World of Archie Jumbo Comics #84

One of my biggest complaints about the Archie series of digests, both regular, double, jumbo, and giant, is that they are never 100% topical. You would think with over 80 years of stories, gags and fun pages, (not to mention all-new material that's still being churned out) that Archie Comics would have no problem filling a jumbo digest sporting a Christmas cover with nothing but holiday material. Yet, they are always book-ending these digests with the seasonal material, while the majority of the filler is a smorgasbord of random material that has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas.

Now Archie has gotten a little bit better at this.The very recent Halfway to Halloween digest I read at least had the fillers containing spooky characters or mysterious encounters. But with the stories here that weren't holiday related, they could have occurred on September 16th or May 12th. They are that generic looking. 

I would say least been okay if all of the stories occurred while it was snowing. But only a 2-parter in which Archie travels to the Arctic for a report on the habits of wolves, seems to involve really cold weather. Plus I have read this story several times prior! Sure, this collection of Archie works is from 2019. But I remember reading that wolf tale when it was brand new in the late 80s. I even think that I can recall where I got the book: from my childhood dentist who gave away comic books as prizes to the patients. 

The Christmas material that we do manage to get was enjoyable. There was a classic looking story by Joe Edwards where Mr. Weatherbee decides he's had it with playing Santa every Christmas at the Riverdale Orphanage, so Archie tries to recruit someone else which has results on par for when Archie dates both Betty and Veronica at the same time.

Speaking of Veronica, she's the focus of another holiday classic. Bummed out that her folks are making her spend Christmas on a cruise ship, Betty gets the Archies signed up as the on-board entertainment. But when the kids start driving Mr. Lodge bonkers, the millionaire arranges for everyone's parents to join the cruise. It's a delightful tale that may be one of the only times you see and engage with Reggie's parents!

A fun, classic holiday read that needs more Christmas cheer.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.