VERY FINE/NEAR MINT(W) (W) Michael Uslan (A) Stan Goldberg
"Archie Marries Veronica Part 1: The Proposal." It's the milestone 600th issue and we're serving up the Archie story of the century as Archie marries Veronica! Could it be true? Has Archie finally decided to take the plunge and propose to comics' favorite rich girl? Make way for this special story that takes a look at Archie and his friends after they graduate college. Will the friends stay in Riverdale or disperse? What would lead Archie to have marriage on his mind? And why would he choose Veronica over Betty? How will Betty react? Two things are certain: with the Lodges as hosts, this will be the biggest wedding Riverdale has ever seen - and the biggest Archie Comics story since the famous "Love Showdown!" Date Available: 08/19/2009 BONUS REVIEW by GARY OWENS
Forget Secret Invasion and Final Crisis, and their extraterrestrial messes. Give me a guy who needs to make a simple choice: blonde, or brunette? Yes, Archie, the perennial high schooler, finally chooses between Betty and Veronica. Archie Comics isn’t long on surprise endings, since they titled this 6-part story “Archie marries Veronica”, but this one choice isn’t the real story: it’s what happens afterwards that counts. The issue is thick, brimming over with the consequences of this one choice, since it shatters probably the longest love triangle in comics. My favorite quote comes from his mother: “Archie, my very own Peter Pan! Even a boy who doesn’t want to grow up has to face reality!” I’ve enjoyed Archie over the years, wishing I could get this guy’s problems with Betty and Veronica. But, as this issue shows, his problems aren’t simple, and every relationship has baggage. A great reminder that Archie is, really, quite complicated.
