Archie #600/Stan Goldberg & Bob Smith
Today, the big news in the comic book industry isn’t from Superman, Batman, Spider-Man or Wolverine.
It’s from the world’s oldest teenager, Dick Clark Archie Andrews.
Today marks the release of Archie #600, in which Archie Andrews proposes to long on-again-off-again-on-again-no-wait-she’s-with-Reggie-no-she-changed-her-mind-off-again relationship with Riverdale’s own celebutaunte, Veronica Lodge. It kicks off a six-part storyline that sees the Lodge/Andrews wedding in #601, their children in #602, and runs through #605. The storyline has picked up a lot of attention from long-time fans and the national media. At least one long-time collector is selling his copy of Archie #1 gang in protest.
While the “Archie Marries Veronica” storyline may not be getting as much attention as “The Death of Superman,” it’s certainly gathering more attention for comics than anything else has in a while.
The fact that Archie is getting married to anyone is less important than the fact that he’s choosing Veronica over Betty, because it seems to finally put to rest one of the oldest debates in popular culture. Right up there with who would win in a fight between Superman and The Hulk, or which castaway was more attractive on Gilligan’s Island, Ginger or Mary Ann, is who would Archie eventually go for: the glamorous but cold Veronica, or the girl-next-door Betty Cooper.
The dynamics of this love triangle are some of the oldest in literature: Archie desires Veronica, but Veronica knows she can have Archie whenever she wants, so she toys with him; Archie sees Betty more as a friend, and Betty has never really let her true feelings for Archie be known (at least over the long-term), so he doesn’t see her as anything more than a friend; but Veronica knows Betty's feelings and sees her as competition, which makes Archie more appealing, despite Veronica’s and Betty’s friendship.
Readers identify with Archie because he wants something we all know ultimately he can’t have: Veronica. But readers are also frustrated with him because we can all see that woman who’s better for him is sitting right under his nose. For a funnybook, it all makes for some very compelling reading.
Storyline writer Michael Uslan (producer of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight) said that the storyline will explore some of the more real emotions that develop when situations like this happen in real life. There’s not one of us who hasn’t known somebody who we knew was marrying the wrong person. Sometimes the right person was us. All of us have been in Betty’s shoes at one time or another. Some of us have even been in Archie’s.
But if Archie had chosen Betty over Veronica, would anyone care? Betty is the one everybody is rooting for, so if Archie chooses her, the story is over: Archie wins, Betty wins, but most importantly, the readers win. And in doing so, everybody loses. If Archie marries Betty, there’s no drama left in the relationship. They may be a happy couple, but who wants to read about that.
Veering as far away as possible from Archie Andrews for a moment… When Keith Giffen and JM DeMattis left the Justice League titles, there was a fan groundswell for two things: adding Blue Devil to the team and the return of the JLA satellite headquarters.
Eventually, the fans got what they wanted.
And the title was awful. It was cancelled not long after.
What the fans want is not always what is best for the story. Archie proposing to Veronica makes a better story for the fans precisely because it’s the choice we don’t want him to make. Archie’s mistake draws us in, like watching a pilot in a nose dive. But this is Archie we’re talking about, so we know that he’ll eventually pull out of it (won’t he?), and everything will return to the status quo.
In the meantime, it should make for an interesting ride.
“Archie Marries Veronica” starts today in Archie #600 and continues through Archie #605.
How do you cram hundreds of comics in your front pocket? Click here.
How did a comic book censorship board drive its founder out of business? Click here.
How can the creator of Superman own his cape, but not his ability to fly? Click here.
Comments
Wesley, you are right on target. Most comic book readers aren't aware of the writing aspect of comics, and only want to see their favorites or their way done--not necessarily right, but done no matter what. This is why I always get upset seeing the umpteenth volume of AQUAMAN or HAWKMAN, because the fans want them, but then they complain and not buy the book, or the writer assigned to them can't bring any drama, leading to yet another cancellation. You're completely right that if Archie married Betty, it would be "happily ever after" and the title would fade away. Marrying Veronica (in the short, imaginary term) makes for way better story potential, and that guy who's selling his ARCHIE #1 in protest can't see that this is an imaginary story about a fictional kid. After all those years, anything in comics can be erased & restarted, so selling his book is moronic, unless his motive is more financial than protesting Veronica's victory.
Actually, I heard that it it was supposed to be for both characters. In the first 3, Arch marries Veronica but in the next 3 it shows what would happen if he married Betty.
I WOULD ACRE! I want to see Archie and Betty. Always have!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!