Archie, Meet Kevin

[Guest American Woman]

The September issue of Archie comics will introduce a new character, Kevin, who is openly gay.

....Archie Comics wants to reflect what high schools are like in America, where being gay "isn't a big deal anymore." link

As time goes on, and more kids are subjected to the idea that some people are gay, and it's done in a low-key way such as this, it likely won't be the Big Deal that it's been in the past. I think there will just be a natural acceptance of the fact on most people's part.

[kimmy]

I bet Reggie is going to beat him up after school. Jughead is pretty laid back about things, but Reggie isn't going to stand for it.

Not that long ago interracial dating was weird and scary, and now it barely raises an eyebrow. But I think Kevin is going to have a harder time. Highschool kids are pack animals, and look for any way to enhance their position in the pack, and picking on somebody who's perceived to be weaker or an outsider is one way to do it. Reggie is going to pick on Kevin mercilessly to show everybody who's the big dog at Riverdale, and Archie isn't going to help because he's relieved to have a break from ginger-kid bullying. Kevin needs Moose Mason on his side: somebody who is both beyond caring about the pack mentality, and strong enough to stand up to it.

-k

[Argus]

The September issue of Archie comics will introduce a new character, Kevin, who is openly gay.

....Archie Comics wants to reflect what high schools are like in America, where being gay "isn't a big deal anymore." link\

Excuse me, but if being gay isn't a big deal any more why do we need hate crimes to protect gays?

Isn't a big deal any more? In what high school? San Fransisco? I can bet it's a damned big deal in a small town high school like the one Archie goes to.

[Guest American Woman]

Excuse me, but if being gay isn't a big deal any more why do we need hate crimes to protect gays?

His quote was in regards to high schools, so perhaps high school kids are more accepting of gays than some others are. At any rate, there are always those who will still make things a big deal, which is why hate laws are deemed necessary, and not just to protect gays. But Dan Parent, the cartoonist I quoted, seems to be speaking in general.

Isn't a big deal any more? In what high school? San Fransisco? I can bet it's a damned big deal in a small town high school like the one Archie goes to.

He lives in Milford, Pennsylvania, population just over 1,200.

[bush_cheney2004]

....Isn't a big deal any more? In what high school? San Fransisco? I can bet it's a damned big deal in a small town high school like the one Archie goes to.

Canada/UK had their own Archie comics since an import ban during WW2. Plenty of opportunity to alter storylines to suit "small town" Canada too.

[Michael Hardner]

Archive lives in Riverdale.

[BubberMiley]

Kevin needs Moose Mason on his side: somebody who is both beyond caring about the pack mentality, and strong enough to stand up to it.

I'm old enough to remember when Moose Mason was Moose Manson. No joke.

[kimmy]

His quote was in regards to high schools, so perhaps high school kids are more accepting of gays than some others are. At any rate, there are always those who will still make things a big deal, which is why hate laws are deemed necessary, and not just to protect gays. But Dan Parent, the cartoonist I quoted, seems to be speaking in general.

I'm skeptical that highschool kids are that accepting of gay classmates. I suspect he's being optimistic. And, I'm sure his heart is in the right place.

I am not old enough to know what things were like at the time when they introduced Archie's black friend Chuck. Perhaps it was unusual for a black kid to attend a mostly white high-school and hang out with the white kids, or perhaps it was not. However, whichever the case, it certainly could not have hurt to show it in the comic books as if it's just normal day to day life. And presenting a gay kid as just one of the crowd can't hurt anything either.

On the down side, I don't recall Chuck as being anything other than "Archie's black friend". I gather that in the years since I outgrew Archie comics, Chuck has become a more significant character than "token minority", but that's where things stood at the time, and I gather for many years before as well. And I expect that it would be a long time before Kevin is anything other than "Archie's gay friend" as well.

As I said, I'm sure their hearts are in the right place, but at the end of the day it's Archie comics. Like Barbie, Archie comics are noteworthy more as an institution than as a current influence. Like Barbie, it's probably great that Archie's group of friends is becoming more diverse as time goes by, but like Barbie, Archie's impact on present-day attitudes is probably pretty limited.

-k

[dizzy]

Preteens are only a couple of presidential elections from being voters. If a comic book can help normalize the presence of gays and lesbians, then maybe they're a step closer to the legal recognition of same sex marriage.

[bush_cheney2004]

Preteens are only a couple of presidential elections from being voters. If a comic book can help normalize the presence of gays and lesbians, then maybe they're a step closer to the legal recognition of same sex marriage.

The presence of gays and lesbians has been "normalized" for many years in "Riverdale".

[Sir Bandelot]

More degenerate western literature, design to poison the minds of our youth and turn us into weak minded liberal slaves.

[Sir Bandelot]

Just kidding...

[dizzy]

The presence of gays and lesbians has been "normalized" for many years in "Riverdale".

Maybe, but if the current crop of voters aren't ready to step up and do the courageous thing, you can likely count on their kids.

[bush_cheney2004]

Maybe, but if the current crop of voters aren't ready to step up and do the courageous thing, you can likely count on their kids.

Count on their kids for what? A majority don't bother to vote at all, and it's the states leading the way, not the federal government. Canada's Bill C-38 didn't happen until 2005, long after US states had engaged the issue.

[dizzy]

Count on their kids for what? A majority don't bother to vote at all, and it's the states leading the way, not the federal government. Canada's Bill C-38 didn't happen until 2005, long after US states had engaged the issue.

Like what's happening in the US now, provinces led the way here. De facto Marriage rights were extended to couples in Ontario in the 90s through common law, followed by ceremonial unions in Québec in 2001 and then by provincial court rulings starting in 2003.

Whatever the motivation, change on this front will happen in the US. It's good that archie comics has recognized the trend.

[bush_cheney2004]

Like what's happening in the US now, provinces led the way here. De facto Marriage rights were extended to couples in Ontario in the 90s through common law, followed by ceremonial unions in Québec in 2001 and then by provincial court rulings starting in 2003.

The trend in the USA predates that (e.g. Hawaii), but the laws enacted say otherwise (Defense of Marriage Act - 1996)

Whatever the motivation, change on this front will happen in the US. It's good that archie comics has recognized the trend.

Change is always happening in the USA, regardless of comic books.

[dizzy]

The trend in the USA predates that (e.g. Hawaii), but the laws enacted say otherwise (Defense of Marriage Act - 1996)

Change is always happening in the USA, regardless of comic books.

Great, then we're in agreement that same sex marriage rights will eventually extend across the US.

[bush_cheney2004]

Great, then we're in agreement that same sex marriage rights will eventually extend across the US.

Not necessarily....change comes in many forms. The US federal government defines marriage to exclude same gender unions by law.

[dizzy]

Not necessarily....change comes in many forms. The US federal government defines marriage to exclude same gender unions by law.

Then I guess I'm back to my original point, that preteens will help tip the voting scale in favour of same sex marriage.

[bush_cheney2004]

Then I guess I'm back to my original point, that preteens will help tip the voting scale in favour of same sex marriage.

That's what they thought about Clinton too, until he signed DOMA into law. California also reversed the trend.

[Sir Bandelot]

The US federal government defines marriage to exclude same gender unions by law.

Seems to me the Archie comics are not so much leading the way, as reflecting a growing acceptance of controversial topics, from a somewhat safe stance.

Now, if Kevan were to get married to Moose in Riverdale...

[dizzy]

Seems to me the Archie comics are not so much leading the way, as reflecting a growing acceptance of controversial topics, from a somewhat safe stance.

Now, if Kevan were to get married to Moose in Riverdale...

Archie comics are bringing to preteens what Ellen brought to American housewives... a chance to see a homo up close and realize that he/she is just like them. Reading about this topic, I learned that Archie also recently got into an interracial relationship. Clearly, "Riverdale" is ready to accept the inevitable.

[bush_cheney2004]

Archie comics are bringing to preteens what Ellen brought to American housewives... a chance to see a homo up close and realize that he/she is just like them. Reading about this topic, I learned that Archie also recently got into an interracial relationship. Clearly, "Riverdale" is ready to accept the inevitable.

Archie Comics has a circulation of less than 1 million for about 30 different titles. It is not teaching many pre-teens anything, and it lags other media by years for social trends....this has always been the case.

[dizzy]

Archie Comics has a circulation of less than 1 million for about 30 different titles. It is not teaching many pre-teens anything, and it lags other media by years for social trends....this has always been the case.

As both you and Mr. Bandelot suggest, it is a conservative comic. That its publishers are comfortable recognizing gays is why I'm so confident that your children will vote for same sex unions.

[bush_cheney2004]

As both you and Mr. Bandelot suggest, it is a conservative comic. That its publishers are comfortable recognizing gays is why I'm so confident that your children will vote for same sex unions.

Same "sex" (gender) unions are not the issue....the issue is marriage for each state. Archie Comics enjoys a large Christian demographic, which opposes any such marriages by a large majority.

Edited April 26, 2010 by bush_cheney2004