While lesbian comic character Batwoman is getting her own series, were actually more thrilled about Archie … going gay.
Which this cover, from Archie #145, is not actually depicting! Those monster abs you’re seeing on Reggie is part of the gang’s Jersey Shore-style makeover (yes, really), while the true gay aspect of Archie arrives in the form of Kevin, who a gay teen who will be added to the Veronica title this year.
Feast of Fun‘s Fausto Fernos sits down with cartoonist Dan Parent, who says, “The plotline is that Veronica’s got the hots for this guy and can’t understand why he’s not interested in her, and … he’s gay.” If we had a dime …
scott ny'er
i just read this elsewhere and was pretty happy to hear this. As another poster had suggested in that other site, too bad it wasn’t Dilton or Moose who came out and had to be some newbie to Riverdale.
hardmannyc
As a longtime ARchie fan, this is awesome. I always thought Reggie was hot, in that asshole kind of way. Now that i see his abs, I feel vindicated.
GaryG
Wow, I’m super stoked about this, especially from the Archie-verse! I still have a copy or two of Archie comics where they talk about the bible, so this is great to see they’ve expanded their minds.
Oh Boy
Oh wow! I can’t wait. I love Kevin. He is so hot and totally my type!
Paul
Is that Will Schuester?
Republican
Wow! This is very cool. While Archie might not be the biggest thing anymore, it’s still read by a fair number of young people, including some who are no doubt discovering themselves. How great for the questioning kid to see that someone just like him is accepted by the residents of Riverdale.
Bryan Harris
@scott ny’er: They weren’t going to do it with an establised character. What happens if it fails?If it doesn’t work (i.e. get gays to buy) with a new character, then they just kill it.
Bryan Harris
@hardmannyc: Reggie was always hot, especially after the updated his hair. You could have cartoon hate sex with him.
Jason
Moose, of Archie comics fame, was my first love.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_Mason
Big, blond, and full of yummy goodness.
Wy
Is it just me or does he look an awful lot like Matthew Morrison?
Wy
@Wy: @Paul sorry just saw your comment and looking at that sample sheet I do believe it could be an Alternate Universe version.
greybat
No nipples on the men? Did the comic-book innovations of the 1980’s mean NOTHING?
And when’s Jughead going to try a goatee? Or at least a spirit-patch?
Klarth
Yeah, i read about this on another blog. From what I heard, it’s being handled positively.
I’d be more annoyed about that #145. Is that seriously the cover?
Yeah, Archie readership may not be all that, but it’s like everyone’s first comic..or at least it used to be. So it’s kind of a big deal, even if it is a new character.
At least we won’t get any Liefeld-esque whining about the original interpretation of a character from revealing an existing character as gay.
If this works out, to future generations, Kevin will be a canon character. Unlike the black characters they tried….