The fictional town of Riverdale is celebrating an unexpected marriage on the pages of the newest Archie comic 'Just Married,' but it isn't between the red-headed title-character and one of his two feuding girlfriends. The issue, which has recently sold out, features the first gay wedding to date in the series.
Keller is the first openly homosexual character featured in the Archie books and is an Iraqi-war veteran. His husband is an African American Doctor Keller met while at war. By tackling both interracial relationships and gay marriage in the same story, the retro comic book is hoping to be more representative of America's changing social landscape.
The most recent Archie comic Just Married has been flying off the shelves and is suggestive of the way the typical All-American family is being re-imagined. If Archie did it, perhaps it won't be too long before other publications follow suit.
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bleedingcool.com | comicrelated.com
Stigma-Slaying Stories
The New Archie Comic 'Just Married' Features its First Gay Marriage
Trend Themes
1. Increasing Representation in Comics - The success of the 'Just Married' Archie comic, featuring the first gay wedding in the series, highlights the growing demand for diverse and inclusive storylines in the comic book industry.
2. Exploring Social Change in Pop Culture - The inclusion of interracial relationships and gay marriage in the Archie comic reflects a desire to address and normalize important social issues through popular media, potentially inspiring other publications to do the same.
3. Redefining the All-american Family - The popularity of 'Just Married' signifies a shift in societal perceptions of the traditional All-American family, creating disruptive innovation opportunities for brands and marketers to cater to the evolving dynamics of modern families.
Industry Implications
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