Archie Comics boasts first "Sold Out" issue with intro of first Gay character!
Snagged this bit of awesomeness from Bob Lind, co-mod of Ourbookshelf yahoo group:
Below is a Q&A from AfterElton.Com's gay media guru (and gay youth novel author) Brent Hartinger (aka "Ask the Flying Monkey" on that site) about this development:
from After Elton (AfterElton.com):
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Q: I read and loved Kevin Keller's introduction in Veronica 202 and I honestly 100% believe that this is the start of a many-year, Kish-like story arc that ends in Jughead's coming out. I wrote to the Archie folks thanking and congratulating them, and also asked a question which no one has answered. Perhaps, Oh Great Monkey, with all your media pull you could get an answer for me/us? My question is this: If one wants to follow Kevin's storyline, will he be randomly appearing in all comics, or will he stay mainly in the Veronica title? – Amanda, Norman, OK
A: I too was extremely impressed by Kevin Keller's introduction to the world of Riverdale …. And guess what? Veronica 202, where Kevin is introduced, is the first Archie comic in history to ever sell out!
"With the recent news of these teen suicides, I feel really good about what we're doing with Kevin," Daniel Parent, Kevin Keller's writer-artist, tells me. "You know, the original intention was just to diversify Archie and include our gay friends into our world. But when I hear about things like this in the news, plus the dozens of people who have shared their stories with me about growing up gay, it's really opened my eyes. It's something you don't think fully realize unless it's brought to your attention."
Where will we see Kevin next? Daniel tells me that they're exploring the relationship between Kevin and Veronica first – he'll appear in Veronica 204 (in a small part) and Veronica 205 (in a major story), and that they'll be "many" more stories to come in 2011 in some of the other titles. He also promises that we'll eventually learn Kevin's entire backstory. In fact, it was announced at ComicCon NY this weekend that Kevin will even have a four-issue series all his own in 2011!
Incidentally, Daniel is very heartened by the positive reaction.
"When I see lots of kids with their parents welcoming Kevin at comic conventions, [I know] things are definitely moving in the right direction," he says. "`Gay' isn't a dirty word anymore. We just have to keep pushing forward, because it's the right thing to do."
Read more at:
http://www.afterelton.com/print/2010/10/archie-kevin-keller-review
Enjoy,
Bryl
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