Betty and Veronica Comics Digest Magazine #17

In "The Hero," Archie spins a wild tale to impress Betty and Veronica, convincing Jughead to pretend to be an escaped convict after a radio report warns of one nearby. With Jughead playing along, Archie sets out to "rescue" the girls from the supposed threat—leading to a series of escalating antics that blur the line between prank and peril. Written by George Gladir and illustrated by Hy Eisman, with inks by Rudy Lapick, colors by Barry Grossman, and letters by Bill Yoshida, this 1986 digest tale captures the classic Archie charm. The cover, by Dan DeCarlo, perfectly captures the mischievous spirit of the story.