When this column was originally posted, it included a reader poll asking the simple question – Betty or Veronica? What should not be a surprise to anyone, the result of the poll was an exact tie. No wonder Archie has such a hard time…

Still on the Shelf #5 – Betty and Veronica

Originally published April 22nd, 2003 on www.ComiXtreme.com. This work is, of course, © Craig Reade.

Betty and Veronica, mainstay characters of the Archie Comics line, first appeared in the 1940s, where their eternal battle over Archie began. They got their own title, Archie’s Girls: Betty and Veronica, which was re-launched in 1987 as simply Betty and Veronica. Largely ignored by comic collectors and fanboys everywhere, Betty and Veronica, either tucked away in the corner of your favorite comic book retailer with the rest of the kiddy titles, or in the aisles of the local grocery store.

Like your favorite Sunday comic strips, Betty and Veronica has changed very little over the decades. The art is simplistic and reminiscent of Blondie, and the stories are typically short and sweet. If you are looking for a story heavy on situational humor and ultra-light on character development, this title is for you.

The Story so Far?

Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge are your arch-typical high school girls at Riverdale High. Veronica is rich and vain, and very much on the egotistical side. Betty, on the other hand, is less sophisticated, but more good-natured. While both are boy-crazy to an extent, they very often end up fighting over Archie. The stories tend to revolve around superficial matters, as most strip-style comics tend to. Appearances by Riverdale’s other notable students, Jughead, Reggie, and the renowned Archie, commonly factor into the humor. Be it petty bickering over boys, clothes, shopping, or one-upsmanship, Betty and Veronica’s escapades always unfold in a formulaic, often humorous manner.

Issue #187 features six short strips, all of which are light in humor and substance. The stories range from Betty’s troubles in her responsibility of selecting a prom king, to a bird-watching trip, to outfit coordination. All of the stories are well suited to your average newspaper strip, short, sweet, and to the point.

Thoughts Betty and Veronica is like a crocodile- a living relic of an ancient time in comics. The art is not meant to stun the eye, and the story does not aspire to literary proportions. Regardless, it is fun, in a simple way, and suitable for all ages. And even though the very first issue of Archie’s Girls: Betty and Veronica boasts a value of nearly $2000, never will you see a current issue create a buzz amongst collectors for a potential increase in value. The title remains true to what comics were always supposed to be about- good natured and fun reading, without having to worry about fingerprints or bent corners.

Bottom Line-

Betty and Veronica is certainly not a title many of you will have pulled for you each Wednesday, but it is one of the last books on the market that are suitable for all ages. This, and the other Archie titles, are just the kind of book you would buy your child, to pique their interest in the hobby you so much enjoy. That aside, Betty and Veronica represents something that many collectors agree is missing from comics today- humor. And I can not stress enough one aspect of this book that I find most appealing- its utter lack of collectibility.

Pick up a copy of Betty and Veronica or Archie, roll it up and stick it in your back pocket. Enjoy a comic without detesting what the latest artist has done to your favorite character, or enduring the annoyance of a gaping hole in continuity when the writer forgets a fact from a character’s history.

In short- go out and enjoy a comic for what it is. A story, not a museum piece

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