Archie #257

Archie and Jughead arrive at the beach before dawn, determined to claim the perfect spot for the sunrise—only to fall asleep and miss the whole day, napping through Veronica and Betty’s volleyball game right over them. When they finally wake, the beach is empty, leaving them wondering if they’ve somehow lived through the shortest day of the year.

Archie teases Veronica by claiming he’s about to swim with a gorgeous redhead—right in front of her—and her reaction is priceless. The moment he says it, you know things are about to get messy, but the real punchline? You’ll have to read it to believe it.

In this lighthearted 1976 gag from *Archie #257*, Archie’s dad brings home a mysterious lamp from a rummage sale, only to be stumped by his mom’s question about why it hasn’t been sold yet. Later, after a trip to the ice cream shop, Archie’s attempt to explain his delay—blaming Veronica—leads to a frozen surprise: a goldfish floating in a block of ice. The story’s charm lies in its simple, silly misunderstandings and the family’s deadpan reactions.

In "It's a Racket," Archie’s attempt to play tennis with Reggie is repeatedly interrupted by small acts of heroism—first rescuing a cat from a tree, then retrieving a yo-yo from a mud pit—each time using his tennis racket in unexpected ways. When a stray ice cream cone ends up in his path, mistaken for a serve, Archie’s day spirals into a sticky mess, leading him straight back home for a much-needed cleanup.

In "Summer Bummer," Archie and Jughead are left wondering where Betty and Veronica have gone, with Jughead quipping that TV is just full of summer replacements. When Archie spots a blond girl on the beach, he quickly decides that’s exactly what he needs—another summer replacement.

In "Swan Song," Archie tries out his diving skills at Veronica's pool, determined to make the team—only to accidentally turn her dad’s breakfast into a splash zone when Smithers delivers it mid-dive. With the meal ruined and Mr. Lodge arriving to find chaos, Archie’s attempt at a perfect swan dive leads to a frantic escape from the Lodge estate.

In "Risky Rescue," Archie takes his new lifeguard duties seriously—so seriously he’s determined to avoid even a friendly chat with a pretty girl, after the lead guard warns that distractions could lead to a drowning. With his usual mix of nerves and earnestness, Archie tries to stay focused, but the beach is full of tempting distractions, and his resolve is put to the test.