In the latest sign that the culture wars are over and we won, Archie Comics are about to introduce a gay character, Kevin Keller. Look for him in Veronica 202 on September 1, 2010. It's been a few decades since I've looked at an Archie Comic, but apparently Riverdale High has become much more diverse.
In the introductory storyline, Kevin is the good-looking new boy in town and Veronica has a crush. Jughead urges Kevin to put off telling her because "she's sensitive." Actually, Jughead just likes seeing Veronica make a fool of herself. According to cartoonist Don Parent, "the story works because it's wasn't something radical concocted just to introduce a gay character."
"The story is very much in the true context of our Archie stories. It's Veronica being Veronica. The fact that there's a gay character in the story isn't a big deal to the characters."
Parent said he wants Archie Comics to reflect what high schools are like today, where being gay "isn't a big deal anymore."
I never read superhero comics as a kid, but was addicted to Archie. I would have given anything to see a character like me in the Riverdale mix. Good job.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
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