SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

February 20, 2014 by Brigid Alverson

Kevin Keller to become The Equalizer

February 20, 2014 by Brigid Alverson   Leave a Comment

Diehard Archie fans know that the Riverdale gang occasionally do a turn as superheroes; Archie Andrews first donned the cape of Pureheart the Powerful back in 1965, and he even had his own Pureheart comic for a short while. There was also an Archie Super-Teens comic in the 1990s that only ran for four issues.

Now Kevin Keller, Archie’s first openly gay character, is getting his own superhero persona, The Equalizer, in issues #14 and #15 of Kevin Keller. As writer and artist Dan Parent explains, he will team up with Veronica to fight crimes: “Of course, she always sort of screws things up, because at the same time he’s trying to solve a crime and fix Veronica’s mistakes too,” he told IGN. “It’s kind of silly, in a way. It’s kind of nice.”

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Naturally, Parent has put some thought into Kevin’s superhero name. The equal sign has been linked with the campaign for marriage equality, but Parent says it goes beyond that:

It’s not a term that we made up, obviously — it’s been used for batteries and TV shows — the word’s been used before. But it just symbolized him, because he stands for equality, and that’s what he’s trying to do. When he becomes a superhero, first he helps an old lady who’s getting attacked, then he saves this kid from getting made fun of, which, you know, he’s been in that place before. Then also, if a real crime is being committed, he’ll help stop that too. He’s an equal opportunity provider.

Although he will be a superhero, Kevin won’t have any superpowers—instead, he will be like Batman, someone who relies on his own strength and skills, along with some special gadgets. Veronica even sets him up with his own secret retreat: “She kind of builds their own version of a Batcave, but it’s Veronica-style, so it’s kind of like a cross between a Batcave and a mall,” Parent says.

Superhero stories bring up all kinds of interesting themes, and it sounds like Parent is exploring them—secret identities, vulnerability, and so on. In Kevin’s case, it may turn out that Veronica is his Kryptonite—despite, or perhaps because of, her desire to help.

Filed under: All Ages

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
All AgesArchie ComicsDan ParentKevin KellerThe Equalizer

About Brigid Alverson

Brigid Alverson, the editor of the Good Comics for Kids blog, has been reading comics since she was 4. She has an MFA in printmaking and has worked as a book editor and a newspaper reporter; now she is assistant to the mayor of Melrose, Massachusetts. In addition to editing GC4K, she writes about comics and graphic novels at MangaBlog, SLJTeen, Publishers Weekly Comics World, Comic Book Resources, MTV Geek, and Good E-Reader.com. Brigid is married to a physicist and has two daughters in college, which is why she writes so much. She was a judge for the 2012 Eisner Awards.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

September 2023

Scholastic Announces First Graphix Manga, Remaking Tezuka Classic | News

by Brigid Alverson

September 2023

Meems and Feefs | This Week’s Comics

by Brigid Alverson

September 2023

Sonic The Hedgehog’s 900th Adventure | This Week’s Comics

by Brigid Alverson

September 2023

Lights | This Weeks Comics

by Brigid Alverson

August 2023

Latest Smurfs Book Includes Previously Unpublished Story | Exclusive

by Brigid Alverson

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

A JUST ONE FLAKE Preorder Secret

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Apply for the Bechtel Fellowship, You Clever Librarians Out There!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Superman vs. Meshi | Review

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

Friday Exercise: Take backs allowed. #NotsoNewbery

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Grief, Hope, and Bittersweet Endings, a guest post by Victoria Wlosok

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Peter Brown Visits The Yarn to talk about The Wild Robot Protects

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

A Woman’s Place Is in a Graphic Novel: Outstanding Works for Young Readers Center Women in History

Best Graphic Novels 2020 | SLJ Best Books

10 Manga Titles for Teens Who Watch Anime

12 Latest Installments in Transitional, Middle Grade, and YA Graphic Novel Series

13 Graphic Novels To Look Forward to in 2020 | Stellar Panels 

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023