Archie Comics #18
Archie Comics #18 (cover-dated February 1946) holds a precise and verifiable place in comics history: it is the final issue of the title to be published under the MLJ imprint, the corporate brand under which the Archie franchise was born. Starting with issue #19, the publisher formally operated as Archie Comic Publications, making #18 the closing chapter of the MLJ era and a tangible artifact of one of the medium's most consequential corporate transitions. The issue also captures the full ensemble of Riverdale regulars — Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Pop Tate, Mr. Weatherbee, Miss Grundy, and both sets of parents — in a single mid-Golden Age package, documenting the moment when the cast that would define American teen humor comics for decades was already fully assembled and operating at creative stride.
In "The Frog Catcher," Archie finds himself unexpectedly nominated for class president during a school assembly after Betty’s outburst. Trying to dodge the role, he pleads with his classmates not to vote for him—only to learn from his psychology teacher that such a plea might backfire. With a mouth full of candy that makes him sound like Mr. Weatherbee, Archie delivers a speech that accidentally wins him the election. Art by Bob Montana and Bill Vigoda, with cover by Al Fagaly, this 1946 issue captures the charm and humor of early Archie Comics.
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By early 1946, creator Bob Montana had returned from wartime military service but was immediately occupied launching the Archie newspaper strip, leaving interior comic duties almost entirely to the studio bullpen. Bill Vigoda carried the bulk of the art load for the self-titled series, with Al Fagaly providing covers and Bill Woggon contributing backup strips. The editorial pressure to fill a bi-monthly, 52-page anthology on a tight schedule led to at least one notable shortcut in this issue: the story 'Negative Psychology' is a reworked version of an early Montana Archie story originally printed in Pep Comics #27 (May 1942), with Vigoda updating faces and adjusting dialogue while retaining much of Montana's original art and script. John L. Goldwater served as editor-in-chief, with Harry Shorten as managing editor, overseeing the brand transition that would officially take effect the following issue.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Archie Comics #18 is confirmed by the Grand Comics Database as the last issue of the series published under the MLJ imprint; issue #19 was the first to carry the new Archie Comic Publications brand.
- The cover, depicting Archie and Veronica carving a jack-o'-lantern in a Halloween scene, was penciled and inked by Al Fagaly and features an early cover appearance by Miss Grundy.
- The issue was published in February 1946 (cover-dated to that period), per copyright entry records cited by the GCD.
- Primary interior art was handled by Bill Vigoda, with additional contributions from Bill Woggon (the Dotty & Ditto backup) and Al McLean; Bob Montana contributed recycled panel art to one story.
- The story 'Negative Psychology' — featuring Archie accidentally winning a class-president election — reuses the storyline, and largely the art and script, from an early Bob Montana story in Pep Comics #27 (May 1942), with Vigoda revising character faces and some dialogue.
- The full ensemble of core Riverdale characters appears across the issue's stories: Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Jughead Jones, Reggie Mantle, Pop Tate, Mr. Weatherbee, Miss Grundy, Fred Andrews, Mrs. Andrews, Mr. Cooper, and Mrs. Cooper.
- Reggie Mantle, listed in this issue's cast, made his actual first appearance in Jackpot Comics #5 (Spring 1942), created by Bob Montana and John L. Goldwater — his appearance here is a subsequent early-era appearance, not a debut.
- This issue was later collected in Archie Archives Vol. 5 (Dark Horse Comics), which reprints Pep Comics #54–56 alongside Archie Comics #15–18, making the stories accessible in hardcover for modern readers.
Cast · 12 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
While at an assembly to nominate a class president, Betty yells at Archie and Archie is accepted as a nominee. Archie tells everyone not to vote for him, but Archie's psychology teacher tells him that this will only make more people vote for him. Archie has candy in his mouth during his speech, making him sound like Mr. Weatherbee. Because of this, Archie wins the election.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).