Archie: What is the difference between a story in Betty & Veronica story for the comic or digest and one that goes into the Spectacular?
Dan Parent: We try to treat the spectacular book as a trendier book that someone who doesn't even read our books might pick out and give it a try. We also try to give it a bolder graphic style that will pop out on the newsstand. Archie: The look, feel and design of Betty & Veronica Spectacular are different than the rest of the Archie Comics, how did this come about?
Dan Parent: The old Spectacular book was really no different than the regular Betty & Veronica book, so we wanted the book to have a separate identity. We went with the more magazine-ish approach, but not so far that it would turn off Archie fans too. The book is by far the most requested at conventions, and I think we've really succeeded in our original intentions.
Archie: How did the quizzes come about?
Dan Parent: All the teen books have quizzes, and people in general like to evaluate themselves, so the quizzes add a fun element to the book.
Archie: How many magazines do you read each month?
Dan Parent: I subscribe to over 30 magazines a month. I have to continually bring boxed of books to the recycling center, otherwise my house would look like a disaster zone!
Archie: Both the coloring and backgrounds have more detail and texture, how is this look achieved?
Dan Parent: Thank God for PhotoShop. It's changed my life (along with many other artists!) PhotosShop gives you the freedom to do so many things, especially to redo things when you don't like them.
Archie: So, is Betty & Veronica Spectacular a one man show where you do the writing, penciling, inking, coloring and lettering?
Dan Parent: Well, on some features I do everything, but on the main stories we still use the coloring, inking and lettering talents of artists like Rich Koslowski, Barry Grossman and Jack Morelli. And Archie's art department is so good at taking my digital work and adding their own elements to make them even better.
Archie: What type of things influence you when plotting new Betty & Veronica Spectacular stories?
Dan Parent: I base the stories on what's going on in the news, or possibly a story I've read about in a magazine. Sometimes a real life event will spark a story idea. Like, when my daughter's school made a rule that everybody's required to take a shop or home ec. class whether they want to or not, that become a plot for one of the Spectacular books last year.
Archie: How do you plot out and issue with your editor and how much editorial involvement is there in the creation of each issue?
Dan Parent: I sit down with Victor Gorelick, and we come up with an overall theme. Then that's followed by a cover, and it all unfolds from there. Victor's good at pinpointing what will work and what won't, which I guess is why he's Editor-in-Chief!
Archie: As a comic that is published quarterly, you had an issue out for each new season's fashions; now that the Betty & Veronica Spectacular has increased to a bi-monthly title will this have any impact on the content?
Dan Parent: No, we'll still focus on seasons and holidays, now we just get to do more! And there's no shortage of themes when it comes to teens (or tweens)!
Archie: What can Betty & Veronica Spectacular fans look forward to seeing in the coming months?
Dan Parent: We've got a green issue coming out, then a special love and romance issue with a fun wedding story. Then we've got a Summer Fun issue coming (notice how I'm re-using the term "Summer Fun" from the old days) and we've done a back-to-school book each year, so we'll be doing another one of those! And that only brings us to September!
