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Issue Details

Issue #478
Published January 1979
Cover Price 0.35 USD
Pages 36
Editing ?

Cover Details - "Archie's Christmas Love-in"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper; Veronica Lodge; Jughead Jones; Hiram Lodge; Hot Dog
Genre Teen; Humor; Christmas

6 page Archie story "The Christmas Caper, Part 1"

Characters Archie Andrews; Veronica Lodge; Betty Cooper; Jughead Jones; Uriah Scourge; un-named Santa; un-named robber
Synopsis It's the holiday season, and Archie is working at Uriah Scourge's jewelry store to earn some extra money. The first page is a preview of the entire story. Archie's boss bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Scrooge from A Christmas Carol. He won't let Archie have time off, and is a skinflint - even dawning an old ratty sweater so he can get a free meal at the local rescue mission. When he returns, he chases carolers away from his store, and yells at Veronica, Betty and Jughead for standing around in the store talking to Archie instead of buying stuff. As Archie and his boss are closing up shop for the night, an un-named man walks into the store, flashes a gun and demands money. (to be continued)
Genre Teen; Humor; Christmas
Notes This is a two-part story, but because it is not continuous (there are a couple of ads and a Li'l Jinx comic in between), the two parts are being indexed separately.

1 page Li'l Jinx filler "The End"

Characters Li'l Jinx; Hap Holiday
Synopsis Li'l Jinx is writing a letter to Santa, but can't decide which ending she likes best.
Genre Children; Humor; Gag
Script Joe Edwards
Pencils Joe Edwards
Inks Joe Edwards
Letters Joe Edwards

1 page Archie activity "Get The Message Maze"

Characters Archie Andrews
Synopsis Readers must trace their way through a maze, writing down each letter as they come to it, in order to reveal a message that Archie has for them.
Genre Puzzle

5 page Archie story "The Christmas Caper, Part 2"

Characters Archie Andrews; Uriah Scourge; un-named crook; Officer Bronson; un-named carolers
Synopsis After 4 pages, this story finally picks up where it left off. The crook is now running out of the jewelry store, money in hand, as Archie's boss yells at him to stop the man (or the money will come out of Archie's paycheck). Archie chases after the man, and points him out to a nearby police officer. Finding himself cornered, the crook dashes off, knocking over the mall santa. Shortly thereafter, he is captured by the officer, but conveniently acts innocent, having ditched the money. Archie quickly figures out that the crook ditched the money in Santa's kettle, and jokes about the big haul that Santa has had that day ($1000). Mr. Scourge doesn't find this funny at all and complains that the money is all his. Archie quickly convinces him to give it all to Santa so he can help the rescue mission, pointing out that mall patrons will be pretty angry if he doesn't. Archie and Mr. Scrouge return to the store. Scrouge is now a changed man, and invites the carolers in for hot chocolate and cookies, not realizing that they're singing "He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to Archie and not him.
Genre Teen; Humor; Christmas

5 page Christmas Love-in story "Wisecracker"

Characters Mary Andrews; Archie Andrews; un-named pretty girl; Betty Cooper
Synopsis As Archie is leaving for Betty's to deliver his Christmas gift to her, his mom asks him to take something out to the trash can. As soon as Archie gets out the door, he gets distracted by a pretty girl and ends up throwing Betty's gift in the trash can instead of the garbage. He arrives at Betty's and hands here the trash, still unaware of what's happened. When Betty opens the package, she's quite ticked, and Archie suddenly realizes what he's done. He runs back to switch the packages, and returns with the gift, which Betty puts under the tree, saying she'll open it later. We then find out that this is because Archie always gives her candy, which he ends up eating. After convincing Betty that it isn't candy, she opens the package. In the last panel, we see Betty and Archie sitting on the couch, with a package of "Yum Yum Cookies" (probably chocolate chip) sitting between them. Archie is eating the cookies, but Betty can't get mad at him knowing that Christmas is for sharing.
Genre Teen; Humor; Christmas
Notes There is no indication as to what variety of cookies Archie gives Betty, but knowing Archie's love of chocolate chip cookies, that's most likely what kind they are.

Half page Archie text article "Archie Club News"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper; Mr. Waldo Weatherbee; Miss Geraldine Grundy
Synopsis The monthly Archie Club News page. This month's winning essays are on Tucson's "Citizen Advocacy Project" and Milford, Connecticut's Oyster Festival.
Letters Typeset
Notes Shares the top half of the page. Bottom half is the standard Archie Club membership offer.

Half page Archie promo (ad from the publisher) "Be an Archie Club Member"

Characters Archie Andrews
Synopsis The standard offer encouraging readers to join the Archie Club for 50 cents. In return, readers were given a chance to compete for cash prizes by sending in articles on a subject of their choice, and received a button and press card in return.
Letters Typeset
Notes The exact history of this is not known, but the Archie Club lasted for 30 or 40 years, ending sometime in the late 90s or early 2000s. Over the years, the price did go up, and by the mid 90s, members would also be given a 4-color pen and a notepad in addition to the button and press card.

Half page Dilton promo (ad from the publisher) "Thnik Small"

Characters Dilton Doiley; Moose Mason; Archie Andrews
Synopsis An offer encouraging readers to send in the attached order form and $1 for Archie Comics Digest #34.
Notes The price included shipping and handling. Offer expired April 30th, 1979. This occupies the top half of a page. The bottom half is the standard "3 for $1 checklist".

Half page Archie promo (ad from the publisher) "3 for $1.00 Checklist"

Characters Archie Andrews; Betty Cooper
Synopsis Readers could fill out the order form, check off their favorite titles and get three comics for $1, or individual comics for 35 cents a piece.
Notes Titles available in this month's offer: Achie's Joke Book #253; Betty and Veronica #278; Laugh #335; Pep #346; Life With Archie #202; Jughead #285; Little Archie #139; Archie #277; Archie at Riverdale High #60; Archie's Pals 'n' Gals #129; Everything's Archie #72; World of Archie #480. Postage and handling was included in the price. The last title was part of the "Giant Series". Offer expired April 30th, 1979. Occupies the bottom half of the page. Top half is the Archie Comics Digest offer.

1 page Archie promo (ad from the publisher) "Archie Christmas Specials"

Characters Archie Andrews
Synopsis An offer allowing readers to send in for the current year's Christmas specials
Notes Issues available: Archie's Christmas Stocking #476; Betty and Veronica Christmas Spectacular #477; Archie's Christmas Love-in #478; Sabrina's Christmas Magic #479. All four issues were part of the Giant Series. Prices were 35 cents each, 3 for $1 or 4 for $1.25. Offer expired June 30, 1979. Postage and handling included.

5 page Christmas Love-in story "Your Gain is My Lost"

Characters Archie Andrews; Veronica Lodge; un-named waitress
Synopsis Veronica is going Christmas shopping and drags Archie along to carry her packages. They stop for lunch, then it's back to shopping. After they finish shopping, they head to the nearest bus stop. While waiting on the bus, Veronica decides to check her weight, and, after noticing that she's gained three pounds, decides that she and Archie can walk home so she can lose the three pounds from the lunch that Archie made her have (even though Archie didn't have anything to do with this).
Genre Teen; Humor; Christmas

1 page Josie advertisement "Discovers Pie Appeal"

Characters Josie McCoy; Valerie Brown; Alan M. Mayberry; Alexandra Cabot
Synopsis Valerie tells Josie that Alan M has just received an invitation to go on Alexandra's yacht. Josie talks to Alan and asks him to give up going on the yacht. When he asks for one good reason, Josie whispers something in his ear. Pleased with that reason, he asks for another, and Josie says Hostess Cherry Pies. When Valerie asks what the first reason was, Josie says that it was Hostess Apple Pies. Sometime later, Alan, Josie and Valerie are seen enjoying a picnic with one another, and Alan is happily munching on a fruit pie. Another panel shows Alexandra on her yacht, wondering what Josie had that her yacht didn't. In the last panel, Josie and Valerie say that they hope Alexandra doesn't discover the irresistible appeal of Hostess Fruit Pies
Notes Hostess Fruit Pies ad featuring Josie and the gang. This one appears on the back cover.