As much as they might've been modernized over the past few years, I think it's still safe to say that Archie comics are rooted in a series of classic elements. The eternal war between Betty and Veronica for Archie's affections, for instance, or Archie's well-meaning clumsiness, or even Jughead constantly mooching off Archie to get money for burgers. Those are all long-standing traditions in the Archie Universe, but none are so well-regarded as the gang having to fight a bear.

What's that? Y'all don't think that's a traditional Archie story? Well, I can assure you that it happened in 1974's Life With Archie #143, and that's enough of a tradition for me --- especially since Chip Zdarsky and Derek Charm are bringing it back for the next issue of Jughead. Check out a preview below!

 

Jughead #8, Archie Comics
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Jughead #8, Archie Comics
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Jughead #8, Archie Comics
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Jughead #8, Archie Comics
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Jughead #8, Archie Comics
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And here's the official solicitation:

JUGHEAD #8

IT’S JUGHEAD VS. ARCHIE and MR. WEATHERBEE VS …A BEAR?!! Even the quiet of the wilderness can’t escape the madness that’s raging through all of Riverdale!

Script: Chip Zdarsky
Art: Derek Charm
Cover: Derek Charm
Variant Covers: Andre Szymanowicz, Walt Simonson with Laura Martin
On Sale Date: 8/3
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

And incidentally, here's a description of that story from Life With Archie, just in case you ever wonder why I'm obsessed with digging through back issue bins looking for "serious" mid-70s Archie Comics: "Jughead is being driven mad by the meat shortage. He decides to go out into the wilderness and hunt food for himself. His friends follow him and risk becoming food themselves to someone else who's looking for meat --- a hungry bear." 

Seriously, that premise is functionally indistinguishable from a current-era Archie Comic, and that's amazing.

 

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