Archie Comics has been publishing all-ages tales of the Riverdale gang for 80 years, and while the core of the gang remains the big five (Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and Reggie), plenty of other characters have joined the gang. While many come and go after a couple years, a few stick around, like Moose Mason, Cheryl Blossom or Dilton Doiley.
One of the most recent additions to Riverdale who has made an impression and stuck around is Kevin Keller, Archie’s first queer, out protagonist. This year is Kevin’s 10th anniversary, so Archie is teaming with Kevin’s creator, Dan Parent, to run a Kickstarter campaign to collect all the Kevin-starring classic-style comic stories in one 700-page book, Kevin Keller Celebration!: A Tenth Anniversary Omnibus.
The campaign, which is seeking $49,500, launched Monday, and I was able to get a quick sit-down with Parent to talk about Kevin, the project and what to expect.
Matt Lazorwitz: Can you tell us a little about the origins of Kevin Keller? How did the pitch work for this character?
Dan Parent: Well, it was 2010, and we were adding new characters to our universe. I felt Riverdale needed a gay character, and when I suggested Kevin, Jon Goldwater, our CEO, was VERY on board!
Matt: How did this come about as a Kickstarter? How was it worked out with Archie Comics? Did they approach you about this, or was this something you came to them with?
Dan: I really wanted to do an omnibus of EVERYTHING Kevin, and was surprised myself to see what a big project that would be! A project of this scope seemed fitting for a Kickstarter, since I’ve done several, and it’s the perfect venue to create other items and/or new Kevin material, too.
Matt: This feels like a pretty high-profile project. Are you already considering stretch goals and the like? Do you think about that before the project starts, or does that feel like you’re jinxing it?
Dan: Oh yeah, we’ve got lots of stretch goal ideas. We’ve listed a couple, but we don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves! Let’s just say we’ve got some other great artists involved, too!
Matt: It’s been a decade since Kevin was introduced. This makes him one of the last additions to the Riverdale gang to reach iconic status (Archie added Toni Topaz, another queer character who would go on to be featured on Riverdale, in 2012). Were you expecting that when you created him?
Dan: My only goal is that he become a part of Riverdale, and that his introduction not come off as a one-time event. Fortunately, we’ve met that goal!
Matt: What has the reaction been to Kevin for you, as a creator and personally?
Dan: It’s been very rewarding to create a character that resonates with people so much! We have a large LGBTQ fan base. And many allies, too. And most of the longtime fan base have enjoyed having Kevin as a part of Riverdale (the TV show).
Matt: You’ve been involved in a number of successful Kickstarters for Die, Kitty, Die, your creator-owned series with Fernando Ruiz. What lessons have you learned there that can translate to this project?
Dan: Well, with each Kickstarter, you learn a little more each time. Hopefully that will help me with the Kevin Kickstarter!
You can back Kevin Keller Celebration!: A Tenth Anniversary Omnibus, on Kickstarter, where the campaign runs until Oct. 13.
Matt Lazorwitz read his first comic at the age of five. It was Who's Who in the DC Universe #2, featuring characters whose names begin with B, which explains so much about his Batman obsession. He writes about comics he loves, and co-hosts the creator interview podcast WMQ&A with Dan Grote.
