Customer Reviews

Archie Americana Series Volume 2: Best Of The Fifties Book 1

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Perhaps no decade in American history, certainly no decade within the past century is more fondly revered than that of the 1950's. World War II was over and the nation was enjoying a time of great peace and prosperity. In the late 1940's, most super hero comics faded from view due to changing tastes. Furthermore, the crusades against comics in the 1950's and the resulting creation of the comics code authority meant stronger restrictions on comics causing many companies to close up shop, notably EC Comics. One character who managed to survive not only the changing tastes but the comics code authority was, of course, Archie Andrews. But even Archie was affected by the new code, believe it or not. There's a rather funny anecdote in the introduction to this volume about how the staff had make sure all scenes of cleavage were covered up. It still didn't stop them from drawing Betty and Veronica very well-endowed however.

This volume moves Archie into perhaps the era that Archie is most associated with, especially by early baby-boomers; the era when Rock-n-Roll first made its influence known on Archie and the gang...the era of sock hops, malt shops and cruising. This trade paperback highlights the entire Archie gang in a collection of hilarious and nostalgic stories, brimming with 1950's allure. Here are a few of my favorite stories from this volume:

"Winner Lose" Archie Comics #64 1953. Archie buys a beat-up boat to compete with Reggie in a big race. Veronica promises all of her boat dates to the winner. Archie comes out the victor but when Jughead crashes the boat, Archie finds he's won the battle but lost the war.

"Safe at Home" Archie Comics #64, 1953. Archie visits Veronica while Mr. Lodge is hosting several potential investors for a new venture. Archie thinks the men are planning to rob the Lodge safe and calls the police. Mr. Lodge is NOT amused!

"Skip, Hop & Thump" Laugh #75, 1956. The first sock hop in Riverdale as Archie explains the concept of the sock hop to Betty & Veronica. The pair compete over the boy's socks but when they can't get into the sock hop, they have a rude welcome waiting for Archie.

"Going, Going, Gown" Laugh #80, 1957. Veronica is bragging about her expensive new gown from Paris that she intends to wear to the big dance. She then finds out that Betty is going to wear an exact copy of the dress that she bought locally. Mr. Lodge gives Betty $50 to buy a new dress. When Veronica shows up at the dance to impress Archie, he is not there. He and Betty are out spending Mr. Lodge's money!

"Wheels of Progress" Laugh #98, 1958. Archie is embarrassed when his aunt gives him a pair of roller skates for his birthday. Betty and Veronica offer to teach him how to skate but he is reluctant...until he gets a look at the blonde bombshell skating instructor!

"Like Real Gone" Laugh #104 1959. In a bit of an end of the era type story, Archie and Jughead bid goodbye to the 1950's by acting like beatniks replete with all the beatnik jargon.

"TNT Hee" Archie #106, 1959. Mr. Weatherbee thinks that Jughead has invented a powerful new explosive formula in the chemistry lab. He's so excited that he contacts Washington. But it turns out that Jughead was just trying to make nail polish for Veronica.

In addition to the wonderful stories there are great pages re-printing many of the classic covers from the 1950's. It's a treat to look back at these fifty year-old stories and see how the characters and fashions changed with the times. A real treasure trove for Archie fans.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

"Archie Americana: Best of the 1950's," is composed of story highlights from the years 1953-1959. Spanning 96 pages, readers will effortlessly breeze through the dozen or so stories basking in the home-spun charm that fans have come to appreciate over the decades. Personally, I feel that the artwork of 'Archie' comics was at it's apex in the 1950's thanks to its great attention to detail and for the fact that character design seemed to have been etched in stone from this point on. While this book will entertain, its true value is in providing historical reference to the serious reader of this series.

This is one of my favorites from the collection. The characters are drawn beautifully. I love being able to be transferred back to the 50's and all the fads. I wish the book went on forever. Very nostalgic!

It was fun to see that we had Riverdale fifty years ago and reassuring to see that so little has changed between then and now. Good-hearted doofus Archie, his nonconforming best friend Jughead, all-American Betty, foxy Veronica and self-serving Reggie are here in detail, and under colorist Bob Montana's steady pen appeared very much then as they do now. The fashions have changed, but anyone with any Archie experience will at once notice Archie's gridmarked red hair, Jughead's "crown" beanie, and all the characters' googly white eyes and heavy eyebrows.

While there is some topical satire in the book (a take on Elvis Presley is especially delightful), what matters most is that the same kind of predicaments that came up in the ongoing comic books (and in THE ARCHIE SHOW in the late 1960s and 1970s) are still in place today. Archie is still struggling to grow up and out of his adolescent clumsiness, and his inability to choose between Betty and Veronica as a girlfriend, rang true back then too. Which girl will go to the dance with him? Can Jughead be counted on to run interference? These are the type of topics that amuse and have not aged.

Even at a discount this memoir is pretty pricey for modern times, especially considering that its page count (96pp.) is the equivalent of only four dime "floppies" of 24 pp. apiece at Fifties prices. Happily, the cartoons are on a decent matte paper, not cheap newsprint. The slick paper of the graphic novels might have been even better, but then we can't expect total perfection. The main thing is, the reader will be entertained, diverted, and (possibly) enlightened -- or at least up to speed on poor Archie's classic attempts to do the right thing in spite of a pretty clumsy track record. Highly recommended!

I loved "Archie" comics as a kid, reading them in the '60s and early '70s, as well as reprints of early comics from the '50s. When I look at them today my mind quickly wanders. Although I actually remember some stories and situations with fondness I'm simply too old to be entertained by them now.

However my daughter is the perfect age (12) for "Archie" and loves not only the new ones, but the old ones too. I had some of my old comics to give her and she's been enjoying these reprint series as well. The art may change, Riverdale may be more culturally diverse, and Big Ethel may merely be Ethel now, but if my daughter is any indication, her children and her grandchildren will be enjoying these same comics in the years to come.

Let me tell you, I was looking for this book for years (literally!), and never could find it. Then, a friend made the purchase, and I found out that it was worth the wait. This is definitely a GREAT book. DEFINITELY worth buying.

Let me tell you, I was looking for this book for years (literally!), and never could find it. Then, a friend made the purchase, and I found out that it was worth the wait. This is definitely a GREAT book. DEFINITELY worth buying.