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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Homo / Books Gay Archie Character Gets His Own Series

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 2:31 PM

Back when Archie Comics introduced the gay character Kevin Keller, I was unimpressed. The big deal, I said, would be when they introduced a second gay character and allowed Kevin Keller to have a love life. I figured that would never happen, and Kevin would join a long line of neutered gay friends in pop culture.

I was wrong: Archie Comics is giving Kevin Keller his own series, and he'll have love interests, too. A story set in the future will even show Kevin marrying a man.

And there's more good news. The New York Times asked Archie co-CEO John Goldwater about what kind of backlash they've received for publishing a gay character. His response? “Out of all the people who subscribe to the Archie books, we only had seven total cancellations.”

Comments (12) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Soooo...they're down to just the two subscriptions now?

ZING!

In all seriousness...good on them for (finally) changing with the times...

Posted by j.lee on July 20, 2011 at 2:39 PM

So is it really going to be realistic and Kevin Keller cheats on his BF while claiming to be monogmous. And will they focus on Kevin only wanting to hang out with people who are of his skin color and socio-economic status?

I mean they want to make it realistic right?

Posted by Just Keep It Real on July 20, 2011 at 2:43 PM

This is what equality looks like: gays can now be as bland and uninteresting as everything else in the Archie Comics universe.

Posted by Scalpel

on July 20, 2011 at 3:16 PM

Winning!

Posted by merry on July 20, 2011 at 3:16 PM

I admit to an unnatural affection for Archie comics. I think it's because they, along with Ritchie Rich, were the first comics I ever got when I was wee little. I still pick up a copy every now and then when I see them at the grocery store (Archie - not Richie Rich).

Glad to see they have adapted to the times, though, as @3 says, they will always be kind of bland and whitebread.

Posted by Sheryl on July 20, 2011 at 3:59 PM

Bland and whitebread? Are you forgetting Chuck Clayton and Nancy Woods?! Chuck draws comics! And Nancy, um... is a girl!

Bland, they are not.

Posted by Irving on July 20, 2011 at 4:12 PM

white bread? What about when Goodman Beaver visits the Riverdale gang, and finds that Archie shacks up with Veronica and has orgies and limitless wealth and totems of conspicuous consumption because he's sold his soul to Satan? Google "Goodman goes Playboy", "Will Elder" and "Harvey Kurtzman".

Posted by Goodman Beaver on July 20, 2011 at 4:28 PM

@2: Do you want to jack off to it, or are you looking for good role models? Pick one.

Posted by undead ayn rand on July 20, 2011 at 4:31 PM

@7: God I love the Mad Magazine artists/writers so much.

Posted by undead ayn rand on July 20, 2011 at 4:38 PM

has there been an interracial relationship in the Archie universe yet? i remember seeing a cover of Archie kissing Valerie (from Josie and the Pussycats) but in all of my years of reading the books (fuck, 19 years. i always buy them when i'm sick) i've never seen an interracial couple or random non-white girl thrown in the mix.

Posted by funkathrusta on July 20, 2011 at 4:53 PM