Betty and Veronica: The Leading Ladies of Riverdale

by Tim Hanley

We think we know Betty and Veronica, but we don’t. Far more than just Archie’s girlfriends, the girls have grown beyond simple archetypes to become compelling, relevant characters for each new generation over the past eighty years.

Betty, Veronica, and the rest of the Riverdale gang appear to be frozen in time in Archie comic books. They are perpetual high schoolers, recycling the same basic plotlines over and over in their wholesome, small-town American world. However, there is much more to Betty and Veronica than the broad stereotypes and clichéd storytelling suggests.

In Betty and The Leading Ladies of Riverdale, Tim Hanley explores the complexity behind these two iconic characters. We know Betty and Veronica as Archie's girlfriends, but that's just the beginning—they are their own women with evolving motivations and aims. From fighting over Archie to tackling women’s lib to chasing down serial killers on Riverdale, their friendship has endured and grown through decades of shifting characterizations and social change. Exploring their past offers unique insights into the ways life has progressed for young women over the past eighty years, and shows us the hidden strengths and secret depths of these pop culture icons.

Featuring full-color comic book cover art that spans nearly eight decades of publishing—along with behind-the-scenes accounts of creative decisions and historical insights into their many incarnations across various media—this book provides a vibrant exploration of Betty and Veronica’s many adventures throughout their long, intriguing journey in popular culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, Comics

240 pages, Hardcover

First published July 6, 2020

About the author

Tim Hanley is the author of Wonder Woman Unbound and Investigating Lois Lane. He is also a comic book historian. His blog, Straitened Circumstances, discusses Wonder Woman and women in comics, and his column "Gendercrunching" runs monthly on Bleeding Cool. He has contributed to several comic book sites, including DC Women Kicking Ass and Women Write About Comics.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betty and Veronica: The Leading Ladies of Riverdale is a chronicle of the evolution of Betty and Veronica from their humble beginnings through the Riverdale TV show.

This has been on my radar for a while. I threw this on my Christmas list since I'm allegedly hard to buy for. Luckily, the in-laws came through and I didn't have to buy it for myself two days after Christmas.

As I said above, this book chronicles the history of Betty and Veronica, from rivals for Archie's affection to bitter enemies to mere props in their own book to best friends and beyond. Tim Hanley did his homework on this, likely pouring over more Archie comics that anyone should read.

I had no idea the relationship between Riverdale's dynamic duo had evolved and regressed so much over the years. I expect at least part of the reason for that is that Archie was staffed by middle aged men most of the time. I didn't understand teenage girls when I WAS a teenager so I can imagine how middle aged dudes might feel.

The evolution of Archie Comics as a company, and how Betty and Veronica figured in, is also chronicled. I didn't know that the Archie digests in the supermarket were originally created to keep the company afloat as the newsstand market dried up and pretty much kept the company alive as the single issue format circled the drain. Some Archie books were selling as low as 2500 copies a month before the Love Showdown and reboot of the entire line.

The various attempts at TV and animation are documented, as are the crossovers with TMNT and the Punisher. It's awesome that the whole Archie horror line came about because of a Francisco Francavilla variant cover. I hope he got paid well for that. The last few chapters are devoted to Riverdale and now I think I should watch it because it sounds crazy.

Betty and Veronica: The Leading Ladies of Riverdale details the best of times and the worst of times for America's Favorite Teenager's favorite girls. Four out of five stars.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for anyone interested in Betty and Veronicas history and the history of Archie Comics. I’ve read these comics as a kid and as a historian in training I loved this book!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this isn't quite as engrossing as Hanley's superhero histories, that feels like it's due to the fact that Betty and Veronica have largely been cheated out of character development for most of their "lives." Hanley places the blame for that on the fact that the Archie comics have consistently been written and drawn by middle aged white men who can't quite fathom that teen girls are people, and that's in interesting thread to follow. Hanley really tries, but the source material just really isn't there this time, and that in itself is a sad commentary on comics' most recognizable teenage girls.

[T.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed 2 of Tim Hanley's 3 previous books on comic book heroines & history, so I was excited to see his latest is about Riverdale's top tomboy and her raven-haired rival, Betty & Veronica! Hanley is both fan and archivist, so you can tell he enjoys dishing out the facts the way Pop Tate enjoys dishing out the banana splits and milkshakes, dipping into the deep well of Archie Comics' backstage drama, offering up a cool personal opinion here and there. A lot can happen to a couple of teenage girls in 80s years, but Hanley places their misadventures in the context of each decade's world events, social changes, and fads.

I'm guessing Hanley is around my age, so he would have first encountered the Archie gang in the 80s? But sadly he doesn't have a high opinion of Betty & Veronica during this period of time. Personally, I loved the New Archies and find them way more digestible than the awful Riverdale tv revamp. But as Hanley notes, there seems to be a version of these characters for everyone's tastes.

I also would have liked more background on the other Archie girls, especially Josie & Sabrina. He mentions them briefly, but how did Betty & Veronica react when these characters were introduced? Maybe they can be the subjects of his next book!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a comprehensive history on Archie Comics, especially how Betty and Veronica have been treated through the ages. It's way more complicated than "the original comics were sexist and today they aren't," and Hanley did such a good job of diving deep into each specific era. My only concern would be that this was written between seasons 3 and 4 of Riverdale, and I really want Hanley to be able to analyze the show in full.

[Ankur · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a big fan of the "Archie's Girls" Betty and Veronica, I was excited to delve into this book.

The introduction was a fantastic essay that had me very excited to read the rest of the book, and learn the history of these characters and how their roles, depictions, and storylines changed throughout their 80 year history. Many of the stories detailed were new to me, and some where a reminder of stories I had read as a child. Interesting to get a lot of the behind the scenes machinations at Archie Comics as well.

The book started losing steam for me in the last third. Similar to what other reviewers have written, the three chapters on the first three seasons of the tv show Riverdale seemed like overkill to me, though I understand that the show has made the characters more mainstream than ever.

Overall I'm glad I read this, and would highly recommend this for Betty & Veronica enthusiasts.

[LiteraryMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betty and Veronica: The Leading Ladies of Riverdale, from the famous Archie Comics. These women have been around for over 80 years. What we thought we knew, is only the surface. This new release delves into Archie's girlfriends from their introductory archetypes in the early 1940s to their relevant characteristics of today. They have come a mighty long way!

"Betty pined for Archie while Archie pined for Veronica, and that was the full extent of their roles." ~ 11%

Chickadee put me on to Archie Comics when I was wee little. I have always loved Betty and Veronica's relationship—be it rivals or besties. I thought I knew all there is to know about them. Welp, this new release by Tim Hanley proved otherwise. There is complexity behind these two iconic characters. The storylines may revamp with social change but the core of these women stay the same. With full color art within essays, the adventures of Betty and Veronica are detailed along with backstory and motivation behind their journey over decades.

"No matter when you first encountered the duo, certain aspects were constant. Betty Cooper has always been a blonde. Veronica Lodge has always been a brunette. Betty was the kindhearted girl next door from her very first appearance. Veronica was the snobbish rich girl. Betty was devoted to her redheaded neighbor. Veronica was intrigued by the boy, yet fickle." ~ 1%

Does this not accurately describe Betty and Veronica? You have to read this book to learn more about why these women carried these roles. The fan in me is pleased with Betty and Veronica! If you are an old fan of the leading ladies of Riverdale or you just flip through the latest double digest while waiting in the grocery store checkout, this new in-depth book will be an addition to your collection. Pick it up!

[Rebecca Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading about Archie et al.'s shenanigans as my piano teacher left out copies to read before the start of your lesson. My favourites were reading about Betty and Veronica and their adventures! As an adult, I enjoy watching "Riverdale" as a guilty pleasure TV show because of the nostalgia factor from being a kid.

This book provides an interesting insight into the history of the Archie Comics series, its numerous attempts to reinvent themselves, the problematic nature of having 40+ year old men writing as female teenagers, and the development of the series. If you loved Archie comics and especially Betty and Veronica's storylines, then you'll want to read this book! The monograph goes in chronological order from the very beginning of Archie Comics through Pep Comics all the way to cult-favourite, Riverdale TV show.

Also as a kid, I never noticed that Betty and Veronica were drawn the EXACT same except for their hair! However, all the guys (Archie, Reggie, Jughead etc.) are drawn with different physical traits.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been much of an Archie fan but I'm fascinated by the way Archie Comics have not only lasted so long but come up with so many variations (Archie battles zombies! Archie the superhero! Archie the superspy!) without diluting the brand.
Tim Hanley's history of Betty and Veronica shows there's been more variation over time than I'd have assumed. A lot of their history is sexist as heck (the result of having mostly conservative middle-aged white dudes writing the stories) but the sheer need to have some variation in the formula led over time to make the girls more adventurous, less oriented on winning Archie and eventually more friends than frenemies. They also got a big boost from the rise of comic-book specialty stores — as most of the patrons were male, that left women patronizing the newsstands where Archie books were sold, which led to Betty's and Veronica's books outselling Archie.
Well worth a read, though it's obviously a YMMV purchase.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC! I really enjoyed reading this. I don't usually read non-fiction but I loved reading Archie comics when I was a child and I just had to read this. I was fascinated by the history of the the characters of Betty and Veronica and how they evolved and changed throughout the years. There was also a section of the book that discussed the show 'Riverdale'. I loved watching it even though it had some weird and random story arcs. It was cool to see how Reinhart and Mendes, who play Betty and Veronica, interpreted their characters and how they related them to the original Archie comics. Overall this was a really interesting read and I loved it!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Betty and Veronica: The Leading Ladies of Riverdale" by Tim Hanley is a well-researched look at the ladies in the world of Archie comics. This history of the characters Betty and Veronica covers the entire span of Archie comics, from the debut of Archie and friends, including Betty, in "Pep" comics in 1941, to the current issues. Also discussed are the radio and TV shows up to and including "Riverdale" that featured the characters in Archie’s universe. According to the author, Betty and Veronica underwent changes in both themselves and in their relationship with each other throughout the decades. They have always been rivals for Archie’s attention and affection, and sometimes had a contentious relationship with each other; the author discusses how cruel Veronica could be toward Betty during different periods of the run of the comics. But he also discusses times when they worked together and supported each other, especially during the 1970’s when feminism was at the forefront of current events. He also discusses some other timely social and political issues that were addressed in the comics, such as Vietnam.

The book includes full color cover art. I would have liked to have seen some inside pages of comics.

This is an entertaining, informative look at the history of Betty and Veronica within the Archie comics universe. It broadly covers the general trends of comics and the history of the many Archie publications. Those of us who grew up reading Archie comics will enjoy looking back at how the characters of Betty and Veronica developed and changed over the past 80 years.

Thank you to Rowman & Littlefield Publishers and NetGalley for this digital review copy.

[Lily D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was super excited to read this and learn more about their backstory, as a huge fan of the show! It’s crazy how many plot points from the show that are seemingly random, are actually from various comic book issues. The show transitioning B&V to be friends versus primarily rivals is amazing, and makes me appreciate Veronica as a character in a whole new way. The comparison between Jughead’s social justice campaigns versus Veronica’s social justice deeds in the show really resonated with me. Would love another book that goes into the analysis of the entire seven seasons of the show, distilled down into how it was influenced or deviates from the comics

[Martin Maenza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book looks at the history of two of the iconic female characters of comics - Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge, showing how the characters adapted and evolved over the course of nearly seven decades. It looks at their portrayals not only in comics but also in other media (music, animation and live action). I thought I knew quite a bit about these two, yet I learned quite a bit more - especially about the publishing history of Archie Comics in general - from this well-researched tome. It is a quick but enjoyable read.

[Bonnie Kernene · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I must confess that I read a lot of Archies comics growing up. This one was the first in a long time.This issues is about the Lovely Betty and Lovely Veronia. They don't just chase Archie around, thy do indeed have liveams. They often volunteer, solved crimes, and and take the time to take up Women's Lib Movement. They have changed a whole lit since I have read Archie comics. I am going to have to read them again. This one is a great read. It is ready to read and I highly recommend it.

[Dan Newland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for Archie fans, but it’s also a nice option for anyone looking for an entertaining and accessible book that examines comic book history as part of American history.

Full Review: https://www.comicbookyeti.com/post/be...

[Stella]

grew up reading the archie comics and reading this book, there was a lot i didn't know. really interesting.

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty and Veronica were created as feuding girlfriends of Archie, in Archie Comics. They have gone through many changes during the decades they have been around. This book tells the evolution of Betty and Veronica, from when they were created in the 1940s to their television adaptation in 2020.

I’ve read Archie Comics for as long as I can remember. I always loved reading about Betty and Veronica. I hadn’t really thought about how sexist the characters were, but after reading about their history, I realize how problematic they were.

One of the major problems with Betty and Veronica was that their stories were written by men. They were sexualized by old men, though they were meant to appeal to young female readers. They were even originally drawn with the same face and body, but different hairstyles, unlike the boys who each had distant facial features. Now, with the tv show Riverdale, there are female writers and creators on the show, so they are finally written by women.

There were so many interesting stories in this book. There was a period during the 1970s when Archie and the gang were written by a religious writer, who made the characters preach the Bible to readers. There were also many tv and movie adaptations that didn’t end up happening. Despite a sometimes controversial history, Archie and his friends have survived for almost 80 years.

This book is a must-read for fans of Betty and Veronica!

Thank you Rowman and Littlefield for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Hanley walks us through an in depth history of the Archie Comics characters' Betty and Veronica and how their depictions were a reflection of the current mores of society filtered through the conservative voice of the mostly male writers and publishers.

Early in their career Betty and Veronica could be seen as feminist trail blazers. Hanley takes care to emphasize that this depiction was not one of political sensibility, but of what worked best for the stories. Hey, sometimes the end result is more important than how you got there.

By giving a thorough examination of Betty and Veronica's history Hanley also gave us one of Archie Comics. And, this lets us know exactly how important Archie Comics was throughout comic book history. It seems like in every event in comics history there was an Archie comics reaction, or Archie Comics was a part of the cause. That was pretty mind blowing to see! I did know that John Goldwater was a big part of the Comics Code Authority that popped up when people were afraid that comic books were turning kids into juvenile delinquents. I did not know he was also a major factor in it's liberalization in the '70s. He was in charge of the Code when the famous Spider-man drug addiction story published without the CCA seal of approval. Anecdotes like this put the book into a real world context and place the books, and the characters.

Speaking of the real world. Hanley did an excellent job of contrasting and comparing the duo's depictions with what was going on in the real world. From Bobby Soxer to Women's liberation, to ? What would today's depiction be called? The zeitgeist of the real world was depicted by these characters. Of course, this depiction was through these conservative eyes, so the full picture might not come out. But, enough of one that it could be seen. And, Hanley was able to use snippets of dialog and scene descriptions to show what was happening in the books, and compare/contrast this against the real world.

If I had a complaint about the book it is that in some places I wanted even more information -even if that information had nothing to do with the subjects of the book! For instance, the history of Spire Comics is a fascinating one that I had never heard of. Al Hartley was writing for Archie Comics and at first injected his Christianity into regular Archie stories. Later, he was able to convince the publisher the use of the characters in Spire Comics, a religious comic book company. Now, when I was a kid I had a bunch of these. I was excited at first. But, then they got all churchy and I felt ripped off. Later, it came to me that I had those and wondered what the deal was. Now I know! But, I'd have loved to have found out more. Like, did that affect sales of regular Archie? What ended the relationship? Was there ever Spire comic issue featuring Sabrina?

I'm a pretty big fan of Archie Comics. I enjoyed the Mard Waid reboot (especially for the new amazing artists, but also for the historical comics each book would feature.) And, I read as a kid, and as an adult. But, I avoided the TV show Riverdale like the plague. Specifically for one relationship that was shown in the pilot. I thought it was gross, and I didn't need to watch a show that would glamorize something like that. Turns out, the show was on my side on this. And, sure it took this book spoiling every major event of the show (Thanks, Hanley. Ever hear of spoiler warnings?!) but now I really want to watch it. Netflix here I come.

This was a fun informative read. If you have any interest in comic book history, I think this would make for an interesting read.

I got this for free from NetGalley. But, that didn't affect my feelings on the book.

[Jack Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the same engaging tone and thorough research that readers of Hanley’s works have come to expect, the surprisingly turbulent history of Betty and Veronica will leave Archie fans and newcomers alike entranced.