Archie Comics' gay wedding: Too political?

[The Straight Story]

Archie Comics' gay wedding: Too political?
Kevin Keller is marrying Mr. Right, and some critics think that's very wrong

Same-sex marriage may only be lawful in six states, but it's perfectly legal in the fictional Riverdale of Archie fame. Earlier this week, Archie Comics announced that Kevin Keller, the series' first openly gay character (who was introduced in April 2010), would be getting married. After coming back to Riverdale as a war hero, Keller will marry "Mr. Right" in the January 4, 2012 issue. Is this a natural evolution for the classic comic, or does Archie harbor a "political agenda"?

This is needlessly political and divisive: "It's unfortunate that a comic book series usually seen as depicting innocent, all-American life is now being used to advance the sexual revolution," says the Family Research Council's Peter Spriggs, as quoted by Fox News. This brings an "obvious social and political agenda" to comics. Some may find the storyline novel, but it's likely to alienate more people than it pleases.
"Archie comics announces gay character will marry — will anyone object?"

Hold on. This is great: I "commend Archie Comics for including the diversity of our country in their publication," says Charlotte Robinson at Outtake Media. "Homophobes" may take issue and claim that the comic is no longer depicting "all-American life," but the truth is that gay marriage is a key element of the all-American life.
"Gay marriage planned in Riverdale"

http://theweek.com/article/index/219397/archie-comics-gay-wedding-too-political

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. usually seen as depicting innocent, all-American life is now being used to advance the sexual revolu

Haven't they seen the Betty and Veronica comics? Someone recently posted a bikini cover here on the DU.

I don't know about sexual revolution, but sex sells? Sure. Meh.

Edit: And cheers to them for including a positive role model for whom things work out wonderfully. :thumbsup:

[Bluebear]

12. Only if you think being gay is about sex

And being gay has nothing to do with a "sex revolution"

[Ohio Joe]

2. "or does Archie harbor a "political agenda"?

Sounds to me like Archie is the all American boy that believes in equal rights for all.

[fishwax]

3. gay people and gay relationships are part of "innocent, all-American life"

Screw the FRC and their biogoted agenda.

[yewberry]

4. "Will anyone object?"

Hope only the FRC and their ilk will object.

Reality is that the kids who read Archie comics (and I was one) likely have some schoolmate or neighbor with same-sex parents. Having them understand that some families have two daddies or two mommies is a good thing, and that's not remotely political or sexual.

[surrealAmerican]

5. I thought none of the characters ever made it ...

... out of high school. I guess he must have been somebody's older brother, or something.

[TlalocW]

6. Not too long ago, Archie comics/characters were used to push a religious agenda

I don't know if the publishers were doing it themselves, or they were "hiring" out their characters. I remember one story where Archie and his pals were characters in the Old West. Not only did it advance a conservative Christian agenda, but there was also a veiled reference to "bussing" ruining the local schools.

TlalocW

[KansDem]

7. I think a more pressing question is...

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/04/22/archie-introduces-an-openly-gay-character-kevin-keller/

Why is Jughead still wearing that hat? :shrug:

edited to add website link.

[Rex]

8. It is a fucking cartoon for Dog's sake!

Some people need to find a hobby.

[Recovered Repug]

9. They still make Archie comics?

I'm surprised that there are enough readers to keep it going.

[starroute]

10. I've been surprised about that for almost 60 years

I remember being about five -- circa 1952 -- and looking at some of my older cousin's Archie comics, only because there was nothing more interesting to do at their house, and thinking, "Boy, these are silly. I hope I won't have to read them when I'm my cousin's age. But they're so dumb, they probably won't still be around by then."

And then I remember thinking in the 1960's, "Hey, the culture is changing really fast and a lot of the old stuff is getting really outdated. Maybe those stupid Archie comics will finally go away."

And then around the 1980's, I started noticing digest-sized Archie compilations at the supermarket check-out line and thinking hopefully, "If they're just repackaging the old stuff, maybe they've stopped publishing new ones."

In fact, for somebody who hasn't actually read an Archie comic since I was in elementary school, I've spent far too much of my adult life brooding about why they're still around.

[Angry Dragon]

11. 'The Flintstones' seen as documentary on early Christian life

by radical Christians

Be very afraid of comics.........

[Shandris]

13. I think that as a general tendency, comics do indeed...

...'push political agendas' -- but not in the 'Vote Liberal' or 'Vote Republican' sort of way, but by bringing the issues to the forefront and highlighting -- often both positively AND negatively -- the issues by illustrating them with characters that are otherwise well-known to the readers. I think they're important as an introduction to such things that a lot of kids might otherwise not have.

If one comic pushes an all-liberal or all-conservative agenda (and I'm sure there are, but none that I've ever read) then that's a failure of the artists/writers. But for comics to present both sides of an issue as an illustrative (and let reality (or in this case verisimilitude) -- which has a well-known liberal bias to begin with -- help the reader come to their own conclusions) makes them important in the overall schema of childhood imo. It's really no different than Star Trek and the Shatner/Nichols kiss -- was that 'pushing an agenda'? I don't think so. Was it highlighting something going on in modern reality? Damn right it was. Was it important? I think it was very important, especially to a lot of people who idolized Captain Kirk.