You’d think at some point in the ’60s they’d have published Jughead’s Freak-Out, but no.

§ October 30th, 2020 § Filed under archie, collecting § 5 Comments

As noted by the folks in the comments to my wishing for reprints of Jughead’s Folly and Jughead’s Fantasy…lo, they were indeed reprinted. Folly was reprinted, apparently in its entirety (as there were more stories than the “Jughead becomes a rock star” lead) in the Best of Archie Comics #3 digest/book from 2013, and again in the Archie 75th Anniversary digest from 2017. Likewise, the three issues ofJughead’s Fantasy have been reprinted multiple times from the 1960s into the 2010s (and I’ll let you look at the individual entries for that info).

So my hasty supposition that Jughead’s Folly not being reprinted, and my inference that Fantasy also had not, was completely incorrect. Look, not everyone has the time to put in the whole 10 seconds of research it would have taken me to find this info out in the first place.

I suppose I could probably seek these reissued forms of the original stories…comic book sized preferred, as my aged and long-distressed eyes are no longer up to the challenge of digest-sized comics. I realize there’s no real difference in reading the story in a more recent comic versus reading it in its original release, but I just plain like the look of Archie covers from that period. I’m gonna be one of those guys who’s got to have the originals for their look ‘n’ feel.

A second choice would be “facsimile editions,” like what Marvel and DC have been doing of late. Just more or less exact reprints of the original comics, except on better paper and a higher price. I’ve picked up a handful of those over the last couple of years…they’re fun to have, and that way I can get a copy of the comic without taking something out of the shop I might actually be able to sell for money.

Third choice would be a some kind of handsome hardcover or softcover, which would hopefully include full-color and full-sized reproductions of the covers (and not just little thumbnails on the back cover).

I suppose a fourth choice would be digital editions, but frankly I’d rather have a physical edition. Even if, er, a digital version would be slightly easier for me to read now.

I don’t know…maybe I’ll get luckly and someone will bring all these Jughead comics into the shop for me to buy. I figure if my store is open long enough, every comic I want will eventually pass through! That’s my fantasy…or, more likely, my folly.

5 Responses to “You’d think at some point in the ’60s they’d have published Jughead’s Freak-Out, but no.”

  • Snark Shark says:

    “as my aged and long-distressed eyes are no longer up to the challenge of digest-sized comics”

    I can relate! I can read digests, but it’s not easy like it used tobe.

    twitter: “Superboy and friends”

    Superboy- he’s his own best friend! apparently.

  • Brad Walker says:

    “I realize there’s no real difference in reading the story in a more recent comic versus reading it in its original release”

    Well, no. There are some differences.

    I have notes comparing the reprinted Life With Archie No. 23, “A Very Lodge Problem” with its recent reprintings. In the original Mr. Lodge lights up a cigar, in the reprint he sips from a teacup. (Both lead to a spit-take.) A character who spoke in Chinese characters the first time around now speaks English. And many flat-colored backgrounds now have Photoshop gradations.

    These are all politically correct changes. But also of note is the fact they didn’t update the prices. Archie causes damages riding Mr. Lodge’s mower and Lodge is on the hook for $30.

  • Mikester says:

    Brad – yeah, that’s true…I recall an Archie digest where a character is very clearly holding up a vinyl record and the relettered word balloon refers to it as a “CD.”

    But I think some of the ’60s reprints of Jughead’s Fantasy may be relatively unchanged…but I guess I won’t know ’til I see them for myself!

  • Snark Shark says:

    “I realize there’s no real difference in reading the story in a more recent comic versus reading it in its original release”

    You DO miss the old ads and letters pages, though! Some of that stuff has entertainment value.

  • This does not include clinical and also like expenditures, these will certainly be paid ongoing.