ARCHIE LOVES KEVIN

THE ARCHIES – A 75-YEAR-OLD TEEN COMIC BOOK FRANCHISE IS ABOUT TO MAKE A SERIOUS 21ST CENTURY COMEBACK WITH A STRONG GAY CHARACTER. SUPERFAN, MATT MYERS, REPORTS.

ARCHIE THE COMIC book series stretches back to 1941 when the goofy teenage redhead was first created by artist Bob Montana and based, somewhat, on the popular Andy Hardy movies starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. Over the decades, the perennial teenager and his friends have lived through World War II, the Cold War, consumed Coca-Cola, screamed for The Beatles, boogied at discos, worn KISS face paint, became yuppies, and sent texts via mobile phones.

While the storylines and artwork have reflected the changing times, one continuing theme has been the Archie/Betty/Veronica love triangle. Along with regulars Jughead and Reggie, other characters who’ve evolved from the series include Sabrina, a teenage witch and Josie And The Pussycats, an all-girl pop band who dress as cats, their plotlines often intertwining.

Cut to 2014 and the gang from Riverdale High became well and truly immersed in the next Millennium with contemporary stories and new characters. But, in one of pop culture’s most shocking and tragic twists, Archie Andrews was killed off! What’s more, he died defending his gay friend from an assassin’s bullet, offering the tween readership some fairly challenging subject matter.