Betty and Veronica #3 Review

Betty & Veronica #3

Writer/Artist: Adam Hughes
Colourist: Jose Villarrubia
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Publisher: Jon Goldwater

A review by Maria Muller

I’m not going to lie, it’s been a long time since I’ve read me some Betty and Veronica. Thirty plus years ago these girls were everything I wanted to be as a teenager. Reading this issue was like wrapping myself in an old blanket that still smelled like Grandma’s house when she was baking bread. These girls never change, and they’re so good at reminding me why I always loved them.

Betty and Veronica are at war! Team Veronica and her father are trying to run Pop Tate out of town and replace Pop’s Choklit Shoppe with the equivalent of a Starbucks. Team Betty, of course, is trying to raise the money to save the shop. The ever-scheming Veronica Lodge decides to have the grand opening of Kweeweg’s, the incoming coffee shop, the same night that Betty throws a Halloween Fundraiser at Riverdale High. Although many people in town give what they can, the fundraiser falls $7,000 short of the $60,000 they need. To add insult to injury, Veronica announces she will give the $7,000 to Pop… the next day. One day too late to save the shop. That is the last straw for Betty. Veronica discovers that Betty’s patience has limitations, and that she’s a lot stronger than any of us would have guessed.

This is classic Betty and Veronica at it’s best. We know that Betty is going to do everything in her power to save Pop Tate. What’s unexpected is that it is actually possible to piss her off. There’s a little dark side to Betty that makes her character more interesting. We all know Veronica can be a selfish little brat at times, but when she hands Pop a cup of the coffee that’s going to replace his revered malts, you just want to smash her perfect teeth in.

The artwork is a little weird and I’m trying to get used to it. The characters look more real than the cartoonish ones I remember from the 80’s. It’s not a bad thing, it’s a weird thing. But I think I could get used to it. What I cannot get used to is Jughead’s dog, Hot Dog, narrating the story. He tries to be funny but fails, and takes up space that should have shown more story instead. Fortunately, there are a few funny scenes that make up for this.

The Verdict
I’m a little conflicted here. If I was still between 8-12 years old I would say Buy It. Some comic books can reach all ages, this one cannot. It’s a cute story, but the woman I am today would not spend money on it. Although I believe Betty and Veronica #3 could be enjoyed by younger girls, I wasn’t impressed enough with the story to consider collecting it once again. Anyone over 14 years of age can Skip It.