Eep! Omigosh!: Archie

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Archie # 114: "Readers' Choice," "Butterfingers," "The Unwelcome," "The Interpreter" (Two versions)

From Archie # 114 (November 1960)

1. "Readers' Choice" - Faced with a typical, predictable Archie slapstick setup, Archie talks to the reader about all the things that aren't going to happen in this story.

2. "Butterfingers" - Archie and Reggie casually show off their skill in throwing and catching things without dropping them.

3. "The Unwelcome" - Archie shows up at a swanky resort hotel where Veronica is staying.

4. "The Interpreter" - Archie doesn't think learning Spanish is of any use, until an encounter with an injured boy proves him wrong. This story was remade in the late '60s with the same script and new art by Lucey; the second version is reprinted below the original.

"Readers' Choice"
Art: Harry Lucey
Script: Frank Doyle

"Butterfingers"
Art: Harry Lucey
Script: Frank Doyle

"The Unwelcome"
Art: Harry Lucey
Script: Frank Doyle

"The Interpreter"
Art: Harry Lucey
Script: Frank Doyle

Original version (from Archie # 114)

Remake (from the late '60s)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Harry Lucey Archie Stories from PEP and LAUGH

From Pep # 125 (January 1958)
"Match Me!" - Betty tries to break up Archie and Veronica by exploiting their anxieties about Archie's lack of wealth. This story has an unusual (for Archie) layout: except for the splash, every page consists of eight identically-sized panels.

From Laugh # 100 (July 1959)
"Jingle Jangled" - Reggie gets on everyone's nerves by quoting lines from popular commercials.

From Pep # 136 (December 1959)
"Watch Your Step" - Archie tries to walk to school in the shortest possible distance by taking a "bee-line hike."

From Pep # 140 (August 1960)
"Actions Speak Louder Than Words" - In what is arguably Lucey's greatest story, the tale of Archie and Reggie's attempt to get money for a dance -- and the unexpected conclusion -- is told without a single dialogue balloon.

From Pep # 141 (September 1960)
"The King Is Back" - Mr. Lodge is caught up in Archie's latest musical fad, the bongo drums.

From Laugh # 128 (November 1961)
"Too Much Talent" - When Mr. Lodge buys a talent agency, all the kids run over to audition for him, including Reggie imitating Edward G. Robinson and Betty imitating Katharine Hepburn.

From Laugh # 142 (January 1963)
"Guess Again" - Reggie and Archie ask impartial third parties to decide who will take Veronica on a date. Features one of the series' most memorable twist endings.

From Pep # 179 (March 1965)
"Soup To Nuts" - Archie invents a revolutionary airplane fuel whose secret ingredient is... cream of celery soup!?

"Match Me!"
Art: Harry Lucey
Script: UNKNOWN