Archie has been following right along with DC Comics and Marvel Comics with facsimile reprints.
The latest Archie Comics facsimile reprint is Archie's T.V. Laugh-Out 79, from September 1980. The original cover is something of a Jaws tie-in. Archie builds a sand shark at the beach. It's so realistic that Jughead decides to move his snack cooler just a little farther away! It's a hilarious gag. Unusual that it's a two-part, or two-panel gag. Usually, Archie covers feature a single image with just the set-up and the punch line.
What's even more interesting is the Jaws tie-in. The original Jaws film came out in 1975, based on the 1974 Peter Benchley novel. The sequel, Jaws 2 was released in 1978. Jaws 3-D was released in 1983. This 1980 issue falls between Jaws 2 and Jaws 3-D. Perhaps to capitalize on the original cover gag, two variant covers were released to tie into the Jaws theme. Both feature a movie-poster quality. The foil variant features Veronica swimming, with the Jaws shark below.
They are both cool covers.
The first story, Words and Music, finds Reggie up to his usual self-centered, self-promoting antics. He wants to move to a better venue. He thinks Betty and her tambourine are holding him... er, The Archies back. He recommends firing her. He strong-arms playing one of his songs for the club owner checking them out. Half-way through Reggie's song, the club owner uses the restroom! During a break, Betty writes some lyrics. The Archies back her up. The club owner is impressed and signs The Archies - spotlighting Betty! The laugh is on Reggie!
Next up, Alex tries to show up Alan by cooking up something better than pizza. He makes a mess of his Chef's kitchen! The laugh is on Alex, when his chef chooses pizza in the end! The only problem with the Josie and the Pussycats story is that Alex Cabot looks and acts like Reggie Mantle's twin! There really is no way to tell the two apart! It's only when Alex gives his chef the boot from the kitchen that he's different. Even the whole gag of making a mess of the kitchen trying to show up Alan - a one-off himself of Archie - seems like a total Reggie move.
Another fun story is Li'l Archie and Jughead using a goat to mow the lawn when the family mower dies.
The last story finds Sabrina's aunts with a cursed Egyptian statue. Touching it might spread the curse! Harvey scoffs, until one of the aunts uses magic to convince him.
All in all, it's solid, light-hearted comedy from the Archie gang.
Archie's T.V. Laugh-Out 79, facsimile reprint, earns five stars. For the extra effort on variant covers. Your mileage on that may vary.
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