Undercover Archie

PEP COMICS #99

(On Newsstands in July 1953)

Let us bask in the glow of another George Frese cover, as we only had so many to love... one of these days I hope to get the full story on his untimely death...but for now...

(from Pep Comics #99 - July 1953, artwork by George Frese)

Whenever anyone talks about Archie Comics and how Dan DeCarlo brought modern fashion into it, I always awkwardly correct them... I mean, what do you consider modern? Archie was on the young people's fashion look WAY before DeCarlo became a regular fixture on the books and here, even Bill Vigoda was in on it in 1953!

(from Pep Comics #99 - July 1953, artwork by (pretty sure it's) Bill Vigoda)

I mean, sure, Dan DeCarlo really jumped into it, with 60's fashion, but filling in the gap between the 50's and the 60's young teen look was Harry Lucey doing some AMAZING fashion for the Riverdale teens. It always made sense that Archie would continue this trend, as they did in the 80's, the 90's and even now.

Not trying to downplay what DeCarlo did.... just saying it wasn't as offbeat as some would think.... it was in line with what the book always did. The CLOTHES were sometimes offbeat, but... uh... dang, they sure do go out of their way to make Betty and Veronica look good in those picador pants!!!

(from Pep Comics #99 - July 1953, artwork by (pretty sure it's) Bill Vigoda)

No that's not Veronica! Joe Edwards would do some unheralded Archie work throughout the years, but here he gives us his best George Frese homage of Linda Moore from Wilbur.

(from Pep Comics #99 - July 1953, artwork by Joe Edwards)