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ASK
THE ARCHIVIST
July
Hey, all you Archie-information seekers out there -- you've
come to the right place! It's another installment of "Ask
the Archivist" with Archie Comics' resident archivist,
Paul Castiglia.
Many fans write to me daily asking me when the first appearances
of specific characters were. This month, in answer to many fan's
requests, we answer the question:
"When
was Veronica's first appearance?"
 Well,
Veronica is rather interesting. Although she first appeared
in PEP COMICS #26 (April, 1942), there are several versions
of how she came to Riverdale! In the first Veronica story, Veronica
moves to town and immediately catches the attention of Archie.
But as Jughead points out, Archie's going to have to make some
money if he wants to date Veronica in the manner to which she's
become accustomed! What does he do? He gets a job as a busboy
where he gets to wear a tuxedo! Then he borrows the tuxedo to
take Veronica out! But this is Archie-- of course he takes her
to the restaurant where he works, and when the boss sees him
wearing the tux while not working, he puts him to work! Now
all he has to do is keep Veronica from finding out he works
there-- but inevitably, everything comes (literally) crashing
down around him!
Most
importantly, this story is the first to hint at the classic
"love triangle" motif that has been the cornerstone
of Archie Comics ever since! The closing caption reads, "It
looks like Archie has his fill of sub-debs, but we've got a
hunch Veronica's not through with Archie." Don't we know
it!
In
ARCHIE COMICS #1 (Winter, 1942), we are presented with an "alternate"
version of Veronica's first trip to Riverdale, and it is in
this story that we see more than a "hint" of the love
triangle. Although Betty is described in this tale as Archie's
"steady" and he asks her to the prom, Archie can't
deny his attraction to wealthy Veronica, whose picture is in
the paper. To sublimate his fantasy, he writes letters to her
asking her out, only to throw them away. His latest mash note,
however, is inadvertently mailed to her by Jughead, and wonder
of wonders-- Veronica accepts Archie's invitation to the prom!
Uh, Oh-- two dates for the prom. The beginning of an ongoing,
hilarious theme in the world of Archie! What's a girl-crazy
teen to do?! What else-- Archie has Jughead keep Betty occupied
so she won't discover he's been making time with Veronica!
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TM/©
2000 ACO
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