Archie in These Changing Times
This story is a great example of how economical a means of communication comics can be when employed by someone who knows what they're doing. In no other medium could so much be communicated so quickly at so little expense of man power, technology and money and require so little from the end user (i.e. reader, in this case) in the way of specialized knowledge. Only rudimentary literacy is required to absorb this cogent lesson about a fundamental issue that confronts the entire world: the role of women in society.This comics masterwork presents the situation, establishes and defines the respective positions, demonstrates the decisions which are required to be made in order for the necessary actions to be taken to bring about the desired changes in behavior. It shows that in this particular instance of behavioral change that women must take the lead but that men must understand that they too can gain from this change and must act as well in order for the change to take place.
In addition, the assumed familiarity with the characters enables automatic associations, interpretations, and meanings to pile up in the readers minds. The eternal dichotomy of Betty and Veronica takes on the dimensions of class struggle here as the aristocracy's conservative resistance to any change in the status quo is clearly represented in Veronica's position: Change is anathema to established wealth.
OK, OK, you're right: We are taking this story a little too seriously. This extreme position was adopted in the simple hope of getting you to admit that there is more going on in some of these Archie comics than most people recognize. OK?
Art is by the great Harry Lucey. As for the story, he may have been responsible for this as well – but it was probably Frank Doyle; we're not sure, but would welcome any clarifications.