Archie at Riverdale High #51

From the football field at Riverdale High, this January 1978 issue puts Archie front and center — literally flat on the turf in his #5 jersey, grimacing while a concerned man in a coach's cap crouches over him. Opposing players in red uniforms look on with gleeful commentary ("Now maybe we'll do a little scoring!"), and teammates in light blue rush in around the chaos. The cover teaser says it all: "The season looked great for Riverdale! They had a super star! Archie! …And then came tragedy! …And then came Harold!" — a perfectly comic setup for "The Leader Goes on Leave.