I don’t really follow Archie, but I couldn’t help noticing the news stories about the comic introducing a gay fellow named Kevin Keller last year. Now I remember when Marvel brought us the Rawhide Kid, to much fanfare, a character that apparently didn’t pan out all that well. Did Archie Comics do better?
Do they use Kevin often? Is he handled well? Does he have a schtick except for being gay? Did they get any criticism, boycotts or the like from people who are Not Into That Sort of Thing? Any homophobic people in Riverdale? Any love interest/crush on Jughead on the horizon?
I’ve not seen any books with him, but the Archie comics that pile up in my basket of bathroom periodicals are typically quite badly written. I have to presume he would be picked on by one person in Riverdale, followed by Pathos on the part of carrot top, worthy of the most shoddy after-school special.
I think Veronica is in love with him, but doesn’t know about his orientation–which leads to all kinds of yuks, it goes without saying. Jughead knows, so he can exploit it. That also goes without saying.
Most of the characters in “Archie” are gay, so Kevin is hardly unique. He’s just out.
Holden, Banky, Alyssa and Hooper are sitting around a table drinking, talking, and smoking. BANKY
Archie, alright! Archie and the
Riverdale gang were a pure and fun-
lovin’ bunch. You can’t find
dysfunction in those comics, because
they were just flat out wholesome.
HOOPER
Archie and Jughead were lovers.
(sips his drink)
BANKY
Shut the fuck up.
HOOPER
It’s true. Archie was the bitch and
Jughead was the butch - that’s why
Jughead wears that crown-looking hat
all the time: he the king, of queen
Archie’s world.
BANKY
Man, I feel a hate-crime coming on
HOLDEN
He’s got a point. Archie never did
settle on Betty or Veronica.
BANKY
Because he wanted them both at the
same time, you assholes! He never
chose one because he was trying to get
both of them into a three-way!
HOOPER
(pulls out a dollar and hands
it to Banky)
Here. I want you to go down to the
corner store and buy yourself a clue.
Go on.
BANKY
Eat it. Urkel.
HOOPER
I told you to watch it with that Urkel
shit. Face it, girl - Archie’s a
sister.
BANKY
(getting up; to Hooper)
That’s it. You.
HOOPER
Moi?
BANKY
You are marching back across the
street with me, and we’re going to
pick up a shit load of Archie books, I
am going to prove to you - beyond the
shadow of a doubt that Archie was all
about pussy. Come on.
HOOPER
(sliding out of booth)
This boy is conflicted, I shall play
mother-therapist for him. You two sit
tight. We shall return promptly.
Banky and Hooper exit, leaving Alyssa and Holden alone at the table.
Does that mean that Archie only has Betty stalking him now? Poor guy.
I’m thinking a cross-dressing Archie character would have richer potential with the kind of comedy they like to do, but maybe Riverdale isn’t ready for that yet.
Some random googling lead me to this story about Kevin getting his own mini-series. I think it’d be great if gay teenagers could have some comic-book characters to identify with that arent’t just the token boring, one-note homosexual pal of the hero or sage fashion advisor of the heroine.
BTW, the Chasing Amy scene was hilarious. I never got around to watching that movie but I guess I’ll have to now. At last I know what that crown is for and why Archie keeps turning down not one but two girls way more attractive than himself.