Today in Comics History, October 31, Halloween: "Archie Comics Are Fun Comics!"

from Afterlife with Archie #1 (Archie, September 2013); script by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa; pencils, inks, and colors by Francesco Francavilla, letters by Jack Morelli

Today in Comics History, October 25: Happy birthday, Al Hartley!

Born on this day in 1921: comics writer and artist Al Hartley, who worked for Standard/Nedor/Pines and Marvel/Timely/Atlas, including more than a decade on the Patsy Walker books!


from "Meet the Gang in the Merry Marvel Bullpen" in Marvel Tales Annual #1 (Marvel, September 1964)

Today in Comics History, September 27: Happy birthday, George Gladir!

Born on this day in 1925: George Gladir, long-time scripter for a huge number of Archie Comics stories, and the co-creator with Dan DeCarlo of Sabrina the Teenage Witch!




from "A Simple Story" in Betty #121 (Archie, March 2003), script by George Gladir, pencils by Stan Goldberg, inks by John Lowe, colors by Barry Grossman (?), letters by Bill Yoshida
Happy birthday, George!




from "Write Stuff" in Archie #380 (Ar5chie, September 1990), script by George Gladir, pencils by Stan Goldberg, inks by Rudy Lapick, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida


from "Cracked Party Pix" in Cracked #241 (Globe Communications, December 1988), script by Mort Todd

Today in Comics History, August 18: Happy birthday, Robert Redford!

Born on this day: actor, director, and whatta dreamboat Robert Redford! He was on the cover of a Marvel comic book issue #1!


from ALF #1 (Marvel, March 1988), photograph plus pencils by Dave Manak, inks by Marie Severin
But it's true: the real Bob hasn't appeared in many comic books, but here's a genuine modeling job that paid off big for him in the comics world!


cover of Young Love (1949 series) v. 4 #1 [#31] (Prize, March 1952), photographer uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, July 5: The instant Betty upgrades from her Princess phone, she has a call with bad news

from Riverdale One-Shot (Archie, April 2017), script by Britta Lundin, pencils and inks by Jim Towle, colors by Glenn Whitmore, letters by Janice Chiang

Today in Comics History, July 1: Happy birthday, Debbie Harry!

Born on this day, the very coolest of days to have a birthday: singer, songwriter, and actress Deborah Harry, singer/songerwriter/actor and lead vocalist of the band Blondie!


cover of Look-In #11/1979 (ITV, 10 March 1979), painting by Arnaldo Putzu

Today in Comics History, Friday the 13th: The only weird thing that's happening here is Jughead asking a girl out on a date

from "The Hex with It" in Archie's Pal Jughead #43 (Archie, August 1957), creators uncredited and unknown

Today in Comics History, May 9: Ronnie's Plastic Man cosplay is unconvincing but compelling

from "Jury Jest" in Archie's Joke Book Magazine #93 (Archie, October 1965), creators unidentified and unknown

Comics Do Shakespeare: Hamlet, Act 6: Wait, wait, wait. Archie has a lucky foot?!?

"Bore Chore" from Archie's Joke Book Magazine #204 (Archie, January 1975), creators unknown

Today in Comics History, April 7, 1995: Archie hoped Betty would forget

...because he double-booked a date with Veronica! Archie, will you never learn!


cover of Betty (1992 series) #26 (Archie, June 1995), pencils by Stan Goldberg, inks by Henry Scarpelli, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida
How can we tell it's April 7 even though the calendar isn't numbered? Because in 1995, that Friday was April 7!

Fun with Comics: Pop Culture References No Millennial Will Get

From the mighty Comics Cave at Housing Works, I bring you this retro comic that's so of its time i experienced the '70s all over again!:



from Betty and Me #79 (Archie, October 1976), pencils by Stan Goldberg, inks by Jon D'Agostino
Context.

Fun with Comics: This Archie comic reminds me of TV's Frank and Nummy Muffin Coocol Butter!

from "Little Dog Lost" in Archie and Me #45 (Archie, October 1972), script by Dick Malmgren (?), pencils and inks by Al Hartley, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida




from Mystery Science Theater 3000 "Colossus and the Headhunters," season six, episode 5 (Best Brains, August 20, 1994), starring Trace Beaulieu, Frank Conniff, Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Jim Mallon; directed by Kevin Murphy

Today in Comics History, April 26, 1777: History momentarily distracts Veronica Lodge from shopping

from "The Missing Monument" in Archie at Riverdale High #37 (Archie, July 1976), pencils by Bob Bolling, inks by Chic Stone, letters by Bill Yoshida

Archie's Generic Celebrities Month, Day 30: Not Actually Veronica Lodge

Hey, we're at the end of Archie's Generic Celebrities Month! What do you think about that, Reggie Mantle?


Panel from "Teen Paparazzi" in Archie & Friends #116 (April 2008), script by George Gladir, pencils by Fernando Ruiz, inks by Jon D'Agostino, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Jon D'Agostino
Actually, Reggie, no, because to qualify as a Generic Celebrity in Riverdale, you have to have a soundalike name to the original. For example, what happens to Veronica Lodge when her name is misspelled on her driver's license!:


Panels from "A Fishy License" in Betty and Veronica (1987 Series) #106 (December 1996), script by Hal Smith, pencils and inks by Dan DeCarlo, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida
So pretty much the rest of the story is taken up with the wacky hijinks of Betty chauffeuring Veronica around town and then Ronnie takes her driver's license test again and gets a new license and then here we go:


There you go, folks: Archie's Generic Celebrities Month. i hope you has as good a time as we did with Jangelina Olie, Wuce Brillis, and Cenedibt Bumbercatch. And what about you, Cheryl Blossom?

Archie's Generic Celebrities Month, Day 23: Not Actually Any of These Companies Which Probably Have Pretty Good Copyright Lawyers

Panel from "Spellbound" in World of Archie Double Digest #36 (March 2014), script by George Gladir, pencils by Tim Kennedy, inks by Ken Selig, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida





Panel from "Mystery of the Ages" in B&V Friends Double Digest #229 (November 2012), script by Mike Pellowski, pencils by Jeff Shultz, inks by Al Milgrom, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida





Archie Sunday comic (original date unknown), reprinted in Betty and Veronica Double Digest #201 (July 2012), script by Craig Boldman, pencils and inks by Henry Scarpelli





Panel from "My Dad...the Supermodel!" in Betty & Veronica Double Digest #204 (October 2012), script and pencils by Dan Parent, inks by Jim Amash, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida





Panel from a Betty and Veronica story that I forgot to label my scans with the name





Panel from "Online & Out of Line" in Betty and Veronica Spectacular #45 (January 2001), script and pencils by Dan Parent, inks by Jon D'Agostino, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida





Panels from "Online & Out of Line" in Betty and Veronica Spectacular #45 (January 2001), script and pencils by Dan Parent, inks by Jon D'Agostino, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida





Panel from "The Great All-American Pembrooke-Riverdale Food Eating Contest! Munchie Mania! Part 1" in Archie at Riverdale High #97 (June 1984), script by Rich Margopoulos, pencils by Stan Goldberg





Panel from the Josie and the Pussycats story "A Singular Idea" in Tales from Riverdale Digest #26 (March 2008), script by Bill Golliher, pencils by Rex Lindsey, inks by Rich Koslowski, colors by Barry Grossman, letters by Bill Yoshida

So remember, shop at all these famous generic Riverdale businesses! Don't forget to bring your MustardCard or your American Excess!

Archie's Generic Celebrities Month, Day 15: Not Actually Bobby Darin

"Betty and Veronica's Coloring Page," reprinted in Betty and Veronica Double Digest #204 (October 2012)

Archie's Generic Celebrities Month, Day 14: Not Actually Tony Robbins

Panels from "Motivate Yourself" in Betty and Veronica Comics Digest Magazine #177 (2007), writer and artist uncredited
Wait, why do so many Archie Generic Celebrity stories involve the celebrity wearing a toupee?