"Stick with it. A lot happens. A lot goes on."
DALLAS - When comic book store owner Dave Luebke heard that after 67 years, the carrot-topped everyman of the comic world, Archie, was proposing to va-va-voomy rich girl Veronica instead of girl-next-door Betty, he decided to protest by selling his copy of the series' rare first issue.
Luebke's Archie Comics No. 1 sold for $38,837 when Dallas' Heritage Auction Galleries offered it Friday. Heritage spokesman Noah Fleisher said the buyer was a longtime Archie reader and collector from Virginia who did not want to be identified.
"Betty is it. Not Veronica," said Luebke, whose Richmond, Va., store has more than 1 million comics in stock. "This is serious."
And, he said, 99 percent of his customers agree that perky, blond Betty is the clear choice over shiny dark-haired Veronica in the seemingly never-ending love triangle.
"It's amazing how many stories they've gotten out of this over the years," said Barry Sandoval, Heritage director of operations of the comics division.
The Archie Comics Web site shows Archie proposing to Veronica on bended knee on the cover of No. 600, which hits comic book stores Aug. 19. That begins a six-issue story arc that takes place in the future - when the perpetual high schoolers have graduated from college, said Victor Gorelick, editor-in-chief of Archie Comics.
He said people all over the world are reacting to Archie's choice and "mostly everyone feels bad for Betty."
For those heartbroken by Archie's choice, Gorelick remains coy, advising: "I just tell them to stick with it. Read through it and you'll see what happens. A lot happens. A lot goes on."
The Archie Comics Web site shows the proposal issue is followed by an issue with a cover featuring the couple at the altar, Veronica proclaiming "I do!" and Archie saying "Do I ever!" In the next issue, twins are on the way.
After the six-issue story arc, the gang will return to high school, Gorelick said.
Tom Michael, a teen comics collector from Iola, Wis., has a feeling all might not be what it seems.
"I have a feeling that the last issues will have him asking Betty to marry him," Michael said.
Sandoval, who said Luebke's No. 1 is in excellent condition, suspects Luebke's reason for selling might have a bit more to do with the money than anger.
Luebke concedes that the economic downturn was a factor, but he said his outrage on behalf of Betty is real.
Anybody who has ever picked up an Archie comic knows that the phrases "A lot happens" and "Archie Comics" do not belong in the same sentence. But I am happy to see that someone has real outrage on behalf of Betty. There is not nearly enough to be outraged about in the world today, and this helps to fill that gap.
I am somewhat curious about the Archie Comics view of the space/time continuum, however. In what universe or dimension does someone travel into "the future" after being in high school for 60 years, and then return to high school? Probably the same one in which someone can say "It's amazing how many stories they've gotten out of this over the years" without a hint of irony.
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Tags: comic books Betty protest Archie Comics outrage stupidity marriage high school reality Veronica space/time continuum
Oh yeah, people are upset. I heard they're storming town hall meetings and shouting down the speakers. Unfortunately, their message is getting lost in a lot of hubbub about "health fair reform" or some such thing.
Anyway, I have a feeling that at the end of the story arc, Archie will change his mind, or it will all be a dream. And then Mr. Luebke will be even more embarrassed than he was when the world found out a grown man still reads Archie comics.
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