By JAMIE STENGLE
Associated Press Writer
DALLAS (AP) — A comic book collector upset that Archie is proposing to Veronica instead of Betty has sold a rare Archie comic book for almost $40,000.

The rare Archie Comics No. 1 sold Friday at Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries for $38,837.

Richmond, Va., comic book store owner Dave Luebke (LOOB’-kee) decided to sell the comic to protest Archie’s choice, saying, “Betty is it, not Veronica. This is serious.”

The Archie Comics Web site shows Archie proposing to Veronica on bended knee on the cover of No. 600, which hits comic book stores Aug. 19. Archie Comics Editor-in-Chief Victor Gorelick says that begins a six-issue story arc that takes place in the future — after the perpetual high schoolers have graduated from college.

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On the Net:
Heritage Auction Galleries: http://www.ha.com
Dave’s Comics: http://www.davescomics.com
Archie Comics: http://www.archiecomics.com

BOB BROWN/TIMES-DISPATCH
Dave Luebke, owner of Dave’s Comics in Richmond, holds a picture of the rare Archie comic at his store at the Village Shopping Center in Richmond’s West End.