Gay 'Archie' Comics Character Kevin Keller hits newsstands today
Wed. September 1, 2010 12:03 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Riverdale -
A handsome young man has come to Riverdale, and he wants nothing to do with the lovely Veronica. That's because Kevin Keller is gay.
In "Veronica #202," on sale on September 1, Archie Comics reaches a new plateau with a nonchalantly gay character who comes out of the closet while hanging out with Jughead.
"It's nothing against [Veronica]. I'm gay," says Kevin Keller.
The idea of adding a gay character to the long-running comic was not born of a need to be politically correct; instead, creators Dan Parent and Jon Goldwater were trying to add something or someone that Veronica couldn't have, no matter how hard she tried.
"We're batting story ideas around and Dan says, 'What if Veronica, who's able to get everything she wants, isn't able to get something? What if a new good-looking boy comes into town and Veronica wants to date him and he turns her down?'" Goldwater told the Daily Beast. "And I say, 'Why would he do that?' And Dan says, 'Because he's gay.' And I say, 'Now that's funny. That's a good premise.' "
"He's well-dressed, but I didn't want to make him too flamboyant," said Parent. "He can be metrosexual, but I didn't want to play up to the stereotype. But he is fashionable, as many young guys are."
In "Veronica #202," on sale on September 1, Archie Comics reaches a new plateau with a nonchalantly gay character who comes out of the closet while hanging out with Jughead.
"It's nothing against [Veronica]. I'm gay," says Kevin Keller.
The idea of adding a gay character to the long-running comic was not born of a need to be politically correct; instead, creators Dan Parent and Jon Goldwater were trying to add something or someone that Veronica couldn't have, no matter how hard she tried.
"We're batting story ideas around and Dan says, 'What if Veronica, who's able to get everything she wants, isn't able to get something? What if a new good-looking boy comes into town and Veronica wants to date him and he turns her down?'" Goldwater told the Daily Beast. "And I say, 'Why would he do that?' And Dan says, 'Because he's gay.' And I say, 'Now that's funny. That's a good premise.' "
"He's well-dressed, but I didn't want to make him too flamboyant," said Parent. "He can be metrosexual, but I didn't want to play up to the stereotype. But he is fashionable, as many young guys are."