Veronica and Archie: Why we care

As a young Archie comic fan in the 70s, I oscillated between being a Betty Girl and a Veronica Girl. Betty was obviously a better person but Veronica had way cooler stuff due to being filthy rich and all. She seemed in control and independent while Betty, loyal as she was, came across as such a sap sometimes, at home baking Archie a cake or some damn thing while Veronica and Archie were cruising around in her convertible. But Veronica could also be so cruel sometimes.

Well, after more than 65 years of the comic's existence and the Archie/Betty/Veronica love triangle, Archie's finally going to choose between them and propose to Veronica this August in issue #600 entitled 'Archie Marries Veronica Part 1: The Proposal'

Sure, it's just a comic book and who care's right? But I think all the online hullabaloo surrounding the announcement is telling of the enduring battle of choosing the good girl vs bad girl that so many men face.

As much as guys complain about chasing after bad boys while 'nice' guys sit on the sidelines or trapped in 'friend' purgatory, guys are equally torn between the loyal, devoted wholesome girl you'd take home to mom and the exciting, edgy, cool and distant girl who keeps you on your toes.

If you want to get analytical, one could argue that it's part of what Freud dubbed the Madonna-whore complex, a psychological complex in which men raised by a cold, distant mother seeks out a partner who will offer motherly love and therefore can not view as a sexual object, that is the Madonna. Sex is reserved for 'bad girls' or 'whores' whom he feels no intimacy or love towards.

Or one could simply argue that we are all torn between the safe and the exciting. We are drawn to the challenge of an exciting lover who keeps us guessing and mistake it for passion. Once we get burned by this dynamic (which is pretty much inevitable), we swing the other way and seek out something safe and less volatile to protect ourselves from getting hurt.

But eventually, I'd like to think we find a middle ground and realize that the strength of a truly good relationship is about finding someone who excites us, keeps us on our toes but can also be loyal, kind and loving. In other words, someone with a little Betty and Veronica in them. Because none of us are strictly 'good' or 'bad.'

One last thing. Why does Archie get to choose anyway? Frankly, I'm not sure why either Betty or Veronica would choose to marry Archie. I mean, really the guy's obviously indecisive, drives a crappy car (Does he still drive his jalopy? I hardly ever spend the afternoon hanging out in a tent in the backyard reading Archie comics so I don't know) and was always screwing up somehow.

Seems to me both Veronica and Betty could do better.