A serviceable entry into the Archie-verse of stories as part of their new Blue Ribbon imprint which is specifically for the company’s graphic novels. I enjoyed Brittany Williams’ pie-eyed style with its vivid, bubblt color palette which perfectly fit the tone of the story of various imaginative scenarios of potential B&V career aspirations. Rather than attend booths on fashion and activism as they had planned, the girls choose to explore and imagine completely different career opportunities. 

Their first stop is to listen to a Riverdale Senator. Each chapter introduces the career person and then moves onto a B&V’s daydream. In this one, they imagine they become the first co-presidents of the U.S. Veronica acting on the business side and Betty in the social justice side. Their mission is to help clean up an oil (Hair gel) spill off the coast of Reginwald. Yes, an island country owned by Reggie Mantel. I found this the most enjoyable chapter and really sets the tone about how the book is all about female empowerment. It also lightly implies current issues like global warming,and pollution through Betty’s Green Girls and hints at immigration stories through the speech of the Senator who is speaking.

Next up is a visit to the STEM field of astronautics. Betty pursues her physics pursuits while Veronica works in NASA’s PR department but inadvertently joins the space trip which she live streams. This was entertaining enough but space nor STEM is not my thing so it was decent rather than automatically inspring me into the STEM field as it might for others reading it. 

3rd is a visit from Katy Keene, model, actress and superstar. This was the weakest chapter in my opinion. While the other career women talked about some difficulties and struggles, and hinted at real life social issues, Katy’s biggest problem was homesickness, everything else fell into her lap. Which is fine, but Katy’s comic backstory could have provided more impact. Her parents died, she couldn’t pay the rest of college so she went into modeling in order to support her sister and herself. It could have given her a chance to talk about the struggles of getting a job, constant rejection of one’s talents and one’s looks etc.

The daydream similarly felt off as it showed Betty becoming a Broadway Star (in character), and Veronica becoming a comedian (What?). It seemed like Veronica was going to become a model/influencer but then they turned her into a viral joke which she decided to pivot into making a comedy group. Which makes no sense considering the character. Yes, she is often the butt of the joke, but she never means to be and her temper and her pride wouldn’t allow her to embrace making fun of herself for long. A second reader suggested it was to show that we don’t always end up doing what we think or embracing a new talent. If that was what Rotante were going for, maybe make it more implicit.

I thought perhaps Rotante was trying to make a point against current jokes about women not being funny as the rest of the story has been specifically in girl empowerment mode. Which is a good point, women are funny, but she used the wrong character to do it with.

Finally, Betty and Veronica become superheroes. Literally and imaginatively. Victoria Adams, “the superhero” is a FBI agent who gives justice to victims but we don’t learn about her work beyond that sentence since the two missed her talk. This leads off to their daydream of becoming literal superheroes, Superteen and Powerteen who helps one of Mr. Lodge‘s recently fired employees. This was fine if a bit disconnected, but I understand how they were trying to tie it together and use its superteen characters at the same time.

Besides those main plots, in between chapters, there is a subplot of Kevin Keller trying to figure out if following the military footsteps of his family is truly what he wants to do in the future which can be helpful to those who are considering such a step. 

If there is another weakness in the story, it would be the lack of Archie. Now I understand the book is very pro-girl empowerment, and love triangles is not the focus but I still found the absence glaring and distracting. He is such an important part of the Riverdale comics and the girl’s lives, so I kept wondering when he would appear. He did appear eventually, to trip over a chair twice. Plus a lunch scene where he didn’t say anything about his future dream goal. Kevin got a little plot. Reggie had a memorable cameo and an island. Even Jughead got to talk about his future! What about Archie? If Rotante was trying to keep him off to the side so the girls can have their moment to shine, I think she did it a shade too far that it became distracting. He could have at least mention what he wanted to be.

Besides that small quibble, it was a cute story and had little comic nuggets like the Shield and Betty’s Green Girls (obviously a takeoff of Betty’s Goodwill Girls. Why change the name?). It really pounds the idea that girls can do anything and that a friendship like Betty and Veronica is inseparable no matter where they choose to in life.

So on a scale, Bond of Friendship gets 7-8 stars.