CBR: Archie Comics Intorduces Openly Gay Character

[CBR News]

Archie Comics has announced that in September's "Veronica" #202, Kevin Keller, Archie Comics' first openly gay character, will be welcomed into the town of Riverdale as a student enrolled in Riverdale High.


Full article here.

[TwinPistols]

That's great for Archie!! ::applause::

Looks like it'll be a good comic too. Veronica has no idea what she's in for.

[n8twing]

That's actually pretty cool.

And I like the story idea-- it's not a huge social issue, it's just who he is, and it's part of the story. Bravo, Archie Comics! Very progressive.

[CMBMOOL]

I did not see that coming at all, and I must say it will be one heck of a surprise for Veronica indeed.

[grphxkindaguy]

Now the question is...who's his LOVE INTEREST gonna be?!?

[NeoStar9X]

It's nice that it isn't even an issue either it seems for the characters.

[contreras9977]

Wow. I thought I would see a black, asian or hispanic character in Archie before I see a gay one.

[TwinPistols]

Wow. I thought I would see a black, asian or hispanic character in Archie before I see a gay one.

There is a black character in Archie; he's named Chuck IIRC

[dbm]

Wow, good job Archie Comics!

[dan bailey]

There is a black character in Archie; he's named Chuck IIRC

Yeah; I think he's an aspiring comics artist, too. (Or at least he was in the FCBD issue I picked up a few years ago ...)

[n8twing]

There is a black character in Archie; he's named Chuck IIRC

and his girlfriend, Nancy.

And Valerie from Josie and the Pussycats.

[contreras9977]

Huh. Did not know that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Clayton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Woods

They also have asian characters.

Kumi Tanura, a Japanese girl who moved to Riverdale with her parents and her younger sister Ami. Unlike the other Asian characters in Archie Comics, Kumi finds the English language somewhat difficult. Two issues after her introduction, it was revealed that at home, her mother follows Japanese traditions and etiquette even in America. Notably, Kumi stories are written by Misako Rocks!, a Japanese artist and writer who moved to NYC in 2001. Ami is only thirteen years old, but appears to have a crush on Archie.

*sigh* why are hispanics always the last ones to be represented

[Brandon Hanvey]

Huh. Did not know that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Clayton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Woods

They also have asian characters.

*sigh* why are hispanics always the last ones to be represented

There has been a Hispanic character in the comics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ics_characters

Toño Díaz, a character who was born in Mexico, and assists his parents, Adrián and Rosa in their party planning business. Rosa handles Public Relations and the administrative part of the business, while Adrián is responsible for the creative and labor portions of the family business. Toño enjoys helping them with gardening and decoration, but the part he likes the most is cooking. He wants to become a great chef when he grows up.

Edit: Found a link about him.
http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/0...rs-characters/

[n8twing]

Chuck, Nancy and Valerie have been around since the 70s.

I thought I remembered an Asian character in Archie Comics. Thanks for the links!

They should definitely have a few more hispanics, too.

[semicyon]

and his girlfriend, Nancy.

And Valerie from Josie and the Pussycats.

Yeah, the other news recently is that Archie will also be dating Valerie soon. I'm really pleasantly surprised with how Archie has been more daring in the last couple of years with its artstyles, stories and attempts to better represent changing social realities.

The cynics would probably decry tokenism... eh, loosen up. Riverdale has never been exactly what high school was like... it's a slightly unreal, nicer version of it and I am glad that the publisher acknowledges that all types of people would be welcome there.