Miskatonic University PressThis morning I came across another Archie visit to the Riverdale Public Library, and this time there’s a stereotypical mean librarian on the job. The story is “The Chompian,” and it’s reprinted in Archie’s Funhouse (Comics) Double Digest 28 (November 2017). I don’t know exactly when it was first published, but it has a seventies look. It was written by George Gladir, drawn by Bob Bolling and lettered by Bill Yoshida. The comic is copyright by Archie Comics.
Archie wants to do something challenging. “Something that takes courage and determination!” At first he seems to want to do this not for fame but as a way to test himself, which is noble. Then he decides to do something to get into The Guinness Book of Records, which shows he is not doing it with virtuous intent.
Archie gets quite excited about this and slams his fist on the desk. The librarian comes over to shush him, and she’s a mean-looking, pince-nez-wearing, witchy-nosed old woman.
When they run out of the library, Jughead and Archie pass by two lions, who are like Patience and Fortitude on the steps of the main branch of the New York Public Library.
I’ve passed by the lions three times. The first was in 2010, when I was stranded in New York coming back from Code4Lib (see my notes for 22, 23 and 24 February 2010.)
This is a glorious library, and if you’ve never been in the Reading Room then I hope you’re able to see it one day.