ARCHIE #22: "Why Can't I Feel My Legs?"

The "Over the Edge" story line just wrapped up in ARCHIE #22. This was the story line that originally threatened to kill off one of the main five characters in Archie Comics. I then later realized that Archie Comics was being a bit sly and just implying that somebody would die. Sure enough, we learned last month that Betty Cooper was serious injured and on the brink of death after getting caught up in a drag-racing-involved car accident.

So did she die?

SPOILERS!!!...

MORE SPOILERS!!!...

EVEN MORE SPOILERS!!!...


Short answer: No.

Longer answer: She almost died. And she's pretty beat up. And it's possible that she's permanently paralyzed from the legs down.


Much of ARCHIE #22 consisted of flashbacks by the people who love Betty. Her parents remembering her earliest days. Archie remembering their first encounter. Veronica remembering a random act of kindness by Miss Cooper. Mr. Weatherbee remembering the time that Betty saved him from a potentially career-altering misstep.

But the gist is that Betty is alive and that she will be forever changed by the events of this story line. And the rest of Riverdale will find themselves forced to figure out how to fill her absence.

Keep in mind that THE ARCHIES will be an ongoing comic book soon. So that means one of three things. Either Betty's injuries aren't permanent and she will recover. Or THE ARCHIES is a prequel series. Or THE ARCHIES is set in its own little bit of continuity. Just something to mull over...