Archie Annual Digest #40

When Archie brings a group of stranded orphans to the Lodge mansion, the usually grumpy Mr. Lodge is less than thrilled—though Veronica and the staff quickly turn the chaos into a joyful adventure. The story captures the warmth and humor of unexpected hospitality, with the kids finding a temporary haven in the midst of Riverdale’s usual antics.

Betty and Veronica ditch cheerleading, declaring their independence from Riverdale’s competitive spirit. Archie and Chuck, determined to win them back, rally the school in a surprisingly heartfelt effort to remind them why cheering matters.

In "Forget Who?", Midge convinces Betty to try dating someone new to move on from Archie—only for Betty’s new date to grow weary of constantly being measured against the boy who never seems to leave her thoughts.

In "The Image Maker!", Sandman, a portly but deadly C.R.U.S.H. agent, kidnaps Mr. Lodge and uses his advanced technology to craft an evil duplicate, programmed to destroy the top P.O.P. agents. With the real Lodge held captive and a doppelgänger on the loose, chaos unfolds as the agency scrambles to stop the deception before it's too late.

In "The Handwriting on the Wall," Moose spirals into panic convinced the end of the world is near, leaving Archie and Jughead scrambling to figure out whether his fear is about the big wrestling match or something far more dramatic. With their usual mix of empathy and humor, the friends try to calm him down—though the real mystery might not be what Moose sees, but why he’s so certain.

In "The Resistance Movement," Jo and her classmates rally when Riverdale High’s new principal imposes strict rules that clash with their school’s spirit. As tensions rise, a quiet rebellion begins—led by students determined to bring back the man they trusted.

In "Flower Power," Archie gets an unexpected lesson in orchids from Mr. Lodge, sparking a bold idea: a rare bloom might just be the perfect way to win Veronica back. With a mix of determination and a dash of teenage charm, he sets out to prove that even the most delicate flower can carry a big message.

Archie’s late for school again—this time because his clock’s hand broke, not because he’s slacking. When he calls to explain, Principal Weatherbee mishears and shows up with candy, thinking Archie hurt himself. To dodge the truth, Archie quickly bandages his hand, setting off a chain of increasingly awkward misunderstandings.

In "A Moving Experience," Archie, Betty, and Jughead rally around a bold protest when rumors swirl that Mr. Lodge might uproot his home and business to another city—leading the trio to stage a sit-in, determined to keep things right where they are.

In "Something Stupid," Archie takes on the task of washing windows ahead of a school inspection, much to Mr. Weatherbee’s growing anxiety—because when it comes to Archie, even the smallest job can turn into a full-blown disaster. With the principal nervously watching every move, the real question isn’t whether the windows will be clean, but whether Archie will manage to stay out of trouble long enough to get them done.