Okay, so let’s say I told you that in 1964, a comic book character was so out of control that the doctor prescribed tranquilizers. Let’s also say that this character started taking the tranquilizers and immediately became prone to narcolepsy. And let’s throw in the fact that even in a state of drug-induced narcolepsy, this person couldn’t stop stalking two other characters and making their lives miserable. Which character do you think I’m talking about?
I’ll give you three gu… aw, hell, you’ve guessed it already, haven’t you (click on thumbnails to read the pages).
The story more or less speaks for itself. Well, the ending might need a bit of explanation. Suffice it to say that tranquilizers, sedatives and other knock-out pills were at the height of popularity in the early ’60s. So a comic book about two teenagers choosing to take someone else’s clearly dangerous prescription drugs? Not a problem. I mean, it’s not like they’re drinking beer or something.
And a question for experts on Betty Cooper’s mental state: do you think her doctor prescribed this incredibly strong medication because he was trying to take her out of commission, or is this just the dosage she prefers?
Finally, those who like spotting hidden messages in old comics might note the names and initials on the bench:
“Dan” and “Josie” are Dan DeCarlo and his wife (yes, that’s where he got the name) while “Rudy” and “Mary” are DeCarlo’s inker Rudy Lapick and his wife. “Harry” is probably Harry Lucey. And LBJ might or might not be a politician of some kind. That one’s for comics historians to decide.
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Wow, first they try to ditch a helpless unconscious girl to go make out, and then they help themselves to her prescription meds? And this in the era pf the Comics Code cracking down?
I’m sort of surprised Reggie didn’t try to take advantage of the unconscious Betty. He seems like the kind of guy who would slip roofies to girls when he’s in college. Maybe he copped a feel off panel.
It’s like “Weekend at Bernie’s,” but with way more weird sexual subtext.
Also, the “Betty is trash” dialogue…man, that was disturbing.
BR: You made the Weekend at Bernie’s first.
It’s fucked up. It’s fucked up by the standards of Archie Comics, and that is seriously saying something.
Weirdly, it’s also probably the most realistic story every, featuring everyone’s favorite budding little sociopaths…
Creeepy shit.
It’s amusing that only when she’s got absolutely no chance of waking up/doing anything about it that Betty’s so-called ‘friends’ dare to speak honestly about her.
(shudder)
Am I the only one who thinks Betty looks cute when she’s stoned?
Pardon my French, but what the fucking fuck? Who WROTE this story?
You know what, though- to be fair to Betty, she’s the only one who ISN’T acting insane in this one. Because she’s COMATOSE.
@Chris Lowrance: the best you can do is SHUDDER? Is this TOO shocking for a detailed analysis from you of how this can play out?
…my God. This *IS* the moral event horizon of the Archie universe. None of the characters will come back the same…
If it’s 1964, then yeah, I’m guessing LBJ is President Lyndon Baines Johnson, who often went by his initials. What’s kind of odd is that they used him, and not his Republican opponent in that year’s election, Barry Goldwater, since the similarly named John Goldwater owned Archie Comics, and it would have been something of an in-joke.
Pardon my French, but what the fucking fuck? Who WROTE this story?
Frank Doyle.
PaulW – Yeah, that’s all I got. I thought Betty was sort of operating in a vacuum. Now I realize the whole Archie universe is like one long Joe R. Lansdale story.
Wait, but Reggie didn’t take any pills, either. Why isn’t he doing anything about Betty Cooper’s current insanity?
Yes, Mary, stoned Betty does look kind of cute…
[...] a gander at the creativity in the work of Samm Schwartz, and people can upload comics with “WTF?” subtexts that elicit the easily answered “Wait. Who wrote this stuff?” — it [...]