Archie Comics Digest #197

In "Counter Attack," Archie claims he can sense Veronica’s presence through magnetic pulls—until Betty tries to prove she’s even more magnetic by kissing him while holding a radium-doused watch near a Geiger counter. Veronica, ever quick on the draw, beats her to the punch in a moment of playful rivalry.

Archie’s trying to do his mom a favor by taking his old baby blanket to the cleaners, but a clumsy prick on his thumb leads to a moment he’ll never live down—Betty and Veronica catch him sucking his thumb while clutching the blanket. Now he’s stuck explaining himself, and Veronica’s already making it clear she’s not interested in a boy who’s “regressed.”

In "Share Cropper!", Veronica puts her cunning to work when Mr. Lodge suggests she share Archie with Betty—leading her to sabotage the date by loaning Betty a fancy gown that stretches Archie’s $2 budget to its breaking point. The clash of cash and charm sets off a chain of mishaps neither girl could have predicted.

In "Dinner Date," Betty takes Archie under her wing after Mr. Lodge dismisses him as a bumbling teenage bumpkin, determined to teach him the finer points of high society—just in time for a crucial dinner with Veronica. With a mix of charm and humor, the story follows Archie’s awkward but earnest attempt to impress, all while Betty guides him through the pitfalls of etiquette and elegance.