Betty & Veronica Double Digest

George: No way. At the time I was introducing many new characters both in "Archie's Madhouse", and in "Bats"... and had very little feedback as to how the characters were going over. I was told Sabrina had elicited some favorable mail.

Archie: What types of influences were there for you to create a teenage “good” witch?

George: I was a great fan of Charles Addams, the legendary New Yorker cartoonist. I was struck by the way he turned monsters and witches into playful characters.

Archie: What were the first signs that Sabrina struck a cord with the public, and they wanted to see more?

George: As I mentioned before I had once heard there was some favorable mail for the character. The first real sign came around 1968 (Sabrina was created in 1962) when I read in TV Guide that Sabrina was to go on TV the following year.

Archie: What was your reaction well Bewitched came out?

George: There was little reaction on my part. Although "Bewitched" came out two years after Sabrina there already had been a movie about a contemporary witch. In 1942 Veronica Lake appeared in "I Married a Witch".

Archie: Does the use of magic make it easier or harder to tell a funny story?

George: Neither harder nor easier. Magic is just another ploy. It's a ploy I happen to favor because I like letting my imagination run wild.

Archie: How does Sabrina and her magic, relate to the rest of the Archie kids?

George: It doesn't because Sabrina has nothing to do with Riverdale. However, the initial show that introduced Sabrina to TV had her meeting up with the Archie gang and enrolling at Riverdale High. The story was written by famed TV comedy writer Jack Mendelsohn and myself and appeared on prime time.   

Archie: Sabrina has had multiple cartoon series, a made for TV movie as well as a weekly television show. What makes Sabrina so endearing to the public at large?

George: One factor may be that witchcraft empowers the possessor and makes for an interesting story line... much in the way super heroes are gifted with super powers.

Archie: While these appearances in other mediums get people interested in Sabrina, do they change the way you can tell Sabrina stories?

Archie: Sabrina, more than any other character at Archie has been able to change look and style. From the original Mad House look, to classic Archie, to animated and now manga. What is it about this character that allows her to be so flexible?

George: There is something very appealing about a young person being able to practice witchcraft. One has to look no further than Harry Potter to see how powerful this concept can be.

Archie: Your classic Sabrina stories are featured in Betty & Veronica Double Digest. What is it about these stories that allow them to remain fresh and relevant to a new generation of readers?

George: I'd like to think her appeal transcends time.