Archie's Jokebook Magazine #74 (Archie, October 1963, 12 cents)
Almost like Short Attention Span Theater for Archie fans, this comic series focused on half-page and page-long gag comics featuring the entire gang of characters: Betty and Veronica, Archie, Jughead, Moose, and Mr. Lodge. Topics and themes included surfing, relationships, food, household chores, going out on dates, clothing, the cost of living, fidelity, slang, and golf.
The work is uncredited, so it's difficult for me to know who wrote and drew what. I particularly liked the art of "Champ Chump," "Utter Madness," "Decisions," "Car-Azy" (Harry Lucey?), "Weighty Problems," "Hip Shooters," and "Teen Talk"
Given the brief length of the gags, this is a frenetic, light read, over almost before you start.
Archie's Jokebook Magazine #97 (Archie, February 1966, 12 cents)
This issue's gag fodder includes bowling, telephone use, a student's workload (Rat Race Hal has potential as an ongoing character!), mash notes, alarm clocks, ice skating, golf, fashion, shopping, dating, making out, homework, toothpaste, mistletoe, and kissing.
There are fewer half-page gag strips in this issue, and even a two-page strip, but the overall sense is one of brevity and punchline humor. Uncredited art highlights include "Dress Mess," "The Grid Kid," "Date Wait," and "Girl Talk."
Availability: Older Jokebook gag material was collected in Archie's Joke Book Volume 1: A Celebration of Bob Montana Gags.
Showing posts with label Archie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Archie. Show all posts
Monday, November 13, 2017
Betty's Misbehavior
Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #147 (Archie, March 1968, 12 cents)
"Fair Play" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Bob White and Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Colors: Barry Grossman.
Veronica gets Betty in trouble at school several times, for ruining a fresh coat of plaster and for shrieking in the halls. After Miss Grundy informs Mr. Weatherbee that Betty's misbehavior is caused by her interest in Archie, rather than separate them, they team them up to help out at a children's fair. Veronica tricks Betty—and Archie, too, this time—so Veronica and Reggie can work at the fair instead. The assignment isn't what Veronica expected.
"Li'l Jinx: A Toast Boast!" Script: Joe Edwards, Pencils: Joe Edwards, Inks: Joe Edwards, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Joe Edwards.
Li'l Jinx makes a heck of a lot of toast.
"Plain Folks" Script: Dick Malmgren, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Bill Yoshida,
Mr. Lodge is running for city council. He arranges for some television people to produce a show about him and his family's home "to show the people how we really are in everyday life." Betty and Veronica decide to dress up, overly formal for "taking out the garbage" and coming over "to borrow a cup of sugar." (Incomplete story due to missing pages.)
"The Healers" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
(Incomplete story due to missing pages.) Betty and Veronica are working in the Lodge Enterprises Infirmary, but not very well. They gas a doctor, dump a patient down a laundry chute, and wreak havoc in the halls with a wheelchair. In the end, the doctor agrees with Mr. Lodge that most of the patients were goldbricks and phonies who are better off on the job than in the clinic.
"The Knack" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Veronica tricks Archie into chasing after Betty, who's afraid of someone mysterious chasing her. Moose punches Reggie.
This issue also featured a pin-up, an advice column, and several great ads, including promotions for the Davy Jones Fan Club, hair extensions, a Man from Uncle spy pen, and big-eye go-go dancer wall decals.
Availability: "Fair Play" was reprinted in Laugh Comics Digest #17 (July 1978). More than 400 pages of Betty and Veronica stories over 70 years have been collected in The Best of Betty and Veronica Book Two.
"Fair Play" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Bob White and Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Colors: Barry Grossman.
Veronica gets Betty in trouble at school several times, for ruining a fresh coat of plaster and for shrieking in the halls. After Miss Grundy informs Mr. Weatherbee that Betty's misbehavior is caused by her interest in Archie, rather than separate them, they team them up to help out at a children's fair. Veronica tricks Betty—and Archie, too, this time—so Veronica and Reggie can work at the fair instead. The assignment isn't what Veronica expected.
"Li'l Jinx: A Toast Boast!" Script: Joe Edwards, Pencils: Joe Edwards, Inks: Joe Edwards, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Joe Edwards.
Li'l Jinx makes a heck of a lot of toast.
"Plain Folks" Script: Dick Malmgren, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Bill Yoshida,
Mr. Lodge is running for city council. He arranges for some television people to produce a show about him and his family's home "to show the people how we really are in everyday life." Betty and Veronica decide to dress up, overly formal for "taking out the garbage" and coming over "to borrow a cup of sugar." (Incomplete story due to missing pages.)
"The Healers" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
(Incomplete story due to missing pages.) Betty and Veronica are working in the Lodge Enterprises Infirmary, but not very well. They gas a doctor, dump a patient down a laundry chute, and wreak havoc in the halls with a wheelchair. In the end, the doctor agrees with Mr. Lodge that most of the patients were goldbricks and phonies who are better off on the job than in the clinic.
"The Knack" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Colors: Barry Grossman, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Veronica tricks Archie into chasing after Betty, who's afraid of someone mysterious chasing her. Moose punches Reggie.
This issue also featured a pin-up, an advice column, and several great ads, including promotions for the Davy Jones Fan Club, hair extensions, a Man from Uncle spy pen, and big-eye go-go dancer wall decals.
Availability: "Fair Play" was reprinted in Laugh Comics Digest #17 (July 1978). More than 400 pages of Betty and Veronica stories over 70 years have been collected in The Best of Betty and Veronica Book Two.
Archie, Pay Attention to Me
Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #125 (Archie, May 1966, 12 cents)
"Snow Fun" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Veronica Lodge gets irritated when Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Moose, Reggie Mantle, Jughead Jones, Midge, her father and butler, even Dilton Doily engage in wintertime snowball fights. "What a childishly immature thing to do! ... I love maturity!" In the end, her anger gets the better of her.
"Redskin Revenge" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Veronica accidentally spills lemonade on Betty's dress before a date with Archie. She lends her another dress, but it tears on a small tree. Six children playing as Native Americans enlist Betty as their squaw. (Incomplete story due to missing pages.)
"Just My Size" Script: Jim Ruth, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
(Incomplete story due to missing pages.) Hunting with Archie and Jughead, Betty ventures into a bush to shoot a bear. It frightens them, and they run away. Betty's ears are cold in the car.
"Li'l Jinx: Spell 'n' Tell" Script: Joe Edwards, Pencils: Joe Edwards, Inks: Joe Edwards, Letters: Joe Edwards.
Lil' Jinx isn't able to read yet but spells words to her father as she—he—reads.
"Pony Tail Tale" Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Why does Betty wear a pony tail? "I remember that one day I saw Archie fooling with a girl that had a pony tail! So naturally I thought that if I had a pony tail Archie would pay some attention to me." As it gets longer, her pony tail becomes more unmanageable, hitting Archie in the face, tripping pedestrians, even lassoing Archie (similar to "Muffled Madness" in Archie #164).
This comic, while ostensibly focusing on Betty and Veronica specifically, isn't that different than an issue of Archie from the same time period. Case in point, Archie #164; every story in that issue features Betty and Veronica. This issue of Betty and Veronica also includes two pin-ups and a Statement of Ownership, which claims a print run for the September 1965 issue of ~650,000 copies, ~441,000 paid circulation.
Availability: More than 400 pages of Betty and Veronica stories over 70 years have been collected in The Best of Archie Comics Starring Betty & Veronica.
"Snow Fun" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Veronica Lodge gets irritated when Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Moose, Reggie Mantle, Jughead Jones, Midge, her father and butler, even Dilton Doily engage in wintertime snowball fights. "What a childishly immature thing to do! ... I love maturity!" In the end, her anger gets the better of her.
"Redskin Revenge" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Veronica accidentally spills lemonade on Betty's dress before a date with Archie. She lends her another dress, but it tears on a small tree. Six children playing as Native Americans enlist Betty as their squaw. (Incomplete story due to missing pages.)
"Just My Size" Script: Jim Ruth, Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
(Incomplete story due to missing pages.) Hunting with Archie and Jughead, Betty ventures into a bush to shoot a bear. It frightens them, and they run away. Betty's ears are cold in the car.
"Li'l Jinx: Spell 'n' Tell" Script: Joe Edwards, Pencils: Joe Edwards, Inks: Joe Edwards, Letters: Joe Edwards.
Lil' Jinx isn't able to read yet but spells words to her father as she—he—reads.
"Pony Tail Tale" Pencils: Dan DeCarlo, Inks: Rudy Lapick, Letters: Bill Yoshida.
Why does Betty wear a pony tail? "I remember that one day I saw Archie fooling with a girl that had a pony tail! So naturally I thought that if I had a pony tail Archie would pay some attention to me." As it gets longer, her pony tail becomes more unmanageable, hitting Archie in the face, tripping pedestrians, even lassoing Archie (similar to "Muffled Madness" in Archie #164).
This comic, while ostensibly focusing on Betty and Veronica specifically, isn't that different than an issue of Archie from the same time period. Case in point, Archie #164; every story in that issue features Betty and Veronica. This issue of Betty and Veronica also includes two pin-ups and a Statement of Ownership, which claims a print run for the September 1965 issue of ~650,000 copies, ~441,000 paid circulation.
Availability: More than 400 pages of Betty and Veronica stories over 70 years have been collected in The Best of Archie Comics Starring Betty & Veronica.
Good Girl Art and Square-Jawed Competence
Archie #164 (Archie, June 1966, 12 cents)
"Bells Are Ringing" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Mario Acquaviva, Letters: Mario Acquaviva.
Archie offers to fix a short in the Lodge family doorbell for Veronica, who is not pleased that he is distracted from "our date fun and games." Mr. Lodge returns home and gets his finger stuck. Soon, everything is ringing.
"What Price Archie?" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Mario Acquaviva, Letters: Mario Acquaviva.
Employees of the Acme Protective Service pick Archie up to have tea with Veronica. Upset that she would would act like she owns him, Archie storms off. Veronica then tries to show that everyone—even Archie—has a price. She succeeds, and he goes fishing on her yacht at sunset while Betty stews on shore.
"Muffled Madness" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Mario Acquaviva, Letters: Mario Acquaviva.
Veronica makes Archie a scarf, and it is very large. Archie accidentally chokes and trips the principal, Mr. Weatherbee, with it, as well as Miss Grundy. Archie and Betty use it to escape out a window.
"Li'l Jinx: Speed Up" Script: Joe Edwards, Pencils: Joe Edwards, Inks: Joe Edwards, Letters: Joe Edwards.
Li'l Jinx helps her father paint a banister more quickly, surprising him.
"The Bouncer" Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Marty Epp.
Reggie tricks Archie with two rubber balls.
Early Archie artwork borders on good girl art! When I was younger, I didn't realize how prominent Betty and Veronica's breasts, hips, and rumps were, or the dominant role that clothing and fashion played in what I considered simple, silly humor comics. In this issue, Veronica is absolutely beautiful—like a cartoony Barbara Steele—and of the two artist pairings, I prefer Marty Epps's inking of Harry Lucey's pencils. His Reggie is wonderful!
I was also struck by the square-jawed competence of Lucey's men: Veronica's father, the clerk at the sporting goods store. The humor—despite the occasional ill intent of Veronica and Reggie—is gentle and loving, and the periodic canoodling between Archie and one of his girls is affectionate and innocent (p. 2 of "Muffler Madness").
This issue's Statement of Ownership indicates that the September 1965 issue had a press run of almost 1 million, with 585,000-plus of that in paid circulation. A subscription offer ad featured a free, all-weather raincoat as an incentive for new subscribers. Wonder how many children that pushed over the edge to subscribing!
Availability: Stories from this issue have been reprinted in digest comics several times. Some of the best Archie stories of this decade were collected in Archie Americana Series Best of the Sixties Vol. 1.
"Bells Are Ringing" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Mario Acquaviva, Letters: Mario Acquaviva.
Archie offers to fix a short in the Lodge family doorbell for Veronica, who is not pleased that he is distracted from "our date fun and games." Mr. Lodge returns home and gets his finger stuck. Soon, everything is ringing.
"What Price Archie?" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Mario Acquaviva, Letters: Mario Acquaviva.
Employees of the Acme Protective Service pick Archie up to have tea with Veronica. Upset that she would would act like she owns him, Archie storms off. Veronica then tries to show that everyone—even Archie—has a price. She succeeds, and he goes fishing on her yacht at sunset while Betty stews on shore.
"Muffled Madness" Script: Frank Doyle, Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Mario Acquaviva, Letters: Mario Acquaviva.
Veronica makes Archie a scarf, and it is very large. Archie accidentally chokes and trips the principal, Mr. Weatherbee, with it, as well as Miss Grundy. Archie and Betty use it to escape out a window.
"Li'l Jinx: Speed Up" Script: Joe Edwards, Pencils: Joe Edwards, Inks: Joe Edwards, Letters: Joe Edwards.
Li'l Jinx helps her father paint a banister more quickly, surprising him.
"The Bouncer" Pencils: Harry Lucey, Inks: Marty Epp.
Reggie tricks Archie with two rubber balls.
Early Archie artwork borders on good girl art! When I was younger, I didn't realize how prominent Betty and Veronica's breasts, hips, and rumps were, or the dominant role that clothing and fashion played in what I considered simple, silly humor comics. In this issue, Veronica is absolutely beautiful—like a cartoony Barbara Steele—and of the two artist pairings, I prefer Marty Epps's inking of Harry Lucey's pencils. His Reggie is wonderful!
I was also struck by the square-jawed competence of Lucey's men: Veronica's father, the clerk at the sporting goods store. The humor—despite the occasional ill intent of Veronica and Reggie—is gentle and loving, and the periodic canoodling between Archie and one of his girls is affectionate and innocent (p. 2 of "Muffler Madness").
This issue's Statement of Ownership indicates that the September 1965 issue had a press run of almost 1 million, with 585,000-plus of that in paid circulation. A subscription offer ad featured a free, all-weather raincoat as an incentive for new subscribers. Wonder how many children that pushed over the edge to subscribing!
Availability: Stories from this issue have been reprinted in digest comics several times. Some of the best Archie stories of this decade were collected in Archie Americana Series Best of the Sixties Vol. 1.
Wednesday, November 08, 2017
Comics Culture Clash!
U.S.Avengers #11 (Marvel, December 2017, $3.99)
I don't usually read this comic book, but I was intrigued by the cover, which portrays former New Mutant Cannonball in an Archie Comics-like setting. Talk about comics culture clash!
Apparently taken prisoner by someone somehow, Cannonball finds himself in Glenbrook with a new career in eduction, teaching residents as a "100% real Earth-grown American human." Ritchie Redwood, also known as "your majesty," is Glenbrook's Archie Andrews. Paco Diaz's Redwood is more inspired by the recent Archie TV show than older comics, but the idea is still fun. That said, I kind of wish the interior art had been more inspired by Dan DeCarlo, like the cover.
The U.S.Avengers locate Cannonball and mount a rescue mission but are attacked by... Little Rico and his mob goons driving antique automobiles that can fly through space? Now it all makes sense. If these are the Skrulls of Kral IV, first seen in Fantastic Four #91, then perhaps Glenbrook is a Skrull enclave, too?
What a fun idea. However, as cool as the concept is—kudos, Al Ewing—I have been trying (and not that hard!) to not read comics featuring Squirrel Girl. Chtt chut! As part of the Legacy event, this comic also includes a Marvel Value Stamp, as well as a three-page backup story by Robbie Thompson and Daniel Acunas, whose artwork is awesome.
Availability: You can buy this issue online from Marvel. U.S.Avengers Vol. 1: American Intelligence Mechanics collects U.S.Avengers #1-6. U.S.Avengers Vol. 2: Cannonball Run, expected in February 2018, will collect #7-12—including this issue. Fantastic Four #91 was reprinted in The Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 3.
I don't usually read this comic book, but I was intrigued by the cover, which portrays former New Mutant Cannonball in an Archie Comics-like setting. Talk about comics culture clash!
Apparently taken prisoner by someone somehow, Cannonball finds himself in Glenbrook with a new career in eduction, teaching residents as a "100% real Earth-grown American human." Ritchie Redwood, also known as "your majesty," is Glenbrook's Archie Andrews. Paco Diaz's Redwood is more inspired by the recent Archie TV show than older comics, but the idea is still fun. That said, I kind of wish the interior art had been more inspired by Dan DeCarlo, like the cover.
The U.S.Avengers locate Cannonball and mount a rescue mission but are attacked by... Little Rico and his mob goons driving antique automobiles that can fly through space? Now it all makes sense. If these are the Skrulls of Kral IV, first seen in Fantastic Four #91, then perhaps Glenbrook is a Skrull enclave, too?
What a fun idea. However, as cool as the concept is—kudos, Al Ewing—I have been trying (and not that hard!) to not read comics featuring Squirrel Girl. Chtt chut! As part of the Legacy event, this comic also includes a Marvel Value Stamp, as well as a three-page backup story by Robbie Thompson and Daniel Acunas, whose artwork is awesome.
Availability: You can buy this issue online from Marvel. U.S.Avengers Vol. 1: American Intelligence Mechanics collects U.S.Avengers #1-6. U.S.Avengers Vol. 2: Cannonball Run, expected in February 2018, will collect #7-12—including this issue. Fantastic Four #91 was reprinted in The Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 3.
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