JUGHEAD'S COMING OUT

Archie's burger-loving best friend has had a makeover recently in a series by Canadian writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Erica Henderson. In the fourth issue, out this week, Jughead Jones's asexuality is casually introduced in a conversation with another student, the website Comic Book Resources reported Monday.

The move follows through on a promise Mr. Zdarsky made at a comics convention last year to portray Jughead as having no sexual interest in women, because "historically he has been portrayed as such."

Asexuality – as distinct from celibacy, which is a conscious choice not to be sexually active – is a part of the sexual spectrum in which one experiences no or little sexual attraction.

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ADDING DIVERSITY

In 2010, Archie Comics introduced its first-ever gay character, Kevin Keller, to acclaim from gay-rights groups and fans. Two years later, Kevin married an African-American doctor in Life with Archie, a spinoff series featuring the Archie characters as adults.

Pick up the historic issue KEVIN KELLER #10, feat. Kevin's first kiss, in comic shops today! http://t.co/UWysT0WV7H pic.twitter.com/S8DT3aNQCO — Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) August 7, 2013

Kevin's creator, writer and artist Dan Parent, introduced Harper, a mixed-race cousin of Veronica Lodge who uses a wheelchair. Harper was inspired by Toronto children's author Jewel Kats.

Meet the newest member of the gang, Harper, and how she came to be @cbr!: http://t.co/g54l2NsEMn@parentdaniel pic.twitter.com/CerGSOMqLm — Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) May 30, 2014

BREAKING THE FORMAT

The comics publisher has also shaken up the Archie formula in recent years with sometimes head-scratching genre switches, such as the 2013 zombie-apocalypse series Afterlife with Archie:

AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE is coming to the newsstands in magazine format! Find out more at @THR! http://t.co/nzcrRgn769 pic.twitter.com/oLASUiq3Nk — Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) September 9, 2014

… last year's partnership with Dark Horse Comics on an Archie vs. Predator miniseries:

… or cashing in on the viral popularity of sharks with Archie vs. Sharknado.

Sharknado Hits Riverdale this July in ARCHIE VS. SHARKNADO http://t.co/jWHZ4QTFEM pic.twitter.com/Yhm1uCHxci — Archie Comics (@ArchieComics) April 17, 2015

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