On Saturday's we like to do a little something different, so, as I was going through some old thumb drives of mine a few weeks ago I came across this scan from Millie #85 from February 1958 newsstands.

It came out during a period where Marvel (Atlas) was going through a down turn and the artist, Dan DeCarlo would soon leave and join Archie Comics! Here he's in prime form!

Enjoy!

ARCHIE COMICS #57

(On Newsstands in May 1952)

No matter how many times I pick up an Archie comic, the chuckle I get from one of these silly covers, still amazes me. Month after month, they put out a seemingly simple joke like this, with just enough of a clever play on words to bring a smile to people's faces... vastly under rated skill...

(from Archie Comics #57 - May 1952, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

25 years later, as a young teenager, I would watch 'Three's Company' on TV, and the idea of comedy misunderstandings would first begin to seep into my consciousness. Archie and friends (who strangely parallel that show on an adult level) most certainly had to have been an influence for it!

Janet and Chrissy, a hair color swap with Betty and Veronica...

Jack Tripper as Archie, as horny, always in trouble and misunderstandings (and physical comedy)

Jughead as Larry (reversing the role and making him a playboy)

Mr. Roper as Mr. Weatherbee, the Reagal Beagle as the Soda Shop...

(from Archie Comics #57 - May 1952, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

Jughead on yet another 'date'. I realize that for years after this he WOULDN'T be on any dates, but apparently it WAS a thing in the early 50's at least!

(from Archie Comics #57 - May 1952, artwork by GCD says Joe Edwards?)

More misunderstandings and Betty's forceful nature....

(from Archie Comics #57 - May 1952, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

Harry Lucey had returned to Archie Comics after doing some advertising work, and his ability to adapt to the Archie 'house style' is very evident on this single story 'Eager Beaver'. Little did they know... he would soon be THE artist of the title for the next 10+ years....

(from Archie Comics #57 - May 1952, artwork by Harry Lucey)

SHIELD-WIZARD #1

(On Newsstands in June 1940)

It had to happen! After the Shield and the Wizard gave each other some minor assistance in a couple of issues, 

only to have the Sub-Mariner and Human Torch square off the previous month over

 in Timely's Marvel Mystery #9, MLJ's two biggest stars got there own comic!

Was this an exciting time in comics or what???

(from Shield-Wizard #1 - March 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

The secret origin of the Shield is revealed and exactly what it is that makes him... um... 

the Shield! And what S.H.I.E.L.D. stands for...

This was pretty heady stuff in 1940!

(from Shield-Wizard #1 - March 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

Just a hint of the gruesomeness of comics to come in the Golden Age...!

(from Shield-Wizard #1 - March 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

Also in this issue, the origin of the ORIGINAL Wizard, also named Blaine, as a young Pilgrim...

Who liked to play with the Indians...

(from Shield-Wizard #1 - March 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

...and also starring Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, and George Washington!

(from Shield-Wizard #1 - March 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

And thanks to Mike's Amazing World of Comics (one of my favorite sites), here's March 1940's complete comic line-up!)

ARCHIE COMICS #56

(On Newsstands in March 1952)

Betty Cooper, in a bit more wholesome pose, trying her best to lure Archie.

Bill Vigoda doing some of best covers during this time!

(from Archie Comics #56 - March. 1952, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

Archie Comics #56 was a special treat in that it had almost all art by George Frese, but it was bittersweet in that, it was his last work on the main Archie title before his untimely death. I get numerous request for details on it... but... I'm still myself trying to find out what happened all those years ago...

When I do... I'll have a special George Frese post, celebrating one of my all time favorite Archie artists...

(I think everything we'd see from here on out were inventory stories - One in B&V #6, One in Ginger #3 and #6, one in Pepe #95, and 5 + the cover in B&V Annual #1)

(from Archie Comics #56 - March. 1952, artwork by George Frese)

LOL....chucklehead... this was a great story, and it looks like Betty may have finally tamed Archie...

(from Archie Comics #56 - March. 1952, artwork by George Frese)

...when, wouldn't you know it...

(from Archie Comics #56 - March. 1952, artwork by George Frese)

Jughead gets nominated to coach the new girls basketball team (because Archie and Reggie would try dating them instead of coaching), and is not exactly fired up about it!

(from Archie Comics #56 - March. 1952, artwork by George Frese)

Of course, while Juggie tries to do as little as possible, Archie and Reggie make a deal to date the two high scoring ladies at the end of the first game... unknown to them though.... Weatherbee has recruited two new students who are ace athletes...

(from Archie Comics #56 - March. 1952, artwork by George Frese)

...and it doesn't wok out so well for the boys!

(from Archie Comics #56 - March. 1952, artwork by George Frese)

PEP COMICS #6

(On Newsstands in May 1940)

As competition at the newsstand continued to grow (68 titles for the month of May 1940, up from 55 the month before), Irv Novick continued to try and make the Shield as big as life and ready to fight for the U.S.!

(from Pep Comics #6 - May 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

FDR makes an appearance, maybe one of the earliest comic book appearances for a President...

(from Pep Comics #6 - May 1940, artwork by Irv Novick)

While the Comet continued to be on the run from police, over in Sergeant Boyle's storyline, he managed to complete an entire mission in a dress! 

(from Pep Comics #6 - May 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

ZIP COMICS #6

(On Newsstands in May 1940)

Did I mention at least 68 titles on the newsstand for the month? Charles Biro also made Steel Sterling, larger than life and ready to fight for the U.S.!

(from Zip Comics #6 - May 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

... though his portrayal of the hired help, left a little to be desired...

(from Zip Comics #6 - May 1940, artwork by Charles Biro)

...though Kalthar faced some... interesting characters as well!

(from Zip Comics #6 - May 1940, artwork by Robert Pious)

BLUE RIBBON COMICS #5

(On Newsstands in May 1940)

And rounding out the month is another larger than life MLJ hero, poised to defend the U.S.!!

(from Blue Ribbon Comics #5 - on newsstands May 1940, artwork by Edd Ashe)

Rang-A-Tang had his... paws full with a lion, who out thinks and gets captured... but that's nothing compared with....

(from Blue Ribbon Comics #5 - on newsstands May 1940, artwork by Ed Smalle)

...how he exposes the bad guy! 

(from Blue Ribbon Comics #5 - on newsstands May 1940, artwork by Ed Samlle)

ARCHIE COMICS #55

(On Newsstands in Jan 1952)

And just like that, Bob Montana comes back and shows us how it's done, with yet another iconic, classic cover...

(from Archie Comics #55 - Jan. 1952, artwork by Bob Montana)

With all that Betty puts up when it comes to Archie, it's surprising we don't see this more often!

(from Archie Comics #55 - Jan. 1952, artwork by Samm Schwartz)

Little did they know...the transition was coming for Archie Comics, and Ginger would play a key part of it.. I can't wait to review these 10 issues as they both feature two of my favorite Archie artists: George Frese and Harry Lucey.

(from Archie Comics #55 - Jan. 1952, artwork by George Frese)

ARCHIE ANNUAL #3

(On Newsstands in June 1951)

Ok... NOT one of Montana's best covers, but... we can't expect perfection every time!

(from Archie Annual #3 - June 1951, artwork by Bob Montana)

Betty Cooper sometimes isn't shy about letting her 'crazy' show!

(from Archie Annual #3 - June 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

After that last panel, it's important to be reminded that Betty is really America's sweetheart!

(from Archie Annual #3 - June 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

One of the recurring Jughead themes was his mishaps involving Moose's girlfriend (here it's Lottie), and in this instance, George Frese really has fun with it...

(from Archie Annual #3 - June 1951, artwork by George Frese)

Another Public Service ad that, this time comes across kinda creepy...

(from Archie Annual #3 - June 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda?)

...but maybe not as much as this...

(from Archie Annual #3 - June 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

And on that note...

(from Archie Annual #3 - June 1951, artwork by Bill Vigoda)

Here's a special treat from Blackhawk #23 on newsstands in February of 1948:

Famous GGA artist Bill Ward was doing some Chop Chop back up stories in the main book, and even though these were, by today's standards especially, culturally offensive, the art was amazing, and highly influential... Jim Steranko must've read these as a young man!

Anyway... here is one of them, as a change of pace for a Saturday, for your enjoyment!