JUGHEAD #1

(On Newsstands in November 1949)

Archie Comics on the Newsstand for the Month of November 1949

(Thanks to Mike’s Amazing World of Comics - I love his web site! Check it out! http://www.dcindexes.com/index.php?site=)

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I can’t stress enough how important this comic is to the history of Archie Comics. Jughead was Archie’s best friend. Could he sustain his own comic?

(from Jughead #1 - cover date 1949, artwork by George Frese)

In November of 1949, what secondary character got their own comic? Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen? Nope… that was still four years off. Superman’s Girlfriend Lois Lane? Nope, that was still 8 years off!

Luckily, I have some knowledgable comic collectors who read this blog, and maybe they can tell us who, if ANY secondary character was able to hold his own in book as long lasting as ‘Archie’s Pal Jughead”…. 

(from Jughead #1 - cover dated 1949, artwork by most likely Samm Scwartz)

Look at this, they were so sure of themselves, they were advertising a Reggie comic in Juggy’s first issue! Reggie Mantle!

Did they forget WHO (besides Archie) was the most important pair of characters in this series?

(from Jughead #1 - cover dated 1949, artwork by most likely Samm Scwartz)

The first appearance of Moose (here as Moose ‘McGee’), who was a lot more mean and dangerous looking in this early story than later examples.

(from Jughead #1 - cover dated 1949, artwork by Samm Scwartz - as credited in the Best of Archie Comics - 2011)

And he has no issue with intimidating Archie and Jughead…

(from Jughead #1 - cover dated 1949, artwork by Samm Scwartz - as credited in the Best of Archie Comics - 2011)

Of course Lottie Little makes quite the impression in this story, but she’s not to be confused with Harvey Comics ‘Little Lotta’!

(from Little Lotta #8 - January 1957, artwork by Warren Kremer.)

We even get a story with Souphead, some GGA, and what looks to be an all Samm Scwartz comic! What more could you ask for?

(from Jughead #1 - cover dated 1949, artwork by Samm Scwartz)

Betty and Veronica don’t show up until the very last full story in the book. Archie Comics had a LOT of confidence in Jughead as a character and Samm Schwartz as a (writer? and) artist!

(from Jughead #1 - cover dated 1949, artwork most likely by Samm Scwartz)

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LAUGH COMICS #36

(On Newsstands in October 1949)

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Archie Comics on the Newsstand for the Month of October 1949

(Thanks to Mike’s Amazing World of Comics - I love his web site! Check it out! http://www.dcindexes.com/index.php?site=)

With Bob Montana doing the covers (as well as the newspaper strip) and the artists doing the work on the inside of the book trying to emulate Montana’s ‘House Style’, Archie was about to experience an even greater surge in popularity and sales.

(from Laugh Comics #42 - dated Dec 1950, artwork by Bob Montana)

Betty surprises Archie with a kiss!

(from Laugh Comics #36 - On Newsstands in October 1949 - (artwork by Samm Schwartz)

Many times throughout the years, Betty would ‘smell blood’ and think Archie was available and that this would be her big chance.. and… High Heels and Nylons…

(from Laugh Comics #36 - On Newsstands in October 1949 - (artwork by Samm Schwartz)

It’s always a benefit to find one of these issues with the Paper Dolls still in them!

(from Laugh Comics #36 - On Newsstands in October 1949 - (artwork by Bill Woggon)

Dig that new fangled TV set!

(from Laugh Comics #36 - On Newsstands in October 1949 - (artwork by Bill Woggon)

Want to see what the entire Newsstand looked like for the month of October 1949: (Thanks to Mike’s Amazing World of Comics - I love his web site! Check it out! http://www.dcindexes.com/index.php?site=)

THAT's A LOT OF COMIC BOOKS!

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The DEATH OF ARCHIE!

(Well...not the REAL Archie, but...)

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I'm a little behind on my posting schedule (said every blogger at some point), so I thought I'd share some thoughts on the variant covers of the Death of Archie 2 part story from Life With Archie #36-37 (a great series, you should most definitely check it out!)

Fiona Staples (most recently of 'Saga' fame) has been doing some great Archie variant covers, my favorite being that Life With Archie #24 Josie and the Pussycays variant (I have a Signature Series copy of it!)

Sticking to that Rock 'n' Roll theme, her variant for this is really wonderful...

Mike Allred (Madman, iZombie) is one of my favorite artists, and he doesn't disappoint here...

I thought Cliff Chiang's cover was one of the most underrated... really a powerful statement... Betty and Veronica walking in unison... Jughead doing what he does best at his friend's grave (and removing his never removed hat in respect)....

Tommy Lee Edwards - not my favorite, but.... well done.

It's hard for Francesco Francavilla to do anything I DON'T like, and THIS is just beautiful, from the camera angle to the colors... the rain...

I've heard some criticism of this Adam Hughes variant, but I liked it. The girls of course, are his specialty and his focus, though fittingly their sexuality is downplayed here. It's interesting how many of these artists focused on that soda glass...

Ramon Perez has really been doing some great work, and I love this variant in particular. Wish i could get up to the Boston Comic Con this weekend and get him to sign a few of these for me...

This has probably been the most criticized of all the covers, and I just can't figure out why. Personally, I think Alex Ross has captured what the gang would look like in real life better than anyone I had ever seen and yes, it IS kinda creepy.... but I love it!

Walt Simonson is a great artist, a master of his craft, but I was a bit disappointed with this one... and I don't get the Thinker statue...

Jill Thompson is awesome, and I really like what she's done here... more Archie variants from Jill please! 

See... to me... THIS is kinda creepy...

This is the second print cover to the magazine sized issue collecting both #36-37 (I was too lazy to scan my 1st print - it has an intense purple 'hue' to the grey area)... pretty graphic...

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