Redheaded teen Ginger Snapp returns from Archie Comics

Word Balloons #1162: 1950s redhead gets update in story by Tom DeFalco and Dan Parent

Teen humor comic-book series took off in the 1940s and 1950s, and the company now known as Archie Comics was behind a lot of them.

Their most successful was the kid from Riverdale himself, Archie Andrews, but he wasn’t the only everyday teen to lead a title.

The 1950s series “Ginger” features something of a gender-flipped Archie Andrews, with the redheaded Ginger taking center stage, often bouncing between two (or occasionally more) boyfriends.

School Library Journal gives an update on Ginger:

If you’re wondering where Ginger has been all your life, well, it’s been a while. She first appeared in Zip Comics #35 in March 1943, making her just over 80 years old, and she was created by longtime Archie artist Harry Sahle, but she’s been chilling in the vault for a while; it looks like the most recent original Ginger story was from 2014, although she pops up in reprints from time to time. And now here she is, throwing a party for her Riverdale friends, in the lead story of World of Archie Jumbo Comics #129.

“World of Archie Jumbo Comics” hit stands on April 26. Tom DeFalco and Dan Parent provide a tale of Ginger throwing an over-the-top party and inviting sometime boyfriend Ickky, other sometime boyfriend Tommy, and most of the rest of the Hilldale gang.

Meanwhile, writer Ian Flynn and artist Rex Lindsay provide another new tale of Archie’s superhero alter-ego, Pureheart the Powerful in the same title, which also features a classic Bob Bolling Little Archie reprint.

Two more Ginger Snapp stories went on sale May 10, in “Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest” #25.

As described by Archie Comics:

First, in “Ginger’s Ails,” Ginger Snapp has come to Riverdale seeking some advice from Betty & Veronica about the Hilldale Spring Dance. But will she get help, or a headache, when it comes to romance guidance from the two BFFs?

Then, in ”Penny for your Thoughts,” Betty, Veronica, and Ginger are amazed by Penny Parker’s physical prowess at the gym. But Veronica’s got other matters on her mind—like who could possibly be her replacement at this year’s debutante ball! What kind of competition could the heiress be in for?

The 10 original issues of “Ginger” appear to have fallen into the public domain and can be accessed at the Digital Comics Museum. Archie Comics also reprints stories from the “Ginger” run from time to time.

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.