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Issue: The Best of Archie Comics #4
Publication Date: August 2014
 
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Variant: unnamed
Rating:
Brand:
Indicia Publisher: Archie Comic Publications Inc.
On Sale Date: 08/20/2014
Volume:
Pages: 420
ISBN: 9781619889422
UPC/EAN: 978161988942250999
Price: $9.99 USD
Indicia Frequency:
Content Items: 79 (51 stories, 1 cover)
Editor(s): ?
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Publication Type: Trade Paperback
Color: Color
Dimensions: 7.5" x 5.5"
Paper Stock: Newsprint
Binding: Perfect Bound
Publishing Format:  
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Over 400 Pages of the Best Archie Stories Ever!

Illustration  on  Cover, Front
Credits
?
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Title Page and Credits

Credits  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
3
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Welcome to the Best of Archie Comics Book Four

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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The 1940s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Veronica Makes the Scene

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Penny Reems
Archie meets Veronica and asks her out, not knowing that she's a rich girl with expensive tastes. He gets a job at the El Crocadero to get money for the date, but that is where Veronica ends up wanting to go. Since Archie wore his work uniform for the date, he has to juggle working and dating Veronica.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5.5
First appearance of Veronica Lodge.
First view of Riverdale High School exterior.
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[untitled]

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
?
?
Subject Matter
superhero
Black Hood
64 pages of action-packed thrilling adventures as the man of mystery...
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
0.5
House ad for the Black Hood feature in Top-Notch Comics (Archie, 1939 series).
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Trip to Bear Mountain

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Archie Andrews; Jughead Jones; Reggie Mantle; Mr. Weatherbee; Veronica Lodge; Scotty; Streaky Shore
Archie gets initiated into the Philomathian club but hurts Mr. Weatherbee in the process. As a result, Archie is banned from the class boat ride. Jughead persuades Archie to go because Mr. Weatherbee never goes on the boat rides. However, he does and Archie has to avoid him.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
8
Gives setting of New York tri-state area, with references to the Hudson River and Bear Mountain.
First appearance of Reggie Mantle and Mr. Weatherbee.
Reggie Mantle shown to be wealthy.
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[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Craig (country club president, introduction)
With his fangs, what does he need us for?
Archie and Jughead use Archie's new pet beavers to chop down trees to build a log dam at the country club. Unfortunately, the boys build the dam in the wrong place and flood the course.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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The 1940s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Double Date

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Archie accidentally ends up with two dates on the same night and he tries to keep them both.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
11
Betty and Veronica are definitely rivals for Archie now!
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Puppy Love

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
When Archie brings a stray dog home, it causes trouble for the whole house, including the house itself!
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
11
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Photo-Finish

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
A dog gets in the way of Archie's entries in the newspaper beauty contest.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
3.67
Other Vigoda are signed. Jim Ludwig does not think this story is Vigoda 10/08
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[untitled]

Promotional Material (from Publisher)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
typeset
Subject Matter
anthropomorphic
He's a pippin, a dandy, he's cockeyed and he's bandy, he's...Superduck the cockeyed wonder...
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
0.33
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[untitled]

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
superhero
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
The first appearance of Archie on a comic book cover.
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The 1950s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Rag Mop

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Jughead's uncle installs a moving floor into the house.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Credits from the reprint in Archie Spotlight Digest: Archie 75th Anniversary Digest (Archie, 2016 series) #12.
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Policed to Meet You!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Veronica asks Archie to drive her father home from the train station as a means of occupying Mr. Lodge so they can prepare his surprise birthday party.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
When reprinted in Archie Spotlight Digest: Archie 75th Anniversary Digest (Archie, 2016 series) #12, writing and art are credited to George Frese.
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The 1950s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Say It with Flour

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Jughead and Archie try to make donuts for a baking contest.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
4
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Flip Flopped

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
After hearing that the boys like cheerleaders, Veronica joins the inept squad and uses her acrobatic skills to get herself promoted to head cheerleader.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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The 1960s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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SSsh!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Archie tries to get some eggs home from the store without dropping them.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
This story has no dialogue until the final page.

Writer credit from the reprint in Archie's Funhouse Double Digest (Archie, 2014 series) #5. In that same reprint the letters are credited to Harry Lucey.
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A New Twist

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Archie tries yoga and gets himself stuck. After freeing himself, he then attempts to show Midge the same pose when he loses his balance. She catches him and Moose catches them! Then Archie finds himself in a huge human knot.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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Foul Bawl

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Bert Cook
A crying, inconsolable Veronica sees Archie off at the train station, then immediately goes to the beach with a handsome new boy. When the train breaks down, Archie comes back and goes looking for Ronnie, worried that she's heartbroken over his departure.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
10
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The 1960s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Two Little Words

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
The story of Archie and Veronica's breakup, Betty and Reggie's attempt to move in on them, and their reconciliation, all told using only two words of dialogue: "Archie" and "Veronica."
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
This story seems to be partly inspired by Stan Freberg's popular comedy record "John and Marsha," which also used the idea of a complete story told with only two first names as dialogue.
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Lawbreaker

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
childrens, humorous
Little Archie plays traffic cop, and starts making up all kinds of arbitrary new laws to put his friends in "jail." Then he transforms the jail into a police vehicle to chase after a speeding go-kart driven by Ambrose.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
8
Credits listed as "Bolling/Gorelick/Grossman". While Bolling and Grossman are easy enough to place, it is unclear what Victor Gorelick may have done on this story.
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Mr. Inferno

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
the Devil [Mr. Inferno]
Betty sells her soul to the Devil to gain Archie's affections, but it is revealed that Veronica did the same some time ago. The two-timing Devil releases both from their contracts and disappears.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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The 1960s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Ha ha ha!
Reprinting
from Archie daily (King Features) 1964-04-20 - 1964-04-25
Miscellaneous
6
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[untitled]

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Archie! Come sit by the fire!
Reprinting
from Archie Sundays (King Features) 1964-05-10
Miscellaneous
2
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Dance Crazy

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Archie finds he can't stop dancing after he and Veronica leave a dance hall.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
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The Unkindest Cut

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Veronica tries to shorten the hem of Betty's skirt, leaving it crooked. Betty has to walk home leaning backwards so the skirt will be parallel to the ground.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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The 1970s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Protest

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous
Alan; Pat
Archie wants to organize a protest like all the other teenagers are doing in America, but is appalled to find that all the other kids are happy and have nothing to protest about.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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Summer Prayer for Peace

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
drama, humorous, teen
Clyde; Sgt. Bean
The male members of The Archies get their draft notices just before their big peace rally. Their hippie friend Clyde urges them to burn their draft cards, but Archie explains that though they oppose the war, breaking the law and rioting won't bring about social change. At the peace rally, Archie delivers the message that if the new generation works together, it can solve America's problems ("bigotry, pollution, and a senseless war") without violence.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
10
The final caption, which says that The Archies "are still a year away from being drafted but this is the way it would have happened," leaves it ambiguous as to whether this is an "imaginary" story or not.

A rare example of Archie expressing political views, both against the Vietnam War and against violent protests.

The title of the story comes from a song released by The Archies on the album "Sunshine," one of the most serious and ambitious songs by the group. It was a hit overseas but failed to catch on in America. The final panel has the group singing the actual song, though with the word "God" changed to "got."
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Mister Jughead

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Betty and Veronica spot Jughead taking money from elementary school children and assume he's extorting them.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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The 1970s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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The Big Think

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
teen
The girls advise a stressed-out Dilton to meditate, but his brain is so disciplined that whenever he makes his mind a blank, he passes out.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
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Quiet on the Set

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Archie and Jughead imagine themselves in a slapstick silent comedy set in the halls of Riverdale.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
In the silent movie sequence, Lucey puts Archie and Jughead in their classic '40s and '50s outfits (Archie's bow tie and "R" sweater vest and Jughead's "S" sweater).
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The Book Mark

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
teen
In order to get some privacy on the beach, Jughead gets Archie and Chuck to lower him onto an inaccessable ledge.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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The 1980s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Woman's Work

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
teen
Bingo and Samantha come up with a system to handle other guys hitting on her at the beach.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
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Book Marked

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Jane Marple
Jughead causes chaos in a library.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
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Input and Outlay

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Golly, Mr. Weatherbee! You got a computer!
Mr. Weatherbee buys a new computer and gets Archie to program it.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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The 1980s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Crowning Glory

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
teen
Unnamed fat cultist; Unnamed skinny cultist; Unnamed cult leader
Jughead is kidnapped by a cult for his crown.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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Living Legend in Logger's Pond

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
adventure, childrens, humorous
Perilous Pike
Little Archie and Juggie go out on a raft to try and catch the Perilous Pike of Logger's Pond, but they find themselves caught in the current and heading for the deadly Fossil Falls.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
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Karma Comedy

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
I've had it with this guy!
Reggie sends the regular Archie writer on vacation so he can write a story to get even with Jughead.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
The 1990s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
Moose

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
After a fight with Midge, Moose goes on a rampage.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
[untitled]

Cover Reprint (on Interior Page)  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
For One Brief Moment

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
teen
After Reggie saves Betty from being struck by an oncoming truck, the two begin seeing more of each other, and liking it, to the consternation of Archie and Veronica.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
12
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The 1990s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Attitudes

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
teen
Betty and Veronica criticize Reggie for his archaic views toward women.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
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The "Voice" of Choice

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
teen
Veronica cuts a country album.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
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Downtime

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous
A look into how Pop Tate spends the day when school is in session.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
Disclose
The 1990s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
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Clowning Around

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
fantasy, teen
Sabrina is infected with a particular strain of germ so that whenever she sneezes, the person next to her is turned into a clown.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
5
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Double Play

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
teen
Betty and Veronica try to meet two famous commercial spokesmen at a fitness camp.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
Ski Bummed

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
In an attempt to get used to skis Jughead wears them in the summer.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
The Inflation Problem

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
?
Subject Matter
teen
Jughead brings a portable air mattress to school.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
The 2000s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
Fight for the Privileged

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
How about that ol' Arch, eh? Talk about lucky! He gets to go to that Crazy Eric concert next month!
When they hear Archie has tickets to a popular concert, Betty and Veronica compete to be the one he takes.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
Garbage in Garbage Out

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Googie Gilmore; Cleo
Jughead is supposed to take out the trash.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
11
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The 2000s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
See You in the Funny Papers

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Betty and Veronica show each other how they can discern each other's moods by the word balloons and picture effects around them.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
Mission: Nutrition!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Googie Gilmore
Jughead puts candy bars in his ears when he sees Googie coming, because he knows what she's going to talk about.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
11
Disclose
The 2000s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
Pick Me Up

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
?
Subject Matter
teen
Betty and Veronica compare cheesy pick-up lines while fending off cheesy pick-up lines from various guys.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
6
Disclose
Summer Help

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Mi-Mi
Tiring of Veronica's indolence, Hermione decrees that the girl will prepare her own meals and clean her own room and clothes for the remainder of the summer.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
11
Disclose
The 2000s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
The Legend of the Lost Lagoon!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
childrens, humorous
Little Chuck Clayton; Little Nancy Woods; Chic Cooper; Kimberly Clark; Billy Wong
From school principal in Riverdale Elementary to director here at Camp Riverdale... not a difficult step for me... but Little Archie's a camper here, and that could be difficult!
Mr. Weatherbee tells the children at camp about the golden Owl and the Legend of the Lost Lagoon, located somewhere near the camp. The next day, Kimberly Clark and her 3 girls -- Betty, Veronica and Nancy-- and Chic Cooper and his 3 boys -- Archie, Chuck, and Billy-- all set off to explore different parts of the lake. When a sudden summer squall surprises both sets of campers, a golden owl leads them to safety in the Lost Lagoon.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
20
Disclose
The 2010s

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
The Disinterested Parties!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
?
Subject Matter
humorous, teen
Betty pretends to not be interested in Archie, which makes Veronica no longer interested in him either.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
12
Disclose
The 2010s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
A Really Hot Date!

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
science fiction, teen
Archie Andromeda; Mary Andromeda; Fred Andromeda; Reggie; Veronica; Dilton; Betty; Jughead
Thousands of years ago the Andromeda family and their friends lived on Mars until Archie's science experiment made the whole planet too hot for habitation. The Martians left to find a better planet, but sent the Andromeda family to Earth (which was then in its ice age) as punishment.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
20
Disclose
The 2010s Continued

Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Afterword  on  Interior Page(s)
Credits
typeset
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
1
Disclose
The Clod of Thunder

Story  on  Interior Page(s)
Subject Matter
fantasy, humorous, superhero, teen
Archie, Clod of Thunder [Archie Andrews]; Jughead the Hungry [Jughead Jones]; Chuck the Charming [Chuck Clayton]; Sayid the Smiling [Sayid Jamall Ali]; Nancy Woods; Betty Cooper; Reggie the Wicked [Reggie Mantle]; Midge Klump; Moose Mason; Vic Johnson; Andrews the All-Aggravating [Fred Andrews]; Cosmo; Orbi; Shrill; Veronica Lodge; Carla Teal; Sheila Wu; Chunk Charleston; Lawrence Renwood; Waldo Weatherbee
Andrews the All-Aggravating banishes his son, Archie the Clod of Thunder to Earth for disobeying him. On Earth, Archie the Clod of Thunder discovers girls.
Reprinting
 
Miscellaneous
22

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