Riverdale High is So Gay

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.