BETTY and VERONICA #278
“Last Dance!” (20 pages)
Script & Pencils: Dan Parent
Inks: Bob Smith
Colors: Glenn Whitmore
Letters: Jack Morelli
Publisher: Archie Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
So long. Farewell. Auf Weidershen. Au revoir. Adieu. Bye-bye!! This is the FINAL ISSUE with B&V. Say it ain’t so 🙁
Through thick and thin, in good times and in bad, these two friendly rivals have pretty much experienced everything under the sun. At times, intense competitors; other times, sisters united. I’d reckon that they are frenemies at best. Correction!! The predominant theme in this story (and all others in their 64-year shared history) is friendship.
The premise is the closing of the gym in order for the cafeteria may be expanded. Veronica thinks it’s rad; Betty isn’t as gung-ho. Numerous memories were created there, specifically the dances. This has the duo reminisce about their dealings with Archie and his failed attempts at double and triple dating.
One last dance means giving it one last hoorah. The girls decide to turn the tables after being hoodwinked by the charming carrot top time and again. Separately, they ask out Archie. They seal with the deal with major lip-lock. Archie is spellbound. He eagerly agrees to both invitations until he realizes that each of the girls asked to be picked up at the same time. Rather than taking sound advice from his bestie Jughead, the jolly ginger decides to overcomplicate the entire situation. He wants two for the price of one. Conclusion: two costumes and two dates.
A comedy of errors ensues with Archie struggling to keep the ladies separate as well as his costumed identities. Things hit a major snag for Mr. Andrews when he tries to remove the Cosmo mask, revealing the Super-Duck one as well. The blonde-haired beauty and the raven-tressed ravisher pretend to be upset and ready to duke it out. Archie tries to prevent this fake fight and trips face first into the punch bowl. The girls come clean but Archie is miffed.
Cheryl Blossom’s snide remark triggers fond memories for the two. They joined forces to stand up to bullies, deal with heartbreak, and fend off unwanted advances. Surprisingly, instead of dividing their time in dancing with the fetching freckle-face, they suggest he tango with other candidates. Archie seems disappointed at being brushed off.
Betty and Veronica depart. They intently observe the good time experienced by the others. This is by far not the end for the diametrically opposed duo nor their friends. Their interactions will last an eternity!!
The amount of Archie material I’ve read is less than the digits on my two hands. Excluding the deliciously dark and twisted ARCHIE vs. PREDATOR, there has been consistency in the line. Archie Comics are synonymous with friendship and fun. Humour and good-heartedness are the main ingredients. Serious issues are sometimes addressed lightly but never ignored. This became prevalent in 2010 when the publishing company realized they had to keep up with the times to stay afloat. It worked!! There is a new Riverdale Universe as of 2015. ARCHIE and JUGHEAD are ahead of the game. It would be a major disservice not to have the same treatment for this persistent pair.
Dan Parent is everyone’s favourite uncle at Archie Comics. His creative input for the company is too numerous to mention. Suffice to say that he has kept steady hands with the entire universe. His major claim to fame and crowning achievement is the creation of Kevin Keller. It wasn’t until this very issue that I realized B&V are bona-fide friends. The few stories I read always had them at each other’s throat, thus my assumption of their frenemy status. I’m extremely satisfied that Mr. Parent had these two realize they don’t need a boy to drive a wedge in their relationship. Individually, they are independent, savvy, and strong. Together, they are unbeatable!! The characters reflect the modern times. Gone are the days when they would literally cry over rejection and unnecessary antagonism.
My head goes in circles at trying to figure out how each artist for any of these titles has the exact same style!! This goes beyond gifted and talented. The Kewpie doll-esque faces, the exaggerated eyes, the wide mouths. Each feature is so distinct. I have zero expertise in critiquing art. I don’t have the right adjective for this but the art on all published material is Archierian 😉 Mr. Parent doesn’t stick to the traditional panelling. He tilts some of those squares. He uses bursts, circles, curves, and squiggles in lieu of the solid shape. In one instance, there is a literal split panel.
Bob Smith is part of the pantheon that delivers the exact artistic renditions.
Glenn Whitmore emits vibrancy. The primary colours are fresh and ripe. This is primo painting on the printed page!!
Jack Morelli uses block lettering to make each caption easily legible. The heart-filled SMOOCHes are a stroke of genius!
Meta-awareness alert!!! Dan Parent flat out states that the doors have closed on this particular title. The book is a fitting conclusion to the franchise. No statement is more obvious that the one on page 6, panel 2.
The gym is being downsized and relocated. Guess what? The same applies to Ms. Cooper and Ms. Lodge!! After an extremely lengthy stint, the makeover will supersede any spa visit these two may have had. It seems like no company wants high numbers any more for their titles (there are some exceptions).
The debonair damsels will experience a relaunch. Consequently, this will lead to a resurgence in popularity since the current hot creators in the industry will inherit the mantle.
The announcement of the All-New B&V states that it will be in the summer. Surely, they cannot mean 2016?? That’s the only logical conclusion since we are currently in October. Interestingly enough, Betty pre-dates Veronica by four months. The bubbly blonde first appeared in PEP COMICS #22 [Dec. 1941]. The same issue that debuted Archie Andrews! The fiercely intense Ms. Lodge was brought in a ‘third wheel’ by PEP COMICS #26 [Apr. 1942]
Given the longevity of this series and its predecessor (hence the #625 on the cover), I give this story 236 out of 278 [84.8%], or if you will, 531 out of 625 [84.96%]. Either way, it rounds up to 85% ;-P
