Who's This? DC's Archie.
The facts: A teen humor character starting in Leave It to Binky #1 (March 1948), created by Hal Seeger, Sheldon Meyer and Bob Oksner, Binky Biggs' book lasted 60 issues, ending in 1958. The youthquake of the 60s brought a revival, with a more mature Bob Oskner continuing the book from the original numbering as of 1968 after a successful try-out in Showcase #70 the year before. The book became, simply, Binky as of issue 72, lasting until #81 in 1971. Binky also starred in the spin-off Binky's Buddies from 1969 to 1970. 1977 released an 82nd issue, randomly, and several DC Digests reprinted Binky stories in the early 80s. Ambush Bug nevertheless counted him among Crisis' victims only a few years later.
How you could have heard of him: Animal Man spotted him in Limbo Animal Man #23 (May 1990), still a well-remembered run.
Example story: Leave It to Binky #61 (July 1968) "Costume Question!" by Bob Oksner
It's April 1st, so yes, an entry not from Who's Who, but from Ambush Bug #3. Further, we just missed Easter, so this one is going to have a bunny costume. That's how I chose the story; it's otherwise pretty random, though you'll not that issue 61 is from the late 1960s revival. Now, it's not Easter in the story. Binky just plans to wear a rabbit costume at a masquerade party, and says as much to Bett--I mean, Peggy, who is keeping her OWN costume a secret.
The hint: She'll be dressed as a
slutty circus entertainer who makes people laugh. Gosh, it's not hard to guess. There's so little to this 6-page story that Binky has to forget his keys, ring the doorbell to his own house, and scare the wits out of his mom.
This is not a family that communicates. On the way, he meets series regular Sherwood who has his costume in a dufflebag and recognizes Binky on sight because I guess walking down the street in full bunny gear is a dumb thing Binky would do. At the party, it turns out alllll the girls are in the exact same costume - very kinky, well, except for those grotesque clown heads.
To win a prize, Binky has to figure out which clown is Peggy. After that first flub, he very confidently spots a clown from the back and asks her to dance, sure she's the one. And an hour later...
So how did he know? Peggy is sure that their love for one another ensured it. The reader might think she has a distinctive backside or (comics code friendly answer) posture. But naw.
Oh, how droll! Don't bust a gut laughing, readers. So to the question of whether Binky is an Archie rip-off or not, the answer is probably, "he wishes". But then, all these teen humor comics are kind of the same, aren't they? Yeah, but soon after this, the Binky comics adopted a VERY Archie style, perhaps to fool unwary readers into buying the book.
Kind of becomes undeniable at that point.
Who's Next? The Nuclear Woman.
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