EARTH PRIME TIME: MATRIMONY IN RIVERDALE … THE GAY KIND

I learned last week while meeting my friend’s wife for the first time that you are to say “Congratulations” to the groom and “Best Wishes” to the bride. Today we double up on the congrats because Lt. Kevin Keller of Archie Comics is getting married to a Dr. Clay Walker in Life with Archie #16 on the shelves today.

Lieutenant Kevin meets the good doctor after recovering from an injury in the Iraq War. Some have hypothesized that Riverdale is in Mississippi, home state of Archie creator John Goldwater. That’s likely not accurate, as Mississippi has prohibited same-sex marriage since 1997, and has since amended the Mississippi Constitution in 2004 to drive the point home.

The Riverdale in my heart is no where near Mississippi, but could easily be in Western MA, out by the liberal arts colleges, green trees, rivers and my friend Maria’s farm.

There are also some sweet diners out there for sharing a milkshake with your special pal through a peppermint-striped straw.

Sugar, Sugar, & Sugar

Kevin’s not the only one stepping into wedded bliss; Archie Andrews recently scored two marriages in one wonderfully bizarre jump forward. There are two divergent timelines in Archie’s future where he marries each of his favorite ladies. We get to see him marry Betty Cooper for the stability, and Veronica Lodge for the nightclubbing and riches. It’s choose your own adventure, but the volume reads best when you contrast the two futures!

Archie Comics are devoted to the supermarket spinner rack crowd, as well as keeping connections to modern teenage life. This will be the first gay marriage on the cover of a comic book. Bonus points for the men in uniform, truly celebrating the repeal of DADT! That goes beyond being making a connection to being progressive, and I applaud any attention being given to these books. The company is slowly unfolding social commentary with the youthful gags found in an Jughead comic of yesteryear. I’m happy to live in a world where a seven year old will find this at a Supercuts, then bug Mom to pick up more comics at the store. Maybe that book will be Archie Meets Kiss!

U MAD?

It’s really too bad that my preview of Life with Archie #16 may be colored by the opinions of an 84 year old that probably never even read a comic book. On Monday, Reuters reported that the Pope is not buying this issue, and by supporting Kevin, we’re doomed.

In his papal trip down “Memory Lane”, no one gets laid and his pal Gov. Rick Perry will be sending Kevin and Clay back to the War in Iraq.

Combat his decree and make a bright future for the Lieutenant and Doctor! Let’s get Riverdale on the list of the Gayest Cites in America next year!

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE! CHECK OUT LEAGUE PODCAST HERE.

LEAGUE PODCAST Episode #103: It’s a new year, but the same old awesome for The League, as John, Clay and Dursin cover Fatale #1, Action Comics #5 and the Hogan’s Heroes reboot/re-imagining/redux/prequel, The League is working on (Patent pending, patent pending, patent pending.)