Archie Annual #9

In "For Betty or Worse," Archie’s date with Betty takes a wild turn when jealousy sparks a prank war with Veronica. Betty tries to sabotage Veronica’s new car, only to end up teaming up with Archie and Jughead to fix it—only to hide in the trunk for a surprise that backfires spectacularly when Jughead’s the one behind the wheel.

In "Scent Sore," Veronica’s exclusive perfume sparks a rivalry with Betty, who’s already on edge. Jughead’s failed insecticide for roses accidentally mimics the scent, setting off a chain of misunderstandings that Betty quickly turns to her advantage—leading Archie to question Veronica’s loyalty, all without saying a word.

In "Past Performance!" from Archie Annual #9 (1957), Veronica and her parents spend the summer in a rented cabin, where they discover a trunk full of turn-of-the-century women’s clothing. When the gang visits, Veronica tricks Betty into wearing the old-fashioned outfits, only to find her prank backfires when a handsome young man shows up, drawn to the vintage style—much to Veronica’s surprise.

In "Slap Happy," Reggie’s misguided belief that women enjoy being treated roughly leads to a series of escalating pranks. Archie and Veronica set up a fake slap scene with a clever hand-clap trick, watching as Reggie reacts with shock—and then punches Archie—only to be knocked down by Veronica. When Reggie tries the same tactic on Betty, he learns the hard way that the joke doesn’t land the way he expects.

In "A Loan and Blue!", Reggie’s endless lectures on borrowing habits take a surprising turn when Veronica accidentally destroys his tennis racquet—only for Jughead to uncover the twist that Reggie had actually borrowed it from her years earlier. The gang finds itself caught in a loop of regret and irony, all while Reggie’s usual sermon continues.

Archie and Reggie are smitten with the new girl, Vilma, but their usual charm falls flat. Betty and Veronica try to help, but nothing cheers the lovesick pair—until Jughead unexpectedly wins Vilma’s attention with his quiet, unassuming presence.

In this classic 1957 Archie Annual tale, Reggie’s antics take a furry turn when he torments a dog in a pet shop window—only for the tables to turn when Veronica buys the dog and unknowingly gifts it to Reggie for his birthday. The story builds with playful tension as the dog’s quiet patience gives way to a clever, satisfying twist.

In "Weak End," Reggie’s latest scheme to win Veronica’s attention backfires when he misreads Archie’s plans—convinced the big weekend getaway means Archie’s out of the picture, he leaps at the chance to step in. But as usual, his assumptions are way off, and the real outcome leaves him scrambling.

In "Mutual Aggravation Society," Betty puts Veronica’s claim of true love with Archie to the test by sending Jughead over for the afternoon—figuring if Veronica can endure Jughead’s endless snacks and lazy charm, it must be out of loyalty, not affection. The story unfolds as the usual chaos of Riverdale’s teen trio collides in a lighthearted game of endurance and wit.

In "Clothing Dummy," Betty’s latest dress purchase sets off a familiar rivalry when Veronica immediately matches her style—only to turn the situation into a series of playful schemes aimed at getting Betty to return hers. With clever twists and a dash of teenage mischief, the two friends engage in a fashion-forward battle of wits that finally pushes Betty to outsmart Veronica in a way she never expected.

In "Fin-Angled!", Archie’s desperate attempt to keep Veronica away from Reggie backfires when he convinces Jughead to don a scuba fin and pretend to be a shark at the beach—only to realize too late that the creature in the water might not have been part of the act.

In "Mooseketeer," Jughead bets Reggie that even the toughest bully, Moose, is secretly a coward—so he tricks him into facing a "big threat" by having Reggie disguise himself as a fearsome hulking menace with padding and makeup. But when Moose shows up, he’s thrilled to finally have a proper opponent, especially one who fits his self-imposed rule of only fighting someone bigger than himself.

When Mr. Weatherbee complains the heat is too much to grade exams, Jughead’s sudden gift of a window fan stirs confusion—and then chaos—among the gang. But there’s more to Jughead’s gesture than meets the eye, as his usual laziness hides a surprisingly clever plan.

In "Phony Pony," Archie dreams of making a grand entrance at a masquerade party as a cowboy on horseback—only to face resistance from Jughead and Reggie, who refuse to play the part of his steed. With a little creativity, Archie finds a clever substitute to keep his plan on track.