skjam: Man in blue suit and fedora, wearing an eyeless mask emblazoned with the scales of justice (Default)
skjam ([personal profile] skjam) wrote in [community profile] scans_daily2012-01-14 08:08 pm

Even Reggie Mantle has standards

In my last post, we visited a potential future in which Kevin Keller can marry the man he loves and no one thought that was the least bit out of the ordinary.

But in the regular Archie comics, Mr. Keller must live in the eternal present. It's not quite as advanced a society....

Cover and four scans from Veronica Presents: Kevin Keller #4.



Previously, on Kevin Keller, our protagonist did well on Witmasters, a College Bowl-like TV show where he represented Riverdale. He's looking forward to a little less excitement.



Veronica has already entered Kevin in the race for class president. Reggie is already running himself, mainly to stroke his own ego. He's seen making extravagant promises he won't be able to keep.

The other front-runner is David Perkins, star quarterback and all-round popular fellow. Kevin doesn't see the point of having more than two strong contenders.

Betty, who is ineligible for class president as she's already held the job, explains that neither of the two other boys is really suitable for elective office. (Apparently she knows David better than we do.)

At home, Kevin's family and his buddy Jerry concur that he'd make a good class president.




I wonder who the disgruntled looking guy nominating Midge is?

Reggie is naturally displeased that he's out of the race thanks to golden boy Kevin, and initially David plays the statesman.




Even Reggie has standards. Lie, cheat, practical jokes, okay. Gay-bashing heck no.

The debate starts, and Kevin talks about equality and equity, while David pumps for a strong-man paternalistic leadership style. Soon, it's question time and the questions to Kevin take on a certain tone--"Do you have a girlfriend?" "What's your stance on 'Don't Ask Don't Tell?" "Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?" "Do you have any dark secrets we should know about?"



David pretends gentlemanliness at the end of the debate, but inside he's seething.

Kevin's parents deal with homophobic remarks in the supermarket by other parents, and Archie does the same in the school hallway. (This being Archie Comics, they can't use some of the more offensive language, but most readers will get the point.)

Kevin spots one of David's "Hire a REAL MAN" posters, and asks David to express what's on his mind. As it turns out, David isn't just a cynical politician trying to use homophobia as an election tactic. He actually is confused and offended by gay people and their "agenda."

The final debate is open to the public (parents) and again David's shills try to hijack the audience question period. Colonel Keller speaks to his son's character.

While waiting for the election results at the Choklit Shoppe Kevin indulges in a brief fantasy about becoming U.S. President. He tries to hold a press conference about the budget conflict in Congress, but the reporters want to ask what it's like to be the first (openly) gay president, and the First Dog, and other matters. Oh, and there's still a war with American soldiers in the Middle East. :-( He meets briefly with the gang from Riverdale and affirms that their friendship means the world to him.

Back in "reality", Kevin wins the election, and David immediately demands a recount. For his first act as class president, Kevin Keller gets an ongoing series!




Your thoughts and comments?

SKJAM!
lilacsigil: 12 Apostles rocks, text "Rock On" (12 Apostles)

[personal profile] lilacsigil 2012-01-15 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Honestly, as bombastic as Marvel/DC can get, it'd be hard for them to introduce a gay character - or, for that matter, have an already-established character come out of the closet - without it looking like just another gimmick.

I agree about an already-established character, but there's no reason why three or four of the kids in, say, Avengers Academy or any of the X-Men schools couldn't be queer. Then they can have exactly the same storylines as all the other characters.
raisedbymoogles: (Default)

[personal profile] raisedbymoogles 2012-01-15 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
True, but - they wouldn't have their own title either. Although maybe one or more of the hypothetical gay kids could 'graduate' into a title of their own if there was enough fan support.
auggie18: (Default)

[personal profile] auggie18 2012-01-15 07:41 am (UTC)(link)
Aren't they already sorta doing that? We've got Stryker and Lightspeed in AA and Anole and Greymalkin in WatX.


(And of course Wiccan and Hulkling in Young Avengers, Karma in New Mutants, Karoline and Xavin in the Runaways, etc.)
salinea: Scarlett Witch hugging Billy and Tommy (*hugs*)

[personal profile] salinea 2012-01-15 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
and Bling!

it's not quite 3-4; and they're not always the kids who are the most in the front light but it's not too bad. (and of course Young Avengers does too). Could still be better, I guess, the biggest problem with those sort of comics right now is that each series about a cast of kids can't seem to be able to stay more than a few years before falling to the way side while a new series about a cast kids.

But usually casts of teens tend to be the most diverse teams, on most fronts, out of superhero comics in general.
Edited 2012-01-15 07:50 (UTC)
lilacsigil: John Byrne art of Destiny and Mystique, caption "Destined" (destiny mystique)

[personal profile] lilacsigil 2012-01-15 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
That's sort of my point, though I'd like to see more in each large ensemble - it can be done with no great hype, just regular characterisation.