Archie #133
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeArchie #133 (cover-dated December 1962, on sale October 9, 1962) earns its key-issue status as the first appearance of Cricket O'Dell, the Riverdale supporting character defined by a literal, superhuman nose for money — a gag-driven but genuinely original power concept that gave writers a recurring comedic foil distinct from any other figure in the franchise. Cricket's ability to sniff out wealth and helplessly chase whoever carries it gave the Archie bullpen a flexible tool for satirizing materialism, and the character proved durable enough to appear in digests and new stories for decades after her debut. The issue also arrives at a historically rich moment for Archie Comics: 1962 was the same year George Gladir — one of its writers here — co-created Sabrina the Teenage Witch, making this a snapshot of the publisher's most creatively fertile Silver Age season. As a 32-page, 12-cent anthology produced under editor Richard H. Goldwater, it typifies how the Archie line expanded its supporting cast through short, punchy concept stories rather than sprawling continuity.
In "The Doll," Archie #133 (1962), Frank Doyle and Harry Lucey deliver a delightfully quirky tale centered on Cricket O'Dell, a girl whose obsession with money is so intense she can actually smell it. When her fixation turns to Archie due to his ties to the wealthy Lodge family, Archie cleverly redirects her to Reggie Mantle, who soon finds himself overwhelmed by her relentless pursuit—leading to a comedic chain of events that sends her chasing Jughead instead. The story's charm lies in its playful premise and the familiar dynamics of Riverdale, all brought to life with Harry Lucey’s expressive art and Bob White’s energetic cover.
In "The Doll," Archie finds himself in a lighthearted tangle when he brings a baby doll to school for a play, only to spark a misunderstanding between Veronica and Reggie—each convinced the other is referring to the toy as a rival. The mix-up unfolds with classic Archie charm, as jokes and mistaken identities take center stage.
In "Passing the Buck," Archie #133’s delightfully absurd humor shines as Cricket O'Dell, a girl who can literally smell money and is irresistibly drawn to the wealthy, sets her sights on Archie due to his ties to the rich Lodge family. When Archie tries to ditch her by passing her off to Reggie Mantle, the scheme only escalates—leading Reggie to hand Cricket over to Jughead with a few dollars, setting off a chain reaction of comedic desperation.
ComicBooks.com Value
Show all 7 grades ▾
This exact issue on ebay
Raw / ungraded ▾ $14.95–$25 2 listings
More listings for this title
Read it digitally
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
The issue was produced under the editorial supervision of Richard H. Goldwater, son of publisher John L. Goldwater, and published nine times a year by Archie Comic Publications Inc. — a schedule that reflects the industrial pace of the line in the early 1960s. The Cricket O'Dell debut story 'Passing the Buck' was written by George Gladir, who had joined Archie Comics as a full-time writer in 1959 after transitioning from single-panel gag cartooning; in 1962 alone he was simultaneously co-creating Sabrina the Teenage Witch, cementing his status as one of the line's most productive contributors. Interior art for the Cricket story and other key strips was handled by Harry Lucey, a foundational Archie house artist whose clean, expressive linework set the visual template for the title throughout the Silver Age. Writer credits were not routinely printed inside the comic itself, which was standard Archie practice of the era.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Cricket O'Dell ('Passing the Buck'), a Riverdale character with a supernatural ability to literally smell money, introduced as a comedic foil who fixates on whoever is wealthiest in the room.
- Cricket O'Dell's debut story is structured in two parts (Part I: six pages, Part II: five pages) and features Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie Mantle, Jughead Jones, Mr. Lodge, and Smithers alongside the new character.
- Cover art is by Bob White; interior story art is by Harry Lucey and Joe Edwards; scripts are by Frank Doyle, Joe Edwards, and George Gladir.
- Edited by Richard H. Goldwater; published by Archie Comic Publications Inc.; on-sale date October 9, 1962; cover-dated December 1962.
- The issue is a 32-page, full-color anthology containing five distinct stories: 'The Doll,' 'The Award' (Li'l Jinx one-pager), 'Space Spat' (one-pager), 'Passing the Buck' (Cricket O'Dell debut), and 'The Story Teller.'
- The Cricket O'Dell debut story has been reprinted multiple times, including in Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest #50 and #79, Archie: The Best of Harry Lucey Vol. 2 (IDW, 2012), World of Archie (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest #50, and Archie Milestones Jumbo Comics Digest #3 (August 2019).
- The lead story 'The Doll' (Harry Lucey art) has also been reprinted in Archie (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest #224 and #275, and Archie Milestones Jumbo Comics Digest #7 (March 2020).
- Writer George Gladir received the Bill Finger Award for Excellence in Comic Book Writing in 2007, and his 50-plus-year tenure at Archie Comics began just three years before this issue was produced.
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Archie Giant Series Magazine #32 (1965), Archie Giant Series Magazine #156 (1968), Jokebook Comics Digest Annual #1 (1977), Archie Comics Digest #63 (1983), Archie... Archie Andrews, Where Are You? Comics Digest Magazine #33 (1984), Archie's Double Digest Magazine #19 (1985), Archie's Double Digest Magazine #20 (1986), Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest Magazine #50 (2000), Archie's Pals 'n' Gals Double Digest Magazine #79 (2003), Archie's Double Digest Magazine #166 (2006), Archie: The Best of Harry Lucey #1 (2011), Archie (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest #224 (2012), Archie: The Best of Harry Lucey #2 (2012), World of Archie (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest #50 (2015), Archie (Jumbo Comics) Double Digest #275 (2017), Archie Milestones Jumbo Comics Digest #3 (2019), Archie Milestones Jumbo Comics Digest #7 (2020)
Key issues in Archie
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.