Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica - Publication History

Publication History

Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica ran 347 issues (cover-dated March 1950 - April 1987). In issue #118 (Oct. 1965), Betty becomes the superheroine Superteen, a spoof on popular superhero comics of the era. Issue #320 (Oct. 1982) introduced the long-running character Cheryl Blossom, from Pembroke, a redhead who compete with Betty and Veronica for Archie. The run additionally included eight annual publications published from 1953 to 1980.

A new Betty and Veronica series launched with a #1 (June 1987), sans the "Archie's Girls" part of the title. This has run 255 issues as of calendar date August 24, 2011.

Reprint stories have run in small-format "digest" series including Betty and Veronica Annual Digest Magazine (16 issues, Sept. 1989 - June 1997), Betty and Veronica Comic Digest Magazine' (208 issues, 1980 - Dec. 2010) and Betty and Veronica Double Digest Magazine (June 1987 to present).

Stories are generally based on slices of "daily life" in Riverdale but do on occasion touch on more serious subjects, including divorced parents and broken families, cheating, and other moral issues. Both characters have been featured in various public-information campaigns against illicit drug use and smoking, and for environmental protection. Archie Comics has always exercised a very strict code for the stories and drawings, recognizing the impact the comics have on children. Drinking, use of tobacco, drugs, nudity, and other controversial practices are carefully avoided, although modern politically-sensitive matters are often involved. Dancing, sports, school, and part-time jobs are all an important part of life in Riverdale, although religion is generally avoided. Although both characters (and their female friends, including Midge Clump, Big Ethel, Cricket O'Dell, and others) are generally on the cutting-edge of teenage fashion, and fashion was often the subject of older stories, the extremes of teen female styles in the 1990s and first half of the 2000s have been avoided for the most part.

In 2004, a new line of dolls and fashion accessories was launched with the tag line 'Are you a Betty or Veronica?' and in 2005, a new series of traditional (non-comics) books were launched featuring the two girls and aimed at the pre-teen female market. At the end of 2005, an Australian girl-band, "The Veronicas", was adopted by the publishing house and incorporated in their marketing and products.

In 2007 a new look for the characters, with more naturalistic facial features, was floated for an experimental run. By 2008, the characters had clearly reverted to the traditional appearance.