Josie

    (Archie, 1963-1982)
™ and ©1967 Radio Comics, Inc.
Series continued from She’s Josie #16

Legendary artist Dan DeCarlo was tinkering with a new comic strip in the 1950s when his wife Josette came home sporting a new bouffant hairdo complete with black velvet ribbon. “That’s it!” he exclaimed, and immediately began to model the heroine of his strip after his wife’s new look. He also decided to name the character after her, thus “Josie” was born.

The initial strip, “Here’s Josie” was eventually reworked and brough to Archie Comics in 1963. It caught on well enough to earn Josie a part in TV’s Archie cartoon show. Josie would later form a rock band and get a show of her own-Josie & the Pussycats, the concept of which would overtake the title with issue #45 in 1969, as well as becoming a popular Saturday morning cartoon show—and much later a live-action motion picture. The trademark cat costume for the Pussycats was inspired by a the real Josie’s cat outfit, which she wore to a costume party while on a Caribbean cruise.

Sadly, DeCarlo was forced to spend part of the later part of his life embroiled in legal tussles with Archie over the rights and royalties to his creation. He lost the fight, and on December 18th, 2001—eight days after the Supreme Court refused his appeal—DeCarlo suffered a fatal heart attack. He is much missed in the world of comics.

This series was formerly known as She’s Josie, changing to simply “Josie” with issue #17
Jump to issue:
  • 24
    #24
    Dec 1966
    Cover: $0.12
    1 copy for $0.42
  • 26
    #26
    Apr 1967
    Cover: $0.12
    1 copy for $14.98
  • 31
    #31
    Dec 1967
    Cover: $0.12
    W: Frank Doyle, Eda Edwards, Joe Edwards  ·  A: Dan DeCarlo Sr., Joe Edwards
    1 copy for $0.50
  • 36
    #36
    Sep 1968
    Cover: $0.12
    W: Frank Doyle, Joe Edwards  ·  A: Dan DeCarlo Sr., Joe Edwards
    Josie; Li’l Jinx
    1 copy for $8.20
  • 37
    #37
    Oct 1968
    Cover: $0.12
    W: Dan DeCarlo Sr., Frank Doyle  ·  A: Dan DeCarlo Sr., Joe Edwards
    3 copies from $6.50
  • 38
    #38
    Dec 1968
    Cover: $0.12
    1 copy for $28.50
  • 39
    #39
    Feb 1969
    Cover: $0.12
    W: Frank Doyle, Joe Edwards, Eda Edwards  ·  A: Dan DeCarlo Sr., Joe Edwards
    2 copies from $7.98
  • 40
    #40
    Apr 1969
    Cover: $0.12
    W: Frank Doyle, Eda Edwards, Joe Edwards  ·  A: Dan DeCarlo Sr., Joe Edwards
    3 copies from $3.00
  • 41
    #41
    Jun 1969
    Cover: $0.12
    2 copies from $9.80
  • 43
    #43
    Sep 1969
    Cover: $0.15
    1 copy for $24.98