NOT AN EXAMPLE: Josie and the Pussycats

Not An Example is a new, sporadic feature where I showcase characters and concepts that are commonly thought to be canon immigrants but really aren't. I've seen people mention canon immigrants that are flat-out wrong, and so far I've simply ignored them. But after so many years, I've decided I can no longer do that.

This week: we complete our Archie trifecta with Josie and the Pussycats!

Josie, as many people don't know has been around for a long time. She first appeared in Archie's Pals n Gals #23 (Fall 1962) and quickly moved into her own series, She's Josie (December 1962). Although she interacted with Archie and the gang every now and then, but mostly she was separate with her own cast of characters. So, the story goes, when Hanna-Barbera was looking to copy the success of The Archie Show, why not go to the source and adapt Archie's other group of teens? And since The Archie Show was all about The Archies, Josie and her friends would be a band too: the Pussycats. Then the comics followed suit and it's been that way ever since.

But just like with The Archies and Alan M, Josie and the Pussycats appeared in comics almost a year before they appeared on tv. She's Josie became Josie with issue 17 and then changed to Josie and the Pussycats with issue 45 (October 1969). The Josie and the Pussycats cartoon didn't premiere until September 1970.

Here's what makes sense to me. I think 1969 was a rebuilding year for the Josie brand. I think they were trying to find a hook that made Josie more than just a female Archie, so they made a lot of changes throughout the year to try things out. In June they introduced Alan M. In July they revealed Alexandra's cat has magic powers. In October they introduce Valerie and create the Pussycats. They also phased out characters throughout the year (the main one - Pepper - last appeared in April, and others disappeared here and there). Then when H-B's "Mysteries Five" project dropped the band aspect and became Scooby-Doo, they decided to use the already existing band concept that Archie recently rolled out.

If anyone has evidence to the contrary, let me know!