Life with Archie comic book character Archie Andrews killed trying to save gay mate
THE famous freckle-faced comic book icon Archie is to be killed off, taking a bullet for his openly gay best friend, it has been revealed.
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ARCHIE Andrews will die taking a bullet for his gay best friend.
The famous freckle-faced comic book icon is meeting his demise in the next instalment of “Life with Archie” when he intervenes in an assassination attempt on Kevin Keller, Archie Comics’ first openly gay character.
Andrews’ death will mark the conclusion of the series that focuses on grown-up renditions of Andrews and his Riverdale pals, Comics Alliance reported.
“The way in which Archie dies is everything that you would expect of Archie,” said Jon Goldwater, Archie Comics publisher and co-CEO.
“He dies heroically. He dies selflessly. He dies in the manner that epitomises 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.”
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Keller’s character first joined Veronica Lodge, Betty Cooper, Jughead Jones and Reggie Mantle in the Archie Comics spin-off “Veronica” in 2010.
He later appeared in his own solo title. In “Life with Archie,” Keller is a gay married military veteran and newly elected senator who’s pushing for more gun control in Riverdale after his husband was involved in a shooting.
“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,” Goldwater said.
Who shot Archie? Goldwater isn’t spoiling the killer, only teasing it’s a stalker who wanted to take Keller down.
Andrews’ final moments will be detailed in issue 36, while issue 37 will jump forward a year and focus on the Riverdale gang honouring the legacy of their red-headed pal.
Archie first appeared in comics in 1941 and went on to become a colourful icon of wholesomeness.
Goldwater notes that Andrews’ passing isn’t just a publicity stunt but also a lesson about gun violence and a declaration of diversity in the new age of Archie Comics.
Archie Comics has more broadly striven to appeal to modern sensibilities by launching a spin-off series called “Afterlife with Archie”.
It envisions a zombie outbreak coming to Riverdale and enlisted“Girls” creator and star Lena Dunham to write a four-part Archie story set for release next year that chronicles the production of a reality TV show in Riverdale.
“This makes a great deal of sense given how topical ‘Life with Archie’ has become since it abandoned the weird wondrous parallel universe storyline of its early issues,” wrote Chris Cummins of DenOfGeek.us. He added: “Not to be too grandiose, but this demise is a fitting and tonally perfect tribute to a character who has always put his friends first. This is a publicity stunt for sure, but one with heart that will have permanent ramifications.”
Originally published as Life with Archie comic book character Archie Andrews killed trying to save gay mate
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