Archie Comics Digest #16

In "Gift Wrapped," Veronica gets an unexpected present from India—just a simple rope—and is quick to dismiss it. Betty, however, soon realizes the gift isn’t ordinary, uncovering a surprising secret hidden in its fibers.

When school janitor Mr. Smithers can't play Santa due to a sprained ankle, Archie steps in to help—taking on the role at the department store, much to his surprise and delight. As the holiday season lights up the city, Archie finds himself in a suit and beard, navigating the jolly chaos of a job he never expected.

In "Christmas Socking!", Midge finds herself the unlikely center of a holiday matchmaking scheme when her confession about never being kissed—thanks to Moose’s old-fashioned view that kissing is sissy—sparks a playful plan from Betty and Veronica. With the season in full swing, the girls enlist Archie and Reggie in a lighthearted effort to help Midge finally experience a kiss, setting off a series of awkward, sweet, and hilariously tangled moments.

In "Sled With A Mission," Little Archie takes on a delivery job for stingy grocer Midas Mudge to earn money for new skates. When his sled slips free on a snowy hill, it takes an unexpected journey through Riverdale, winding through traffic and seemingly guided by its own purpose—delivering food to Bobby and Sue Stringly, two of the town’s neediest kids.

Betty and Veronica spend a weekend at Veronica’s cabin in the woods, their Girl Guide duties on hold—until Archie and Reggie show up, pretending to be lost and in need of rescue. With the woods quiet and the girls unsure if the call for help is real or just another prank, the line between adventure and mischief starts to blur.

In "Cool Yule," Archie, Jughead, and Mr. Lodge are left stunned when Betty and Veronica surprise them with a Christmas celebration centered around a modern art-inspired tree and bold, unexpected decorations. The story captures the classic Archie gang’s playful reactions to the holiday season’s creative twist.

In "Those Christmas Blues!", Archie’s decision to spend Christmas Eve at Veronica’s instead of helping his parents decorate the family tree sends ripples through the Lodge household—his parents, heartbroken, begin recalling cherished holiday memories with Archie, wondering if the season’s magic has faded for good.