In today’s video, we will be talking about one of pop culture’s most iconic characters! She is a witch and an IT girl of the witch town – yes you guessed it right, it’s Sabrina the teenage witch! As we will be conjuring up the history of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, we will also be taking you along to a wide range of Sabrina spell-bounded stuff, from her mischievous comic book beginnings to her 90s sitcom stardom and her modern reinvention as Sabrina Spellman. Sabrina has cast a spell on audiences for over six decades and counting. It’s going to be an exciting journey exploring how a teenage witch became a cultural icon! So grab your broomsticks, and let’s go!!
Who is Sabrina Carpenter? Her Origin Story
Let’s start where it all began! Sabrina Spellman first appeared in Archie’s Madhouse comic book in issue no 22 in October 1962. She was created by writer George Gladir and artist Dan DeCarlo. Initially she was painted as a mischievous teenage witch sent to the human world to stir up trouble. In contrast to her contemporary characters like Archie and Betty in her debut comic who were wholesome teens busy with their antics, Sabrina Spellman was something different.
The creators, Gladir and DeCarlo did not make her to be the regular witch. She was poles apart from the villainous witches of that era. Sabrina was a blond, bubbly teen witch living in Greendale. Like the other witches, she could cast spells, shift reality and fly on broomsticks. She used all these powers to fix her messes and to help her friends who were mortals and powerless.
Sabrina Spellman was too cool for her debut, even when we talk about her looks. Her style was very modern with those big eyes and a very sassy bob hair cut. She fit perfectly into Archie’s universe! Sabrina’s supporting cast was introduced in the series early, like her aunts Hilda and Zelda Spellman who were her mentors in her magical education and her sarcastic talking cat, Salem. All of them together made her character more quirky.
Although Sabrina Spellman’s stories were short in Archie’s Madhouse, she left a mark with the fans. Her presence was very playful and charming whether she was putting a hex on her enemies or accidentally turning her crush into a frog. The creators knew they had created something special, her debut was an undeniable hit! This was just a start for our teenage witch, she had a long way to go on her broomstick from here.
Evolution in the Archie comics universe
Sabrina Spellman’s evolution was once-in-a-lifetime miraculous! Her popularity among teens grew faster than a witch shifting your perception. As a result of her popularity, she transitioned from being a side character in Archie’s Madhouse to a regular feature in Archie’s Pals’ n Gals by the mid-1960s. Fans were loving her teenage drama with her dark magic. It’s no surprise she soon got her own series! Sabrina starred in her own solo series Sabrina the Teenage Witch which launched in 1971. She became the heroine witch from mischievous witch overnight!
Sabrina’s stories were not heroic missions, they focused more on everyday teen struggles, their life, school, crushes and frenemies with a sprinkle of magic. She used her powers to solve problems often with a result that was hilarious. It’s a comic after all! Sabrina’s series was just like Archie’s in a way, it was family-friendly, lighthearted and relatable. The stories became more about how she managed her witchy heritage with her human life and less about pranks.
Sabrina’s looks changed too! Yes, she got a pop culture glow-up. She was soon wearing bell-bottoms, vibrant colours and her hair changed too. Her stories changed with whatever the era’s trend was from disco to environmental themes. Not just Sabrina, her supporting cast got a lot of stage time too. The writers leaned into her supporting cast and they shone pretty well. Sabrina’s aunts got a huge applause from the fans for their clever contrasting personalities. Hilda had an impulsive nature and Zelda was the wise level-headed one, perfectly balancing each other. But do you know who stole the show? It was none other than Salem! His snarky one-liners made him the fan favourite.
We talked a lot about how Sabrina’s stories were delightful but her popularity was not just about her stories. Do you know what it was? It was her relatability. She was a teen navigating her personal life and school just like her readers. Her relatable stories helped her series run for years cementing her as an indispensable character in the Archie Universe. By the 1980s and 1990s, she became a household name. She was appearing in special issues and crossovers. She owned the comic world which helped her leap into something bigger, the leap to the small screen.
The leap to the television
Sabrina got her taste of television in the 1970s. It was an animated series called, The Sabrina, the Teenage Witch show. Initially, it aired as a part of The Archie Comedy Hour but later with The New Archie/Sabrina Hour. Sabrina was brought to life by Jane Webb who voiced her character. Sabrina was shown as a bubbly teen navigating high school and magic. She was often seen teaming up with Archie and his friends. The show had catchy theme songs and kept the comics’ lighthearted tone. It kept running till 1974.
This was just the start, the real magic happened in 1994 with a live action tv show called Sabrina the Teenage Witch. It starred Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina. The show became a global hit and ran for seven seasons and 163 episodes. It followed the story of a 16 year old witch Sabrina who moved with her aunts Hilda and Zelda and discovered her magical powers. Hilda was played by Caroline Rhea and Zelda was played by Beth Borderick. Salem was made to be a puppet voiced by Nick Bakay.
The show also explored themes like identity, family and coming of age. The show cracked the code to balance humour with heartfelt moments. The comic timing was terrific. Like in the comic in the show too Sabrina’s magic had hilarious outcomes most of the time, she would clone herself and make somebody a pineapple. The possibilities of mishaps were endless.
Even though it was made to be a sitcom and sitcoms often work on episodic stories especially those inspired by comics, the show gave Sabrina an evolution arc. She was once a clumsy raw witch but later grew into a confident witch. The show also featured her romance with Harvey Kinkle which was also loved by the fans. The show also introduced new characters like Sabrina’s friend Valerie and Sabrina’s mentor Quizmaster.
The sitcom did exceptionally well, it went up to inspire movies, novels, and even a manga reboot. Its success was massive, it resonated with 90s kids. Milessa Hart’s charm and the witty writing of the show made Sabrina an everyday household name. As the 2000s carpet rolled in, Sabrina’s story took a darker turn. Want to know how? Keep watching!
Darker reimagining and modern era
For decades the Archie’s franchise had their fun with teenagers getting into cute trouble with friends but they had to do something brave with the series. In 2014, Archie Comics took a bold step with their Archie Horror Imprint. This wasn’t just deadly villains, it reimagined all the characters with darker personalities. Sabrina wasn’t left behind either, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and drawn by Robert Hack was an extraordinary horror-infused take on our teenage witch. She was not a bubbly teen running around with her friends, she was now torn between her sinister heritage and mortal life.
Soon the horror vision found its way to Netflix! Yes the darker version inspired Netflix’s Chilling adventures of Sabrina starring Kiernan Shipka which ran from 2018 to 2020. The series thrived on witchcraft lore and occult. In the series Sabrina who is half witch and half mortal is seen facing demonic cults, satanic forces and the obvious moral dilemma. Her aunts Hilda and Zelda were played by Miranda Otto and Lucy Davis. And you will not like this but the star of earlier series and comics, Salem is no longer a sarcastic witty cat instead he is silent and kinda eerie.
Fans could see that the show was heavily influenced by The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby. It blended teen drama with supernatural phenomenon. Sabrina was caught up between her loyalty to her human friends Roz and Theo and the church of Night. Unlike Sabrina’s earlier versions this series focused on mature themes too like identity and sacrifice but this did not take away her relatability.
It wasn’t easy for this new version to make a place in fans heart. The fans missed the lighthearted version but if it wasn’t for this versions visuals and feminist undertone we think it would not have made it this big. The new generation loved it. The show ran for four seasons each getting the same love from fans. The modern storytelling was prove that Sabrina evolved and left her mark even in her twisted darker ways.
Marvellous Verdict
At this point can we call Sabrina a cultural chameleon? Jokes apart Sabrina did took over every era effortlessly. From her debut in 1962 in Archie’s Madhouse as a mischievous prankster and a spell caster to her wholesome version in 90s sitcom to her haunting reinvention in Chilling adventures of Sabrina, the journey of 60 years has been enchanting. She had fans tightly ropped around her finger. All her versions were in perfect sync with the trend of that decade, whether it was modern horror aesthetics, teen comedy or 60s vibes. It does not matter if she is accidentally turning people into things or slaying demons one thing remained the same, she was always relatable and a teen tackling the same ups and downs like her audience.
You must be wondering all this change and it never disrupted her character’s identity? No, instead she has a legacy! Her legacy is intact because she adapted to the world’s trends without losing her roots. Her roots were always strong. The comic gave us a playful witch, the sitcom an glamorous icon and the modern version a mature complex witch. Each version better in their own way and resonating with its audience. We wonder whats next for our witch? Archie’s universe is still thriving and Sabrina’s magic and mischief is far from over. What if its AI meets Sabrina in few years? We will know in few years maybe until then keep your theories coming in comment section. Who knows it might end up in Greendale!
