Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons is the real-life KISS frontman appearing as a fictionalized version of himself in Archie Comics, where he and his bandmates Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, and Paul Stanley crossed over into the colorful world of Riverdale.

A comic character named Gene Simmons brought to life by the legendary Sergio Aragonés — that's a Bronze Age debut worth double-taking at. Launching in 1979's Shootin' Mad #7, this character has kept remarkably eclectic company over the decades, sharing pages with the likes of Jughead Jones, Reggie Mantle, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, and Paul Stanley across the cozy, colorful world of Archie Comics. With appearances spanning an impressive 44 years and a home in beloved Archie staples like Archie Giant Series Magazine and Archie (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest, this is a character whose longevity in that warm, humor-driven universe speaks for itself. A Aragonés creation rubbing elbows with the Riverdale gang — that's the kind of delightful Bronze Age curiosity that makes digging through back issues so rewarding.