Loud and Queer

Gay Archie Character To Marry…MARRY A Man!

September 18th, 2011 by Dick

Last year, Archie Comics made news when it introduced Kevin Keller, the first openly gay character in Archie’s hometown of Riverdale. Regular readers of this blog know I have been covering this story RELENTLESSLY! (Here & Here) In this breaking news: Now, there’s more history being made: Keller will get married in a January 2012 issue. TO A DUDE!

Fox News reports – in a piece called “Archie Comics Announces Gay Character Will Marry, Will Anyone Object?” – a senior fellow at the Family Research Council said this: “It’s unfortunate that a comic book series usually seen as depicting innocent, all-American life is now being used to advance the sexual revolution.”

Oh shut up hater!

The adult version of Kevin Keller is set to appear in Life With Archie #16, the magazine-format series that depicts, in each issue, the experiences of a 20-something Archie married to Betty in one possible future, and another where he’s married to Veronica. The comic is set to depict Keller as returning to Riverdale as a war hero, and marrying his “Mr. Right.”

Kevin Keller debuted a year ago in the pages of Veronica #202 to plenty of positive press, and has since gone on to star in his own miniseries, with an ongoing announced for February 2012. In the miniseries, it was revealed that Kevin is an Army brat, with plans on following in his father’s footsteps.

Archie’s official press release follows:

KEVIN KELLER GETS MARRIED!

New York, NY (September 14, 2011) The amazingly popular Kevin Keller is featured in the twenty-something world of Life With Archie. Kevin followed in his father’s foot steps and is returning to Riverdale as a war hero, but that’s not all – It’s Kevin’s wedding day! The whole gang turns out for Kevin Keller’s wedding as we discover how Kevin met “Mr. Right.” It’s not all hearts and flowers, however. Unfortunately, this all occurs during the separation of Archie and Veronica. Archie Comics presents the wedding event of the year … again!

When Keller’s character was announced in April 2010, Archie Comics co-CEO John Goldwater said,

“The introduction of Kevin is just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive. Archie’s hometown of Riverdale has always been a safe world for everyone. It just makes sense to have an openly gay character in Archie comic books.”