Barbie's Indie Cred

Ever since Barbie announced that she and Ken were "just friends," she's been working hard to show that she's the cooler of the two by occasionally showing up dressed as a comic book character. Though sometimes her choices in characters have been, well, questionable, to be polite about it, recently Archie Comics announced that Barbie reads something besides Marvel and DC and she's got the outfits to prove it. The Betty and Veronica Barbies are being released next month.

The best her ex-boyfriend seems to be able to pull off is Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

I should probably point out that I'm not especially a fan of Barbie (and don't even get me started on Ken), but I do think it's cool that Mattel finds comics to be groovy enough that they're willing to spend time and money making and marketing these crossover items. My brother has been wishing for a couple of years that they'd make a Hawkgirl Barbie for his daughter. It's a cool concept. Hell, if they ever come out with a Black Canary Barbie, I'm gettin' one.

So, while it's outside my usual realm of interest, I do find it affirming that my love of comics is shared by an American icon. And if these Barbies are able to get some little girls to read a comic or two, well that's a real fine thing.

Now, if we can just talk Mattel into making some Francine and Katchoo Barbies, and maybe a Tara Chace one too...

Speaking of which, what comic character would you buy a Barbie dressed up like?