Hey Kids! Comics!

Veronica #202

We first heard about him earlier this summer, but now Archie Comics’ newest character, Kevin Keller, has finally arrived in Riverdale via Veronica #202 in a fun and strangely sweet story by favorite Archie artist/writer Dan Parent!

When Veronica Lodge meets Jughead’s new friend Kevin Keller at Pop’s during a hamburger eating contest she falls head over heels in love with Riverdale’s newest hunk to the point that she is even willing to finally give old Archie Andrews up to Betty Cooper. She knows that Kevin Keller is the man for her. A blue eyed, blonde hair sensitive writer, Kevin Keller is the boy that she’s been dreaming of her whole life. However there is one thing that Veronica doesn’t know. Kevin Keller is gay. Bemused by Veronica’s embarrassing plays for Kevin’s affections, Jughead manipulates the situation so that Veronica doesn’t find out that Kevin doesn’t swing that way until she’s totally made an idiot out of herself. Will Veronica get her heart broken, or will she finally find out why every girl needs a best gay friend?

When Kevin Keller’s arrival in Riverdale first was announced earlier this summer, it gained both praise and criticism by different groups and received a lot of news coverage. However, my only thoughts involved how Archie Comics would be able to realistically work a gay character into an all ages comic and make it natural without being creepy or preachy. However my doubt was squashed by Dan Parent’s careful and clever storytelling. The fact that Kevin Keller is gay is only an after thought to the Archie gang, and his sexual orientation only plays into the plot in the fact that it is the reason that he isn’t interested in Veronica’s advances. Furthermore, Parent tactfully has Kevin texting his friend “William.” We never really figure out who William is, but we can only assume that he is Kevin’s boyfriend from his old town. Parent doesn’t banish Kevin to the normal gay stereotypes either. Throughout the book Kevin chums with Jughead, but as another friend of mine who read this issue pointed out, some odd gay subtexts surrounds Jughead at times. For instance, when Kevin saves Jughead from Ethel’s advances by saying “Girls chasing you to buddy?” Jughead answers “Yeah. Welcome to my curse.” However, Parent uses this to his advantage, building the tension up to the final scene when Veronica finally learns that Kevin is gay, leading to what is possibly the all time funniest moment in Archie Comics history! Veronica’s reaction is “laugh out loud” hilarious and a true testament to just how much Archie Comics have matured into the current century.

Perhaps one of the things I adore about this issue is the interplay between my two favorite Archie characters – Jughead and Veronica. One of the greatest unrecognized rivalries in comic history, Jughead and Veronica are two characters that are so opposite that they grate on each others nerves. We can all relate to their rivalry because we’ve all had to tolerate somebody in the same way that Jughead and Veronica have to tolerate each other. As a result, their attempts to foil one another always makes for a fun read. As for Kevin himself, Dan Parent creates a likeable and charming character. With his befuddled reactions to the other Riverdale teenagers to his bottomless stomach, Kevin is a welcomed addition to the ever growing Riverdale gang. According to Dan Parent, Kevin Keller will next appear in the Archie mega crossover event The New Kids which will introduce a whole host of new characters to the Archie Universe as Riverdale merges with another high school.

With all the media attention that Kevin Keller and Veronica #202 has gotten this summer hopefully readers who write Archie Comics off as “kids stuff” will pick up this issue and discover the new dynamic world of Archie Comics. The art, stories and originality of Archie Comics has truly matured over the last couple of years and today Archie Comics are the comic world’s best kept secret. Not just for kids anymore, they contain stories that will entertain the adults who grew up on the characters, but still are safe enough for the next generation of comic fans. With Archie, Jughead and Betty celebrating their 70^th anniversary next year, officially making them pop culture’s oldest teenagers (take that Dick Clark), Archie and friends are going to be everywhere, including crossovers and collections being released by IDW, Darkhorse and DC, as well as a special series of Archie books being overseen by Stan Lee himself. The introduction of Kevin Keller to Riverdale is the perfect jumping on point for comic fans.

Also worth checking out this week at your local comic book shop!

Freedom Fighters #1 – The dynamic team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray reunite The Freedom Fighters in their own on-going monthly series! Uncle Sam, Phantom Lady, Firebrand, The Human Bomb and Black Condor are enlisted by the US Government to locate a civil war era weapon of mass destruction in exchange for the kidnapped Vice President. Just what is this weapon that lurks in the depth of mountains of Wyoming?

JSA All-Stars #10 – As Power Girl and Stargirl battle Paradoran Gods that are rampaging through downtown Los Angeles, something strange is happening with Maxine Hunkle in Turkey. And who is the ghost that haunts the King, and what does she have to do with the guilt that is eating away at him?

Black Cat #3 – The Black Cat plays ball with the Russian mafia in an attempt to save her kidnapped mother….or does she? Deals are made, trust is broken and the Black Cat finds herself, once again, in over her head.

The Secret Six #25 – The Secret Six breaks into two different teams. As Bane and Jeannette form their own team made up of some familiar psychopaths; Scandal, Deadshot, Ragdoll and Black Alice seek to redeem Catman’s sanity with the aid of the mysterious Roshanna Chatterji. Meanwhile, what good deed proves that Deadshot is nothing but a big old softie…and the return of Mockingbird????

Inferno #3 – Zenescope’s Grimm Fairy Tales spin off continues as Grace Dante faces her own demons in hell, including her abusive lover and the man who killed her family in her search for a forgotten Grimms character from the earliest days of the series.

The Boys #46 –Hughie and Butcher have a heart to heart, Annie and the Highlander have a heart to heart, Queen Maeve’s story is revealed and the Butcher pulls the most manipulative and douchiest stunt on poor Hughie yet. Poor Hughie! Poor Annie! Can things get any worse for these two star crossed lovers?