Archie Comics publicity shot shows issue 10 of 'Kevin Keller,'
featuring the titular openly-gay character kissing his boyfriend Devon.
It’s a just quick kiss, but it’s a long step forward for Archie Comics’ only openly gay character Kevin Keller.
The Riverdale teen finds his life turned upside down after locking lips with his boyfriend, Devon, in Pop Tate’s diner, drawing the ire of at
least one disapproving Riverdale mom.
The woman “gets very offended and kind of pitches a bit of a fit,” said
Dan Parent, who writes and draws the issue, “Kevin Keller” No. 10 that
is released Aug. 7.
“Kevin is kind of used to that, but Veronica records the whole thing
and of course uploads it to the Riverdale equivalent of YouTube and that
starts a bit of a debate,” said Parent.
For Archie Comics it’s a bit of art imitating life. Parent said he
wrote the story after efforts to remove a comic magazine showing Keller
getting married drew complaints. One Million Moms, a project of The
American Family Association, asked Toys R Us not to display “Life With
Archie” No. 16 near its checkout aisles. Toys R Us did not, and the
issue went on to sell out its print run.
Parent called the new story a “playful poke” at the protest.
Keller debuted in “Veronica” No. 202 in September 2010. It resulted in
Archie Comics’ first-ever second printing. It was quickly followed by a
four-issue miniseries and the current monthly title.
Publisher and co-CEO Jon Goldwater said the fact that any kiss is being
shown in the pages of an Archie Comics book is a step in and of itself.
“There aren’t that many on-panel kisses in the pages of Archie, but you
often see the lipstick on Archie’s face afterward,” he said.
Goldwater said Keller’s character has let the company weave in contemporary issues to its imaginary world.
“We certainly pride ourselves on being contemporary, but that’s not the
reason why we’re showing ‘The Kiss.’ Just like when Kevin first told
Jughead he was gay, it was in the natural course of conversation,” said
Goldwater. “We are creating this in the same way. It’s just part of the
story.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/archie-comics-openly-gay-character-seals-controversy-kiss-article-1.1349168#ixzz2TrgBmbf9
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