Pep #283

The November 1973 cover of Pep #283 sets up a delightfully classic Riverdale rivalry: Archie and Betty are caught in a cozy poolside moment beneath a striped umbrella, while a flustered Veronica abandons her tennis game — speech bubbles making it clear she's just realized she left the two of them alone together. Dan DeCarlo's pencils and Rudy Lapick's inks give the whole scene that warm, sun-drenched energy perfectly suited to the Archie gang, with the beach-ready crew across the top banner adding to the breezy summer vibe. If you're a fan of the eternal Betty-vs.-Veronica dynamic, this issue wears its charm right on its cover.