Undercover Archie

ARCHIE’s GIRLS BETTY and VERONICA #1

(On Newsstands in July 1950)

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I have a lower grade copy of this, highly under rated book, which had to wait for solo titles from Reggie and Jughead before it finally got it’s chance - and it would last for 37 years before being rebooted 2 months later and continuing to this very day!

(from Archie’s Girls Betty and Veronica #1 - July. 1950, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

This was a huge book for George Frese, who obviously Archie Comics had big plans for. Besides the Bill Vigoda cover (done in George’s style!), this book is ALL George. (Though - two of the stories ‘What’s Cookin’ and ‘You Can’t Win’ were taken pretty directly from Montana Sunday strips from 09/18/49 and 02/27/49. Not copied, but pretty closely mirrored...

(from Archie’s Girls Betty and Veronica #1 - July. 1950, artwork by George Frese)

The first issue would be extremely Betty heavy in it’s stories (this one Veronica doesn’t even appear in), and judging from this panel she was all about taking charge!

(from Archie’s Girls Betty and Veronica #1 - July. 1950, artwork by George Frese)

It’s so sweet. Two friends, hanging out together all day and then sleeping over at each other’s house. In the same bed.

C’mon! It’s the 50’s! 

(from Archie’s Girls Betty and Veronica #1 - July. 1950, artwork by George Frese)

ARCHIE COMICS #46

(On Newsstands in July 1950)

I’m not sure how many times I can say, “Great Montana cover”, especially knowing what one is coming up in a few months, but I have to say, that girl directly behind Veronica is one of my favorites

(from Archie Comics #46 - July. 1950, artwork by Bob Montana)

You’d think at this point in knowing each other, Archie would be smart enough to not ever entertain the idea of listening to a suggestion form Reggie Mantle...

(from Archie Comics #46 - July. 1950, artwork by Samm Schwartz)

nope...

(from Archie Comics #46 - July. 1950, artwork by Samm Schwartz)

Now here was an angle we hadn’t seen before…Weatherbee and Grundy at a Professional Wrestling match! 

And of course it turns into a big mess….

(from Archie Comics #46 - July. 1950, artwork by George Frese)

Books published by Archie Comics and on the stands in June of 1950

ARCHIE COMICS #46

ARCHIE’s GIRLS BETTY and VERONICA #1

ARCHIE’s PAL JUGHEAD #2

DARLING LOVE #6

PEP COMICS #81

SAM HILL PRIVATE EYE #1