Well, this is depressing. One Million Moms, an organization that apparently is all about intolerance, is following up on their attack on Ellen Degeneres and JC Penney with a threat to to boycott Toys 'R' Us if they don't stoop selling copies of Life With Archie #16. The issue depicts the wedding of Kevin Keller - not a statement as such, not a political issue - just people finding love and celebrating it in a commitment ceremony among friends and family. Why these things are such an issue for One Million Moms is a matter for a therapist (or a statistician - the groups name, by all accounts, is a wild exaggeration of the actual membership count).

From the organizations website:

"These comic books are sold at the front checkout counters so they are highly visible to employees, managers, customers and children. Unfortunately, children are now being exposed to same-sex marriage in a toy store. This is the last place a parent would expect to be confronted with questions from their children on topics that are too complicated for them to understand. Issues of this nature are being introduced too early and too soon, which is becoming extremely common and unnecessary.

The trip to the toy store turns into a premature discussion on sexual orientation and is completely uncalled for. Toys 'R' Us should be more responsible in the products they carry."

Archie Comics CEO Jon Goldwater has issued the following statement:

"As I’ve said before, Riverdale is a safe, welcoming place that does not judge anyone," he wrote. "It’s an idealized version of America that will hopefully become reality someday. We’re sorry the American Family Association/OneMillionMoms.com feels so negatively about our product, but they have every right to their opinion, just like we have the right to stand by ours. Kevin Keller will forever be a part of Riverdale, and he will live a happy, long life free of prejudice, hate and narrow-minded people."

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!!!!

After pausing to feign shock and/or horror at the inclusion of gay characters in Archie comics and lamenting the age of "comics as comfort food" - one of those "good old days" myths that has little basis in reality - this ABC report goes on to praise Archie's forward-thinking strategy both in terms of storytelling, with the addition of Kevin Keller to Riverdale, and the early adoption and future of digital distribution. The introduction is a bit milquetoast, but the piece itself is quite good, and a reminder that Archie has made huge headway for reinvigorating comics, encouraging diversity and bringing in new readers.