Maria Rodriguez

Born from the pen of the legendary Dan DeCarlo in 1978's Archie Giant Series Magazine #474, Maria Rodriguez arrived in Riverdale during the Bronze Age and never really left — her presence stretching across an impressive 44 years of Archie Comics history. She's a familiar face in the world of Betty, Veronica, Archie, Jughead, and Reggie, turning up across beloved digest titles like Veronica and Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest Magazine — the kind of company that puts her right at the warm, colorful heart of Riverdale's social scene. For collectors who love the deeper bench of Archie's universe, Maria is a rewarding discovery: a character with genuine longevity, created by one of the most celebrated artists in the publisher's storied history, and proof that Riverdale has always been a richer, more welcoming town than any single headline character could contain.