Pep #260

The December 1971 issue of Pep delivers a perfectly timed Riverdale gag: someone has told big Moose to "bury himself in his books" if he wants to pass, and the cover shows he's taken the advice a little too literally — a massive, chaotic pile of colorful textbooks has completely swallowed him, leaving only his bewildered face peeking out while two onlookers stumble upon the scene in disbelief. Above it all, the familiar Archie gang — Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and more — peer down from the masthead with their usual cheerful energy. It's the kind of warm, witty visual comedy that makes Pep such a reliable treat, and at 15 cents it was a genuine bargain for a laugh this good.