Then this week, Archie Comics published BETTY AND VERONICA COMICS ANNUAL #236. It features a never-before-seen lead story that addresses this very issue!
Here is the main difference between Archie and Mr. Lodge: Archie worries about Riverdale's workers. Mr. Lodge sees them as commodities who should be replaced by robotic competitors!
This lead story reveals that the Lodge family will be hosting "Personal Robots" at their home for the next month. During that month, the family will get to figure out numerous ways that Riverdale can benefit from mechanized scabs!
Here is the sad part: Betty -- Riverdale's "girl next door" -- is all over this new scheme. She points out all of the ways that Veronica and her family will benefit from mechanical staff: They can do their laundry. They can walk the dogs. They can prepare food for parties and do most of the decoration. Where will it stop?
Being the heartless industrialist that he is, Mr. Lodge ends up using the Personal Robot to attack and assault Archie. I'm shaking my head with sadness...
Granted, Archie isn't Betty. But I lost a little respect for Betty once she put her stamp of approval on this effort to help the Lodge family lay off all of their staff!
"Nice Advice" was written by George Gladir, penciled by Bill Galvan, inked by Bob Smith, lettered by Jack Morelli, and colored by Digikore Studios. Keep in mind that Gladir died nearly 1.5 years ago. So while it's nice that Archie Comics obviously has a backlog of old George Gladir scripts lying around, it would be nice if they contracted with some living writers!