Archie's Pal Jughead #79
Archie's Pal Jughead #79 (cover-dated December 1961) introduces the United Girls Against Jughead — a recurring organization that gave structure to the long-running gag of Riverdale's girls trying to crack Jughead's legendary girl-indifference, and which reappeared intermittently in the series through approximately 1970. The issue also carries serious weight in character-history debates: Grand Comics Database data suggests that Big Ethel (later Ethel Muggs) appears in the 'Tell It to the Judge' story here, potentially making this her actual first appearance — predating the widely-cited Jughead #84 by several issues. If confirmed, that would make #79 not merely a fun Silver Age Archie read but a genuine character-debut issue for one of the most enduring supporting players in the Archie universe. The cover itself — depicting Jughead in a horror-movie Creature from the Black Lagoon parody — is also a distinctive piece of Silver Age Archie cover design that stands apart from the series' usual fare.
In "Between Us Girls," Jughead finds himself on the TV quiz show *Ask the Experts*, where his expertise in food takes center stage—much to the delight of his friends, who’ve invested in his success with hopes of a payoff. With the final question looming, the tension builds as everyone watches, unsure if Jughead’s luck will hold. Art by Samm Schwartz brings the classic Archie charm to life, with the cover by Schwartz capturing the moment’s anticipation.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
The issue was produced at the height of Samm Schwartz's first, defining tenure as the lead artist on the Jughead solo title — a run that, by colleague Joe Edwards's account, was responsible for transforming Jughead from a comic-relief second banana into a fully realized star character. Schwartz pencilled, inked, and lettered the stories himself, giving the book a cohesive visual identity that is closely associated with the Silver Age Archie house style. The series was published by Archie Comic Publications, Inc. and the GCD notes that the on-sale date falls within the 1962 periodicals record at the Library of Congress, placing the actual newsstand availability in late 1961 or very early 1962 despite the December 1961 cover date.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published December 1961 (cover date) by Archie Comic Publications, Inc.; on-sale data per Library of Congress periodicals records places it on newsstands in late 1961 or very early 1962.
- First appearance of the United Girls Against Jughead, a recurring Riverdale organization that appeared intermittently in Archie comics through approximately 1970.
- Grand Comics Database indexing records Big Ethel (Ethel Muggs) appearing in the story 'Tell It to the Judge' — potentially her first comics appearance, predating the widely-cited debut in Jughead #84.
- All interior stories were pencilled, inked, and lettered by Samm Schwartz, who was the series' defining artist during the 1950s and early 1960s and is credited with designing the Big Ethel character.
- The issue contains at least four stories: 'Tell It to the Judge' (Jughead judges a beauty contest), 'Quiz Quazy' (Jughead as TV quiz-show contestant), 'Space Joker' (Martian-disguise comedy), and the United Girls Against Jughead lead story.
- The cover features a Creature from the Black Lagoon parody image — an unusual horror-film homage for a humor title that has drawn collector attention.
- This is noted as the first 12-cent cover-price issue for the series, marking a cover-price transition point in the title's run.
- The United Girls Against Jughead lead story was later reprinted in Archie Spotlight Digest: Archie 75th Anniversary Digest #12 (September 2017), confirming its lasting significance to the Jughead canon.
Cast · 13 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Jughead is accepted as a contestant on the TV quiz show "Ask the Experts," with his category being food. All his friends chip in to buy stock in him to pay the carfare and the hotel bill, expecting to be paid back out of his winnings. The show goes well until the very last question.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).