Kevin Keller #1

History

Kevin Keller was conceived by longtime Archie writer/artist Dan Parent after Archie co-CEO Jon Goldwater came on board with a mandate to diversify the line; Parent had previously pitched a gay character years earlier only to be turned down, but Goldwater's openness created the right editorial moment. The character debuted in Veronica #202 (September 2010), written and drawn by Parent, and the demand was so immediate that it prompted the first second printing in Archie Comics' history. A four-issue miniseries followed in mid-2011, and Archie announced the ongoing in July 2011, with issue #1 published in April 2012; the book was written and penciled by Parent with inks by Rich Koslowski, colors by Digikore Studios, lettering by John Morelli, and Victor Gorelick serving as editor-in-chief. The 2012 hardcover collection — Archie's first direct-to-hardcover compilation of new stories — helped the series reach readers beyond the direct market.

Trivia · 8 facts

• Kevin Keller #1 (ongoing series) was published in April 2012 by Archie Comics, written and drawn by Dan Parent with inks by Rich Koslowski — the same creative partnership that ran the entire 15-issue series through November 2014.
• The issue introduces Kevin in his role as newly elected Riverdale High class president and establishes his interest in journalism, two character pillars carried throughout the run.
• The first issue's central story involves Kevin preparing for his very first date, with advice dispensed by the full core Riverdale cast — Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, and Reggie — and his parents Thomas and Kathy Keller providing emotional grounding.
• Kevin Keller is Archie Comics' first openly gay character; his creation by Dan Parent also earned Parent a GLAAD Media Award nomination in 2011 and the ongoing series won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book in 2013, defeating Astonishing X-Men, Batwoman, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Earth 2.
• Kevin's family — father Colonel Thomas Keller (U.S. Army, ret.), mother Kathy Keller, and younger sisters Denise and Patty — all appear in issue #1, establishing the Keller household as a recurring setting throughout the series.
• The character's backstory, set up in the prior miniseries and reinforced in the ongoing, positions Kevin as an 'army brat' whose family relocated frequently due to his father's military service — a background that informs his adaptable, community-oriented personality.
• The series was collected in hardcover by Archie Comics/Penguin Random House — notably Archie's first direct-to-hardcover collection of new stories — and subsequent trade paperbacks including 'Drive Me Crazy' (issues #5–8, featuring a cameo by George Takei) and further volumes.
• Kevin was adapted for The CW television series 'Riverdale,' portrayed by Casey Cott, who began in a recurring role in season one and was promoted to series regular for season two; Cott also reprised the role in the Riverdale spinoff 'Katy Keene.'

Cast · 13 characters

Full credits

Variants (2)