A few short weeks ago, we invited our Moms to review comics for Mother’s Day. One Mom liked it a lot. Two others swore to never read comics again. It was weird and hilarious and made us wonder how our genetic donors could love Josh Groban but not Lumberjanes. Answer: Paste’s comics department was probably adopted. But we had to know for sure.
So we asked the men who taught us how to shave, mow the lawn and repress our feelings to review some comics. Editor Sean Edgar asked his Dad to review an old-timey collection of Betty & Veronica comics in homage to the stacks of long boxes he found with similar material as a child with poor snooping boundaries. Writer Steve Foxe once more showed that he probably doesn’t like his parents, asking his father and step-father to review Spider-Man: One More Day, which stars a superhero making a deal with Satan to not have a family. That’s not even subtle, Steve. The good news? The Dads like the comics, so we may not be adopted, but we’re still unsure. 
Neal Reviews The Best of Archie Comics Starring Betty & Veronica by Frank Doyle, Bob Montana and many, many others
Whose Dad It? Sean Edgar, Editor
Occupation: Social Worker/Ombudsman
Likes: ‘70s Classic Rock, Hiking, Beer, Dogs
In 1960, I was nine and sick in bed. I asked my dad to get me a comic when he was out. He came back with, not the DC hero I wanted, but a Betty & Veronica Annual.
Thanks?
But, it was a square bound annual. There was nothing like a 25-cent square bound comic book annual.
I read it and became an occasional but loyal reader of the Archie series. The Best of Betty & Veronica brought back why. I was partial to sweet and natural Betty, which is partially why my two favorite stories were “Poor Little Rich Girl” and “Not So Clothes-Minded.” They both show a human side of Veronica, and I get to like her: a spoiled rich girl who had vulnerabilities and could pull through when it mattered.
I used to wonder what two pretty, curvaceous teens saw in Archie, but that’s OK: he’s an everyman we identify with.
This anthology is fun, especially the work from the ‘40s. The art doesn’t have the classic B&V look from the ‘50s— it’s a tad less cartoonish. You get a historical perspective in teen culture and values, including the slang of the time (“popping cornies!” , “ But, def !”)
The story that most took me back was “The Kiss Off.” Classic Archie comics stuff. Betty kisses Archie and reacts like it’s a drug ,where she’s unable to function intelligently. Little red hearts popping out everywhere. Great teen stuff.
