I’d already picked up a pile of used Archie digests at Coas Bookstore over a couple of trips and they’re mostly unread to this point. I’d sworn off getting more, but then this came up new on the newsstand. I’d really enjoyed the last Jughead Super Hero Special (7-4-23), so I was well-disposed to getting this one.
I have to warn you that Jughead’s alter ego, Captain Hero, is only in a couple of stories, though he is prominently on the cover. There are a couple stories of Jughead getting superpowers or using his natural prodigious appetite or assuming another super-identity, but this volume mostly features the rest of the Archie gang in costume or out seeing superhero movies.
Captain Hero does shine in this appearance with Fireball. (No, I hadn’t heard of this MLJ hero either.) Archie has to call in a superhero to help control his chili, who in turn, has to call in an expert on dangerous food.
There’s a story that’s something of an explanation of some of the kids having powers, sort of. Archie becomes Captain Pureheart when Veronica is in danger, Reggie becomes Evilheart when he sees Archie with Veronica, and Betty twists her ponytail and becomes Super-Teen whenever Pureheart is in trouble.
Pureheart has his bad days. Here he has trouble catching a quick-disguise villain and is lucky the guy doesn’t take off with his girls.
The Archie Gang’s pets become a sort of Legion of Super-Pets in a couple of stories.
We also have this story, which seems to draw from other DC super-groups. Jughead dressing up as Stone Boy from the Legion of Substitute Heroes, you might think was a coincidence, but Betty and Veronica obviously being Duo Damsel from the Legion of Superheroes, makes it an obvious homage. The LSH universe would be a great place to mine for goofy heroes.
Of course, there’s another obvious homage in the story.
The Mighty Crusaders and other MLJ superheroes make appearances. The Kennedy Brothers do an excellent job illustrating a team up with the Archie gang heroes.
I love this little story with Captain Flag. “Prepare for some truth, justice, and American pain!” Somebody should steal that line.
Doesn’t Ronnie look cute with a tie?
Trying to be racist doesn’t work out for her, though. This is edgy for an Archie comic.
Lastly, there are several one-page Captain Sprocket comics spread throughout the digest. These might be from Madhouse.
Overall, like the previous superhero volume, this is fun material. Given that some of this is recent reprints (that I’ve read), I suspect there may not be enough to fill another volume any time soon, so get this one now.
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