Bob White, Archie's Joke Book # 18, Splash

Archie comics was one of the few publishers that frequently employed the calendar to its advantage. New stories (or reprints for that matter) were typically timed to Christmas vacation, Summer vacation, camp time, and of course, school years.

In hindsight, Archie’s publishing schedule was similar to the merchandise planning of a department store. You have to stay ahead of the seasons.

And since the Archie gang were teens, school played an oversized role in the storytelling and gags.

Appropriately, here is a great one pager by Bob White. Sure some of the the gags are corny, but 65 years ago they were probably the bee’s knees. (Actually, they were probably groaners then, too.)

But we grinned. And the cartooning is terrific.

(Bob White credit confirmed by my friend, the late, great, Victor Gorelick, Archie’s EIC, who passed away earlier this year. Damn you, 2020.)