Comic book icon Archie to be killed off while protecting gay friend
It has been revealed that iconic comic character Archie will be killed off while protecting a gay friend.
According to Archie Comics publisher and co-CEO Jon Goldwater, the character will meet a heroic and selfless death in issues 36 and 37 of spin-off series ‘Life with Archie’.
Goldwater told Associated Press: “He dies in the manner that epitomizes not only the best of Riverdale but the best of all of us. It’s what Archie has come to represent over the past almost 75 years.”
Kevin Keller, the comic’s first openly gay character, is a married military veteran and newly elected senator who is pushing for more gun control. He was introduced to the series in Archie spin-off ‘Veronica’ back in 2010.
While protecting Keller from an assassination attempt by an undisclosed killer, Archie is shot and killed.
Goldwater added: “We wanted to do something that was impactful that would really resonate with the world and bring home just how important Archie is to everyone.
“That’s how we came up with the storyline of saving Kevin. [Archie] could have saved Betty. He could have saved Veronica. We get that, but metaphorically, by saving Kevin, a new Riverdale is born.”
Although this double-digest issue will conclude the plot line for Archie and his gang, other incarnations of Archie will live on elsewhere.
