'Katy Keene': Will The CW series stay true to the uppity character in the Archie Comics?
'Riverdale' took things to a darker level compared to the Archie Comics, with leads Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) and Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes) taking down hood faced murderers and running illegal rum empires. However, Josie McKoy (Ashleigh Murray) from the murder capital of 'Riverdale' has left the dark days of Riverdale High and has made it to New York, welcomed by 'Katy Keene' — a spin-off of 'Riverdale' set five years into the future.
'Katy Keene' premiered on February 6 on The CW and while fans enjoyed the "big city, big lives" vibe, we can't help but wonder if the show will stay true to the uppity character from the Archie comics.
The character has been part of Archieverse when she was first presented in the 5th issue of Archie Comics series Wilbur Comics in 1945. Keene brings the high glamour of fashion to life, to the point where readers were allowed to send in sketches of costumes Keene and her friends could wear and it was then printed into the comics. While in the first-gen comics she presented a more conservative coiffed bang look, Keene's appearance evolved with time.
While her character was a no show during the 80s and the 90s, Keene was back in the comics in 2005 where she was a high school student pursuing modeling. Whereas in the 'New Riverdale' comics in the year 2020, she is a famous model that designs clothes of her own.
Speaking similarities, the Katy from the CW series matches the look of the current comic book version of Katy with the dark brown bob. The difference between the series and the comics is the way Keene's love for fashion is expressed. In the series, it is her dream to be a designer while in the comics, it is her upcoming modeling career.
She is also joined by other characters from the Archie Comics such as Pepper Smith (Julia Chan), a gossip columnist who knows anyone and everyone, and Jorge Lopez (Jonny Beauchamp), who plays drag queen Ginger Lopez and dreams to be on Broadway. Jorge was not in the comics but Ginger made her appearance in 1943. The villain in the series is Alexandra Cabot (Camille Hyde). She has been a part of the 'Josie and the Pussycats' comic as Josie's enemy while her twin brother Alexander Cabot (Lucien Laviscount) plays Josie's love interest in the series and in the book he is her manager doting on Josie's affections.
Other characters from the comics that have made it into the series include Keene's boss, Gloria Grandbilt (Katherine LaNasa) and Keene's boyfriend, KO Kelly (Zane Holtz). There are a few characters that are yet to make an appearance such as Katy's sister Valerie, and Melody from the 'Josie and the Pussycats', and the comic book's supporting characters Albert and Sock.
While the main quirks of the characters have been kept the same, we have to wait and watch how loyal Keene will be to her conjured up character in the Archie Comics. Either way, we are happy that her fabulous eye for fashion has been brought to screen, while her 'Riverdale' counterpart still has to make it out of the murderous town.