The name is Raj...Raj Patel!

The hugely-popular freckled, red-haired, cheeky Archie has company.

In a first, Archies comics have introduced a character of Indian origin.

Seems like India is a hot favorite, what with the world swooning over Indian spicy curries, beauties wrapped in that nine-yard wonder – saree, outsourcing boom, henna, bindis, yoga, and spiritual odysseys. Obviously not in that order.

So after the Patil sisters made a fleeting appearance in the Harry Potter books, it is time now for another character to make an entry into that bastion of comics – Archies. And who else would do it better than a vivacious Gujarati Patel immigrant, Raj, who moves to that idyllic place, Riverdale, family in tow – a physician Dad (Ravi), a research scientist mother (Tina), and a sharp-as-nails younger sister, Tina, who though a year younger, is in the same class as Raj.

So where you have various characters who have some or the other fascination – Archies is fascinated by Veronica / Betty / anything in a skirt, a fascination he shares with smooth-operator Reggie, while Jughead drools over food, a habit he shares with his mutt, Top Dog – in similar fashion, Raj enjoys sci fi, art, and videotaping any and everything.

So while Raj, he of the flying hair, skateboards at Riverdale High (much to a visibly annoyed Mr. Weatherbee), we, the readers will eagerly lap up his antics...

One thing is for sure – we ain’t complaining.

PS – By the by, FX Labs of Hyderabad, is developing an Archies game.

Slated release - this month.

Yipppeeee!!!