Undercover Archie

BETTY & VERONICA #5

(On Newsstands in January 1952)

Let's continue the process of getting caught up with Betty and Veronica!

We'd get four issues of Betty & Veronica in 1952, and I can only guess because they couldn't find enough artists to draw the book... saturating the market didn't seem to be the problem! More! More!

(from Betty & Veronica #5 - January 1952, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

I Love Lucy had been on television for over a year, and the idea of a female (or females) in some madcap adventures, especially physical comedy, was perfect for Betty and Veronica...

(from Betty & Veronica #5 - January 1952, artwork by George Frese)

Though sitting around being pretty worked as well!

(from Betty & Veronica #5 - January 1952, artwork by Dan DeCarlo)

Moral watchdogs were out, and though Archie Comics was considered 'clean' by the standards of the day... occasionally some things were included that might raise a few eyebrows...

(from Betty & Veronica #5 - January 1952, artwork by Dan DeCarlo)

BETTY & VERONICA #6

(On Newsstands in July 1952)

Man, do I have a beat up copy of this!

(from Betty & Veronica #6 - July 1952, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

It's interesting to see some of this early work by Dan DeCarlo as his style and the Archie house style squirmed to fit each other. 

(from Betty & Veronica #6 - July 1952, artwork by Dan DeCarlo)

It clearly benefitted him to have an actual script writer, as opposed to the more editorial approach he had with Stan Lee at Atlas (which read more like a 10 cent joke book spread out over each panel), and you can see the effect it had on his approach.... 

(from Betty & Veronica #6 - July 1952, artwork by Dan DeCarlo)

Though ultimately his style would shine through just fine!

(from Betty & Veronica #6 - July 1952, artwork by Dan DeCarlo)