Who Will Archie Choose? An Interview With Tom King And Dan Parent On ‘Archie: The Decision’

There comes a time when enough is enough and, after stringing Betty and Veronica along for years, it’s about time Archie made a choice when it comes to his love life. This August, writer Tom King and artist Dan Parent grapple with one of Riverdale’s biggest questions in Archie: The Decision. With inks by Bob Smith, colors by Rosario “Tito” Peña, and letters by Jack Morelli, find out what King and Parent agreed to spill about the one-shot below:

Rachel Bellwoar: As your first time writing for Archie Comics, Tom (and having written other major events for other publishers) did you consider picking an easier first assignment?

Tom King: Haha. I got to be honest with you, I was legit terrified writing this comic. Not the idea of the decision (spoilers at the front: This book will not end the infinite Archie conundrum; there will be decades more of Betty or Veronica speculation), but just the idea of trying to bring something awesome to characters that have been written awesomely for almost 85 years. I’m a HUGE Archie fan, and I wanted this comic to be first and foremost a great Archie story, one that was funny and absurd and heartwarming and epic and even a tiny little bit profound . . . and all in just twenty pages. So yeah, I was trembling a bit as I wrote, which is how I think Archie would feel, so at least I had that.

Bellwoar: One of my favorite (relatively) recent attempts to address Riverdale’s famous love triangle was the 10th anniversary Archie: The Married Life miniseries which you also drew, Dan, and which offered two different timelines – one where Archie married Betty and one where Archie married Veronica. Do you think that series took the easy route, in having its cake and eating it, too?

Dan Parent: Well, there’s nothing easy when it comes to the complicated relationship between Archie and Betty or Archie and Veronica! And you have to show both future scenarios, because you have to satisfy the Betty fans and the Veronica fans .

Bellwoar: We’re seeing a lot of coins on your cover for this issue, Dan. What drew you to that imagery?

Parent: I’m sworn to secrecy, but . . . this story is all about the coinage!

Bellwoar: Archie’s decision won’t just affect him and the girls, of course. Who’s reaction do you think fans will be most surprised by?

King: The issue centers on Archie deciding to decide, which is entirely unbelievable to all of Riverdale who have grown used to wishy washy Archie. So, we see a TON of people gasp at Archie’s newfound confidence from Reggie to Josie to Sabrina to Kevin to That Wilkin Boy. My personal favorite might be Smithers who receives the shocking news in a rather unexpected place

Parent: I think fans will be most surprised by the reactions of the guest stars in the story. Of which there are many!!

Bellwoar: I’m sure in years to come people will talk about what they were wearing when Archie committed himself to one love interest. How did you decide how the characters would dress in this one-shot?

Parent: Don’t tell anyone, but I look at images from current TV shows and steal directly! And Jughead and Archie are usually jeans and t-shirt guys!

Bellwoar: For those skeptics who might be weary of Archie’s ability to follow through and choose a date, what would you say to them?

Parent: Archie is very committed here, as beautifully framed by Tom early in the story!

King: There is no one more skeptical than Jughead. So, you’re in good and smart and rather hungry company. And again, and I will reiterate, and say again, and say again—because I feel like I’m already getting in trouble​—this is NOT a story about what decision Archie makes; this is a story about the decision itself: its absurdity and lingering power in the world of Riverdale all told through a very silly lens meant to tribute the great Archie slapstick comics of the ‘60s and ‘70s. This is not a comic meant to tear down years of titillating, vacillating continuity. It’s a comic that’s supposed to do what the great Archie comics do—give you a break from the bland seriousness of the whole world and make you laugh while reading the adventures of this kindhearted if somewhat scatterbrained teenager we’ve loved for decades.

Bellwoar: As professionals, I’m sure you always put your personal feelings aside when working on big storylines like this but – Archie fan to Archie fan – are you Team Betty or Team Veronica?

Parent: I am unapologetically Team Veronica; always have been, always will be. Which doesn’t mean I don’t like Betty, because I do!

King: My daughter Claire is a giant Archie fan and stubbornly and insistently on team Veronica. She tells me if I pick Betty, she may never speak with me again. So, I’m going Veronica for the sake of peace in my family.

Bellwoar: It’s easy to get wrapped up in Archie’s drama, but Jughead has a decision to make as well. Which one’s better – hamburgers or cheeseburgers?

Parent: Well, duh, cheeseburgers of course!

King: Now this is a much easier question. Cheeseburgers all the way. Or wait, no hamburgers. No wait . . . maybe . . . Damnit now I’m stuck. Maybe if a flip a coin . . .

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Tom and Dan!

Archie: The Decision goes on sale August 28th from Archie Comics.