Josie #43
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeJosie #43 marks the debut of Sebastian, Alexandra Cabot's black cat, and the simultaneous reveal of Alexandra's witchcraft powers — two elements that would define her character's antagonist role for the entire Pussycats era. The issue sits at the midpoint of a deliberate three-issue transformation of the Josie title: Alan M. had arrived in #42, Sebastian and sorcery debuted here in #43, and the band itself formed in #45. Taken together, this short run of issues in late 1969 constitutes the creative pivot from a standard Archie-style teen-humor strip into the music-and-magic franchise that Hanna-Barbera would adapt into a Saturday morning cartoon just one year later. By giving Alexandra a supernatural edge — however unreliable — the creative team added a dimension of genre-bending absurdity that briefly pushed the Josie universe into territory unusual for Archie Comics at the time.
In "How Do You Spell That..", Alex and Alexandra are thrown into a spellbinding mystery when they learn that Alexandra’s cat, Sebastian, might be the reincarnated uncle rumored to have dabbled in witchcraft—leading to a surprising twist that unlocks her hidden ability to cast spells by holding him and speaking the right words. Written by Frank Doyle and brought to life with Dan DeCarlo’s signature charm and Rudy Lapick’s crisp inks, this 1969 gem from Archie Comics blends whimsy and wonder, with Bill Yoshida’s lettering adding to the playful tone. The cover by Dan DeCarlo captures the story’s quirky magic with a touch of vintage flair.
In this whimsical 1969 tale from *Josie #43*, Jo and her friend Alex are startled when Alex’s cat, Sebastian, begins acting strangely—leading them to a spellbinding revelation: the feline may be the reincarnated uncle rumored to have dabbled in witchcraft. With a mix of laughter and wonder, Alex discovers she can cast spells simply by holding Sebastian and speaking the right words.
In "It's a Snap..", Alexandra and Alex experiment with her new witchcraft, only to find their magic undone in an instant—Melody’s single finger snap breaks every spell she encounters. Written by an unknown author and illustrated by an unknown artist, this six-page 1969 humor fantasy tale turns a spellbinding test into a laugh-out-loud showdown of wills.
In "Miscast," Alex tries to impress Josie by enlisting the help of the magical duo Alexandra and Sebastian, but things quickly go awry when Alexandra’s spells misfire in unexpected ways. Written by a longtime collaborator and illustrated by the series’ regular interior artist, the story delivers classic humor with a whimsical fantasy twist.
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The issue was produced by the series' core creative team of writer Frank Doyle and penciler Dan DeCarlo, with inks by Rudy Lapick — the same trio responsible for the bulk of the title's run throughout the 1960s. The transformation of the Josie property in 1969 was driven in part by Archie Comics' negotiations with Hanna-Barbera, who sought their own music-based Saturday morning property after Filmation's Archie Show and its spin-off hit 'Sugar, Sugar' proved the commercial power of the Archie brand in animation. Archie Comics agreed to retool the Josie series to support that crossover, and the introduction of Sebastian and Alexandra's powers in #43 was one of several rapid additions — alongside Alan M. — made in the months immediately preceding the title's formal rename.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Sebastian, Alexandra Cabot's black cat, who serves as her witchcraft familiar throughout the series.
- First introduction of Alexandra Cabot's magical powers: when she holds Sebastian and recites the magic words, she can cast spells — though they consistently backfire.
- The lead story is titled 'How Do You Spell That,' scripted by Frank Doyle, with pencils by Dan DeCarlo and inks by Rudy Lapick.
- A second story, 'It's a Snap,' also appears in the issue, depicting how Alexandra's spells are broken when someone nearby snaps their fingers.
- Sebastian is established as the reincarnation of a Cabot family ancestor who was executed for consorting with witches, giving the cat a genuine supernatural backstory.
- The issue was published in September 1969, two issues before the title was officially renamed Josie and the Pussycats with issue #45 (December 1969).
- Alexandra's witchcraft powers were not carried over into the 1970 Hanna-Barbera animated series and were gradually phased out of the comics as well.
- A page spotlighting Sebastian's first appearance was reprinted in the Best of Josie and the Pussycats trade paperback (Archie Comics, 2001) and again in The Best of Josie and the Pussycats (2017 series).
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Reprinted in Best of Josie and the Pussycats #1 (2001)
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