I waited until Black Friday to consider making an Archie order for the season. I’d already gotten several Christmas digests, but a few more books of holiday cheer couldn’t hurt. Archie had multiple offers for Christmas bundles and clearance items. The Black Friday discount was 35% on top of it.
Unfortunately, this was also the night of month end processing for me. I didn’t have time at work to make a decision with so many options. Moreover, I was getting a bit burned out after two previous orders that I wasn’t even through with. The discount passed, but came back the week of the Christmas, though most of the other offers disappeared.
I was in a free-spending mood. Also, I knew that I’d be getting a pillow and an electric toothbrush for Christmas. (Both have been excellent and I got a pair Sherpa socks, which are very warm and comfortable.) If I wanted to get something fun, I was going to have to get it myself. My choices were a lot quicker to pick from. I got two graphic novels I had my eye on. They arrived two days after Christmas, but were much appreciated anyway.
This is a heretical statement, but I’m going to say it: I like Veronica with the short haircut. I know. I’ve lost all credibility. This hairstyle randomly shows up in reprints. It was initially inspired by Jackie Kennedy, but Veronica would later make it her own. So, I knew it was from the 60’s. I figured this graphic novel would likely feature the hairstyle. Archie Comics had knocked off a couple of bucks off the cover price, and with the seasonal discount, I thought this would be a good purchase.
I was disappointed right from my initial flip-through after I got it. The short-haired Veronica only shows up in a few stories near the back and goes back to normal before the end. I know this change was a big deal when it happened. It must have stuck around for a couple of years, but only just. I know there’s more out there. Sigh. Oh, well.
Regrettably, I was also disappointed after reading the book. There are a couple of clever stories, such as Betty breaking the Fourth Wall and a story featuring the characters’ clothes without the characters in them. Unfortunately, most of the rest of the stories are just Betty and Veronica fighting over Archie. Even of those, it’s mostly the “original” love triangle, which is Archie wants to be with Veronica, who is stringing him along, and Betty winsomely wants to be with Archie. (It only later becomes Archie not being able to choose between the two.) It’s nowhere near as funny as Bob Montana’s original version from the comic strips (where Betty is crazy, seriously). It’s not that they’re bad; it’s that it’s basically the same story for the whole volume.
Still, if you’re getting this for Dan DeCarlo in his prime for his art, this is it. It begins with a take on Montana’s style, but soon becomes DeCarlo’s to keep up changing fashions. In that regard, you have to love the girls’ wardrobe in this. While the cover is showing the girls in something from the late 60’s, the clothes in the book are classy and stylish. A lot of the clothing in here could be worn today and look great, assuming you’re very pretty like Betty and Veronica. (Well, some Veronica’s pantsuits aren’t that great.)
I showed this book to a female co-worker. One, I wanted to show her this page. I don’t know if this is the actual origin of the term, “Frenmy,” but certainly Betty and Veronica are the original frenmies. Two, I wanted to show off the fashions in the comic and she was very impressed with them. Surprisingly, she really liked Veronica with the short hair. I almost think she was taking mental notes for the future, though I’m not sure if that style would work with her light blonde hair. (Also, she’s getting married in the near future.)
60’s material doesn’t get regularly reprinted as much as it used to. If you want to look at this volume for the art and fashion, go for it. Otherwise, you could pass on it.
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