ARCHIE'S DAN PARENT AND BILL GALVAN

It all started with a kiss. Actually, it all started with an idea Dan Parent had about the Archies and Josie and the Pussycats. Working with Bill Galvan, the two looked past the love triangle of Archie, Betty and Veronica and put Archie together with Josie and the Pussycats' Valerie Brown.

With Archie #608 arriving in stores on April 21, the creators talked about the story in the following question-and-answer:

Question: What brought you two together for this story?

Galvan: I was asked to pencil this story and it was a lot of fun to be a part of it. Dan is a great writer, so I knew the story would be really good and bring out the best in the characters.

Parent: The editors, Victor and Mike, thought we'd be a good match. I think they're on to something!

Question: Do you see this as a groundbreaking story?

Galvan: Definitely! This is a big story for the characters, who have always been friends but have never been together as a couple.

Parent: To be honest, not in the terms that most people think it is. It was written to be a good story, about interesting characters, not an "interracial" story in itself, even though that's an obvious element. And we've had interracial dating in our stories before, just not with Archie.

Question: Dan, you both write and draw for Archie; why work with an artist instead of drawing this story yourself?

Parent: Well, I can't draw everything, even though I'd like to! Bill did such a good job on the Archie/Josie team-up in Archie & Friends last year, it seemed like a nice fit.

Question: Bill, is it easier to work with a writer who is also an artist?

Galvan: Dan does great storyboards for his stories that really have a lot of life and energy to them. TheyŐre especially helpful in suggesting the expressions and emotions of the story.

Question: Is the cover reflective of the story?

Galvan: I think so. The story is called "It Starts With a Kiss" and seeing them both together for the first time says it all!

Parent: Very much so, since what you see definitely occurs in the story.

Question: Archie has a reputation as a high school Casanova. Is Valerie concerned?

Galvan: Valerie and Archie have a great relationship that develops over shared interests like music and songwriting. Things are different for both of them and Archie has shown her that he's taking this relationship more seriously than usual.

Parent: Valerie doesn't seem too concerned about it, since the romance sort of springs up suddenly. There are concerns about Betty and Veronica after the romance begins, but I don't want to give too much away.

Question: How do Josie and Melody react to the news?

Galvan: Josie and Melody are very happy for Valerie, especially since she's so happy when she's with Archie.

Parent: With some amount of surprise, but they're more concerned about it affecting their tour with The Archies, since romances on the road can complicate things.

Question: How accepting are Archie's friends of his relationship with Valerie?

Galvan: Well, obviously Betty and Veronica aren't thrilled, but Jughead is a supportive best friend.

Parent: Well, everybody but Betty and Veronica are fine with it!

Question: Does this interfere with the bandsŐ cooperation on the tour?

Galvan: In some ways, because they are so distracted with their new relationship, but it really does help them both write better love songs!

Parent: Of course it does! Without complications, where would the fun be?

Question: Will this relationship carry over to future Archie stories?

Galvan: I hope so. It's a great relationship that shows a new side to both characters!

Parent: Absolutely! We already have more Archie/Valerie stories in the works! Their romance is too good to be just a one-shot event.