated series. His first live-action show was Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again in 1990.

He would return to the cartoon world in 1999 with Archie’s Weird Mysteries then live-action on The CW with Riverdale beginning in 2017.

So, with 70-plus years of source material, there are many ways to celebrate today in the four-color mold. If you choose to go beyond, here are a few suggestions: Kiss a ginger but, please do so with consent so we don’t have to refer to National Restraining Order Day. Another thought is to be kind to the redhead in your life or even pull out some other entertainment by those red-haired show people we enjoy.

However you celebrate, enjoy the day.