When was the last time you read an Archie Comic? If you’re like most fans, you probably don’t pay much attention to what they put out every month. Big mistake! Archie consistently puts out fantastically fun comics, with stories that sometimes span decades, still making for great reads. How many comics can you say that about?
Betty & Veronica Double Digest #335 Step aside, Superman! The highly anticipated Galaxyman movie is making its grand debut in Riverdale! Wilbur Wilkin lands the job of portraying the iconic hero at the premiere—but when chaos erupts, it’ll take the true might of Pureheart the Powerful to restore order! And you get a cameo of the Shield and Fly Girl of the Mighty Crusaders.
There’s some Sabrina thrown in, and you get something I wish for more of—Josie and the Pussycats. But there are a lot of summer-themed stories in the digest—a perfect escape from the same old hum-drum comics you buy every week.
Archie doesn’t do many facsimile editions, but when they do, Archie makes them count! The latest, Veronica #202, holds a special place in Archie Comics history as the debut of Kevin Keller, the publisher’s first openly gay character. Written and illustrated by Dan Parent, this 2010 issue became a milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream comics.
In “Isn’t It Bro-mantic?” Written and drawn by Dan Parent. Inks by Rich Koslowski. Veronica finds herself infatuated with Kevin, unaware of his sexuality. The story was widely praised for its positive and natural portrayal of Kevin, presenting him as confident, charismatic, and seamlessly integrated into the Archie universe. His popularity led to his solo series, further solidifying his role as a key figure in modern comic storytelling.
I started things this week with a digest—and that’s where it’ll end up! Over in World of Archie Double Digest #151, the digest begins with, of course, a new story. Wilbur Wilkin is broke and needs some extra cash—and his mom’s kettle corn recipe might be the secret to his success when he and Jughead join forces to sell it at the beach!
What makes Wilbur especially interesting is that he predates Archie Andrews. He made his debut in Zip Comics #18 in September 1941—three months before Archie’s first appearance. Like Archie, Wilbur was a high school teen juggling friendships, romance, and everyday teenage adventures. His popularity led to the creation of his series, Wilbur Comics, which ran from 1944 to 1965.
Also scattered within the digest is Bingo Wilkin, who served as the lead character in That Wilkin Boy, a comic series published by Archie Comics. His debut was in That Wilkin Boy #1 in 1969, and he is depicted as a lively teenager residing in Midville. He is best known for his energetic nature, his pop-rock band, The Bingoes, and his long-standing romance with his girlfriend, Samantha Smythe.
An intriguing detail is that Bingo was later revealed to be Jughead Jones’ cousin, though his traits align more closely with Archie’s—clumsy, prone to mishaps, and frequently finding himself in trouble. His relationship with Samantha often faces challenges due to her strict and overprotective father, Sampson Smythe, who strongly disapproves of him.
There you have it! The latest from Archie Comics! Now go off and read some Archie, and count on wanting to read more. Once you start reading, it’s a hard—but good—habit to break!
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