Hiram Lodge
Hiram P. Lodge is a fictional character by Archie Comics. He is married to Hermione Lodge and they have a daughter, Veronica Lodge. He's a multi-billionaire and one of the richest men in the world. He is an industrialist and the CEO of his multi-billion dollar company, Lodge Industries. Hiram is also the richest man in Riverdale (in fact, according to one story, the Lodges founded it).
| Hiram Lodge | |
|---|---|
| Archie Comics character | |
 | |
| First appearance | Pep Comics #31 (September 1942) |
| Created by | Bob Montana |
| Portrayed by | James Noble (Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again) Mark Consuelos (Riverdale) |
| Voiced by | Dallas McKennon (1968–1969) John Michael Lee (1999–2002) |
| Hometown | Riverdale |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | CEO of Lodge Industries. |
| Spouse | Hermione Lodge (wife) |
| Children | Veronica Lodge (daughter) |
| Relatives | Marcy McDermott (niece) |
Bob Montana, creator of the original Archie characters, knew the Lodges, a Massachusetts Brahmin political family because he painted a mural for them. Montana used that name when he created the character of Hiram Lodge. A villainous version of Hiram is portrayed by Mark Consuelos in Riverdale.
History
A common theme of the Archie comics is Mr. Lodge's ongoing feud with Archie Andrews and his disapproval of Archie dating Veronica. Hiram tries to avoid Archie whenever possible because it seems that whenever Archie visits the Lodge mansion, something (usually something expensive or Mr. Lodge himself) gets damaged. He lets Veronica date Archie in spite of that, because deep-down he does like Archie and knows he treats Veronica well. He also fears Veronica may be spoiled by wealthy young men. Lodge spoils Veronica quite extensively himself. Mr. Lodge is also able to accept Archie because in various stories he has saved Mr. Lodge from a number of thieves, blackmailers, and underhanded business rivals who were trying to rob him, swindle him, or steal various priceless treasures. On one occasion, he asks them to act like they are his sons in order to secure a business deal with clients who come from a place where people do not respect a person without sons. Taking advantage, the teens drive away in Lodge's new car to show off. Both the "sons" order around Veronica and Smithers to a point where they cannot wait to beat them. However, a typhoon breaks out when the clients attempt to leave. And when they walk near the car, a tree breaks and is about to fall on them until Archie and Jughead save the day. This causes Lodge to secure the deal faster, and in his joy he says "You did great, sons!", much to Veronica and Smither's chagrin.
Hiram Lodge is a millionaire, but in one story, Veronica contradicts this, saying that "Daddy has billions." This is likely due to the extreme rise of wealth in the real world since the introduction of the Lodge family, which would mean that in order to maintain the pretense that the Lodge family is one of the richest in the world Hiram would have to be a billionaire. In the comics, this is explained by the take-over of the Blossom corporation, owned by Cheryl Blossom's father, who went bankrupt in one story; his company was soon bought out by Hiram Lodge to save the Blossom family and their remaining wealth (the Blossom family are no longer richer than the Lodges and Mr. Blossom now works for Mr. Lodge).[1] He is usually portrayed as an industrialist rather than a financier or banker and is frequently involved in international business ventures. He has a keen eye for unusual business opportunities that many other people write off-in one story, after a fellow businessman thought he had outsmarted Mr. Lodge by selling him a garbage dump for $2,000, Lodge easily retorted that he had covered the dump with artificial snow and turned it into a ski resort, which made him over $2 million in its first year of operation, a revelation which the other businessman did not take well.
The stories are contradictory as to his childhood. Some suggest he was born to old money, stating he grew up with spoiled children and that he is descended from the founders of Riverdale. Others state that he built his fortune on that of his in-laws, and having gone to public school (thus insisting Veronica to go because he himself did and went on to become successful on his own right). He had also served in the Army at some point in his life. He eventually married Hermione Lodge, who also came from money, and built on the resulting fortune.
Although politics and political talk hardly, if ever, happen in the Archie world, at least one story-line hinted that Hiram was a conservative. The storyline involved the Archie gang being shrunken, and having to take a paper airplane to another side of the room they were in. When it was all suggested they lean to the left, Veronica quipped that her dad hated anyone who leaned to the left.
Note: In some 'Archie' stories dating from the 1960s, he is referred to as J. P. Lodge, and in his first appearance in Pep Comics #31, he is referred to as Burton K. Lodge.
Despite his age, he remains physically fit, which in one story, he attributes to his having to chase Archie away.[2]
In other media
- Hiram appears in the 1990 television film, Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again, portrayed by James Noble. He is the main antagonist and anti-hero who wants to evict Pop Tate from his soda shop, under the pretext of expanding his gym. Just like in the comic books, he doesn't want Veronica dating Archie. He sees Archie wrong for Veronica.
- Hiram appears as a major antagonist on the CW series Riverdale, portrayed by Mark Consuelos. In the pilot episode, it is mentioned that he is in New York City on trial for fraud and embezzlement, leading to Hermione and Veronica moving to Riverdale in order to escape his notoriety. He and Fred Andrews were rivals in school, with Hiram stealing Hermione from Fred and later marrying her. It is established that Hermione is helping Hiram continue running his business and criminal empire from behind bars. In the second season, Hiram is released and returns to Riverdale, establishing himself as a threatening and powerful presence in the town. Just like in comic books and animated series, he still hates Archie and doesn't want him to influence Veronica or date her. In the fourth season, he says his birth name was Jaime Luna but the Luna name had a bad reputation and he changed it.
- Consuelos reprises the role in the episode "Chapter Thirteen: Come Together" from the first season of Katy Keene, a spin-off of Riverdale.[3]
References
- Archie & Friends #79
- Frank Doyle (w), Samm Schwartz (a), Barry Grossman (col). "Success Symbol" Jughead and Archie comics digest 2: 1–5 (July 2014)
- Drum, Nicole (May 11, 2020). "Hiram Lodge Heads to New York in Katy Keene Season Finale". Comic Book.com. Retrieved May 12, 2020.