What do you think?
Rate this book
Archie Comics Presents: The Love Showdown Collection
The historic "Love Showdown" story, originally appearing in ARCHIE #429 (Part One), BETTY #19 (Part Two), BETTY & VERONICA #82 (Part Three) and VERONICA #39 (Part Four) took the nation by storm as Archie vowed to choose between Betty and Veronica once and for all! Now you can relive this epic in one convenient, upscale paperback.
48 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 1995
20 people are currently reading
821 people want to read
About the author
Archie Comics
4,763 books409 followersArchie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by publisher/editor John L. Goldwater, written by Vic Bloom and drawn by Bob Montana. They were based in part on people met by Goldwater "in the Midwest" during his travels throughout the United States while looking for jobs and places to stay.
Archie's first appearance in Pep Comics #22 on December 22, 1941, was drawn by Montana and written by Vic Bloom. With the creation of Archie, publisher Goldwater hoped to appeal to fans of the Andy Hardy movies starring Mickey Rooney. Archie Comics is also the title of the company's longest-running publication, the first issue appearing with a cover date of Winter 1942. Starting with issue #114, the title was shortened to simply Archie.
Archie's first appearance in Pep Comics #22 on December 22, 1941, was drawn by Montana and written by Vic Bloom. With the creation of Archie, publisher Goldwater hoped to appeal to fans of the Andy Hardy movies starring Mickey Rooney. Archie Comics is also the title of the company's longest-running publication, the first issue appearing with a cover date of Winter 1942. Starting with issue #114, the title was shortened to simply Archie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 9, 2007
I love reading all Archie's comics collection.
March 15, 2010
It's an Archie book, so what do you want? Squeaky clean silly jokes, a teenage love-triangle (or in this case love-square), and burgers at Pop's. Done!
October 28, 2024
The introduction to this collection is priceless. I find it hard to believe a grown man wrote it.
January 8, 2019
This book is exactly like the netflix series. It's amazing! If you see this go check out this book!
July 7, 2025
It was the year of my board exams—1996. The pressure was dense, like monsoon humidity in a packed exam hall.
Chalk dust floated in the classroom air, mingling with equations and expectations. I was supposed to be revising trigonometry—cosine, sine, and the eternal question: “Why do I even need this?” But beneath the weighty disguise of my maths textbook, something far more urgent unfolded—The Love Showdown Collection.
Archie Andrews was in my lap. Betty and Veronica were battling for his love. And I, an unsuspecting teenage romantic, was committing quiet acts of comic book treason in the backbench of a maths class.
The comic was opened just enough to stay hidden. Just enough to keep the fantasy alive. Page after glossy page of teenage drama, high school heartbreaks, and ice-cream-fueled confessions. I was completely immersed—so much so that I missed the hush that fell over the room. The silence that precedes judgment.
A shadow loomed.
The textbook was lifted.
The comic was exposed.
The cane came down.
Hard.
Reader, I was caught red-handed. Red-faced. And, very soon, red-bottomed. My maths teacher—who could have moonlighted as a minor Greek deity of punishment—delivered swift justice. With a cane, no less. Swift, stinging arithmetic to my backside. To this day, I swear my taxes are more accurate because of that trauma.
Years passed. Exams were passed. Life, too, moved on. But yesterday—almost like a joke from the universe—I found that very comic again. Tucked inside an old bookshelf, its cover slightly bent, the corners worn, the colours faded.
And yet, the drama? Eternal.
The memory? Crisp. As if the cane had only just been holstered.
And here’s what I realised—not about sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 (though shoutout to the brave souls who still understand that), but about something far truer. That some loves, however ridiculous they may seem, never really leave you.
Archie Comics taught me that life is a love triangle—between what you want, what’s expected of you, and what actually finds you in the middle of a boring class.
Some love triangles leave you emotionally scarred.
Others leave you physically assaulted.
But both? Unforgettable.
Chalk dust floated in the classroom air, mingling with equations and expectations. I was supposed to be revising trigonometry—cosine, sine, and the eternal question: “Why do I even need this?” But beneath the weighty disguise of my maths textbook, something far more urgent unfolded—The Love Showdown Collection.
Archie Andrews was in my lap. Betty and Veronica were battling for his love. And I, an unsuspecting teenage romantic, was committing quiet acts of comic book treason in the backbench of a maths class.
The comic was opened just enough to stay hidden. Just enough to keep the fantasy alive. Page after glossy page of teenage drama, high school heartbreaks, and ice-cream-fueled confessions. I was completely immersed—so much so that I missed the hush that fell over the room. The silence that precedes judgment.
A shadow loomed.
The textbook was lifted.
The comic was exposed.
The cane came down.
Hard.
Reader, I was caught red-handed. Red-faced. And, very soon, red-bottomed. My maths teacher—who could have moonlighted as a minor Greek deity of punishment—delivered swift justice. With a cane, no less. Swift, stinging arithmetic to my backside. To this day, I swear my taxes are more accurate because of that trauma.
Years passed. Exams were passed. Life, too, moved on. But yesterday—almost like a joke from the universe—I found that very comic again. Tucked inside an old bookshelf, its cover slightly bent, the corners worn, the colours faded.
And yet, the drama? Eternal.
The memory? Crisp. As if the cane had only just been holstered.
And here’s what I realised—not about sin²θ + cos²θ = 1 (though shoutout to the brave souls who still understand that), but about something far truer. That some loves, however ridiculous they may seem, never really leave you.
Archie Comics taught me that life is a love triangle—between what you want, what’s expected of you, and what actually finds you in the middle of a boring class.
Some love triangles leave you emotionally scarred.
Others leave you physically assaulted.
But both? Unforgettable.
March 28, 2021
I was curious about this when it was released but only got around to reading it this year. It's a fun series of stories, although it doesn't provide the resolution that it promises (I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that the Archie-Betty-Veronica love triangle wasn't conclusively solved in 1994). I like how the stories build on each other, although there was a plot point from the beginning that was never addressed. I like how it shows Betty and Veronica as good friends and fierce rivals, as it captures the two sides of their relationship well.
Perhaps it's best summarized with a quotation from Simon & Garfunkel: "After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same." It's worth reading for the stories, but probably not for the definitive answer to the "Who will Archie choose?" question.
Perhaps it's best summarized with a quotation from Simon & Garfunkel: "After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same." It's worth reading for the stories, but probably not for the definitive answer to the "Who will Archie choose?" question.
March 15, 2021
This was 90210 level drama for tween me back in 1995. I foolishly believed this settle the "Betty or Veronica" debate forever. It didn't, but it was still a wild ride.
I discussed this series with Archie Comics editor and author Jamie Lee Rotante on an Archie themed episode of Howe's Things: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ev...
I discussed this series with Archie Comics editor and author Jamie Lee Rotante on an Archie themed episode of Howe's Things: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ev...
July 9, 2017
Loved reading it
Read
August 6, 2020Hhhhhh
February 20, 2021
I couldn’t stop laughing at how ridiculous Betty and Veronica were lol
June 23, 2022
I would like to read this book again I thought it was very good
July 17, 2025
Hello peak
February 18, 2016
There's an introduction and then there are four parts to the story with the original cover each came from. Betty and Veronica are going to go all out to determine once and for all which one will end up with Archie. At first they are just competing as normal, but when Archie gets a letter from a girl, and Reggie messes things up, the two girls stop being friends.
They try to out-do each other at virtually everything, not always with much success. They go to a great deal of work, but the surprise they end up doesn't please either one of them.
The story is cute and basically innocent. It's nice to read a story where no one is using drugs, no one is beating anyone up, there are no weapons, no bullying, nothing like that at all, just a basic innocence of a time lost to us now.
They try to out-do each other at virtually everything, not always with much success. They go to a great deal of work, but the surprise they end up doesn't please either one of them.
The story is cute and basically innocent. It's nice to read a story where no one is using drugs, no one is beating anyone up, there are no weapons, no bullying, nothing like that at all, just a basic innocence of a time lost to us now.
December 23, 2008
Archie comics are my favorite comics! I got into them when my Aunt left a huge box of them at my Grandma's house. Betty and Veronica fight over Archie, who sees Betty as more as a friend. Reggie loves Reggie, Jughead loves food, and there are more funny characters.
October 22, 2015
Love it as always.
However, as I have grown older, I think Archie is a wimp and Betty can do better than go for a guy like this. Despite that I still love Archies which takes me to a time of teens and fun.
However, as I have grown older, I think Archie is a wimp and Betty can do better than go for a guy like this. Despite that I still love Archies which takes me to a time of teens and fun.
April 3, 2007
It is difficult to choose between Bettie and Ronnie, esp. when hijinks ensue.
July 17, 2007
my fav book
January 25, 2008
I have read tons of these and this one is great!
Read
February 14, 2008This book was fantabulous! While it may be a touch long, with sometimes overly complex dialogue, the novel takes a twist at the end that truly lets you get inside the heart of the heroine.
September 26, 2008
THIS IS SO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL >.<
January 18, 2009
OH MY GOD I LOVE ARCHIE COMICS THEY ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!! I have read this since I was about 7 or something and now im 12 but they are awesome to read! I HIGHLY RECCOMEND!!!
September 13, 2009
THE BLURB WAS PRETTY MUCH THE WORST ONE IN HISTORY. and i cannot believe the ending. seriously..........
November 8, 2009
I LOVE THESE BOOKS SOOOOOOOO MUCH. THEY R FUNNY ENTERTAINING AND REALLY OPEN
Want to read
April 9, 2010boy trouble
Read
April 21, 2012my favorite comic strip!!
Read
April 8, 2014it is very funny
October 31, 2014
etgyhhjj
Read
March 4, 2016LOVED IT
August 4, 2016
Some of the best stories of Archie comics! I love all the Characters especially Archie, Betty, and Veronica! This is a must read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews