Betty and Veronica #169

In "The Gifted," Betty and Veronica navigate a heartfelt dilemma over their holiday gifts—Betty worries her homemade presents aren’t enough, while Veronica frets her lavish ones lack sincerity. As they each question their intentions, Sugar Plum helps them see that the real value lies not in price or effort, but in the thought behind them. Written by Kathleen Webb and illustrated by Jeff Shultz, with inks by Henry Scarpelli, colors by Barry Grossman, and letters by Bill Yoshida, this 2002 issue captures the warmth of friendship with a touch of Archie Comics charm. The cover, by Jeff Shultz and Henry Scarpelli, beautifully mirrors the story’s emotional core.