Exclusive: Betty and Veronica Get an Image Overhaul in Betty and Veronica: Vixens
Cover by: Eva Cabrera
Archie Comics has been revamping Riverdale with every new comic and property, from new comics titles and one-shots to the hit CW show. However, our two favorite Riverdale ladies, Betty and Veronica, have managed to maintain a pretty straightforward dynamic throughout. Well Archie Comics’ latest title, Betty and Veronica: Vixens is looking to change that. Did somebody say motorcycle gang?
Here’s the official solicit info:
BETTY AND VERONICA: VIXENS #1
NEW ONGOING SERIES!
The toughest gang in Riverdale is one you’d least expect: the Vixens, led by Riverdale High’s own Betty and Veronica!
Script: Jamie L. Rotante
Art: Eva Cabrera, Elaina Unger, Rachel Deering
Cover: Eva Cabrera
Variant Covers: Robert Hack, Fiona Staples
On Sale Date: 11/15
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
Already I’m excited for the rockabilly-inspired art and watching Betty and Veronica forget all about Archie and run a motorcycle gang. You know, like you do. In addition to getting some awesome and exclusive concept art from Archie Comics, which you can see below, I had the chance to speak with writer Jamie L. Rotante about what the heck is going on here, and what inspired such a drastic change.
Variant cover by Robert Hack
“Something we really strived for with this title,” Rotante explained when I asked what inspired the motorcycle gang angle, “was to take everyone’s ideas of and preconceived notions about Betty and Veronica and completely turn them on their ear. I had been tossing around the idea of letting the ladies of Archie Comics take center stage–maybe they’d be cheerleaders by day and a gang by night–but something still felt like it was missing. There’s already an established motorcycle gang featured in the classic Little Archie stories and the Riverdale TV series–the Southside Serpents–so the groundwork was already laid out for us. Tonally, I drew inspiration from classic Russ Meyer films like Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and even more modern movies like Quentin Tarantino’s Deathproof. Who wouldn’t want to see Betty and Veronica thrown into wild premises like those?”
Artist Eva Cabrera definitely wanted to see that, as she was already in love. “I love the characters of Betty and Veronica,” Cabrera said. “This new series is intense, action-packed and brilliant, with B and V in a badass context we haven’t seen before.”
Rotante agrees, saying, “Betty and Veronica are iconic. They’re two women from extremely different backgrounds with radically different styles and tastes who complement each other perfectly because of their differences. If anyone’s perfect to come together to start a revolution of sorts, it’s those two.”
Revolution, did you say? Considering the state of the United States (and the world) these days, I had to ask why the decision was made to tell this story now. Rotante believes that there’s never been a better time to tell a story about how female friendship can save the world (or at least your small town).
“There’s really never a bad time to have a comic that focuses on female friendship and empowerment,” Rotante says. “And now’s as good a time as any for that. While Vixens will showcase the girls taking on rival gangs and providing vigilante justice, make no mistake: at its core it’s a story about friendship. No Betty and Veronica fighting over Archie, no ladies hiding in the shadows of their male counterparts. It’s all about women supporting women. It also helps that the Riverdale TV series has opened so many doors for us and given us the opportunity to tell stories that we never could have before. And I’m so incredibly grateful to Jon Goldwater, Mike Pellerito, Victor Gorelick and Alex Segura for their immense support in this project!”
Sadly, we have to wait until November for this title to drop, but just as their Josie and the Pussycats has had new life breathed into it with new creators telling a fresh story (while staying true to the spirit of the original characters), it looks like Archie Comics will be doing the same for Riverdale’s favorite besties.
I can’t wait to watch these ladies tear it up and go head to head with the Southside Serpents! Will you be reading Betty and Veronica: Vixens?
(image: Archie Comics)
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