Fans who might have recently rediscovered Archie Comics with the recent Archie Is Mister Justice might be surprised to know Archie has a long history with heroes dating back to the Golden Age. The Shield was the first patriotic-themed character, predating Captain America by several months. And, it wasn’t the first time the Riverdale Gang put on all suits—they’ve been doing that since the Silver Age.
Recently, Archie put out a fantastic collection of the Riverdale Teen Heroes with Archie Milestones Digest #29: Jughead’s Superhero Special. It is a delightful and nostalgic compilation showcasing Jughead’s superhero escapades. This digest blends classic and contemporary tales, featuring his iconic alter ego, Captain Hero, and beloved characters like Power Teen, SuperTeen, and Pureheart the Powerful. Packed with humor and thrilling action, it offers a fun twist on the Archie universe, making it a must-read for fans of superhero-themed adventures.
You have Jughead as Captain Hero, Archie as Pureheart, Betty as Superteen, and Reggie as Evilheart—of course! This collection features stories from legendary Archie creators like Craig Boldman, Angelo DeCesare, and Frank Doyle, brought to life with artwork by Rex Lindsey, Dan Parent, Pat and Tim Kennedy, and Samm Schwartz. Their combined talents make this digest a must-read for fans of classic Archie storytelling.
SuperTeen gets a solo story. Even the Superteens have mascots, like Pawsheart and Hero Hound, who appear as the Power Pets in a story. As a boy, Archie used to battle the Mad Doctor Doom—NOT that one! Though they DID appear within months of each other in the Silver Age. Here, we have Pureheart foiling another one of the Good Doctor’s diabolical plots. But it isn’t all that easy when Doctor Doom teams up with Evilheart.
There are even some Captain Sprocket, a quirky superhero from Archie’s Mad House, a comic magazine published by Archie Comics between 1959 and 1982. As a recurring character, he became known for his clumsy yet triumphant adventures, adding a humorous touch to the series’ offbeat storytelling.
For all you Mighty Crusader fans, there is a Superteen and Crusaders team-up. For those who don’t know much about the Crusaders, the group consists of Archie’s heroes like The Shield, The Black Hood, and The Comet. Eagle-eyed fans will notice a previous meeting between the Superteens and the Crusaders. That was from Archie Jumbo Comics Digest from 2020.
While it doesn’t have any hero stories, World of Betty & Veronica Digest #39 does contain not only timeless B&V stories, but you also get some other tales of the Riverdale Teens. Lovable Ethel appears in several stories, as does Sabrina, who isn’t like what you’ve seen in current Archie stories. There’s even some ’Lil Jinx—for all you Holliday fans. And, like all the digests, they are fantastic reads for all ages.
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