Written by (See Credits Below)
Art by (See Credits Below)
Cover Art by Dan Parent; ‘R. Pena;’ & (Illegible]
SUMMARY:
Released by Archie Comics for January 2016, this 160-page holiday-themed digest consists of the following reprints:
- All Worked Up (4 pages): Written by Angelo Decesare, with art by Pat Kennedy; Tim Kennedy; Jim Amash; Jack Morelli; & Digikore Studios. A well-intentioned Archie’s day of odd jobs to earn cash for Christmas presents causes more grief than good.
- Beyond Belief (6 pages): The writer is unknown, with art by Bill Vigoda; Terry Szenics; & Barry Grossman. Jughead accompanies Archie to get his Santa suit altered before some holiday fun with the Lodges.
- Tree Glee (5 pages): Writer: George Gladir, with art by Stan Goldberg; Jon D’Agostino; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Finding a Christmas tree for their high school holiday party costs Archie’s gang more than they expect.
- The Greater Gift (5 pages): Writer: George Gladir, with art by Gus LaMoine; Jon D’Agostino; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Archie’s effort to hide his Christmas gifts for Betty & Veronica has a poignant consequence.
- The Gifted (6 pages): Writer Kathleen Webb, with art by Jeff Shultz; Al Milgrom; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Santa sends his Sugar Plum Fairy to probe what’s hampering Betty and Veronica’s holiday spirits.
- Tree to Get Ready (4 pages). The writer is unknown, with art by Bill Vigoda; Mario Acquaviva: & Barry Grossman. The Archie gang scrambles to decorate the school’s Christmas tree before their holiday party.
- Collection Dejection (½ page). No Credits. Jughead tells Betty the problem he and Archie share re: what they should collect to be worth something in the future.
- Hit Bit (½ page). No Credits. Jughead and Dilton chat about encores.
- Blood Line (6 pages). Writer/Artist: Bob Bolling, with inks by Jim Amash. Archie attends a banquet with his dad.
- On the Face of It (6 pages). Writer/Artist: Tim Kennedy, with inks by Jon D D’Agostino. Reggie is mortified to reveal to his buddies that he actually has a pimple.
- The Door to Knowledge is a Jar (4 pages). Writer: ‘Smith,’ with art by Stan Goldberg; Rudy Lapick; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Miss Beazly inadvertently impacts Mr. Flutesnoot’s science demonstration to his class.
- The Brush Off (3 pages). Writer/Artist: Dick Malmgren, with letterer Bill Yoshida & colorist Barry Grossman. The inker is unknown. Reggie & Archie harass two painters in their school homeroom.
- Magic Mayhem (5 pages). Writer/Artist: Fernando Ruiz, with Al Nickerson; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Deliberately sabotaging Betty’s school magic act, a ‘missing’ Veronica earns some fitting payback.
- Dipsy Doodles (1 page). No credits. The issue’s sole black-and-white has Jughead painting himself into a corner.
- Munch Bunch (1 page). No credits. Jughead and Hot Dog share a refrigerator.
- Fair Play (12 pages). Writer/Artist: Al Hartley, with Jon D’Agostino; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Veronica’s dad has a secret plan in mind, as The Archies compete in a music festival that he helps sponsor.
- May I Cut In? (6 pages). Writer: Rich Margopoulos, with art by Doug Crane; Rudy Lapick; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Repeatedly pushed off Veronica’s school dance card, Archie schemes to get her back.
- Go West, Young Dude! (6 pages). Writer/Artist: Dan Parent, with Rudy Lapick; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. The Archie gang’s cowboy-themed basement party impacts Hiram Lodge’s efforts to impress a new business partner during dinner.
- Wheel Man (6 pages). Writer: George Gladir, with art by Dan DeCarlo Jr.; Jimmy DeCarlo; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. During breaks in The Archies’ roller-skating rink gig, the friends try out-skating each other.
- Dancing Daddyo (2 pages). No credits. Archie gets creative, as Hiram Lodge evicts Veronica’s dance party from various rooms at the Lodge mansion.
- The Helping Hand (6 pages). Writer: George Gladir, with art by Stan Goldberg; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. The inker is unknown. Principal Weatherbee recounts to Ms. Grundy his dubious experiences re: Archie’s efforts to help out.
- Head of the Class (6 pages). Writer/Artist: Al Hartley, with Jon D’Agostino; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Reggie takes it upon himself to impress Betty & Veronica after they praise Jughead’s culinary talents.
- Fall Guy (5 pages). Writer: George Gladir, with art by Stan Goldberg; Henry Scarpelli; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Eager to show off her new dress at a swanky country club party, Veronica’s date options aren’t as many as she thought.
- Man With a Horn (5 pages). Writer: Frank Doyle, with art by Stan Goldberg; Henry Scarpelli; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Archie obliviously ‘terrorizes’ the high school with his trumpet-playing.
- Food Feud (5 pages). Writer/Artist: Dick Malmgren, with Jon D’Agostino; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Betty pays back a two-timing Archie with a foul-tasting feast.
- It’s a Breeze (5 pages). Writer: Frank Doyle, with art by Dan DeCarlo Jr.; Jimmy DeCarlo; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Betty is the victim of a nasty wind gust.
- The Bake-off (1 Page). No credits. Miss Beazly and Principal Weatherbee trade pie-making advice.
- Scandal Sheet, Parts I & II (11 pages). Writer: Frank Doyle, with art by Stan Goldberg; Jon D’Agostino; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Unscrupulous school paper editor ‘Scoop’ Scanlon finds out that trash journalism can go both ways.
- Keep the Faith (5 pages). Writer: Kathleen Webb, with art by Dan DeCarlo Jr; Jimmy DeCarlo; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Playing a mall Santa, Archie finds that Betty & Veronica are going to tell Santa what they really want for Christmas this year.
- The Lodge Dodge (5 pages). Writer/Artist Bob Bolling, with Jon D’Agostino; Bill Yoshida; & Barry Grossman. Hiram Lodge tries to keep Archie’s gang from interrupting his family’s Christmas plans.
- Splendid Spirit (5 pages). Writer: George Gladir, with art by Samm Schwartz & Barry Grossman. The Christmas spirit has an unexpected effect on the Archie gang.
REVIEW:
Impressively, there isn’t a single dud, as the well-played humor makes for a relaxing all-ages read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The last page is a single-page “Everything’s Archie” news-and-notes column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
