Archie Comics World - Let's Keep It!

Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater released a statement concerning the One Million Moms planned boycott of ToysRUs for carrying Life with Archie#16 in their stores:
“We stand by Life with Archie #16. As I’ve said before, Riverdale is a safe, welcoming place that does not judge anyone. It’s an idealized version of America that will hopefully become reality someday. We’re sorry the American Family Association/OneMillionMoms.com feels so negatively about our product, but they have every right to their opinion, just like we have the right to stand by ours. Kevin Keller will forever be a part of Riverdale, and he will live a happy, long life free of prejudice, hate and narrow-minded people.”

I don't even want to link to the articles because there are links to vicious, hate-filled emails to ToysRUs.  I sent this email to combat what the hate-mongering OMM group is doing.  It might be a little lame, but I got the idea from the OMM site and targeted the same guy they are. Feel free to copy/paste this email into your own (and tweak a bit as you see fit) if inclined to send him a note, as well. 

Email:  clay.creasey@toysrus.com
(click on the email address, it's pretty cool!!)

SUBJECT:PLEASE KEEP SELLING Archie Comics!!

"Dear Mr. Creasey,
I was extremely happy to learn that select Toys R Us stores are now selling 'Archie' comic books and especially the one with a same-sex wedding displayed on the front cover. The sentiments of the comic reflect my and my family's own belief that this world will eventually be as inclusive and hate-free as Archie's world portrays. 

We chose to shop at Toys R Us just last night (and spent over $150!) because your company is selling Archie Comics. Please, please, please keep selling "Just Married - Archie" comic books. You will have greater support and many more sales if you stand your ground and do not bow to pressure of anti-gay organizations to stop selling them. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,
Stephen Lambeth" 

Fangoria Flies!

Friday night on the way to our niece's 5th birthday party, we raced into Toys R Us to purchase a couple of Barbie dolls for her birthday gifts. Matt dashes into the store and screams, "Barbies!  STAT!" at the Customer Service Rep.

The surprised girl pointed back to the "Babies/Dolls" sign in the middle aisle of the store, watching two big, burly guys rushing to review the store's doll situation. As fate would have it, we two were looking for Fairy Barbies.

We found about 4 different kinds and bought her three of them. The strangest one seemed as though it should require batteries to make the wings flap. Upon further inspection, it looked as though there were no battery requirements, but the instructions showed a little girl doing something with the legs of the Fairy Barbie.

Say what you will, but it looks as though the little girl is squeezing the legs together and the wings are flapping. Truth is, you're supposed to just shake the doll back and forth, frontwards and backwards to make the wings flap. LAME!

We ran to get gift bags, tissue paper, a card, and some squiggly ribbons, then quickly got to the check out. In the car, Matthew drove and I feverishly packed the bags with Barbies and wrote out the card. In my mind I was picturing tissue paper and ribbons comically flying behind the car as we flew up the highway to the hibachi restaurant for dinner. We were already about 30 minutes late for dinner.

I told Matt in the frenzy, "Let's remember to name the Fairy Barbie with the flappable wings... Fangoria!  Her name'll be Fangoria, so that Slagothor has a friend.  Since Fangoria has pink wings, she'll be the leader of the Mean Girls."

In the cacophony and stress of the hibachi restaurant, we forgot to mention the doll's name. Rest assured, it'll happen: Fangoria will find her place in Gianna's doll entourage.