In the January issue (#16) of Life
with Archie – the comic which looks at the possible future
lives of Archie characters – gay pal Kevin Keller marries.
Cover artwork for the issue shows
Keller and his husband Clay standing in a front of Just Married sign
as the gang cheers on.
In the issue, Kevin, who arrived at
Riverdale High last September and first came out gay to Jughead at
Pop's Chocklit Shoppe, returns from war to get hitched, while Archie
separates from his wife Veronica.
“Kevin followed in his father's
footsteps and is returning to Riverdale as a war hero, but that's not
all – It's Kevin's wedding day!” Archie Comic Publications said
in a release.
Opponents of gay rights criticized the
storyline.
The storyline will help launch
February's anticipated new comic, titled Kevin Keller. Kevin
will reportedly become president of his high school class but will
also face “adversity.”
“It is unfortunate that a comic book
series usually seen as depicting innocent, all-American life is now
being used to advance the sexual revolution,” Peter Spriggs of the
Christian conservative Family Research Council told Fox News in
September.
“I think whatever boost in sales
might come from the novelty or curiosity factor will be more than
offset by the number of both kids and parents who will be turned off
by this storyline and its obvious social and political agenda,” he
added.