Archie Comics Digest #50

Archie and Jughead pitch their new super-polishing wax spray to Mr. Lodge, hoping to land a big investment—only to discover it works a little too well on everything it touches.

In "Food Feud," Archie’s cash-strapped at the beach, leaving him unable to treat Veronica to lunch—until Reggie seizes the chance to step in with a loan. With Betty’s help, Archie borrows money to cover the meal, but the gesture backfires when Veronica starts to doubt his honesty, turning a simple lunch into a test of trust.

In "Fortune Hunters," Ethel takes a fortune cookie's prediction—she'll marry a tall blonde man—dead seriously, convinced it’s about Jughead, despite his lack of height and hair color. Jughead, desperate to avoid the idea, tries to hide his mop-like hair under a makeshift wig, while Archie and Reggie step in to gently remind Ethel that fortune cookies aren’t exactly reliable.

In "Robby the Robot!", Dilton's latest invention takes center stage when he invites the gang to see his new creation, Robby. When Reggie takes a reckless test drive and loses the remote, the robot decides to live life on its own terms—mimicking Archie and his friends’ antics, much to their growing frustration. But when Archie, Reggie, and Dilton end up trapped in a ravine, Robby’s unexpected actions just might be the key to their rescue.

In "Test Run!" from Archie Comics Digest #50 (1981), Miss Grundy is convinced that Archie or one of his friends has stolen the upcoming test draft—despite their firm denials—and sets her sights on uncovering the truth. With the classroom buzzing and nerves fraying, the usual suspects find themselves caught in a mystery that’s less about cheating and more about who might be pulling the strings.

In "Loud and Clear," Veronica insists on constant updates from Archie via phone, calling every ten minutes to make sure he’s where she wants him to be—while Betty takes a different approach, choosing handwritten notes and quiet moments to stay close. The story captures the playful tension between two girls with very different ways of connecting, all through the lens of a simple, modern-day dilemma.

In "Something Special," Archie tries to spare Miss Beazley's feelings after her beef stew earns universal grimaces, pretending to enjoy the dish despite its questionable taste. The story quietly captures a moment of kindness and quiet empathy in Riverdale’s everyday charm.

In "Native Son," the Archies prepare to perform at a Riverdale dance celebrating the school's foreign exchange students, each dressed in their home country's traditional attire. Archie, determined to stand out as bandleader, grapples with the challenge of choosing a costume that feels authentically American—without falling back on clichés.

In "The Secret," Dilton tries to explain why everyone adores Archie—claiming it's his natural charisma. Reggie scoffs until he witnesses two strange moments: an elderly woman hands Archie cash to deliver a small package, and a striking stranger suddenly kisses him.

In "Childhood Daze," Archie tries to help his mom by taking his old baby blanket to be cleaned, but when Betty and Veronica see him with it, they jump to the conclusion that he's regressing—leading to some playful confusion and the kind of miscommunication only Riverdale can deliver.

Archie spends the night at the Lodge mansion during a sudden storm, but when he wakes to investigate strange noises, he accidentally locks Mr. Lodge and Smithers out in the downpour—leaving them stranded in the rain while he’s left to wonder what’s really going on.