This June, extraordinary acts of heroism come to the Archie multiverse when Betty Cooper gets super powers, in a 32 page single issue, Betty Cooper: Superteen. No word yet on what her abilities will be, or how she came upon them, just her name, Superteen, and the promise that she’ll bring her girl-next-door sensibilities to the noble act of protecting the weak and defending the innocent. It doesn’t sound like everyone in the gang has been powered up, but regardless of who does or doesn’t have powers, Betty and her pals are in for an adventure.
Written by Danielle Page, drawn by Brittney Williams, a promising team has been put together for this one-shot. Page has been a TV writer for a long time, but she was also responsible for the young adult novel, Mera: Tidebreaker, so she has plenty of experience writing superheroes. Williams was also the artist behind Betty and Veronica: The Bond of Friendship, the 144 page graphic novel that tells the story of the ups and downs of a friendship across an entire lifetime.
A press release from Archie Comics (via ComicsNow) reveals a full synopsis of the issue, a few covers, and some comments from the creative team. Cover images confirm that it is, indeed, Betty Cooper dressed up as a superhero. Variations on an entirely pink, full body costume are shown along with an “ST” emblazoned on her chest. Cape and flashy boots optional. The synopsis teases that Betty Cooper will struggle to balance her perfectionism with the demands of being a superhero. It even alludes to Veronica as a villain. How that happened, or why, is unknown, but it adds a serious dash of conflict. Page voices her excitement over the rivalry between Betty and Veronica, calling it just as “epic” as anything she’s written. Williams, for her part, said that the art would be “similar to… Betty and Veronica: The Bond of Friendship, but with some film noir elements and classic superhero looks mixed in.” The superhero part makes sense, but “film noir” raises some questions about where this story goes.
The Archie universe is turning into the Scooby-Doo gang, with how many different times they’ve adapted a new concept, or teamed up with a clever guest star. In fact, the two properties themselves have crossed-over several times. But the fact that these characters can be put through the wringer so many times is just another testament to how strong they are. Betty Cooper, even without super powers, is a stronger character than a lot of superheroes that have been created. Putting her into a new situation where readers can still empathize so strongly with who they think she is, can only make her stronger. At this point, the wackier, the better. And even if the Archie characters can be a little flat at times, that doesn’t matter, because readers fill in the blanks. This one-shot looks like it’s taking full advantage of those blanks, pushing some classic characters to new limits.
Betty Cooper: Superteen hits local comic shops on June 10th, 2020.
- BETTY COOPER: SUPERTEEN ONE-SHOT
- Script: Danielle Paige
- Art: Brittney Williams, Matt Herms, Jack Morelli
- Betty Cooper is always trying her best. To be the best student. The best friend. The best person she can be. She’s not perfect – but she’s always willing to help. But when she finds herself gifted with out-of-this-world powers, can Betty still do good without it affecting the low-key life she’s come to love? Also, what’s up with that villain looking a lot like Veronica…? BETTY COOPER: SUPERTEEN is a fun, action-adventure exploration of what it means to be a hero, set firmly in the familiar and modern world of Archie Comics.
Source: ComicsNow