The Jughead Jones Comics Digest #39

When the vacant lot where Hot Dog buried his bones is set to be developed, Bertie finds himself in a frantic race against time to dig them up—only to unearth more than he bargained for, including a few wriggling worms that end up delighting his bird friend.

In "Potion Problems," Dilton’s latest experiment goes hilariously wrong when a love potion he concocts accidentally splashes onto Archie. Suddenly, Archie finds himself swarmed by girls eager for his attention—until Midge shows up with Moose in tow, turning the chaos into something far more complicated.

Slick’s latest scheme hinges on a lie: that he’s a billionaire, and Riverdale’s elite are eager to welcome him. But when he picks Jughead to spread the rumor, the quiet man with a knack for snacks becomes an unlikely catalyst for chaos. Mr. Knox, ever the skeptic, isn’t fooled — but can he stop the town from falling for the act?

Veronica’s world unravels when she spots a single freckle on her face, sending her into a frantic quest for perfection. Her desperate attempts to erase it send shockwaves through the Lodge household, turning a tiny blemish into a full-blown family crisis.

In "Rap Session," Archie finds himself on the wrong side of Veronica’s patience when he’s caught loafing around her house. Her frustration leads to an unexpected showdown—literally—when Archie suggests a pillow fight, only to be swiftly and thoroughly pummeled by Veronica, Mr. Lodge, and Smithers.

In "Election Objection," Reggie's attempt to make things easy by nominating Jughead for school president backfires when Jughead's complete lack of campaigning wins him the vote—leaving Reggie stunned and the election results in question.

In "Zero Hero," Dilton Doiley finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when the star football players are injured, leaving a crucial dance date in jeopardy. With Pop Tate’s encouragement and a bit of luck, Dilton steps in to fill the gap—though not quite the way he expected.

In "Name That Tune," the Archies’ chaotic rehearsal at the Andrews home pushes Fred to his limit—literally, as he starts banging on the basement pipes to make them stop. The noise, however, only draws attention, leading Mary to call a plumber when she hears the strange knocking, setting off a chain of events neither the band nor Fred expected.

In a moment of comic misunderstanding, Archie watches Jughead deliver a surprisingly strong punch to Moose—only to realize too late that the boys were just rehearsing a fight scene for a school play. Suddenly, Archie’s mind races with suspicions: has Jughead been secretly training all along, building strength for a long-overdue revenge on his friends for past slights? The truth is far less dramatic, but the seeds of misinterpretation are planted, and Archie’s imagination runs wild.

Archie tries to enjoy a quiet moment with Veronica, but her constant phone calls during their date push him to the edge. In a moment of frustration, he invites Betty out instead—only to find her rushing to leave a baseball game to meet him, caught off guard by the sudden change in plans.

Archie and Jughead admire Moose’s tough-guy act, wishing they could pull off something equally impressive. They try to impress the girls by pretending to break chairs with karate—only to accidentally use real ones when the prank goes too far.

Jughead’s summer job as an ice cream vendor takes a sweetly chaotic turn when his appetite outpaces his sales, leading to a never-ending cycle of deliveries. With Henry keeping a close eye on the numbers, Jughead’s secret stash of ice cream becomes the town’s most mysterious (and delicious) mystery.

In "The Writer," Archie tries to write a detailed report on Mr. Lodge, but his plan to gather candid photos backfires in ways he didn’t expect—each attempt at a snapshot lands him in increasingly awkward situations. With Mr. Lodge’s reactions ranging from mild annoyance to outright disbelief, Archie’s quest for the perfect photo becomes a hilarious game of cat and mouse.

In "It Only Hurts When I Laugh," Moose makes a sincere effort to keep his cool and be more pleasant—until a clumsy mishap with a rose bush turns his day sour. Reggie’s laughter at his expense quickly tests Moose’s patience, putting his self-control to the ultimate test.

Veronica Lodge, ever the master of dramatic flair, finds herself exasperated by how effortlessly Jughead Jones commands the respect of the neighborhood kids—something she’s never managed, no matter how much she spends. Determined to prove she can buy admiration, she launches a scheme to outdo his charm with cash, but her plan quickly spirals into something far more complicated than a simple display of wealth.