Archie comics have always sort of reminded me of what life would be in a perfect world. In this small, self contained universe, nothing "wrong" ever happens and Archie's most dire conflict is whether he wants to ask Veronica or Betty out on a date for Friday night. Recently, however, there seems to be a push to intertwine realism and realistic concepts and situations into Archie's world. By realism, I mean concepts that you and I are likely to deal with in our ordinary lives. The most recent example is the announcement of Geraldine Grundy's battle with cancer, and her subsequent death which will be featured in issue #6 of " Life With Archie."

its weird seeing big storylines in archie like this for sure. but i dont really pay attention

They finally have the balls to kill someone in the Archie Comics. It's about damn time one of the Archie members bites the dust. 
 
RIP Miss Grundy.

Ms. Grundy?! Noooo! 
Ms. Grundy was the kind of teacher I always wished I could have had, but never got. She was friendly, outgoing, and really cared about the kids she taught. I, I'm gonna have to go now...something in my eye...

" Ms. Grundy?! Noooo! 
Ms. Grundy was the kind of teacher I always wished I could have had, but never got. She was friendly, outgoing, and really cared about the kids she taught. I, I'm gonna have to go now...something in my eye... "

R.I.P Ms. Grundy

Poor Ms. Grundy! :( I have had so many loved ones perish from that insidious disease. It's nice, albeit sad, to see a beloved character succumb to an actual illness. I agree with Babs about The Sentry being thrown into the sun. Yes, it is shocking, but when DO we ever lose a loved one from being thrown into the sun?

OHMAN. grundy's gone. Oh well.

Don't worry, she'll be back. Much like her son Solomon.

This is intriguing. It reminds me of Pleasantville. Introducing a bit of realism into an idealistic world can be more sad than progressive. 

Ms. Grundy dying of cancer? WHAT ARE YOU UP TO, ARCHIE COMICS?

Weird to see this in the Archieverse, haven't read an issue of Jugehead since 1996, don't think they will ressurect her, not the kind of comic to do that, will be interested to see what the outcome would be. By the way what ever happened to the gay character they introduced?

" its weird seeing big storylines in archie like this for sure. but i dont really pay attention "

Real world issues in Archie Comics? 
 
It's a terrible idea.  The point of Archie Comics has never been to face real-world issues in the perfect world of Archie.  The point of Archie Comics is to have something at the end of the day that you can open up and you KNOW you'll smile by the end of it all.  It's that treat, that present that you want when you have a bad day or want a light-hearted read. 
 
What's next?  Archie has to file bankruptcy, gets Betty knocked up and can't afford it?  In turn, they have to debate the issue of abortion or adoption?  That's not what we read Archie for! 
 
I'm reminded of the old NBC made-for-TV movie that they did.  Jughead was a divorced psychiatrist on that, and while the movie itself was pretty terrible, that one thing reminded me why Archie is a great comic book series:  it's about having fun, enjoying yourself, and getting a laugh while being brought into this incredibly familiar world that has a massive legacy behind it. 
 
Sure, I'm not giving it a chance and that makes me a bad person or whatever, but at the same time, why SHOULD it change?  It's Archie.  Doing this with Archie Comics is along the same lines of making Peanuts have real world issues like cancer and bankruptcy and all the negative crap in the world. 
 
This, put in a plain and simple way, is a travesty.

... so THIS is what that whole "Cancerverse" thing was about. 
 
But no, seriously, I can't imagine Archie Comics makes a profit. why not just have it all revealed that it's all Jughead's psychotic delusion from inside a padded cell with the word "Hamburgers" scrawled all over the walls.

wow no way

" its weird seeing big storylines in archie like this for sure. but i dont really pay attention "

What makes this feel so impactful is that you are next to certain that this death actually means something. It feels as if you are really saying goodbye and they will never be back.
 
I would argue with the idea that death in comics is used to move a story forward. In most comics death is an absolute joke, because you know they will never stay that way. It makes you wonder why they do it at all. It's meaningless. It's a gimmick to move sales and less story. 
 
It wasn't that long ago that Thor was "dead" and Sentry has repeatedly "died". DC does the death gimmick a lot, most famously with the non-death of Superman. I also thin they utterly flopped with the Return of Bruce Wayne by releasing those Road Home books before Bruce actually returned. Not to mention the utter lack of Cassandra after her sudden departure. Marvel comics I think is the absolute worst offender with using death as a gimmick. I don't know what it is, but characterization has just been going downhill at Marvel. They haven't done anything that has impressed me in a long time. Nothing that happens there ever seems to matter.
 
I hardly ever read Archie growing up. I think I maybe read two. Still, I can feel a little impact in this event. I think it's because it's making me remember a relative I had who died from brain cancer a few years back. The only guy was in high spirits to his final day. Flirting with the nurses.

Damn, Ms. Grundy? Shit just go real, folk :-(

looking at that picture it did't seem to phase Archie, I mean he has a smile on his face and he still got the girl.

Well it really has more impact than a death of a superhero because Archie doesn't have death or resurrection and Ms Grundy has been a character that's been present since the 1940s with Archie, and she's a meaningful character rather than an unknown. Killing her off is like having the death of a family member, and while Archie might be unrealistic, at the same time it is, and having realistic issues like cancer being prevalent in the Archie Universe is a big thing, because, they aren't bringing her back. This is it. She's dead. And that's why it's sad at the same time. RIP Ms Grundy

Don't worry, she'll be back. Much like her son Solomon.

This story seems to be set a bit into the future, since everywhere I read it says it explores the futures where Arch marries Betty or Veronica, so I think new stories set in Riverdale High will still have her.

R.I.P Ms. Grundy.

I'm actually really shocked that they're going to do this. I mean, props to them. That's actually really powerful and I'm sad to see her go. I've been really impressed with Archie the last few years, they're finding nice ways to stay relevant and become a bigger brand, even if it's just slightly. This is a great step for the company

I'm actually really shocked that they're going to do this. I mean, props to them. That's actually really powerful and I'm sad to see her go. I've been really impressed with Archie the last few years, they're finding nice ways to stay relevant and become a bigger brand, even if it's just slightly. This is a great step for the company

I guess nothing is simplistic and idealistic anymore. 

Wow, I thought the only Archie comics that ever did death storylines was Sonic the Hedgehog.

Whaaaaa..??
You mean they dare change Archie's status quo who hasn't been touched upon since the late 30s???

I don't see the point in doing this and generally introducing real-life problems and concerns in Archie.

The death in the comics is something normal. The living beings aren't inmortal (in the most of characters).
But is normal too that they come to life later. For example Jean Grey has died a lot of times an ALWAYS returns, sooner or later, but always returns, OK This is not a good example, She's the Phoenix thar reborns form her ashes.
But other like Colossus, Captain America, Shadowcat, Apocalypsis, Mr. Sinister,  Psylocke, Green Goblin, Xavier, Lady Deathstrike or Cypher have returned from the death or an apparent death.
Someday, Cable, Banshee, Sentry and Nighcrawler will return to the world. 
I only know two characters whose death is forever : Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy.

sad!

I agree with the comments that Archie doesn't need realism in it.  Archie has always been an escape from the mayhem, the sad, the pains.  I like the fact that Archie's world is the "perfect" place.  Where all is good, well except for Reggy.  It's nice to escape to that place and just know things are all happy and nice.  Not the place I want to see tragedy... my escape to a nirvana type world has been marred.

Doesn't feel right for an Archie comic.  Hope they don't go overboard with this one.
 
As for comic book death, it's so overused it's becoming boring.  You can only tease the fish so many times by pulling the line at the last moment before he loses interest.  And I wouldn't be surprised that Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy are ever brought back.
 
"And not only does Gwen rise from the grave, but she gains superpowers and blames Spider-man for her death !!!"

The original Question died of cancer so it isn't that big a push for a comic book character to have a  death that people can relate too.

They still make Archie comics???

Somehow I'm aware of Archie at its most basic level but I'm not sure how seeing as its appears a very American instituion... 
Anyway, realism is all well and good but I read comics/books/watch movies etc. to escape reality, if only for a short time. Reality for me is constantly reminding myself I'm not good at anything, a grandmother suffering from alzheimers and asshole neighbours, fear about the future viability of my business, whether or not that hot chick in the aforementioned grandmother's nursing home is interested in me or not, doubting that I can ever get one single script completed... 
Ah, time to dig out the Dark Knight returns methinks

I haven't read an Archie comic in about 10 years, but does everything really have to relate to the reader in one way or another?

" Ms. Grundy?! Noooo! 
Ms. Grundy was the kind of teacher I always wished I could have had, but never got. She was friendly, outgoing, and really cared about the kids she taught. I, I'm gonna have to go now...something in my eye... "

So sad! :(

" @touch37 said:

" Ms. Grundy?! Noooo! 
Ms. Grundy was the kind of teacher I always wished I could have had, but never got. She was friendly, outgoing, and really cared about the kids she taught. I, I'm gonna have to go now...something in my eye... "

"

Well guys, it worked for The Question.

bad idea if archie authors start adding real life issues in it then parents wouldnt want their kids to read it