Big Ethel Muggs

Big Ethel Muggs is a tall, gangly student at Riverdale High who debuted in Archie Comics as a recurring comedic character best known for her hopeless, one-sided crush on Jughead Jones. Her humor stems from her awkward persistence and Jughead's determined indifference.

Few characters in the Archie universe have earned their place quite like Big Ethel Muggs, who first bounded onto the scene in 1961's Archie's Pal Jughead #79, brought to life by the legendary Samm Schwartz during comics' Silver Age. Over an extraordinary six-plus decades of publication, she's become a beloved fixture of Riverdale's ensemble, sharing pages with the likes of Reggie Mantle, Moose Mason, Dilton Doiley, and Pop Tate across digest staples like Betty & Veronica (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest and The Jughead Jones Comics Digest. With 173 catalog appearances and two collector-recognized key issues to her name, Ethel is living proof that longevity in comics is earned — not given. If you love the warm, endlessly re-readable world of Archie humor and want a character with genuine heart and staying power, Big Ethel Muggs is absolutely worth your time.