Maeve of Winter

Earlier this year, I had some thoughts (here, here, here, and here) on how the Riverdale TV series, based off of Archie Comics, treated Kevin Keller, who debuted several years ago as the franchise's first gay character. I was not pleased by the show's treatment of him, as the portrayal seemed rooted in dated stereotypes and unwilling to go beyond them, so it was with some trepidation that I picked up Riverdale #4, an issue of the associated comic book which focuses on Kevin. 

( Spoilers Ahead! )

 For the "All in the Family" Exchange, I received two wonderful fics. Here they are:

Title: Brotherhood
Author:
Fandom: G.I. Joe (Cartoon)
Link 
Summary: A reimagining of Falcon joining the G.I. Joe program.
Relationship: Duke & Falcon (Family/Friendship)


Title: Not Alone
Author: 
Fandom: G.I. Joe (Cartoon)
Link 
Summary: Falcon comforts Duke when his duties take a toll on him.
Relationship: Duke & Falcon (Family/Friendship)


I also wrote several fics for my recipient, zgory. Here are the fics:

Title: Voices From the Hills
Recip: zgory
Fandom: Riverdale/Archie Comics
Link 
Summary: Sheriff Keller first meets Kevin's mother when he almost runs her down with his patrol car.An explanation for the whereabouts of Kevin's mom in the series.
Relationship: Sheriff Keller/Kathy Keller


Title: Lonely In My Life
Recip: zgory
Fandom: Riverdale/Archie Comics
Link 
Summary: Kevin struggles with feelings of loneliness and worthlessness after he finds out the true reason Joaquin is dating him.
Relationship: Kevin/Joaquin, Betty/Jughead

 
Title: Worried For You
Recip: zgory
Fandom: Riverdale/Archie Comics
Link 
Summary: When Kevin works himself into exhaustion, the Sheriff is there to take care of him.
Relationship: Sheriff Keller and Kevin, father-son


Title: Return of the Prodigal Son
Recip: zgory
Fandom: Riverdale/Archie Comics
Link 
Summary: While waiting for Kevin to arrive home one stormy night, Sheriff Keller wonders about his ability to balance his career and family life.
Relationship: Sheriff Keller and Kevin, father-son


Title: Keller Family Values
Recip: zgory
Fandom: Riverdale/Archie Comics
Link 
Summary: Faced with an investigation that hits too close to home, Sheriff Keller struggles to keep the stress of his job from affecting his family life.
Relationship: Sheriff Keller and Kevin, father-son


Title: The Proper Way of Pleasure 
Recip: zgory
Fandom: Riverdale/Archie Comics
Link 
Warnings: Father/son incest, explicit sex
Summary: Kevin shyly approaches his father and asks him to take his virginity; Sheriff Keller is more than happy to oblige.
Relationship: Sheriff Keller/Kevin (Incest)


Title: Taking Charge
Recip: zgory
Fandom: Riverdale/Archie Comics
Link 
Warnings: Father/son incest, explicit sex
Summary: Worried that Kevin is working himself into exhaustion, Sheriff Keller decides to ensure that he rests by making him too tired to leave their bed.
Relationship: Sheriff Keller/Kevin (Incest)

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Spoilers below!

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 Spoilers below!

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 Spoilers and rant ahead!

Let me tell you about a character in Archie Comics named Kevin Keller. He is my favorite Archie Comics character of all time, with Reggie and Betty tying for a close second. Introduced in 2010 as Archie Comics' first gay character, Kevin was welcomed to Riverdale with open arms, quickly becoming close friends with both Jughead and Veronica. He quickly became president of his class, and one of his first acts was to build a 9/11 memorial on the school grounds. A military brat who'd travelled around the world, Kevin was interested in journalism and comic books, ran track, frequently engaged in eating contests with Jughead, entered a Jeopardy-like game show on national television, worked as a lifeguard, and counselled a former bully of his who was going through a rough time at home.

Very few of his stories focused on being gay, with even fewer centered on homophobia; his sexuality was acknowledged and 99.5% of the time simply accepted without second thought. No one significant really thought it was any big deal that Kevin Keller liked boys. In Afterlife With Archie (the zombie apocalypse AU), while Kevin does endure some homophobia from Reggie, he's also a badass archer who routinely takes out zombies with just a bow and arrow.

That is to say, the Kevin Keller of the comics is a far cry from the catty gay stereotype who appears on Riverdale for the sole purpose of being the gay BFFs with whatever female character is standing nearby.


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