Pep Comics #81

In "The Crank Turns," Jo and the neighborhood gang face off against Mr. Floogle, who initially blocks their plans to play baseball in his empty lot. When he falls ill, the kids step in to care for him—turning a standoff into an unexpected bond.

In "The Good Skate," Coach Kleats makes history by launching the first high school roller derby team in the country, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown against Hilltop. With the whole school behind them, Riverdale’s new squad takes to the rink, and it’s Jughead’s unorthodox but brilliant skating that turns the tide in their favor.

In this lighthearted 1950 humor tale from Pep Comics #81, K.O. finds himself outdone when Katy goes horseback riding with Randy during his Chicago fight, prompting a playful rivalry. Determined to keep up, K.O. enrolls in riding lessons with Marian—only for Katy to mistakenly believe Marian is another woman, setting up a charming misunderstanding.

In "The Trade Whims," Jo’s string of disastrously bad trades finally lands her in trouble at a department store, where she’s wrongly accused of theft—only to be given a pony as a settlement. When she arrives home with her unexpected gift, Bill’s shock is palpable, caught between disbelief and the quiet chaos of another wild day with Jo.