Of all the Archie lines, the Jughead comics seem to be the most interesting. I know the main Archie comic has Kevin Keller and Kiss and all that, but the Jughead authors seem to mix things up a bit more and come up with more original story lines.

What struck me about this preview, though, was the art in the first story—it's very much in the Archie tradition (look at Jughead's sideways smile in the first panel, below) but somehow more dynamic as well. Penciler Ron Frenz seems to be a longtime Archie artist, so I don't know why I'm noticing this for the first time, but it really pulled me in. That said, the first page is a bit disturbing; I think it's the look on Archie's face that does it. He's simpering. Archie does not simper, dammit!

Anyway, here is a quick look at two stories from Jughead Double Digest #176; if you like 'em, the comic goes on sale this week.