August 14, 2009

DALLAS (AP) -- The comic book world is abuzz and with more than a few protests over the Aug. 19 issue of Archie Comics, which to some, advances the unthinkable: Archie proposing to Veronica, not Betty.

Comic book store owner Dave Luebke says he's protesting by selling his copy of the series' first issue, though the $30,000 it's likely to fetch at auction is nothing to sneeze at in a recession.

Dallas' Heritage Auction Galleries will offer the book today.

The Archie Comics Web site shows Archie proposing to Veronica on the cover of No. 600. It begins a six-issue story arc that takes place in the future -- when the perpetual high schoolers will have graduated from college.

Victor Gorelick, Archie editor-in-chief, says there's a lot of sympathy for Betty.

But Gorelick has some advice for readers: "Stick with it. Read through it and you'll see what happens."

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)