Braiding Reaching Across Eleven Years of "Archie"

Mark Waid made a great arthrological connections in Archie #3.  General arthrology was coined by Thierry Groensteen.  The characters have had a drastic makeover.  The lines of the illustrations are completely different.  The outfits are fashionable for today, and the secret communication happens via texting instead of passing notes.  One thing that has not changed is the look on Betty's face when she thinks Veronica has stolen Archie from her.  The image on the right is from "Love Showdown" which can be found in The Best of Archie Comics.  Image of the left is from Archie #3.  Even though 11 years have passed between these two comics, Waid knows Archie fans will be familiar with the friendly rivalry between Betty and Veronica.  The amazing part is Waid has taken the exact same shot from "Love Showdown."  The panel is even filled the same.  The expression on Betty's face is very similar in both photos with the one on the left looking a bit more like revenge.  A section of Betty's bangs even fill the middle of her forehead.  The panels play a different role in each comic.  The panel from "Love Showdown" is in the middle of chapter two.  It is placed as the second panel in a six-panel grid.  Betty is continuing the story.  In Archie #3 the panel is found on the final page and very last panel (#3 in the third tier) of the issue.  Betty is finishing the story...for now.  The panel shape and size has changed from a square common to the old style of comics to a rectangle familiar to the modern comics, but the call back to the right image is undeniable.  The braiding between the two comics allows the reader to guess what will happen in the next issue, but it is still a mystery.

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Yolanda Macfarlane