I'm sure that might have played a part in the phasing out of the moniker, but I don't really remember "Big" preceding Moose's name (for that matter, does he *have* a real name, "Moose" has *got* to be a nickname)... and, with Ethel, I think it was always just referring to her height, but, she's really not much taller than the other girls (or guys, for that matter) anymore.

:slaps forehead: >_< I plead temporary amnesia!

The "PC"ing of Archie Comics! Remember when Ethel was down right homely? The big buck teeth, and her nose was more like Jughead's. I recall her being a lot more CRAZY acting too. Now she's just plain and more level headed. I liked it better when she was ugly and nuttier.
MJB

I don't like it when Archie staff is forced to "correct" all old Archie comics for today's coddled tots.

Ethel's teeth are not only fixed, but she also lost her toy guns when she played cowboys and Indi...pardon me, Native Americans with the kid she was babysitting. Next, she'll be turned into Katy Keene's twin sister.

Ironically, seeing nothing but beautiful, perfect girls in the whole land of Riverdale are going to make young girls who don't fit the image more insecure about their looks rather than discourage them from becoming as ugly as "Big Ethel" of the older days. Go figure.

(I got that idea from chubbier Care Bears not existing anymore in the current cartoon, BTW. Like it would force fatter kids to slim down or something. )

I never saw calling Moose "Big" as an insult (If it was, none of the guys would have called him that to his face).  I think it just meant that he was strong and powerful.

Also, when was it actually established that his real name was "Marmaduke Mason"?  For some reason, I get the feeling that this was a fairly recent invention, but I could be wrong.