Data courtesy of the Grand Comics Database under Creative Commons license.

Issue Details

Issue #218
Published May 1969
Cover Price 0.12 USD
Pages 36
Editing John L. Goldwater; Richard H. Goldwater (Managing Editor)
Notes No credits given for cover, but artwork has been identified as DeCarlo's (http://archie.oldiesmann.us/through_the_decades/favorite_archie_artists_the_60s-t342.0.html;msg2273#msg2273). Editor credits given based on information from "Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation" which appears on the bottom of page 2 of the "Archie Club News" feature.

Cover Details - "Do you have inflatable allowances?"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper; Jughead Jones; Veronica Lodge; un-named furniture salesman
Genre Teen; Humor
Pencils Dan DeCarlo
Inks Dan DeCarlo
Notes No credits given for cover, but artwork has been identified as DeCarlo's (http://archie.oldiesmann.us/through_the_decades/favorite_archie_artists_the_60s-t342.0.html;msg2273#msg2273). Editor credits given based on information from "Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation" which appears on the bottom of page 2 of the "Archie Club News" feature.

6 page Dilton story "The Magic of Love"

Characters Archie Andrews; Dilton Doiley; Miss Geraldine Grundy; Jughead Jones; Moose Mason
Synopsis Moose is standing along the road when Dilton rushes by saying that he's finally found "her". Just what he's been looking for. A real doll. Moose of course assumes that Dilton has finally found a girlfriend, and goes to tell Jughead and Archie. As Archie and Jughead walk off, discussing the situation, they see Dilton, and decide to follow him. Dilton stops outside a children's clothing store, staring at the mannequin and saying that soon she'll be his. Archie and Jughead think that Dilton has gone crazy. Dilton goes into the store and convinces the salesman to sell him the manikin. They go to tell Moose, and notice that Dilton's running into the school with the manikin. He rushes into the science lab and shows Miss Grundy his purchase. Miss Grundy says he's finally found his robot. Dilton is quite happy, opens the back of the manikin and grabs all his robot parts. He gets to work, and Miss Grundy is quite impressed with his finding, saying that it will win him the top prize at the science fair. Archie, Jughead and Moose are unaware of what's going on, and soon see Dilton emerging with his newly created robot. They hear Miss Grundy saying that she hopes Dilton and Roberta [his robot] will be happy together. Dilton says with a real, living doll, how can he miss? The robot responds saying he's a "lovable ol' sugar plum" and a flatterer. Jughead and Archie still can't believe what they're seeing, and Moose thinks it's great.
Genre Teen; Humor
Pencils Al Hartley
Inks Al Hartley
Notes No credits given, but artwork identified as Hartley's (http://archie.oldiesmann.us/through_the_decades/favorite_archie_artists_the_60s-t342.0.html;msg2273#msg2273)

1 page Betty and Veronica illustration "Pin Up"

Characters Betty Cooper; Hal Cooper; Veronica Lodge; Reggie Mantle
Synopsis Betty, Reggie and Veronica are all standing together in the next room. Mr. Cooper walks by and says he can see why they all wear sunglasses - to protect their eyes from all that "razzle dazzle" color they're wearing. Veronica is seen wearing black pants with sequins all over them, and bright red shoes. Betty and Reggie are both wearing pants with bright colorful floral designs on them.
Genre Teen; Humor; Gags
Pencils Dan DeCarlo
Inks Dan DeCarlo
Notes Artwork identified as DeCarlo's (http://archie.oldiesmann.us/through_the_decades/favorite_archie_artists_the_60s-t342.0.html;msg2273#msg2273)

1 page Reggie filler "Pic Trick"

Characters Archie Andrews; Reggie Mantle
Synopsis Reggie and Archie are ice-skating, and Reggie asks Archie if he can have a small picture of him. Archie says he can, and gives him one. Reggie says he'll put that in his wallet, and Archie says he didn't know Reggie liked him that much. Reggie says he doesn't - he's just trying to save some money, and figures the picture of Archie will keep him from opening his wallet.
Genre Teen; Humor; Gags

6 page Mr. Lodge story "Jog Jag"

Characters Archie Andrews; Hiram Lodge; Veronica Lodge; Jughead Jones; Smithers
Synopsis Archie and Jughead are sitting on a large rock and see Mr. Lodge jogging by, with Smithers close behind him. Before long, Smithers falls down from exhaustion. Archie asks him what's going on, and Smithers says that Mr. Lodge has taken up jogging to stay in shape, and insists that Smithers does too. Jughead doesn't seem interested in Jogging, but Archie convinces him to come jogging with him and Smithers. They soon catch up to Mr. Lodge, who isn't exactly excited that they're jogging with him. Archie suggests that maybe they could do this every day. Mr. Lodge turns around to say something to Archie, then trips over a fire hydrant, falling flat on his face. Archie helps him up and tells him to keep his knees up. Archie then tells Mr. Lodge to watch his knees - causing Mr. Lodge to run right into a little old lady, who proceeds to hit him on the head with her umbrella. Archie picks up the pace and Mr. Lodge falls down from exhaustion, deciding that he's too old for that. Smithers, who is quite happy living the cushy life, treats the boys like royalty.
Genre Teen; Humor
Pencils Al Hartley
Inks Al Hartley
Notes One of the earliest appearances by Smithers, faithful Lodge butler. No credits, but artwork identified as Hartley's (http://archie.oldiesmann.us/through_the_decades/favorite_archie_artists_the_60s-t342.0.html;msg2273#msg2273)

1 page Archie Giant Series advertisement "Get In The Groove for a Giant Fun-In!"

Characters None (except on pictures of covers)
Synopsis An ad for the latest Archie Giant Series titles.
Notes Titles available in this offer: Archie Annual #20; Archie's Pals 'N' Gals #51; Little Archie #53; The World of Jughead #161; Archie's Christmas Stocking #158; Jughead's Jokes #11; Archie's Madhouse Annual #6; Betty and Veronica Spectacular #153; Betty and Veronica Summer Fun #155; The World of Archie #160; Archie's Jokes #154; Betty and Veronica Christmas Spectacular #159. Offer never expired. Comics were 25 cents each.

4 page Li'l Jinx story "Party Smarty"

Characters Li'l Jinx; Hap Holliday
Synopsis Li'l Jinx's dad yells for her saying Greg is on the phone. When she doesn't answer, he goes upstairs and bangs on her door. She opens the door and she asks if he was calling her, as music blasts from her room. He says yes, and she says he didn't hear him. He asks how she can hear above that "musical volcano", and plugs his ears with his fingers as he goes into her room. Li'l Jinx turns off the music and asks her dad what he wants. He says that Greg is on the phone, and she responds with "Why didn't you say so?". Li'l Jinx answers the phone, and responds to Greg with lots of "yes"es and "no"s. Her dad asks her what that's all about, and she says she's going over a list with Greg to see who to invite to a surprise party. She continues to go over the details with Greg, hangs up the phone and says it should be a great surprise party. Her dad asks her who the party is for, and she says "me!"
Genre Children; Humor; Gags
Script Joe Edwards
Pencils Joe Edwards
Inks Joe Edwards
Letters Joe Edwards
Notes This story is longer than most Li'l Jinx stories that appeared in Archie Comics in the 1970s. Great gag though.

Half page Li'l Jinx promo (ad from the publisher) "Li'l Jinx Pen Pals"

Characters Li'l Jinx
Synopsis A list of readers who have joined the Archie Comics Pen Pal club, as well as an offer telling kids how they can join. The list includes each person's age and address.
Script Joe Edwards
Pencils Joe Edwards
Inks Joe Edwards
Letters Joe Edwards
Notes This sort of thing would never work today due to all the weirdos out there - it would be too risky to list the names, addresses and ages of various kids around the country. This occupied most of the page. The bottom quarter or so was an offer for Archie's Groovy Stationery Kit.

Half page Archie advertisement "Archie Groovy Stationery Kit"

Characters Archie Andrews
Synopsis An ad for Archie Groovy Stationery Kit.
Notes Ad does not say what the kit includes (besides paper of course). Cost was $1.25 for one kit or $2.00 for two. Postage and handling included in cost. Offer didn't expire. Occupied the bottom quarter or so of the page. The rest of the page was the Pen Pal Club promo.

2 page Archie text article "Archie Club News"

Characters Archie Andrews
Synopsis The monthly feature showcasing winning articles from Archie Club members. This month's winners are Maryann Danis from Napance, Ontario, Canada [$5US First Prize]; Cathy Bryson from New Orleans [$3 Second Prize]; Aurora Jones from Cincinnati [$2 Third Prize]; Davy Marion from Newton, New Jersey [$1 Fourth Prize]; Becky Swift from Des Moines [$1 Fifth Prize] and Steve Sanders from Chicago [$1 Sixth Prize]
Script Maryann Danis; Cathy Bryson; Aurora Jones; Davy Marion; Becky Swift; Steve Sanders
Letters Typeset
Notes This month's articles are all on the latest Archie show and The Archies' latest record, "Bang Shang-A-Lang". Articles use popular slang terms from the time - "groovy", "out-a-site" [more commonly "outta site"] and "DYNAMITE!". A variation of the last phrase would be made famous 5 years later by comedian Jimmy Walker on the sitcom "Good Times". It is uncertain where these phrases originated. First page contained the First- through Fourth-prize winners. The second page contained the Fifth- and Sixth-place winners. The second page also contained an offer to join the Archie Club [at a cost of 25 cents], with a copy of the "Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation" crammed in sideways below it. (The "Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation" is a form required by the US Postal Service that, according to the Texas Press Association, is used to "to determine if the publication is maintaining its eligibility to continue to qualify for Periodicals mailing privileges." [http://www.texaspress.com/postal/statement.htm])

5 page Archie story "Better Things"

Characters Archie Andrews; Jughead Jones; Veronica Lodge; Hot Dog
Synopsis Archie asks Jughead how Hot Dog's training is going, and Jughead says just fine. He tells Hot Dog to show Archie what he's taught him, and Hot Dog promptly falls over and starts sleeping. Jughead says he never should have kept Hot Dog with him during nap time. Archie decides he has to get Hot Dog away from Jughead's influence for a while. Jughead tells Archie that he's also taught Hot Dog other things - for example, Hot Dog can now eat 14 hamburgers and a pound of fries at one sitting. Archie tells Hot Dog that he's not going to get any more hamburgers and that he's going to turn him over to Veronica for a while to see what she can do for him. Hot Dog then takes off, and Archie says that he now knows that Jughead has had too much influence on his dog - now he doesn't like girls. Archie catches up with Hot Dog and hauls him off to Veronica. Veronica mentions that Hot Dog should know the better things in life, and Hot Dog immediately thinks she's talking about hamburgers. Veronica then mentions that it's time for Hot Dog's bubble bath, and the dog takes off again. Archie yells at Veronica about this, and says that Hot Dog has run off. Veronica is a bit worried and says that Hot Dog will now miss his appointment at the beauty salon. Archie thinks twice about what he's done, and goes to find Hot Dog before Veronica does. In the last panel, we see Archie feeding hamburgers to hot dog sitting behind a fence as Veronica walks by calling the dog. Jughead is a bit annoyed that he's not getting any burgers.
Genre Teen; Humor
Pencils Al Hartley
Inks Al Hartley
Notes No credits given, but artwork has been credited to Al Hartley (http://archie.oldiesmann.us/through_the_decades/favorite_archie_artists_the_60s-t342.0.html;msg2273#msg2273)