Kev Keller is Archie Comics' New Gay Superhero The Equalizer - IGN

Contents:

• ARCHIE COMICS’ GAY CHARACTER KEV KELLER MOV FROM RIVERDALE TO NEW YORK EXCLIVE PREVIEW PAG
• THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF ARCHIE COMICS' GAY CHARACTER
• KEV KELLER IS ARCHIE COMICS' NEW GAY SUPERHERO THE EQUALIZER
• ARCHIE COMICS FEATUR FIRST EVER GAY WEDDG
• ARCHIE COMICS ANNOUNC NEW GAY CHARACTER
• ARCHIE'S KEV KELLER, AND A NEW LGBT ERA FOR {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}COMICSBY JANNAOSHEAMARCH 30, 2011/3:46 PMBY JANNAOSHEAMARCH 30, 2011 / 3:46 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ARCHIE'S KEV KELLER, AND A NEW LGBT ERA FOR COMICS","DATEPUBLISHED":"2011-03-30T19:46:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2011-03-30T19:46:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"JANNAOSHEA","ARTICLESECTN":"COMICS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LGBT (LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENR) CHARACTERS HAVE HAD A HARD ROAD THE IC BOOK WORLD. FORCED TO KEEP THEM SUPPORTG ROL, WRERS HAD TO DANCE AROUND NTENT RTRICTNS FOR S. FALLY, 1987 BROUGHT MASTREAM ICS S FIRST OPENLY GAY SUPERHERO EXTRANO OM DC COMICS. MORE RECENTLY, BOOKS LIKE BIRDS OF PREY AND SECRET SIX OM GAIL SIMONE OF DC HAVE PHED SEXUALY TO THE LIMELIGHT. SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PNEER OF SEXUALLY AMBIGUO CHARACTERS WAS KRAZY KAT, STAR OF AN AMERIN IC STRIP THAT RAN OM 1913-1944. THE T’S GENR WAS NEVER FED, AND WAS OFTEN REFERENCED TO AS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE. AS TIME WENT ON, HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTERS BEGAN TO CROP UP, BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS UNR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE COMICS CO AUTHORY, WHICH WAS PARABLE TO THE MPAA, WAS VOKED 1954. IT WAS A STRICT SELF-CENSORSHIP LAW THAT WAS QUICKLY APPLIED TO AVOID ERNMENT TERFERENCE. WHILE THE HAD NO LEGAL THORY, MOST PLAC WOULD NOT RRY A IC UNLS HAD THE CCA STAMP. THIS FORCED CREATORS TO MOLD AND F THEIR CREATNS TO THE CCA’S APPROVAL. THE BEME LS STRICT AS THE YEARS PAST, BUT STILL MA SURE THAT ICS DID NOT HAVE NUDY, EXCSIVE VLENCE, OR LANGUAGE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE FOR TELEVISN. AS THE BEME LS RELEVANT, THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL CREASE MARVEL AND DC’S GAY SUPPORTG CHARACTERS AND HERO. ALTHOUGH THE NEVER SPECIFILLY STATED THAT LGBT TOPICS WERE FORBIDN, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CLUD UNR THE TERM ‘SEX PERVERSN.’{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ARCHIE COMICS RECENTLY TRODUCED THEIR FIRST GAY CHARACTER, KEV KELLER. HAVG A NEW PERSONALY APPEAR RIVERDALE IS, SELF, A BIG EVENT. WHAT IS TERTG ABOUT THE NEW ARRIVAL WAS THAT THERE WAS NO POMP OR CIRCUMSTANCE GIVEN TO THE FACT KEV IS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HIS SEXUALY WAS OFFERED AS CHARACTER BACKGROUND AND WAS HUMOROLY PRENTED AS A REASON WHY HE WAS UNAFFECTED BY VERONI’S ADVANC. KEV JT MA HIS SEND APPEARANCE BETTY & VERONI #205, AND AS A 4-ISSUE MISERI G OUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TIM FISH, A POPULAR WRER OF LGBT ICS, HAS WORKED WH BOTH MARVEL AND ARCHIE ICS THE PAST. DPE THE FACT THAT MARVEL’S NORTHSTAR HAS BEEN OPENLY GAY SCE 1992, THE CHARACTER WAS NEVER SEEN WH A BOYIEND UNTIL FISH WROTE ONE LAST YEAR. FISH IS ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR , A TREASURE TROVE OF RMATN ABOUT LGBT ICS, CHARACTERS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REGARDG KEV KELLER’S ANNOUNCEMENT HE REMARKED: “I WAS NOTHG BUT EXCED WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS THAT ARCHIE WAS TRODUCG A GAY CHARACTER, AS THE EARLY PRS WAS FAVORABLE. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WERE UPSET THAT KEV'S SEXUALY WAS ED FOR A B OF A LGH, BUT OVERALL, THE STORY STCK A VERY "ACCEPTG" TONE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ARCHIE COMICS HAD PREVLY SHAKEN UP THE GANG RECENT MONTHS WH THE ATH OF A BELOVED CHARACTER. PRIDG SELF ON KEEPG WH THE TIM, ARCHIE FEELS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO REPRENT ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE RIVERDALE. FISH MENTED: “I RELL GROWG UP, ARCHIE LICENSED OFF S CHARACTERS TO A RELIG WAS A WHOLE LE WH A RELIG RIGHT MORAL MSAGE… NSIRG THE DIRECTN THE PANY ULD HAVE GONE, I AM HAPPY TO SEE A TYPIL OUT GAY TEEN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH THE CCA FALLY ERADITED OM IC BOOKS, THIS ULD BE THE BEGNG OF A NEW ERA. ALTHOUGH THERE WILL ALWAYS BE RTRICTNS ON CRIME, VLENCE AND SEX, SHUNNG LGBT TOPICS IS A THG OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RELATED POSTS:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMERIN IDOL AND THE X FACTOR FIGHT OVER ARCHIE! {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MTV GEEK EXCLIVE: FACEBOOK'S MARK ZUCKERBERG TO APPEAR IN AN ARCHIE COMIC! {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DISCS THIS STORY OUR COMICS FOMS! FOLLOW @MTVGEEK ON TWTER AND BE SURE TO "LIKE" ON FACEBOOK FOR THE BT GEEK NEWS ABOUT ICS, TOYS, GAMG AND MORE!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• ARCHIE, BELOVED IC BOOK IN, DI SAVG GAY IEND
• ARCHIE COMICS’ OPENLY GAY CHARACTER KEV KELLER SEALS NTROVERSY WH A KISS

ARCHIE COMICS’ GAY CHARACTER KEV KELLER MOV FROM RIVERDALE TO NEW YORK EXCLIVE PREVIEW PAG

Related: Archie Comics’ gay pal Kev Keller is gettg married. In 2010, Archie Comics troduced the first-ever gay character s seri’ 70 year history, Kev Keller.

However, Kev did not reciprote the feelgs, revealg later on that this was bee he is gay, markg a tone for the imprt as s first character to intify as part of the LGBTQ+ muny. Kev is picted as beg openly gay the seri as well, formg relatnships wh other characters such as Moose Mason (Cody Kearsley) and Fangs Fogarty (Drew Ray Tanner). "The troductn of Kev, Archie Comics first gay character, igned rears and fans across the untry and 's a ttament to Dan's creative work that Kev is such a posive and everlastg fixture the world of Riverdale.

[1] Kev is the first openly gay character Archie Comics history.

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF ARCHIE COMICS' GAY CHARACTER

As he and Jughead bond over their mutual love of food, Kev explas that he do not want to date Veroni bee he is gay.

Veroni had a csh on Kev until she found out he was gay. Archie Comics -CEO Jon Goldwater explaed that cludg an openly gay character is a way to keep the world of Archie Comics clive and updated. It jt mak sense to have an openly gay character Archie ic books.

Gay & Lbian Alliance Agast Defamatn then-print Jarrett Barrs praised Kev's creatn. "It’s thrillg to see Riverdale High wele s first openly gay stunt, and give rears a wdow to the liv of gay youth today. As imag of gay and transgenr people bee more equent on TV and film, people are embracg and expect to see imag of our muny across media platforms, cludg ic books.

KEV KELLER IS ARCHIE COMICS' NEW GAY SUPERHERO THE EQUALIZER

" He has noted the number of gay fans who have approached him at personal appearanc to exprs their appreciatn and expla what a difference a character like Keller would have ma to them as they were growg up.

ARCHIE COMICS FEATUR FIRST EVER GAY WEDDG

"Archie and the gang wele first gay character".

ARCHIE COMICS ANNOUNC NEW GAY CHARACTER

"Gay ‘Archie’ Character to Have His Own Comic Book". ↑ "Gay Archie Comics Character Kev Keller to Meet His Future Hband In U.

"Kev Keller buts as first openly gay character Archie's Veroni Comics". "Kev Keller's Bright Gay Future Archie Comics".. Fally settlg Riverdale, Kev was first eyed by Veroni who did not realize he was gay.

Kev was the Archie universe’s first openly gay character, garnerg mastream headl when wrer/artist Dan Parent troduced him the pag of Veroni 2010. Asi om beg gay, what mak Kev unique the Archie non?

ARCHIE'S KEV KELLER, AND A NEW LGBT ERA FOR {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}COMICSBY JANNAOSHEAMARCH 30, 2011/3:46 PMBY JANNAOSHEAMARCH 30, 2011 / 3:46 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"ARCHIE'S KEV KELLER, AND A NEW LGBT ERA FOR COMICS","DATEPUBLISHED":"2011-03-30T19:46:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2011-03-30T19:46:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"JANNAOSHEA","ARTICLESECTN":"COMICS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LGBT (LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENR) CHARACTERS HAVE HAD A HARD ROAD THE IC BOOK WORLD. FORCED TO KEEP THEM SUPPORTG ROL, WRERS HAD TO DANCE AROUND NTENT RTRICTNS FOR S. FALLY, 1987 BROUGHT MASTREAM ICS S FIRST OPENLY GAY SUPERHERO EXTRANO OM DC COMICS. MORE RECENTLY, BOOKS LIKE BIRDS OF PREY AND SECRET SIX OM GAIL SIMONE OF DC HAVE PHED SEXUALY TO THE LIMELIGHT. SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT THE PNEER OF SEXUALLY AMBIGUO CHARACTERS WAS KRAZY KAT, STAR OF AN AMERIN IC STRIP THAT RAN OM 1913-1944. THE T’S GENR WAS NEVER FED, AND WAS OFTEN REFERENCED TO AS BOTH MALE AND FEMALE. AS TIME WENT ON, HOMOSEXUAL CHARACTERS BEGAN TO CROP UP, BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS UNR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE COMICS CO AUTHORY, WHICH WAS PARABLE TO THE MPAA, WAS VOKED 1954. IT WAS A STRICT SELF-CENSORSHIP LAW THAT WAS QUICKLY APPLIED TO AVOID ERNMENT TERFERENCE. WHILE THE HAD NO LEGAL THORY, MOST PLAC WOULD NOT RRY A IC UNLS HAD THE CCA STAMP. THIS FORCED CREATORS TO MOLD AND F THEIR CREATNS TO THE CCA’S APPROVAL. THE BEME LS STRICT AS THE YEARS PAST, BUT STILL MA SURE THAT ICS DID NOT HAVE NUDY, EXCSIVE VLENCE, OR LANGUAGE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATE FOR TELEVISN. AS THE BEME LS RELEVANT, THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL CREASE MARVEL AND DC’S GAY SUPPORTG CHARACTERS AND HERO. ALTHOUGH THE NEVER SPECIFILLY STATED THAT LGBT TOPICS WERE FORBIDN, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CLUD UNR THE TERM ‘SEX PERVERSN.’{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ARCHIE COMICS RECENTLY TRODUCED THEIR FIRST GAY CHARACTER, KEV KELLER. HAVG A NEW PERSONALY APPEAR RIVERDALE IS, SELF, A BIG EVENT. WHAT IS TERTG ABOUT THE NEW ARRIVAL WAS THAT THERE WAS NO POMP OR CIRCUMSTANCE GIVEN TO THE FACT KEV IS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HIS SEXUALY WAS OFFERED AS CHARACTER BACKGROUND AND WAS HUMOROLY PRENTED AS A REASON WHY HE WAS UNAFFECTED BY VERONI’S ADVANC. KEV JT MA HIS SEND APPEARANCE BETTY & VERONI #205, AND AS A 4-ISSUE MISERI G OUT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TIM FISH, A POPULAR WRER OF LGBT ICS, HAS WORKED WH BOTH MARVEL AND ARCHIE ICS THE PAST. DPE THE FACT THAT MARVEL’S NORTHSTAR HAS BEEN OPENLY GAY SCE 1992, THE CHARACTER WAS NEVER SEEN WH A BOYIEND UNTIL FISH WROTE ONE LAST YEAR. FISH IS ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR , A TREASURE TROVE OF RMATN ABOUT LGBT ICS, CHARACTERS AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REGARDG KEV KELLER’S ANNOUNCEMENT HE REMARKED: “I WAS NOTHG BUT EXCED WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS THAT ARCHIE WAS TRODUCG A GAY CHARACTER, AS THE EARLY PRS WAS FAVORABLE. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WERE UPSET THAT KEV'S SEXUALY WAS ED FOR A B OF A LGH, BUT OVERALL, THE STORY STCK A VERY "ACCEPTG" TONE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ARCHIE COMICS HAD PREVLY SHAKEN UP THE GANG RECENT MONTHS WH THE ATH OF A BELOVED CHARACTER. PRIDG SELF ON KEEPG WH THE TIM, ARCHIE FEELS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO REPRENT ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE RIVERDALE. FISH MENTED: “I RELL GROWG UP, ARCHIE LICENSED OFF S CHARACTERS TO A RELIG WAS A WHOLE LE WH A RELIG RIGHT MORAL MSAGE… NSIRG THE DIRECTN THE PANY ULD HAVE GONE, I AM HAPPY TO SEE A TYPIL OUT GAY TEEN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH THE CCA FALLY ERADITED OM IC BOOKS, THIS ULD BE THE BEGNG OF A NEW ERA. ALTHOUGH THERE WILL ALWAYS BE RTRICTNS ON CRIME, VLENCE AND SEX, SHUNNG LGBT TOPICS IS A THG OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RELATED POSTS:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMERIN IDOL AND THE X FACTOR FIGHT OVER ARCHIE! {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MTV GEEK EXCLIVE: FACEBOOK'S MARK ZUCKERBERG TO APPEAR IN AN ARCHIE COMIC! {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DISCS THIS STORY OUR COMICS FOMS! FOLLOW @MTVGEEK ON TWTER AND BE SURE TO "LIKE" ON FACEBOOK FOR THE BT GEEK NEWS ABOUT ICS, TOYS, GAMG AND MORE!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

” This ubiquy is part of what mak Kev Keller, the first openly gay character Riverdale, so important. Sce he was the first gay character the storied history of Archie Comics, Kev's first appearance ma worldwi headl, and his explosive populary propelled him to his own mi-seri followed by a long-nng solo he's been featured as a supportive player the recently rebooted Archie flagship ic tle, Kev will once aga take center stage starrg his own ic book -- this time as a special digal seri, Life Wh Kev, butg Advote sat down wh Kev's creator, wrer-artist Dan Parent, to fd out what's Kev's been up to and where he's Advote: How do feel to have Kev Keller back his own solo book aga?

The Equalizer will but Kev Keller #14, out May his ceptn as Archie's first gay character, Kev has been followed by a storm of ntroversy about his sexualy, which mak the posive msage of a young teen g out to his iends and beg supported by his parents more pertent than ever.

ARCHIE, BELOVED IC BOOK IN, DI SAVG GAY IEND

Now he jos the lik of Batwoman and Northstar on ics' ever-growg list of gay sat down wh Kev Keller creator, wrer, and artist Dan Parent to hear how Kev be a superhero, the sign choic that helped create his stume, and the msage he wants to send wh this superhero story. DP: Well, first of all, we had to pick out a name for him, and sce he is gay and stands for equaly, he wants to help everybody. We're not jt talkg about s of homophobia; we're talkg about when some downtrodn person gets hurt.

ARCHIE COMICS’ OPENLY GAY CHARACTER KEV KELLER SEALS NTROVERSY WH A KISS

We haven't even really said if he's gay or not, but Kev's totally enamored wh him. He had a lot of growg pas like a lot of kids, pecially wh beg gay on top of , was more of a challenge.