Click below to read our exclusive interview!
Ron Cacace and Vincent Lovallo have been in the comics game for quite awhile, and Bite-Sized Archie has been going for so long, the webcomic has two practical collections. In celebration of the recent release of Bite-Sized Archie: Going Viral, we asked Ron and Vin to play favorites, what they would change about the Archieverse – and to weigh in on that eternal bugaboo, Barchie, Burger, or Varchie?
1: Who’s your favorite character to draw/write for Bite Sized Archie?
RON CACACE: It’s gotta be Jughead. I think I enjoy writing Jughead a little bit too much—I sometimes have to remember to make sure we can include Archie himself in the strips! Jughead just opens so many more narrative possibilities as he’s such a wild card. He doesn’t react to things how you might expect others to do and that’s what comedy is all about: subverting expectations in a unique way.
VINCENT LOVALLO: I enjoy drawing everyone, but if I have to narrow it down, it’s a tie between Jughead and Sabrina. I just love how carefree Jughead is and since that’s his standard demeanor, it’s even more fun breaking through that and drawing wild or intense emotions for him. As for Sabrina the Teenage Witch, I feel like it’s self-explanatory. Who wouldn’t want to draw the coolest witch in all of comics, plus her familiar Salem is never far behind. If cats and spooky things are involved, I’m so there!
2: Your favorite unusual Archie continuity event? And your favorite mainline canon event to be transported to the Bite-Sized Archie world?
RC: I love the Reversedale story by Tania del Rio and Gisele. It’s such a fun twist on the classic Archie formula and I’d love to do something like that in the Bite Sized world but I’d want to find a way to put our own spin on it so we’re not just rehashing their idea.
VL: JUGHEAD’S TIME POLICE (both the classic series and modern reboot), hands down. Back to the Future is my favorite movie of all time, so time travel tales and alternate takes on characters are usually an easy sell for me. As for a mainline canon event to be transported to the Bite Sized world, I’d say that Dilton’s portal glove from strip #43 would create an opening through my Wacom tablet and I’d fall through mid-drawing.
3: I know the strip specializes in single-take gags. But what would your ideal long-term Bite-Sized Archie arc look like?
VL: Something involving the mystery of the character Spider. What ‘s the little guy been up to, and what’s with all the random appearances?
RC: So, we did a bit of an ongoing story in the lead-up to #100 featuring Burgo, the sentient hamburger out for revenge, kidnapping Jughead and his pals. That’s collected in the new GOING VIRAL trade paperback, which I’m really excited about since the story is all in one place. If we had to do it again, I think it would have to be something super special and meaningful. Maybe as we get closer to #150 we can think of something to do . . .
4: Your favorite locale within the Archieverse? (Pop’s Chocklit Shoppe, the Lodge Mansion, etc?)
RC: It’s gotta be Pop’s. It’s the #1 hangout for the gang and a great place for them to feel safe from all the zany events that occur in their town. We all deserve a place like Pop’s where we live.
VL: The Chock’lit Shoppe for sure. Nothing beats a good diner burger and shake, plus the classic ‘50s atmosphere is so awesome. When I was still attending college, my friends and I would go to a hole-in-the-wall diner that really emitted that Pop’s vibe and even had a mirror on the wall featuring Archie, Betty, and Veronica!
5: If you could grant any character in the Bite Sized Archieverse powers, what would they be?
VL: I’d grant Hot Dog the ability to speak every now and then. I’d like to hear his commentary and just think it would be funny if all the characters notice but just continue on like it’s a regular day.
RC: I feel like we’ve already given some of the characters unofficial powers! Jughead is able to break the fourth wall from time to time, Archie is seemingly impervious to harm, and Veronica is rich (and a vampire). We’ll have to give Betty a super power . . . maybe she can fly using her ponytail as a propeller? Let’s workshop this one.
6: So it’s come to this, the ultimate question: Betty and Archie, Veronica and Archie, or Jughead
and Burger?
RC: I did my best to avoid showing favoritism for ships when running the Archie Comics social media accounts and I will continue to do that in my non-answer to this question. Please don’t yell at me!
VL: Easy. Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead all enjoying each other’s company and having burgers at Pops.
7: How would you feel about a Bite-Sized Archie-style animated series?
RC: That’s the dream! I think it’s been far too long since there was an animated series for these characters and if there’s any way that it can happen, I’d love for Vin and I to be involved in some way.
VL: So much yes. I would be over the moon and would also hope that Ron and I would be involved with it as producers or something!
8: How do you feel about fans getting Bite Sized Archie-style character tattoos?
VL: Go for it if that’s what you enjoy! That’s some extreme passion and the support is greatly appreciated. If anyone out there actually has a tattoo of any of the characters in the Bite Sized style, please share!
RC: If someone is willing to put Vin’s artwork on their body permanently, that’s a heck of a commitment. I don’t have any tattoos because I find it hard to like something so much I’d want it on my skin every day!
9: If you could change one thing about the Archieverse permanently, what would it be?
RC: There’s nothing that needs to change permanently. Everything is canon and nothing is canon. Within the Archieverse, all is possible.
VL: I’d make Archie’s eyebrows even thicker. That’s it. Not going to elaborate.
10: One gag or story you’ve always wanted to write for Bite Sized Archie, but haven’t gotten the chance to yet.
VL: I leave the writing to Ron, but I will suggest here that it would be great to explore some of the extended Sabrina cast!
RC: This is impossible to answer because I ran out of ideas months ago. I’m constantly running on empty and every script that I send to Vin is a miracle. How we manage to make new comics every week is something I’ll never quite understand.
