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Vintage Archie Comics Price Guide

Archie Comics Key Issues Value Guide

Archie Andrews has been America's favorite teenager since December of 1941, when he made his debut in Pep Comics #22.

Along with his friends Jughead Jones and Moose Mason, his rival Reggie Mantle, and the two girls he can't decide between, Betty Cooper and Veronica Lodge, Archie has remained continuously in print.

All Our Archie Comics Price Guides

• Archie Comic Books #1-100
• PEP Comics price guide
• Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica comics
• Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #320, 1st Cheryl Blossom
• Archie's Pal Jughead comics
• Archie's Madhouse #22, 1st Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Archie Comics Key Issue: PEP Comics #22
First Appearance of Archie, Betty, and Jughead Jones

Key Issue: Pep Comics #22: First Appearance of Archie, Betty, and Jughead Jones. Click for values

Record sale: $252,000
Minimum value: $10,000

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Pep Comics #22 featured a 6-page story, towards the back of the comic, called Introducing Archie.

There is some debate over who actually created the character of Archie, but this story was scripted by Vic Bloom and penciled by Bob Montana.

This issue's historic significance makes it very desirable to collectors, and very few copies turn up for sale. It's a truly rare comic book.

See our guide to Pep Comics #1-100 here.

First Appearance of Archie on Comic Book Covers

Jackpot Comics #4
First Archie's face on cover

Record sale: $16,700
Minimum value: $900

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PEP Comics #36
First full figure Archie on cover

Record sale: $39,500
Minimum value: $800

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First Face Appearance of Archie Andrews on a Comic Book Cover

Although PEP #22 predates Jackpot Comics #4 by two months, Archie's face in a circle was the first time the character appeared on the cover of any comic book.

It would be almost two years before Archie comics featured the full character on the front of PEP #36.

Have a copy of Jackpot Comics #4? Click here to have yours appraised!

Other Key Archie Comics in the PEP Series

PEP Comics #24
First appearance of Coach Kleats

Record sale: $1,800
Minimum value: $500

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PEP Comics #25
First Archie's Jalopy; 1st Skinny Mr. Weatherbee prototype

Record sale: $2,200
Minimum value: $200

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PEP Comics #26
First Appearance of Veronica Lodge

Record sale: $5,100
Minimum value: $500

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SEXIEST AND MOST VALUABLE ARCHIE COMICS >>>

If you're a fan of Archie Comics, then don't miss this collection of the best and most valuable issues ever.

Click for Archie Key Issues >>>

PEP Comics #31
First appearance of Mr. Lodge

Record sale: $4,500
Minimum value: $100

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PEP Comics #41
Archie covers begin

Record sale: $4,000
Minimum value: $100

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PEP Comics #52
Suzie stories begin

Record sale: $300
Minimum value: $10

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PEP Comics #60
Katy Keene stories begin

Record sale: $550
Minimum value: $20

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PEP Comics #78
First appearance of Dilton

Record sale: $470
Minimum value: $10

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PEP Comics #155
Classic Catwoman-style horror cover

Record sale: $710
Minimum value: $35

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PEP Comics #224
First Archie's Dog, Hot Dog

Record sale: $?
Minimum value: $1

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Key Issue: Archie Comics #1

Archie Comics #1
First stand-alone title

Record sale: $167,000
Minimum value: $8,000

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Archie Andrews became more popular over time, and would, along with his friends, dominate Pep Comics until its cancellation in 1987.

Of course, Archie was the subject of a staggering number of other titles from MLJ, even before they renamed themselves after him, and the first one, launched in 1942, was simply called Archie Comics #1.

Archie #1 was published in Winter of 1942, and is relatively scarce, along with being historically significant. There are few copies around in any condition, and when they do appear, they command very large sums of money.

See our full issue-by-issue Archie comic books price guide here.

Archie #2 and #3: Both Scarce

Both issues #2 and #3 are considered hard to find in any condition.

Archie #2
Scarce in any condition

Record sale: $31,000
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Archie #3
Scarce in any condition
Record sale: $8,200

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Later Archie Comics Key Issues

Archie Comics #48
Classic Innuendo Spoon cover

Record sale: $600
Minimum value: $30

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Archie Comics #50
Classic Betty 'headlights' cover

Record sale: $1,300
Minimum value: $100

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Archie Comics #78
Classic Innuendo Clutch cover

Record sale: $450
Minimum value: $10

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Archie's Pal, Jughead #1: Jughead Spins Off

Archie's Pal, Jughead #1
First appearance of Moose

Record sale: $2,700
Minimum value: $100

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In 1949, Archie Comics spun off the most popular supporting character of Archie's friends, Jughead Jones, in Archie's Pal, Jughead #1.

Jughead provided comic relief, and served, many would suggest, as the template for Scooby-Doo's owner, Shaggy Rogers.

Although he did not have the hippie trappings of Shaggy, Jughead was lazy, loved food, and in general was not interested in girls. As such, he was the perfect sidekick for Archie: one who would not compete for Betty and Veronica's attentions.

The first issue, as the rest of the series would be, is an anthology format, all of the short stories featuring Jughead. Archie appeared in some of the stories, but in many Jughead flew solo.

Issue #1 is a valuable later-Golden-Age comic, and very scarce.

Archie's Rival Reggie #1: Another Spin-Off

Archie's Rival Reggie #1
First in spin-off series

Record sale: $700
Minimum value: $50

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Archie's Girls, Betty & Veronica #1: The Girls Get Their Own Title

Archie's Girls, Betty and Veronica Comics #1
First in spin-off series

Record sale: $5,500
Minimum value: $100

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Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #3
Classic Tunnel of Love cover;
First Betty's ponytail

Record sale: $1,350
Minimum value: $10

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Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #40
Classic Gymnastics cover; scarce

Record sale: $780
Minimum value: $50

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Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #46
Swimsuit cover; scarce

Record sale: $??
Minimum value: $20

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Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #49
Classic cover; scarce

Record sale: $40
Minimum value: $10

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Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #75
The Girls Sell their Souls to the Devil

Record sale: $135
Minimum value: $5

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1980s Key Issue: Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #320, Origin and First Appearance of Cheryl Blossom

Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica #320
First Appearance of Cheryl Blossom

Record sale: $2,150
Minimum Value: $20

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Little Archie Comics #1

Little Archie #1
First in spin-off series;
Only 42 graded copies in the CGC census

Record sale: $1,500
Minimum value: $20

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Archie's Madhouse #1: First in Series

Archie's Madhouse #1
First in series

Record sale: $75
Minimum value: $5

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Archie's Madhouse #36
First Salem the Cat

Record sale: $110
Minimum value: $?

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Archie's Madhouse #22: Origin and First Appearance of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

Archie's Madhouse #22
First Appearance of Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch

Record sale: $3,300
Minimum value: $100

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The usual happens next... Sabrina is very popular, and so she morphs into her own series.

Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch #1

Sabrina the Teen-Age Witch #1
First stand-alone comic

Record sale: $450
Minimum value: $5

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Archie Spin-Off: Wilbur #1

Wilbur Comics #1
First in series

Record sale: $275
Minimum value: $20

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Wilbur Comics #5
First Appearance of Katy Keene

Record sale: $1,400
Minimum value: $100

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The first appearance of another "hot" Archie girl, Katy Keene, led eventually to her own series, in true MLJ fashion...

Model Book: Katy Keene #1

Katy Keene #1
First in stand-alone spin-off series

Record sale: $1,800
Minimum value: $100

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Top-Notch Comics #28: 1st Suzie

Top-Notch Comics #28
First Appearance of Suzie

Record sale: $2,300
Minimum value: $200

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Having tried out in Top Notch, Suzie went on to become a major character in the Archie universe... with her own series.

Suzie Comics: Archie Spin-Off

Suzie Comics #49
First in series

Record sale: $300
Minimum value: $20

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Suzie Comics #51
Classic Exploding Oven cover

Record sale: $350
Minimum value: $15

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Laugh Comics #20

Laugh Comics #20
First in Spin-Off series

Record sale: $2,400
Minimum value: $100

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Jughead's Folly #1
First Appearance of Elvis in Comics

Jughead's Folly #1
First Appearance of Elvis in comics

Record sale: $750
Minimum value: $30

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Life with Archie Comics Series

Life With Archie #1
First in new series

Record sale: $520
Minimum value: $30

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Life With Archie #42
First Appearance of Captain Purpleheart

Record sale: $225
Minimum value: $10

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Archie's Pals and Gals Spin-Off Series

Archie's Pals and Gals #1
First in new series

Record sale: $3,000
Minimum value: $50

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Archie's Pals and Gals #23
First Appearance of Josie

Record sale: $880
Minimum value: $20

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Archie's Pals and Gals #161
First solo Cheryl Blossom story

Record sale: $260
Minimum value: $1

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No prizes for guessing what comes next...

Archie Comics Spin-Off: She's Josie/Josie and the Pussycats

She's Josie Magazine
First solo comic

Record sale: $1,050
Minimum value: $20

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Josie and the Pussycats #45
First Pussycats band

Record sale: $450
Minimum value: $5

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More Archie Comics Spin-Off Series

Archie's Joke Book Magazine #1
First in series

Record sale: $1,300
Minimum value: $50

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Jughead as Captain Hero #1

Record sale: $650
Minimum value: $1

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Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog

Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog
First Sonic in comics; giveaway with NES game

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Pep Comics Before Archie

There are many Golden Age issues of Pep Comics that have high values, before Archie appeared on the scene with #22.

The title started as an anthology, with a mix of science fiction, adventure, drama, comedy, and superhero stories.

Generally, the superhero stories were featured on the cover, especially for issues starring the Shield, MLJ's patriotically-themed superhero (who incidentally predates Timely's Captain America by a year). 

Several pre-Archie issues of Pep will fetch several thousand dollars, with the highest values generally coming in for the earliest issues.

Like any Golden Age superhero comics, they tend to be very desirable to collectors, perhaps particularly because they are rather scarce, especially in good condition.

Pep Comics #1
Record sale: $9,800
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Pep Comics #2
Record sale: $1,070
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Pep Comics #17
Origin/1st Appearance of The Hangman
Record sale: $1,600
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Pep Comics #20
Classic WW2 cover
Record sale: $925
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History of Archie Comics

MLJ Magazines, founded in 1939, was the publisher of Pep Comics.

After it became apparent that Archie was going to be the company's biggest money-making character, he was given his own title in 1942.

The company was eventually renamed Archie Comics to reflect Archie's importance, and still operates under that name today.

What has never changed is the world that is portrayed in almost all of the comics produced by Archie Comics: the idealized life of Midwestern teens navigating their way to adulthood through part-time jobs, high school, romances, and rivalries.

MLJ's original idea was to create a line of comics that would appeal to fans of the Andy Hardy film series, in which good-natured-but-earnest Andy makes typical teen mistakes, gets in trouble, cracks jokes, and eventually makes good (and gets the girl) after some advice from a wise adult.

What may be surprising is that there are Archie comics that have amassed a considerable value. Archie also published horror funny books, including Frankenstein comics featuring their main characters.

1941 was, after all the Golden Age, and even though collectors of superhero comics may not have Archie on their radar, that does not mean that you shouldn't.

If you come across some old Archie Comics, it'd be smart to find out what they're worth, even if Archie doesn't wear a cape.

Have You Got Archie For Sale? Then Get a Free Archie Comics Valuation

Archie has also been continuously a teenager for over 70 years, without a break, a reboot, or a retcon. How many other comic book characters can make that claim?

Have Your Golden and Silver Age Archies Valued!

If you've got some old Archie Comics titles in your collection, including:

• Pep Comics #22
• Jackpot Comics #4
• Archie #1
• Archie #2
• Archie #50
• Archie's Girls, Betty & Veronica #1
• Archie's Pal, Jughead #1

then click the button below to have them valued FREE by Sell My Comic Books!

More of our Comic Price Guides

Value of Archie Comic Books #1 to #100 Plus Annuals
With thousands of comics featuring Archie, we focus this price guide on the first hundred issues.

Read more

PEP Comics Values #1-100 and Beyond
See the value of the first Archie appearance in PEP #22 and the first 100 issues here.

Read more

Archie's Pal Jughead Comic Values
The food-loving, woman-hating friend of Archie has many valuable comics.

Read more

Archie's Girls Betty and Veronica Comics Price Guide
See values of B&V #1-100 and later key issues.

Read more

DC Comics Price Guide
What are Superman, Batman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman comics worth today?

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Value of Marvel Comic Books
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