I hope that on Day #12 of the PEP CULTURE ADVENT CALENDAR, you'll enjoy one of the better stories I've found that features a better and brighter Moose. I know I enjoyed it.
This is one of those stories that is unique in that it first appeared in a digest. In this case, it was Archie Digest #132. And I could be mistaken in this, but I believe that this was one of the first stories that artist Fernando Ruiz worked on. Fernando Ruiz, of course, worked for Archie comics from the mid-1990s until 2016, and he was responsible for much of the modern Archie stories that appeared in the first decade of the 21st century. He was actually one of my favourite Archie artists, and if this story was one of his first, I can understand why I liked it so much.
The story begins with Moose walking down the streets of Riverdale on a cold Christmas night with his best friend, Dilton Doiley. It's interesting how they made Dilton and Moose who are polar opposites best friends, but their friendship is one I like a lot. Moose is telling Dilton about how he has a problem. As we well know, Moose is one of the best football players in Riverdale High history, and he certainly gets along with his teammates. But Moose feels a little left out because whenever the guys tell a joke, he doesn't get it. They all laugh and he can't understand the punchline. Moose, I feel you. When I was in high school, I was always the one who felt out of the loop when all the guys would tell jokes at other people's expense and I didn't find them funny.
But then Moose says that even when he's trying not to be funny, they laugh at him. When Dilton asks Moose to clarify that, Moose tells Dilton that he gets these interesting thoughts about snowy weather. He told them all about what he was thinking, and all of them laughed at him. Why do I get the feeling that Reggie might have been a part of that group?
In fact, Moose begins to open up to Dilton about his feelings about snow and winter, and the way he expresses himself to Dilton is...well, simply beautiful. The way he expresses himself with metaphors and visual descriptions...it's really proof positive that Moose is in by no means an idiot. Truth be told, he can be quite the sensitive soul. It's why I'm kind of happy that they took Moose in that direction after the dyslexia storyline was written because it's made Moose become one of my favourite characters in the modern Archie. Seriously, just have a look at some of the observations he makes. It's really awesome.
No argument there. Veronica would kill to have diamonds that size.
Seriously, Moose should go into the children's book field with an imagination like this. Mind you, with his dyslexia, he might have to get someone to help him, but the thoughts are all his. Kudos to Joe Edwards for scripting such a wonderful masterpiece.
And of course, we have to have a reference to Christmas, since this is the PEP CULTURE ADVENT CALENDAR and all. It also kind of explains how Moose still has a sense of childlike innocence to him even though he's big and powerful. It tells me that he'd make a great father someday. And of course, Dilton is blown away by Moose's various descriptions of the snow, and tells Moose something that I think explains why Dilton and Moose have one of the strongest friendships in the Archie series.
Yeah, this story will forever be listed as one of my favourite holiday stories. Not only does it star two lesser known characters, but it allows us to see that Moose is more than just a character that says "D-uh" all the time. And I think this story successfully shows Moose in a different light, and deservedly so.
We're officially at the halfway point of the advent calendar. Do join us for Day #13. Sometimes stories don't get reprinted that much because they appear quite dated. Tomorrow's Betty and Veronica tale is one of those examples. Stay tuned!
Here's your hint. It involves typewriters.
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