Bad Boy Trouble

Infobox comics story arc


imagesize= 185
caption=Cover of Betty & Veronica in 'Bad Boy Trouble'
publisher=Archie Comics
date=July - October 2007
titles= "Betty & Veronica Double Digest" # 151-154
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main_char_team="See Characters"
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Bad Boy Trouble is an American comic book story by writer Melanie J. Morgan and artists Steven Butler and Al Milgrom that was originally serialized in "Betty & Veronica Double Digest" # 151-154. The story features Betty and Veronica (and other Archie Comics characters), and is notable because of its length (at approximately 100 pages, much longer then most Archie Comics stories) and because it was the first of an occasional series of Archie Comics stories drawn in a more realistic style. Also unusual for Archie Comics, the story was collected into a trade paperback edition within a month after the original serialization was completed.

This story was adapted from a Riverdale High novel written by Michael Pellowski. The novel was titled "Bad News Boyfriend" and was published in 1991.

The next story using the more realistic character designs was the "The Matchmakers", serialized in "Jughead's Double Digest" # 139-142. It is also based on a Riverdale High novel ("It's First Love, Jughead Jones" by Michael Pellowski and John L. Goldwater). A third story in this vein (titled "Break-up Blues") has been announced to start in "Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest" #125 in October 2008 [Citation
title = Archie Comics For September
url = http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0806/16/archiesept.htm] .

Plot

Part 1

Betty, Veronica, and Midge went to watch a movie where they met Nick St. Clair, a smooth-talking teenage biker nephew of the Anderson family there. He had recently moved in with his aunt and uncle due to a jam he got into at his high school in New Jersey. Betty and Midge were suspicious of Nick (as he sneaked into the movie theater), yet Veronica was interested. Nick discovers Veronica's wealth, and they went for a joy ride on his motorcycle. Betty and Midge went back to the Lodge Mansion to tell Mr. Lodge what happened to Veronica. Nick and Veronica returned hours later and he rode off without a word. As a result of this, Mr. Lodge forbids Veronica from bringing Nick to the Lodge Mansion. She insisted that nothing happened. She then recounted the story to her friends after Mr. Lodge had left the room. She went to a pizzeria with Nick, where several other bikers mocked Nick and tried to hit on Veronica. Nick then told them to back off. They didn't, and they got in a fight which ended when one of the bikers punched Nick's helmet and broke his hand, and the other biker got kicked to the ground by Nick. Midge then warned Veronica that she can't juggle Archie and Nick forever. In response, Veronica gives up Archie in order to be with Nick. [Betty & Veronica Double Digest # 151]

Part 2

The following Monday at school, Archie asked Midge and Betty how their weekend was. They initially hid the whole episode with Nick from Archie. Archie, Midge, and Betty then went to Mr. Flutesnoot's biology class. Nick St. Clair introduced himself by saying "Ta-dah! Greetings, Riverdale High students. Don't let my name fool you. A saint, I ain't!" He then sat down and didn't take notes, as he could copy them off from Veronica later. He then interrupted Mr. Flutesnoot by making chicken noises. Nick then expected Betty to lie to Mr. Flutesnoot about him making chicken noises. Luckily, Archie bailed her out by telling Mr. Flutesnoot that Nick made those chicken noises. He was then sent to the principal's office. He also got angry at Archie for telling on him. The comic then skips to lunch, where Archie was angry at him. Midge told Chuck that Nick was thrown out of history class by Ms. Smith because he kept talking to Veronica. Veronica and Nick then joined Archie, Chuck, Nancy, Midge, Betty, Jughead, and Dilton at the lunch table. Everyone left the lunch table but Betty, Veronica, Nick, and Jughead as a result of his presence. He cut in line, stole sandwiches from people in the lunch line, stole a pie from Dilton, and was eyeing at Jughead's lunch as well. Betty then showed Nick to the gym, but he tried to hit on her. She didn't want to be his girlfriend, and left him to find his own way to the gym. Weeks later, Betty and Midge were going to Ms. Grundy's English literature class and talking about Nick. Midge told Betty that he tried to copy Midge's English literature homework. Midge didn't tell Moose about this, and Betty didn't tell anyone about it when Nick hit on her a few weeks ago. Veronica then tricked Betty into letting Nick pick Veronica up at Betty's house, as her parents were going away for the weekend. They then went to Ms. Grundy's class, where Nick St. Clair was late yet again (Betty told Midge that he was never on him for that class). He didn't have a late pass, or today's homework. He then snapped at Ms. Grundy when she asked him "When are you going to get with the program, Nick?" Ms. Grundy snapped back at Nick, and sent him to the principal's office. Veronica was being ignorant of the whole thing. Midge, Betty, and Dilton tried to knock some sense into Veronica, but they failed to do so. [Betty & Veronica Double Digest # 152]

Part 3

At Betty's house, Veronica goes out with Nick St. Clair to a nightclub. She stays very late (again) but comes home and is knocked-out when she sleeps. Later at school in Ms. Grundy's English literature class she assigned a two-thousand word essay and anyone who doesn't turn in the paper over the weekend will fail the class. Afterwords, Archie and Betty see Nick extortioning an essay out of Dilton Doiley and threatens to beat him up if he doesn't write it. Archie stops him and before a fight starts, Coach Clayton stepped in and told the two if they like to fight, do it in a boxing ring. However, Clayton tells them that the match must be top secret and will be held in a 5-way pact between Archie, Betty, Dilton, Nick, and himself. Everyone thinks that Archie will lose, but Archie fights wonderfully and hits Nick very hard. Nick begins to fight instead of box, and hits Archie in the eye and the mouth, leaving him with a black eye. Nick is completely tired. Archie manages to hit Nick so perfectly that Nick is extremingly tired and in pain. After two rounds Archie wins because Coach Clayton feels that Nick has been feeling very tired, but Nick (who really is tired) still wants to fight. Nick leaves and offers Betty one more chance, that if she needs a real man, just call him. She declines and says she will congratulate Archie by taking him out to the upcoming dance. [Betty & Veronica Double Digest # 153]

Part 4

The story comes to see Archie and Betty on a date looking at the stars. They decide to go to Pop Tate's where they find all their friends congratulating him for winning the match. Archie feels good... for a short second, then remembers that the match was secret. Dilton explains that Nick was breaking the pact, but lied, telling them that he won the match. Dilton came up and tells them that Archie won and Nick was worn out. Nick threatens to beat him up but Moose and Chuck comes and saves him. Archie decides that Dilton had to do it so he buys everyone a pizza. Unfortunately, Nick and Veronica come in and everyone states that there is no room for them to have pizza in order to get them to leave. Betty finally decides to talk to Veronica privately about how Nick tried to hit on her. But before she gets to that part, Veronica does what she always does when Betty is trying to explain something to her about something Veronica has, saying that Betty is just jealous, to which they both lose all their patience with each other. Veronica and Nick leave and everyone finally comes to their decision about Nick -- either shape-up, or get out of Riverdale. Betty comes up with an idea, but it could result in Veronica hating her. The next day at school, Betty says that she changed her mind about Nick and wants to go on a date with him. Nick feels suspicious at first, but gladly accepts and they decide to go to the movies. Betty and Nick rode a little longer than Nick expected because Betty wanted to realize the ride. When they get into the movie theater, they finally kiss, and Veronica and Archie (the latter who used the leftover time when Nick and Betty where riding on Nick's bike) see everything. Veronica breaks up with Nick and dumps Betty as a friend. Nick is ready to beat them all up, but the whole gang (with the exception of Veronica who ran out crying) saves them. The next day, Reggie runs up to Archie and Betty and tells them that Nick finally got on the good side, saying that he realized what true friendship is about. Unfortunately, Nick got busted for cheating on his essay and Ms. Grundy, fed up with Nick, flunked him. Nick was sent to military school as punishment, but decides he wants to go so he can get straightened out. Nick also tells Veronica what he has been doing so Veronica and Betty forgives each other. Veronica, however, got a week of detention for cheating, but for her, detention is like a second home for the Riverdale gang. [Betty & Veronica Double Digest # 154]

Characters

* Archie Andrews appeared in book 2, 3, and 4.
* Betty Cooper appeared in book 1, 2 , 3, and 4.
* Veronica Lodge appeared in book 1, 2 , 3, and 4.
* Jughead Jones appeared in book 2 and 4.
* Reggie Mantle appeared in book 2 (cameo) and book 4.
* Dilton Doiley appeared in book 2, 3, and 4.
* Moose Mason appeared in book 2 (short cameo) and 4.
* Chuck Clayton appeared in book 2 (short cameo) and 4.
* Midge Klump appeared in book 1, 2, 3, and 4.
* Nick St. Clair appeared in book 1, 2, 3, and 4
* Mr. Lodge appeared in book 1, and mentioned in book 2 and 3.
* Mr. Weatherbee did not appear, but was mentioned in book 2 and 3.
* Ms. Grundy appeared in book 2, 3, and 4.
* Mr. Flutesnoot appeared in book 2.
* Coach Clayton appeared in book 3.

References

External links

* [http://stuffshop.archiecomics.com/beveinbboytr.html Betty & Veronica in 'Bad Boy Trouble' Graphic novel page]