Life With Archie #172 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

To complete this task for the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge, 'bought from your favorite LCS', I could have gone hog wild. My favorite comic shop is a hybrid comic book store/used book shop called Books Do Furnish a Room in Durham, NC. I subscribe new releases from them. But I didn't want to review something brand new. As a result, I gave myself a budget of $2, with the parameter of finding something neat that I had never seen before. And this was what I found. 

It's the Summer of 1976 and it seems like everyone has bicentennial fever. The American government sponsored a pair of freedom trains that toured the county with over 500 artifacts as a traveling museum of Americana. The US mail sponsored a patriotic set of stamps. The Treasury Dept. produced commemorative quarters. In entertainment, Elvis put on a series of shows with songs devoted to the founding of America. The NFL had players wear patches on their jerseys. Companies like 7-Up, Kleenex, Duncan Yo-Yo,Snoopy, even a publisher of the King James Bible were among the countless brands that produced special bicentennial products that year. Yes, even the comic book industry got involved. 

Marvel's 1976 calendar was bicentennial themed. Jack Kirby's heralded return to Marvel kicked off with a Captain America treasury devoted to the founding of our country. DC produced a tabloid sized salute to America hosted by the Man of Steel along with a release of specially tagged covers. And Archie Comics released Life With Archie #172.

Titled 'Birth of A Nation', the story involves Archie and the gang travelling to Washington, D.C. on a school field trip. The friends travel to the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and other patriotic places of interest before heading to the National Archives. At that museum, the gang view the Declaration of Independence.

While reading the words of Thomas Jefferson, Archie finds himself transported back in time to 1773. No longer in D.C., Archie is now situated in Boston Harbor, dressed as an Indian and tossing tea into the drink. After taking part of the Boston Tea Party, Archie is chased by British soldiers throughout Beantown only to be saved by Paul Revere. Only Paul looks an awful lot like Jughead!

Soon Archie takes part in Paul Revere's midnight ride. After he completes his run, Archie continues to jump through time witnessing the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the winter at Valley Forge and other key moments during the Revolutionary War, all the while encountering important figures in history; only they're portrayed by members of the Archie gang.

This Archie story is a rare one in that it comprises the entire issue with one exception. There is a L'il Jinx one-pager that greatly satirizes the fervor of bicentennial commercialism. L'il Jinx's observation that all that collectibles and knickknacks being sold in honor of America's 200th birthday should be referred to as 'buy-cenetennial!' I think when it comes to the creators of this book, they definitely practiced what they preached.

Though there aren't any credits attributed to this issue, an online search credits Frank Doyle as the writer with Stan Goldberg and John D'Agostino on art. I'm pretty sure that Up With People and the Bicentennial Feel Good Committee (or whatever it was my mom always referred to) had some input with the script because this story paints an incredibly rosy picture of America. 

Currently, there is great debate in our over the teaching of critical race theory; especially in regards to how our country was formed. So I am not sure how this issue would be presented if it was released new today. Nor am I sure how well this book would be received.  But in 1976, Americans were trying to feel good again what with the aftermath of Watergate, the energy crisis and Vietnam. Thus, the pomp and circumstance surrounding the 200th birthday of the United State of America was promoted as a feel good party for its citizens. 

Life With Archie #172 definitely reflects a lot of that national pride. As a result of the ultra-positivism, some of this story reads kinda corny. Especially the closing part when Archie returns to the present day and is thanked by a National Archives security guard for being a fine teenaged patriot.

If you were looking for a Bicentennial time capsule to add to your comic book collection, this would be the issue to get. It's beauty is surely found in the eye of it's beholder. But there is no doubt that this comic is patriotic.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #34 (Bought From Your Favorite LCS) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.