When I was five years old, my best friend and I would rush home from school every day in order to catch an episode of the Archie Comics cartoon. While she gushed over Archie (his freckles, his hair, and his weirdly black eyebrows), I found myself obsessed with the other members of Archie’s gang. In both the comics and the many spin-offs produced for the small screen, Archie’s surprisingly large group of friends were always so much more intriguing than the ginger star of the show.
Jughead was sarcastic, hilarious, and could eat like nobody’s business. Reggie was the perfect antagonist. Cheryl was always show-stoppingly beautiful. And then, there was Betty and Veronica. Betty was the idol that all young perfectionists worshipped. She did so much volunteer work for Riverdale, had a list of talents longer than my arm, and always had her hair pulled into this perfectly bouncy and sculpted ponytail.
Though Veronica was never my style, I have to admit that her casual weird and meticulous materialism is honestly impressive to say the least. And if their opposing personalities weren’t enough reason for these two to be at odds, they are both vying for the same guy.
But what struck me most about this unlikely duo is the fact that they are best friends (and enemies). The pair go back and forth from being the best of friends to bitter rivals and that dynamic is honestly fascinating. But that is only one fascinating detail about this dynamic duo. So, without further ado, here are 30 things about Betty & Veronica that even the biggest Archie Comic junkies might not have known.
30 Forever Young
Have you ever wondered why Archie, Betty, Veronica, and the rest of the gang have somehow managed to remain in their late teens (save for special edition comic books and spin-off series which occur in the past, future, and in alternate timelines) for the past seventy or so years? Well, there is a reason.
It turns out that this age was specially selected because it gave the young characters the most freedom with the least amount of responsibilities.
They could go out together, drive their own cars to Pop’s, and pursue romantic relationships without having to worry about jobs, college, bills, or any other lame-o adult things. In the behind the scenes featurette for the first season of the gritty Riverdale reboot, showrunners explain that they felt that this age was also perfect for their darker look at the series as it debuts the last moments of innocence in their lives.
29 That's Capitalism, Folks
If you’re up to date with the latest episodes of the CW/Netflix show Riverdale, then you would be very aware of the fact that the Lodge family are buying up properties across the town like they are playing a rigged game of Monopoly. And while that plotline seems like something a CW show would create to incite drama, it was actually inspired by one of the more recent comic storylines.
When Archie Comics rebooted the Betty & Veronica storylines as part of the release of the “New Riverdale” titles, there was a plot line which followed the fallout of a company (owned by Hiram Lodge) buying out Pops’ Chocklit Shoppe- which enrages Betty.
The girls take opposing stances on the issue and things get heavy as the pair duke it out.
28 I Put A Spell On You
Though it seems that the boys of the live-action Riverdale world aren’t too taken with the spoiled daughter of the man who's made it his personal mission to buy up the entire town, their animated counterparts were much more taken by the raven-haired beauties feminine wiles.
Every single boy in the town of Riverdale found himself unable to resist Veronica, nor deny her whatever she wanted.
They trailed after her and devoted themselves to granting her every wish and aiding her every whim. I have to admit that having an army of people who are willing to do each and every single thing that I ask of them might be nice. Though I might use my powers to encourage them to volunteer at seniors centres in their town, discourage them from littering, and prevent them from being mean to their fellow citizens. Boy, I wonder which one of Archie's girls I identify with.
27 Archie's Weird Mysteries
Though some people may have felt like the gritty Riverdale reboot came out of left field, I would be willing to argue that weird things happening in Archie’s small town is not as unheard of as one may think. It turns out that there was an animated mini-series that was released on VHS in the ‘90s that featured Archie and the gang battling against a series of monsters and B-Movie horror plots.
These plots included an episode where Veronica’s selfishness resulted in every single living person in Riverdale being turned into an exact clone of her, an episode where Betty tries to help out someone in need and ends up releasing a gargoyle, and an episode where Betty refuses to believe that an alien that landed in Riverdale could be harmful (when he was very dangerous indeed).
26 Fountain Of Youth
One thing that struck me about the new live action series is how glamorous and gorgeous the Lodge parents are being depicted. For those readers out there who have only experienced the world of Archie through the CW’s lens and not through its original comic book component, allow me to explain this striking casting decision.
Basically, in the original comic book series, the Lodges were not suave mobsters with wrinkle-free faces and flowing black hair.
Their comic book counterparts were originally old, grey, and bitter towards Veronica’s love for spending their money. Adaptations have to make a lot of changes when taking something from the pages of a comic book to the screen, whether that screen is big or small. And it’s always fascinating to see which aspect of the material will be altered and tweaked along the way.
25 Rated V For Veronica
Though Betty and Veronica’s comic book exploits have always been relatively tame and family friendly, some people have taken issue with several covers that have popped up over the years. In 2004, a cover appeared with a brief comic depicting Veronica frolicking in the ocean as things go quickly awry. What happens is that a big wave starts to form and it is heading straight for Veronica.
The wave consumes her and when she emerges, she realizes that the wave has taken half of her swimsuit with it.
There was a bit of public outcry following this salacious cover, which is odd considering that other issues have depicted similar types of content over the years. Maybe it was the fact that it was on the cover that sparked such outrage.
24 Cherry Eye Candy
Those who have watched the recent gritty live-action adaptation will know Cheryl Blossom as the sharp-tongued alpha who spends her days avoiding her mother’s actions and punishing those who try to unseat her from her throne. Cheryl is a cherry bomb and she will not be trifled with. But those who know Cheryl through the comic books will have an entirely different idea of the red-haired maiden.
In the comic book, Cheryl exists to be cherry-flavoured eye candy. That’s it. She first popped up in 1982 in order to unite Betty & Veronica against a shared enemy when the ginger princess enters the competition for Archie’s attention. Though Cheryl eventually becomes a part of the gang, her main purpose within the original comic series is to woo the fellas and anger the jealous ladies who can’t compete with a Blossom.
23 Bad Girl Beginnings
Though Archie and his friends did appear in several of the Pep comics before gaining their own spin-off, Veronica’s move to Riverdale launched a special chapter in the Archie Comics series and changed everyone's lives for good. Once the Boston-born (though it is important to note that she is originally from New York in both later issues and the gritty live-action reboot), raven-haired, spoiled little princess set foot in Riverdale, the town was never the same.
And the same thing happened with the show. Though the pilot episode follows the disappearance of Jason Blossom, it is important to note that Veronica appears that very same week. And nothing will ever be the same in Riverdale ever again. So, was it Blossom’s disappearance or the Lodge’s arrival that marked the town for changes?
22 Polly Want A Bigger Role?
People who have never read the comics might feel that the addition of Polly Cooper was done to create tension. stir up drama, and expose some long-held family secrets within the recent gritty reboot. However, that is not the case. Polly was actually originally seen in the comic books and her character is quite similar, though many details about her life have been changed.
Polly is a perfectionist and the star daughter of the Cooper household. Though her absence isn’t marked by the birth of a pair of twins that are a little more related than Polly would like; instead it is explained that she works in San Francisco and visits her family on occasion. Coincidentally, San Francisco is the place where Polly’s Riverdale counterpart flees when Chic’s actions push her over the edge.
21 Don't Judge A Girl By Her Prada
Though Veronica is known as Riverdale’s fashion mogul and the planet in which all things are destined to revolve around, both her and Betty were actually known as relative fashion icons when their comics were at their height in the late 20th century.
And though Veronica does spend the better part of her life buying clothes, designing outfits, and thinking about what she is going to wear to woo Archie next, it is important to note that Betty also had a love for clothes, a flair for fashion, and a unique style of her own.
Throughout all of the spin-offs, mini-series, and different adaptations of the Archie Comics, Betty has always maintained her own distinct style and is a bit of a fashion icon in her own right.
20 Comic Genius
Though Betty and Veronica were often featured in the main series of Archie Comics, one might be surprised to know that they not only featured in several spin-offs, mini-series’, but that they also had their own spin-off comic book series which focused specifically on stories told from the girls’ perspective.
The comics were named “Archie’s Girls: Betty And Veronica” (though the words “Archie’s Girls” were eventually dropped from the cover) and the series had over 625 issues during its 65-year run.
Those are huge numbers. Imagine how many shoes Veronica bought, how many times they fought over Archie, times they made up, times Betty volunteered in the town of Riverdale, and how many makeovers the characters received during those 65 years. Two best friends and bitter enemies could get up to a lot of antics in 625 issues considering that each issue has several mini-comics within its pages.
19 Supergirl Next Door
Though Veronica was given very few personality traits outside of her love of spending her father’s money, the way that she attracts boys, and her contempt for her servants, Betty Cooper is an entirely different story. Betty Cooper is not your average girl next door. No, this blonde haired superhero is very important in the town of Riverdale.
Betty spends her days befriending every citizen of her hometown, being kind to her siblings and parents, helping the homeless, reading to senior citizens, fundraising for local charities, and rescuing any and all wounded animals that she comes across.
She also is very active in every single sport, is a skilled mechanic, babysits all of the children of Riverdale, is one of the top students at Riverdale High, is a certified scuba diver, and is the best pitcher on the local baseball team. When does she even find time to share a milkshake with Archie at Pop’s?
18 Calm Down
I don’t know if I have made it obvious that I am not a Veronica fan. And if I haven’t then brace yourselves for the scathing paragraph that you are about to read. Now, I have no issue with Veronica’s superficial and materialistic nature. It is everyone’s right to be who they are and like what they like.
However, I take huge issue with how Miss Lodge treats her servants.
You see, she doesn’t really see them as “people” per se and is constantly barking orders at them and scolding them when they take a little too long responding to her demands. There was a plotline where Betty visited Veronica and was absolutely bothered by the way that Veronica treated her servants. Betty felt immense guilt over having people wait on her and tried to do things for herself as much as she could. Veronica should take a page out of Betty's book and start seeing the people who wait on her as... well... people.
17 The Weirdest Crossover Of All
With Avengers: Infinity War on the horizon, the internet has been abuzz with other famous crossovers from comic book history. And I have to say that Marvel has nothing on Archie Comics, especially when you compare their more ambitious comics.
For example, there is an issue of Archie Comics where Archie and the gang face off with the one and only Predator from the classic sci-fi series.
Yep. You read that correctly. These milkshake-loving, burger-eating, shoe-buying teens find themselves having to face off with the beast to end all beasts. The comic features a questionable plotline which includes the premise that Betty and Veronica are both the victims of the Predator’s beastly ways...and its love interests? It is incredibly weird, a little concerning, and an absolute must read for horror, sci-fi, and comic book fans alike.
16 Best Fiends
Let’s be honest, Betty and Veronica are rivals first and reluctant friends second. Their fiendish antics were a bit all over the place but most occurred on a spectrum that ranged from silly little pranks to literally trying to end each other. I mean, if the other girl simply no longer existed then Archie would have to pick the living one? Right?
So, why wouldn’t they want to get each other out of the picture as quickly, quietly, and easily as possible? Since they do manage to maintain a friendship, their bond only fuels their dislike for each other. You see, friends tell each other everything. And now, these girls can use each other's spilled secrets and private insecurities in order to take each other down. This tactic is seen in a recent episode of Riverdale where Veronica uses elicit details of Betty’s intimate life against her in a bitter verbal smackdown.
15 Going To The Other Side
Outside of their personalities, Betty and Veronica are distinct and pitted against each other through their hair colour. Their identities are tied to their respective hair colour as their faces are essentially interchangeable in most versions of the comic books. If they were to swap scalps, very few people would be able to tell them apart. Which is precisely the storyline of a past issue of the Betty and Veronica comics.
In this storyline, Midge accidentally uses a bottle of Midge’s black hair dye (mistaking it for shampoo) which she happened across in the show.
When Betty emerges from the shower, she is shocked to discover that her once blonde hair is now darker than a midnight sky (because that is how hair dye works). After a bit of an issue and identity crisis, Betty decides that it might be fun to experience life as Veronica. Though this quickly overwhelms and exhausts her and she returns to her natural blonde hue.
14 Brotherly Love
Not only is Riverdale’s Polly Cooper part of the official canon list of Archie Comics characters, but readers might be surprised to know that Chic (Betty and Polly’s brother of sorts) was actually originally featured in the comic books as well. Though Riverdale has painted Chic as a mysterious, suspicious, and possibly criminal stranger who Betty brought into their home, his comic book counterpart could not possibly be any different from this interpretation.
In the comic books, Chic is the star eldest brother of the Cooper clan who has moved away from Riverdale in order to pursue a career in his adult life. Like Polly, Chic often returns home to visit their parents and youngest sibling. Though it is important to note that Chic and Polly are at each other from the moment they return home until the very second that they leave.
13 Betty's Return
Though there has been several special issues, mini-series, and spin-offs throughout the comics 76-year run, there was one mini-series in particular which was both weird and unexpected. During the 1970s, one of the main writers for Archie Comics had a bit of an epiphany and that was heavily reflected in his work.
There was a 19 issue mini-series that followed the gang through their own respective epiphany and even featured a panel where Veronica exclaims that Betty is “going steady” with said figure. Archie thinks this is not only a beautiful thing, but is also something that everyone should do. The gang then spends the following issues spreading the Good word across the land and letting the people know just how awesome it truly is. I know it's hard to keep your politics out of your writing but this is a little extreme.
12 New Issue, New Me
How do you keep comic book characters realistically young and trendy for over seventy years? That’s easy! You just completely redesign them every ten, or so, years in order to keep their fashions as up to date as possible.
And if you’re curious about ways to keep the characters realistically young for several decades, it is important to hide older versions of your characters in order to recreate a new universe with a brand new canon in order to explore the ways in which modern teens interact with each other and the world around them.
And that’s precisely what Archie Comics did in 2015. Betty and Veronica left Riverdale, Archie Andrews faced an unexpected end, and their entire world was rebooted with a new look, new styles, and entirely new storylines.
11 Archie Vs. Sharknado
If you thought that the Archie Vs. Predator crossover was both weird and ambitious, you haven’t seen anything yet. Yes, the above image is actually a real comic book that can be bought online. It is absolutely amazing. Though, sadly, I have yet to see the satirical creation spectacular that is Sharknado.
I will admit that I had very minimal interest in the film at all. That is, until I saw this amazing comic book cover.
This ambitious crossover comic features Betty and Veronica as bat-swinging, power-drill wielding totally bad women who take the Sharknado on full force. One of my favourite things in the entire world is seeing women taking names in this sort of B-movie disaster films. So thank you, Archie Comics, for unleashing this brilliant crossover comic book onto the world.