The wedding story was written by Michael E. Uslan and illustrated by Stan Goldberg, a longtime “Archie” artist. The first half was called “Archie Marries Veronica,” but issue No. 603, on sale next month, is called “Archie Marries Betty.” The end of bachelorhood began in issue No. 600, in which Archie found himself on a road named Memory Lane, which he has often traveled. This time he walked a different direction and encountered a fork in the road. He chose the left path, which allowed him to see his future with Veronica and their twins, and himself working for her tycoon father.

Image Robert Frosts Road Not Taken was one inspiration for the story of Archies future love life. Credit... Archie Comic Publications

At the end of the October issue, No. 602, Archie goes for an evening stroll and encounters the fork again. In the November issue Archie will find himself back in Riverdale High, this time envisioning a future with Betty as his wife. (A set of twins factors into this destiny as well.)

This alternative future will be a relief to the fans who reacted negatively to the marriage to Veronica. “The polls that I’ve seen ran about 80/20, Betty over Veronica, with Jughead continually coming in a strong third,” said Mr. Uslan, a comic-book historian, a longtime “Archie” fan and a producer of the big-screen “Batman” films. Mr. Uslan said his inspiration for the story included a film (“Sliding Doors”), a poem (Robert Frost’s “Road Not Taken”) and a song (“Both Sides, Now”).

Mr. Uslan’s relationship with Archie began in his childhood. “My mom told me I learned to read from ‘Archie’ comics and ‘Casper,’ ” said Mr. Uslan, now 58. Assembling the 1980 publication “The Best of Archie” required Mr. Uslan and his colleague Jeffrey Mendel to read every “Archie” comic ever published.

At that time Mr. Uslan met Victor Gorelick, then an editor and now co-president and editor in chief of Archie Comic Publications. Last October, nearly 30 years and a career away from “Archie,” Mr. Uslan approached Mr. Gorelick about writing a milestone story. With the comic nearing issue No. 600, and the 70th anniversary fast approaching, the timing seemed right.