Archie Comics Digest #29

In this chilly 1978 humor tale from Archie Comics Digest #29, Reggie’s mocking of his friends’ winter layers takes a surprising turn when it’s revealed he’s secretly wearing battery-powered long underwear—keeping warm while pretending to shiver. The joke hinges on his clever disguise, turning the cold-weather scene into a lighthearted prank only he knows the truth behind.

In "Strong Contender," Archie spins a playful lie about his strength to impress Reggie, who takes it in stride—then surprises him with concert tickets he’d been saving for Veronica. The prank takes an unexpected turn when Archie’s scheme accidentally sets off a chain of events neither boy saw coming.

In "Explo 78," Jughead and Archie’s plan to prank chemistry class with a wild ice cream soda experiment hits a snag when Mr. Weatherbee intervenes. But when Archie accidentally swallows a mysterious chemical, he suddenly becomes a walking, ticking time bomb—no one’s quite sure how or why, but the chaos is just beginning.

In "Red Carpet," Veronica goes all out to win Archie’s attention, rolling out a red carpet and staging a grand welcome when she learns he has tickets to a private meet-and-greet with movie star Steve McCream. When Mr. Lodge calls her tactics bribery, Veronica coolly retorts that she’d considered blackmail—then settled on something slightly less illegal.

In "Knight Life," Reggie’s plans take a playful turn when he learns Veronica’s masquerade costume will be a full suit of armor—prompting him to devise a scheme to stay by her side all night. Written by an unknown author and illustrated by an unknown artist, the story captures the lighthearted rivalry and quiet affection between two teens navigating a silly, spark-filled evening.

In "Archie's Gift," Betty is caught off guard when a big, intimidating guy warns her he’s going to beat up "her boyfriend" Archie—only to be secretly thrilled that someone would think Archie is hers. The moment sparks a mix of worry and delight as Betty grapples with the unexpected attention, all while keeping her feelings close to her chest.

In "An Exercise in Persistence," Little Archie and Betty enjoy a bike ride until a stolen car crashes into Betty’s bike, leaving her stranded. Determined to uncover the truth, Little Archie takes up the case, chasing clues through Riverdale with a mix of grit and curiosity.

In "The Big Gig," Archie, Jughead, and Dilton take the stage at a teen club, hoping to earn enough for new electric guitars—only to discover Jughead’s clever (and delicious) arrangement: payment in hamburgers. With Reggie’s band boasting flashy amps and a loud edge, the odds seem stacked against them, but a quiet moment of unexpected ingenuity might just turn the tide.

In "The Power of a Woman," Veronica’s sudden change of heart about the school dance sets off a classic Archie dilemma—Archie, caught between two friends, turns to his dad for guidance on how to handle the situation without hurting anyone’s feelings.

In "The Evader," Betty sets Veronica on a mission: get Jughead to give a straight answer—no matter what. With playful persistence, Veronica devises a plan to corner him, but Jughead’s knack for dodging questions might just be his greatest defense.

Archie’s legendary clumsiness reaches new heights in this hilarious 1978 tale, where every step threatens chaos. When Veronica and Reggie flee the house to escape his antics, Archie still manages to take down poor Reggie with a flying trash can lid—without even realizing it.