Strong back-up stories make this digest an enjoyable reading experience, despite the disappointing lead feature.

Like many of the girls in my library, I was looking forward to the "And the Winner Is" storyline, which has Cheryl Blossom taking part in a dating/reality type show. Readers follow Cheryl's three dates and vote for who should be her new boyfriend.

Unfortunately, while the idea is good, the execution has been a little off.

In Part Two, Cheryl goes on the first date. The splashpage, showing Cheryl and date Austin staring at one another with Archie glowering in the background, is very nice but terribly misleading. Archie has nothing to do with this story! Cheryl broke up with Reggie. If anyone should glower, it's him.

Continuing on, the first page is a well-done recap. Scripter and penciller Dan Parent does an excellent job of bringing readers up to speed. The story starts out well with the cameras following Cheryl's every move. There's some good interaction between her and her twin Jason and the date itself is interesting. Parent gives Austin something of a personality, there are a couple of sweet hearts-n-flowers moments, and the art is up to Parent's usual standard.

So with all those pluses, why did I go "eh" after reading it? Cheryl. She has no personality in this story. Veronica could have been substituted and it would not have made one iota of difference. I like Cheryl, and I think she has a lot of potential – but it wasn't reached here. That's disappointing.

Far more entertaining is "Leg Work," a reprint from the late '40s – early '50s. Mr. Lodge blows a gasket over Betty and Veronica appearing in public in shorts and sets the girls to cleaning the pool as a punishment, but the tables are turned before the story's over. Betty and Veronica look gorgeous here, and I'm thinking the artist on this was the legendary Dan DeCarlo. For those who think the story's dated by Lodge's attitude, well I can testify it still exists in some towns in America.

"Crushes I've Had" is an absolutely adorable record of Betty's various crushes. This is a story every reader can relate to. The attitude throughout is smart and the younger Betty is a real heartbreaker who's not afraid to stick up for herself.

"Talk It Over" might be a Bob Bolling illustrated story, but I'm not sure. Some elements are the same, but… the girls have a lean sexiness. You know how Barbara Stanwyck comes down the stairs toward Fred McMurray in Double Indemnity? That's the way Betty and Veronica would move. And they look like they're always in motion in this tale of trying to make a connection.

"Down Argentine Way" has Veronica getting involved with a Tango dancer and his possessive dance partner. It's always fun to see Veronica dealing with someone as possessive and autocratic as she and this story doesn't disappoint. The art is fluid and conveys a sense of movement – absolutely necessary in a story about dance, but not always achieved. The layout showing Veronica learning the Tango is vibrant and striking.

In "Magnetic Force" Betty is having one of those days when everything she touches breaks. What's interesting about this story is that the scientist Dilton blames it on the motion of the planets. The writer must have been trying to expand his character, but it was a poor choice. However, the art is beautiful, and the punchline is smart.

"Major Error" is another good looking story that has Archie volunteering to help Betty's softball team. The game scenes are exceptionally well done.

"The Real McCoy" looks like it was done by the same artist who did "Talk It Over." The art is beautiful and Veronica gets to play smart as she tries to avoid the spy her father has put on her trail.

"Just Ducky" sets the cause of feminism back by years, but the art is good-looking and it does have a couple of surprises.

"Nomad is an Island" is a light piece that deals with the size of the Lodge mansion. It's totally implausible, but I enjoy the punchline.

"Choose or Lose" is a definite Bob Bolling piece, with a script by Mike Pellowski. After a long winter, the girls have to decide what to do on a beautiful Spring Saturday.

Add in a couple of good, old-style Sabrina adventure stories and you have a digest well-worth picking up, even if you skip the lead story.

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