Pep #325

From the cheerful, sun-bright cover by Dan DeCarlo, this May 1977 installment of Archie's long-running Pep anthology delivers a perfectly timed gag: an older gentleman reads his newspaper and muses "Money can't buy happiness!" — while a beaming, dark-haired girl strides through the door loaded down with colorful gift-wrapped boxes, her blonde companion in tow, delivering the punchline "Yes, but credit cards can!" The whole Riverdale gang crowds the masthead above in classic DeCarlo style, setting a warm, comedic tone that fans of the era will recognize instantly. With Bill Yoshida's crisp lettering and Barry Grossman's vivid colors making every panel pop, Pep #325 is a delightful snapshot of the lighthearted humor that kept this series going strong.