Kevin Keller #1 Preview

Via Out Magazine, here's a look at Kevin Keller #1, written by Dan Parent and illustrated by Parent and Rich Koslowski, in stores February 8.

It's a bunch of firsts for Kevin Keller in the FIRST issue of his ongoing series. It's his FIRST time as Riverdale High class president. And he gets published in the Riverdale newspaper for the FIRST time. Oh yeah, and Kevin gets ready to go on his FIRST date! What??!! Kevin's never been on a date before? That's the reaction everybody has, as they can't believe cool, good-looking, mild mannered Kevin Keller has never been on a date. And when he's made attempts in the past things go terribly wrong.....it turns out Kevin Keller is actually bad at something.....DATING! But the Riverdale gang, along with his old friends and family step in to help ol' Kevin out. With his friends and family at the helm can anything possibly go wrong? Of course!!! But Kevin will get through it anyway!!!!

Watchmen, Archie-Style

Of course, those of us who keep up with comics biz news know that Archie Comics isn't as innocent as it seems. That doesn't deprive from the brilliance of this Archie/Watchmen mashup by deviantARTist NezumiPickle.

Goth Veronica

Veronica Lodge reveals her true form as a goth vampire skankerella, in this convention sketch from Archie Comics' great artist Dan Parent.

Dark Archie Fan Trailer Brings the Drama to Riverdale

Archie Comics has made it clear that they're tired of being the odd man out, watching comics take over pop culture from their office in Mamaroneck - they want to play in the big leagues, and they've made a number of moves in that direction, from high-profile PR hires to endless gimmick-y story lines (the past 6 months alone have seen Twilight parodies, President Obama and Sarah Palin all invade Riverdale).

Not to mention, they finally took the step that Marvel and DC took a few decades ago and introduced a lone gay character, Kevin Keller, to the Archie-verse.

Better late than never.

The problem is, at its core, where it matters, Archie is still telling the same limited stories about the same limited topics, and even if Betty is now sending Veronica angry tweets instead of passing notes in class, they're still publishing essentially the same comics they did in the '50s.

Now, similar arguments can be made about much of comics in general, but that's not why I'm writing this.  I'm writing this to show you the incredible fan trailer for Riverdale, a super-dark look at Archie's world, tapping into the subtext just beneath the surface of the characters (including a character who I thought was gay long before I ever heard the name Kevin Keller), and as much as comics often suffer from being dark and gritty just to get attention - well, I'd watch this movie.

I'd buy the deluxe DVD.

From Cross Eyed Bear Comedy, shot with a $3500 budget over the course of a single weekend, this is the best thing I've seen since All-Star Superman. 

Archie Comics Go Digital With Graphic.ly

via Mashable!

Beginning this April, the Archie family of comic books will be available digitally on the same day the physical books are released.The digital books will be coming to fans via Graphic.ly, the comic-focused startup that’s shaking up the way consumers interact with comic books and graphic novels.

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R.I.P. Miss Grundy

via Comix 411

Miss Geraldine Grundy, a longterm resident in the alternative magazine universe of Riverdale, has died following an illness that spread over several issues.

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Obama, Palin Bring Politics to Archie Comics

via Blog@Newsarama

Archie Comics has established a surprising amount of cultural relevance lately — most notably the introduction of gay character Kevin Keller — and they’re at it again, with a two-part story starting in December featuring Riverdale-ized versions of Barack Obama and Sarah Palin.

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Bromance is coming to Riverdale!

Don't forget September 1 marks the release of Veronica #202, in which new guy Kevin Keller makes history by being the first gay guy in Archie Comics history!

If this preview art is any indication, it looks as if they're handling the issue perfectly, by making it a non-issue.  

And to add extra awesome, Kevin's the one weirded out when he spots the totally kinky threesome Archie seems to have going on with the two most dysfunctional chicks in town.

Oh, and also don't forget, the 6th is Labor Day - so no more wearing white.

Preview: Kevin Keller arrives in Riverdale

via robot6.comicbookresources.com

The Archie Comics folks have put up a preview of Veronica #202 on their blog; this is the comic in which Kevin Keller, the first openly gay character in an Archie comic, makes his debut, in a story titled “Isn’t It Bro-mantic?”

Aw man, that is messed up! I wholeheartedly approve of Archie finally acknowledging the existence of gay people - mind you, it took 60 years, a lot longer than it took them to jump all over the Twilight and Jersey Shore bandwagons - but it looks like Jughead's gonna kick his ass because he feels threatened by the new guy's burger-eating prowess!

I am gonna be so bummed if I see a hate crime go down in Riverdale.