Rant #1,996: I'm a Believer In Sugar Sugar

It was announced the other day that there will be a classic comic book crossover that has never happened before, will never happen again, and in actuality, never really happened at all, and, inn fact, could never happen, except in the wide and varied comic book universe.

The Archies will meet the Monkees in a classic meeting of an act that never was in real life and an act that existed by way of (at least at first) a TV sitcom.

In the fourth edition of the Archie series--a new set of comic books chronicling the musical pursuits of Archie Andrews, Jughead, and Betty and Veronica, this fictional band--who actually charted several "real hits" in the late 1960s and early 1970s including "Sugar Sugar"--will somehow meet up with Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork by way of some sort of time traveling storyline.

I kid you not, this is the real deal, and the issue will come out early next year, with three different covers.

The meeting with the Monkees simply continues Archie Andrews' preoccupation at meeting up with famous people in pages of his comic book, as he has already met another rock band, KISS, and has even been paired with former President Barack Obama.

I guess after those meetings, one with the Monkees would be part of a continuum, and would be a natural.

The Archies, of course, were featured throughout the Archie universe of comic books in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They also had their own TV show, and right after leaving the Monkees to fend for themselves, Don Kirshner was their music director.

Doing the singing voices for the Archies were, among others, Ron Dante and Toni Wine.

The Monkees, as you well know, had a boatload of hits in the mid to late 1960s, including three No. 1s--"Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer" and "Daydream Believer"--and although Davy Jones has passed on, the band, in one form or another, lives on today for various reunions and releases of new product, like last year's incredible "Good Times!" album.

They also had their own set of comic book adventures during the 1960s. I believe 18 issues of this series, on Dell, were released, and there has been talk about re-releasing them some time in the future.

Other rock and roll acts have appeared in various comic books over the years, including Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and yes, even the Cowsills.

But never in a million years would anyone have ever dreamed that the Archies would meet the Monkees in a comic book, nor would there be reason to dream such a thing, unless you were obsessed with either/or the Archies and the Monkees.

And you just know that Davy will have stars in his eyes when he sees both Betty and Veronica.

How will Reggie Mantle fit into all of this?

Right now, the special issue brings the Monkees to another audience, but to be quite honest with you, I don't really know who that audience is.

Do kids still read comic books, or has this become the domain solely of adults who look as comics as an investment?

I don't know. I sold my comics a few years back, and I have never looked back at doing it.

But I still have my Monkees records and yes, I have Archies records too.

So, although there has never been talk of it, maybe the Archies and Monkees will get together for a musical project, too.

If you remember some years back, Canned Heat and the Chipmunks did just that on a newer, hipper version of "The Christmas Song," so perhaps if this comic book sells like gangbusters, maybe "I'm a Believer In Sugar Sugar" can turn into a reality.

I will leave you now to ponder that over your weekend.

Have a good one, and I will speak to you again on Monday.