The Jughead Jones Comics Digest #27

Jughead Jones is suddenly the center of attention when his chemistry teacher declares him a real-life catalyst—someone who triggers reactions in others. As he walks the halls with Archie, every person he passes ends up in an argument, turning the school into a battlefield of tempers. When he finally guides a visitor to Mr. Weatherbee’s office, the situation takes a wild turn: the visitor isn’t who he claims to be, and the school’s payroll vanishes in a flash.

In "Market Madness," Jughead Jones gets a wild idea: selling shares in himself, only to spiral into chaos when he tries to manage the stock market from the school office. With Mr. Weatherbee demanding profits and Reggie Mantle watching with amusement, Jughead’s frantic phone calls to his broker lead to a whirlwind of buy and sell orders—until Mr. Lodge steps in, not to scold, but to make a surprising move that turns the whole mess into a windfall for everyone.

Veronica Lodge puts Archie Andrews in a tough spot by forcing him to ask Betty Cooper on a pity date, but when the school moves the Fall Festival dance to that same evening, Veronica’s scheme takes a turn. Now she’s scrambling to convince Betty—ever trusting and a little too easy to sway—that she’s too ill to keep the date, all while keeping her own secret from unraveling.

Jughead’s got a batch of oysters and offers to share if Archie and Reggie help shuck them—only they’re not interested in the work. Instead, they sneak in a few pearls, hoping to trick Jughead into opening every single one.

In "Chance Encounter," Betty meets a charming new boy at school, sparking a playful rivalry when Veronica, determined to get his attention, tries a series of clever (and increasingly absurd) ruses to win him over. The story unfolds with classic Archie-style humor, pitting Betty’s genuine connection against Veronica’s elaborate schemes — all while Johnny Jordan quietly observes the chaos.

Jughead Jones is shocked to find he’s missing from the grade school photo, sparking a panic that leads him to hunt for his long-lost graduation certificate—only to discover it’s gone. With no proof of his high school status, he’s forced to take a test he’s utterly unprepared for, and when he fails, he’s told he’ll have to repeat fifth grade. The fate of his senior year hangs in the balance as Jughead, Veronica, Betty, and Archie navigate the absurdity of a school system that won’t let him skip ahead—no matter how much he’s eaten.