Dan Parent, Creator Of Archie Comics's First Openly Gay Character, Comes To Megabrain In Rhinebeck
The comic creator will make a detour from the Dan Parent Convention Tour to meet fans in our region.
Since introducing the first gay character in Archie Comics 13 years ago, author and artist Dan Parent, appearing July 2 at Megabrain Comics in Rhinebeck, has proven there is radical power in normality. His confidently out character, Kevin Keller, is now as ubiquitous a member of the Riverdale crew as Betty or Jughead, and that’s exactly what makes him so important to the Archie fan base and the continued cultural relevance of the 83-year-old comic institution.
“The key to coming up with Kevin was that he not be a one off, that he become an enduring member of the gang,” said Parent. “It was a big step for us and we didn’t want it to be a stunt.”
Last month, during a special pride issue, Summer Lovin', Parent, who has worked at Archie Comics for 35 years, introduced another new character. Eliza Han is bi-racial, pansexual and an accepted new pal to Archie and his friends.
Stacy Banks and Eliza Han development art by Dan Parent with color by Rosario “Tito” Peña. Courtesy Archie Comics
“With Kevin, we knew our audience would embrace it,” Parent said of the initial launch of the character, even though it was met with right-wing indignation at the time. “The people that didn’t embrace it didn’t read it anyway.”
At Megabrain, which prides itself on being a hub for open expression and inclusivity, Parent will be signing comics and talking with fans in the store and arcade.
“I feel like the comic's longevity speaks to the want and need for more stories and characters like Kevin,” said Megabrain founder and co-owner Jean Michel. “It’s the same Archie Comics everyone knows, just one of his friends is gay.”
Parent said early on in his career when he struggled to introduce diversity into the comics, the ownership didn’t want to “rock the boat.” But when Jon Goldwater bought the company 15 years ago he was immediately receptive to Parent’s plan and told him to write the first comic featuring Kevin. The new kid in school, Kevin was immediately the target of Veronica's affection. When Kevin came out as gay to the rest of the cast, it was a complication in the plot of the story but it wasn’t a problem.
The story that introduced Kevin Keller was the first comic in Archie history to sell out and necessitate a reprinting. The success of the story was proof that Archie fans, old and new, were hungry for more diverse characters and stories. Parent said the popularity of the Kevin character prompted Archie Comics to pursue other new projects, like producing the hit television drama "Riverdale" (which prominently featured Keller as well), and introducing Han. While there has been a lot of praise for Parent's work, there has always been an amount of conservative backlash to the Keller character.
“The criticism doesn’t factor in too much because the overall reaction is good,” said Parent. “The new culture war word is 'woke' but I guess I just don’t care. We’re here for everybody. Riverdale is supposed to be for everybody, so you welcome diverse people into your town.”
The old saying, “in the circles where he is known, he is very well known,” is an understatement when it comes to Parent. His accomplishments championing diversity in the medium is heralded by fans at large conventions, but he's just as fond of more intimate appearances.
“Conventions are great but comic book stores are more laid back. Especially Megabrain. It’s so cool there,” Parent said. “You get to meet new people and really hear from fans.”
The best way to keep up with Parent’s upcoming projects and future appearances is to follow him on Instagram. His work will also soon be featured in the 60th anniversary comic edition of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Dan Parent at Megabrain Comics
Saturday, July 2, 1-4 p.m.
15 E Market St, Rhinebeck, NY
(845) 516-4168
