I let this review go way too long. I don’t even remember when I bought this order last year. (Was it last year?) I don’t remember what brought on this purchase. Maybe it was the sudden cancelation of Archie’s digest line. Archie was publishing six different titles on something like a bi-monthly status. Suddenly, they were replaced with one bi-monthly title. The books’ dimensions were enlarged, though not to full magazine size, but the number of pages was halved. Archie did recently put out a magazine-sized reprint title. Disappointingly, it never showed up on my B&N newsstand, which you’d think would be the reason to publish in that format.
Five of the digests were 2023 and 2024 liquidation digests, where you had to order at least five. I got a sixth digest, maybe to qualify for free shipping. I liked the cover on it. I’ve missed out on a few digests that I wanted for their covers. I think most of the issues I got here are now out-of-stock.
Archie Jumbo Comics #345
I might have gotten these around Christmas, since there’s 3 holiday issues.
This digest started off with a fun Kennedy Brothers story featuring Archie and the superhero, The Shield. (He predates Captain America. He’s not a rip-off.) The story is filled with cameos of Archie and other MLJ characters. Archie Comics was trying to keep up the copyright on their older characters, especially their superheroes.
Jughead teams up with Big Ethyl to solve a Christmas mystery in this Rex Lindsey-drawn tale. Our holiday friend, Jingles, turns out to be the culprit (spoilers).
Still, we love the mischievous elf. It wouldn’t be Christmas without him having fun with the gang.
Getting away from the season, we have this weird drug trip. It’s the Archie Gang in space landing on a planet with advanced early 1900's technology? Was this ever a classic Star Trek episode? It seems like it could have been.
I just like the drama of this splash page.
The kids have a groovy party. It’s another fun panel.
It’s another acid trip, as Santa eschews the chimney to come through Archie’s flat screen TV. Dude, what was in that last batch? Nothing really special in this digest, except for the first two stories, but its good Christmas fun.
World of Archie Jumbo Comics #125
It’s another Christmas issue.
Jingles is up to his old tricks again impersonating people in this Dan Parent tale, but he gets the tables turned on him this time. They really should publish a Best Of Jingles book for the holidays. Stick this story in it.
The adorable-looking new girl with Archie is Summer Madison . . . a time traveler! She’s at Riverdale High to study an important person in the future there. (She’s not saying who.) This is a full-sized story well-drawn by Fernando Ruiz. It seems to be begging for a sequel or two.
We have another long story about a little Christmas tree observing the Gang’s holiday activities. I think I remember this tree from another story. This one does seem to be a sequel.
A fashionable pinup. In another Christmas story, Archie shows a miserly “Mr. Scourge” (?) the meaning of the season. It’s another okay Archie Christmas digest.
World of Betty and Veronica Comics #30
I’m going to have plenty of reading material next Christmas to get me in the mood for the season.
We next get a couple of Sabrina Christmas stories. Parent adds this little illustrated text piece with holiday shopping tips. I like these features. They’re not stories, but they’re fun.
It’s another funky space story, as Betty dreams she’s on a vacation in the future with her parents.
I’m also a sucker for classy 50’s Veronica.
We have long story here at the end with Cheryl trying to upstage the Archies in a musical performance. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have any talent to do so, except for causing mayhem. This one is more holiday fun. I really liked that Penny Parker story.
Archie Jumbo Comics #347
It’s a Valentines issue, though there’s just three of holiday romance stories here.
Rex Lindsey draws this “sweet” story of Moose displaying his love for Midge by knocking out the opposing team and his own team. Okay, moving on.
Holly G draws this cute Sabrina story.
If the guys were a boy band, these might be acceptable outfits. Otherwise, don’t take fashion advice from them.
The Archies meet the Abominable Snowman. Unfortunately for them, he’s a music critic.
The girls are trying to win a contest and recruit Archie in drag to . . . moving on.
I’m posting the whole story for this one. This Fernando Ruiz story is one of the best Archie stories ever artistically. This story was pure joy to run into (especially after that last story). Valentine’s Day is not in Archie’s wheelhouse like Christmas, though it should be with the love triangle. I don’t think I’d recommend this one, except for that great Sno-kay by Me story by Ruiz.
Archie Milestones #24 Jughead Summer Fun
Let’s skip to the summer with this Jughead digest.
Juggie’s dog, Hot Dog, gets quite a bit of attention in this digest. Here he’s surfing and riding a skateboard.
Jughead has had enough bad writing making him look like an idiot. He takes over.
Harry Lucey draws a nice a Betty and Veronica. Ronnie is wearing glasses for some reason.
Jughead and his dad go on a fishing trip. On the way, after waffles for breakfast, they stop for donuts, chili dogs, a fried chicken picnic, and come home to steaks. No fish were caught.
This is funny enough, but I remember I was with a friend, who was visiting a girl working for a chicken place wearing a chicken suit in the parking lot. He drove up behind her and honked. The girl jumped up and flapped her arms and then turned and gave him the bird.
I can’t get enough physical humor.
Jughead meets one of his heroes: “The Major.” He wants Jughead to taste test his fried chicken. Jug is able to correctly guess all of the secret ingredients and the “Major” has to bribe him to keep his mouth shut.
Jughead has summer figured out. Okay, this wasn’t the greatest Jughead digest. It was just okay.
Archie Milestones #25 Jughead Fun For Fall
We seasonally move to the fall. Isn’t this a great cover? That’s why I tossed this one in with the order. Archie probably should do something about that smoke coming out of the back of his car, though. This is another Jughead title.
Jughead is finally chasing Ethyl, but it’s only to pop her piñata. That feels like a euphemism.
Betty looks cute here in this Rex Lindsey drawn tale.
Jughead changes places with a prince, who just happens to look just like him. I was watching the New Archies cartoon from the 80’s the other day. (I’m not exactly recommending the series, but you have to love that Totally 80’s theme song.) Some variation of this plot happened like three different times in a 13-episode series. No wonder it didn’t last. (Still, I kind of liked it. I liked the look of it.)
Robot Jughead is unfortunately just like real Jughead, especially when it comes to Robot Ethyl.
Hot Dog has had enough of Jughead’s abuse. Thankfully, it’s only dream. Whew!
Jughead will do anything for food, including kissing Moose’s girl.
Comic book origins are a tricky business, as this story illustrates.
Little Hot Dog is too cute for words. Again, not the greatest digest, but still fun.
This order was a bit mediocre, frankly, but the digests are always comforting entertainment. The Christmas ones were the best of the bunch. The Archie website still has plenty of back issues to sell. I keep getting the impression they’re trying to sell out their older stock in the store. They’ve been offering Buy 1, Get 2 Free on their graphic novels once a month. My problem is that I have nowhere to put these things.
No comments:
Post a Comment