Archie Comics’ gay kiss in its new issue is a step forward for the only openly gay character in the long-running comic book series. Archie Comics’ gay kiss also pokes some fun at a real controversy. Archie Comics’ gay kiss is the first time in the comic book’s history that takes aim at the controversial issues dealing with gay acceptance in small towns.

Kevin Keller, the Riverdale teenager who is the only gay character in Archie Comics, faces bigotry in the town. The teenager’s life is turned upside down after a quick lip-lock with his boyfriend, Devon, in Pop Tate’s diner. The gay kiss draws disapproving stares and angers from one of the neighborhood mothers who witnesses it.

According to Dan Parent, who wrote and drew the issues, said the woman "gets very offended and kind of pitches a bit of a fit. Kevin is kind of used to that, but Veronica records the whole thing and of course uploads it to the Riverdale equivalent of YouTube and that starts a bit of a debate." The new issue, "Kevin Keller" No. 10 will be released on August 7.

This showed a little bit of art imitating life for Archie Comics. Parent said he wrote the storyline after publishers fought efforts by enraged fans who wanted to remove a comic magazine that showed Keller getting married. Responding to numerous complaints, One Million Moms, a project of The American Family Association, asked the retailer Toys R Us Inc. not to display "Life With Archie" No. 16 near their checkout aisles. Toys R Us did not hide the comic, and the issue ultimately went on to sell out its print run. Parent said that the new story line was a "playful poke" at the protest.

The Kevin Keller character debuted in "Veronica" No. 202, which came out in September 2010. The openly gay character quickly caught on with the comic book’s readership. That issue became Archie Comics' first-ever second printing. The publishers quickly followed it up with a four-issue miniseries and the current monthly title.

Jon Goldwater, the Publisher and co-CEO of Archie Comics said that any kiss, gay or straight, that is depicted in the comic book series is a step forward in and of itself. He said "There aren't that many on-panel kisses in the pages of Archie, but you often see the lipstick on Archie's face afterward." Goldwater said that the Kevin Keller character allowed the franchise to include contemporary issues into the imaginary world of Riverdale. He said, "We certainly pride ourselves on being contemporary, but that's not the reason why we're showing 'The Kiss.' Just like when Kevin first told Jughead he was gay, it was in the natural course of conversation. We are creating this in the same way. It's just part of the story."

by Tony Sokol