Archie & Friends Double Digest Magazine #22

In "Kissless Christmas," Veronica's well-intentioned plan to boost Ethel's spirits during the gang's holiday celebration takes a delightfully awkward turn when she suggests a kissing game. What starts as a lighthearted holiday prank quickly spirals into a series of hilarious mishaps that leave everyone—especially Veronica—rethinking their holiday cheer.

When Dr. Zarkon is imprisoned, he unleashes a monstrous pigeon the size of a 747 to wreak havoc. Meanwhile, Gizmo and Wheels are en route to Blatvaria, the realm of the melancholy Dr. Gloom, when the mysterious villain suddenly attacks their aircraft.

In "Double Trouble!! Chapter Two," the giant pigeon's sudden flight to New York sets off a chain reaction when news breaks of an airliner hijacked to the distant land of Blatvaria. Red quickly divides the team—sending himself, Spike, and Squint on a daring mission to rescue Wheels and Gizmo, while Nitro and Angel face the towering threat of the airborne monster pigeon.

In "Double Trouble!! Chapter Three," Angel teams up with Nitro to devise a plan against the giant pigeon, while Spike takes on one of Dr. Gloom's robots with surprising flair. As the trio of Red, Squint, and Spike track down the missing Gizmo and Wheels, they stumble upon a hidden chamber beneath Dr. Gloom’s lair—where their friends are being held.

In "Double Trouble!! Chapter Four," Jo and the Explorers face their most absurd torment yet when Gloom traps them with the soul-crushing performance of the panned flute maestro Blanfir—only to release them moments later. Meanwhile, Nitro and Angel launch a wild plan involving a leftover Thanksgiving parade balloon, using it to lure the monster pigeon into a trap that sends both it and the decoy soaring toward Blatvaria, where a hidden computer awaits to handle the giants.

In "The Image!", Dilton’s quiet struggle with being overlooked takes a surprising turn when Betty, ever the strategist, uses the school paper to transform his reputation overnight—turning the shy genius into the most talked-about student in Riverdale, all with a few well-placed articles.

When Jughead and Ethel come in second in a swing contest against Chuck and Nancy, and Archie and Betty narrowly miss victory in a tango showdown to Veronica and Reggie, the real prize—second place—ends up being the ultimate win in Jughead’s eyes.

Archie’s long blond hair becomes the unexpected center of a schoolwide prank when the teachers pretend not to notice it—only he’s already two steps ahead, enjoying the chaos. Playing along, he feigns surrender, selling the wig to Jughead, who now struts around school with the dramatic new look.

In "Star Time," the pressure’s on when a college scout shows up to watch the game, sending Archie and the boys into a frenzy of flashy moves and over-the-top antics in hopes of landing a spot on the team. With every pass, dribble, and dunk, the line between skill and showboating starts to blur.

In "Cartoon Crisis," Jo and her classmates face a school dance cancellation when Mr. Weatherbee shuts it down—until Chuck Clayton steps in with a sharp-witted cartoon for the school paper that flips the decision on its head. The humor builds as the principal’s initial reconsideration leads to a chain of reactions he quickly regrets.