I wonder if Archie will ever reprint that one issue where it’s revealed it was Betty in an overcoat kissing Veronica?

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So the hottest comic of the week is, obviously, the Jughead #327 facsimile from Archie Comics:


And, as Archie has been doing lately, the facsimile comes with a swell variant cover that has me tempted to take home a second copy:


I mean, look at that beauty.

Now, one of the apparent criteria for Archie facsimile selection process is “notoriety,” like the cover I discuss here which had been the subject of many immature giggles and the occasional artistically-altered photocopy. And of course as the internet spread its diseased tentacles across the world, so did that implied-naughty image follow and make an impact on folks that hadn’t seen it before.

With notoriety comes premium prices, of course, which brought about reprints of some of Archie’s higher priced back issues, like that first appearance of Cheryl Blossom, first issue of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, that one comic where Betty and Veronica sell their souls to the devil, and so on. Not all comics that live in infamy — like, Sabrina is just the first issue of that popular character — but a little prurient interest tends to goose things along.

So, for Jughead #327, the Jughead going punk story was one that was discussed online periodically, including by me way back in 2006. Thus, I am taking full credit for providing sufficient internet notoriety for Archie to pick this for the reprint program. I won’t hear any different.

But if Archie’s listening…please, let’s get facsimiles of Jughead’s Folly and, if you’re feeling adventurous, Jughead’s Fantasy. Look, “Fantasy,” sounds downright salacious, am I right? Huh? C’mon Archie.

13 thoughts on “I wonder if Archie will ever reprint that one issue where it’s revealed it was Betty in an overcoat kissing Veronica?”

  1. I’ve often thought about trying to get into “The Archie Multiverse” but where to start? My preference would be to start with a good overview, greatest hits, collection.

  2. I was hoping the story would end with Jughead and the gang learning to embrace both styles when the White Hot Chilly Poppers come to play at the school dance. Ah, well.

  3. The “punk” dog on that cover is hilarious.

    Also, do facsimile versions reduce demand for the originals at all? Or are those two separate concerns? I’ve always wondered.

  4. Andrew: when I worked at a comic shop in the 90s, we sold a lot of Archie Digests. I believe there was even 50s Archie, 60s, 70s at one point.

    A very good take is AFTERLIFE OF ARCHIE (LIFE OF ARCHIE was an existing book. It starts with Reggie running over Hot Dog (Jughead’s dog) and he takes the corpse to Sabrina and it just takes a dark turn. Great writing and artwork, though the issues were far between.Turns out Josie & The Pussycats were vampires, hence their playing songs from the 60s through the 10s without aging.

  6. Many, Many Years ago I was able to snag copies of Jughead’s Folly, and all 3 issues of Jughead’s Fantasy. They are fantastic and deserve to be reprinted so others can enjoy them. Maybe there’s an issue with the Elvis estate for Folly. I’ve always though a nice Trade Collection of all the various Archie titles where the “not-quite-Universal-Monsters-we-don’t-want-to-get-sued” appear. Those are always fun. I would also buy an ongoing Jughead’s Time Police, but I think that recent mini is all we’ll get.

  8. Pep Comics no. 132 gets my vote for a facsimile edition!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DTMZfK_jMkc/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

    But then, Archie Comics should also be releasing facsimile editions of a ton of their GGA cover comics from the Golden and Silver Ages–as well as the first appearances of key MLJ Comics Golden Age superheroes, including The Shield.

    Perhaps it is time for DC to offer to buy those characters outright, as I think Archie Comics might be ceasing publication soon?

    @LouReedRichards

    Re:’Riverdale Calling” — they should have had a Clash/Jughead variant cover with punk Juggie smashing a bass guitar a la Paul Simonon on the cover of London Calling….also, would punk Jughead be called “Pughead”…???

    Or how about a “Nevermind the Bollocks, Here’s The Archies” variant cover?

  9. Also, now is as good a time as any to mention Public Domain 2026 stuff:

    Philip Wylie’s “Gladiator” –Hugo Danner (the inspiration for Superman)is now Public Domain; as is the voice of The Shadow (as voiced by Orson Welles) as a mystery radio show host–the actual Pulp magazine iteration of The Shadow with slouch hat, red scarf, cloak, and black suit will become Public Domain in 2027; Japan’s Golden Bat “Ogon Batto” character, (as depicted in kamishibai paper theatre in 1930 with a golden skull-shaped head, green and white swashbuckler outfit, and a high-collared red cape) is also now Public Domain. So is Nancy Drew. So is Blondie. So is doggy style/poodle proto-Bettie Boop.

    So, for anyone ambitious to make a graphic novel or film project, a lot of fun could be had!

    Blondie and poodle Bettie Boop could be Flappers who get embroiled in a murder mystery which Nancy Drew solves in a story called: “Hot Tomatoes with Gorgeous Gams,” or Hugo “Gladiator” Danner could battle “Golden Bat” in Manchuria in 1931, while the voice of The Shadow narrates…

  10. Just a quick correction, Sean, the Shadow voiced by Orson Welles won’t be PD for a few years. It’s the Shadow as a mysterious narrator voiced by Frank Readick that’s PD now.

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