Jughead and Friends, your Favorites!
Jughead and Friends Digest #s 20-22/$2.49 and 81 pages from Archie
Comics/various writers and artists/available in book stories, comics
shops, and at www/archiecomics.com.
I?ve always preferred Betty to Veronica and Jughead to Archie in the
fictional world of Riverdale. It?s not that I don?t appreciate the lead in
any paper drama or comedy. But I guess I?m a second-banana sort
of guy.
I like Jughead Jones because he?s smart, but unbelievably lazy. He?s
skinny, but eats like a horse. And he?s a nonconformist but not in
rebellion to the culture around him. Like Popeye, he is what he is and
that?s all he is.
Jughead is a type of beatnik or hippie without the political baggage.
But what I enjoy most is that Jughead enjoys life. In a comic book
culture that is dominated by angst and nihilism today, Jug is a breath
of fresh air, although I often wonder if he really uses deodorant or
toothpaste.
In this clutch of reviewed digests, Jug comes up with the idea of
shoveling snow for his summer job, pitches peanuts like a pro instead
of baseballs, ignores girls, and out-chic?s Veronica. So what?s not to
like?
He?s still drawn with a minimum of lines, and his backgrounds will
never make the centerfold of Architect Monthly, but that?s alright as
well. The art on the ole? fellow is as simple and clean as his straight-
forward dialog and plot, and he remains a visual icon in the comics
world. No one will ever confuse him with Spider-man or Batman or
the X-folk, and that?s a good thing as well.
Jughead is like lemon meringue pie after a meal. You don?t expect
nutrition as much as taste and you want to feel light, not full. Jughead
and Friends Digest is recommended for young readers in body and/or
mind. MV
Check out Dreams and Visions #35 for a new Vance short story:
www.bconnex.net/~skysong/dream.htm
Interested in the exciting Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection and Toy
and Action Figure Museum? Go to fourcolorcommentary.com &
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCARtM5BvvU.
Order Michael Vance's history of the American Comics Group in Alter
Ego #s 61 and 62 at www.twomorrows.com.
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