Archie and the Gang Boycotting Russia

The Archie comic book series, already known as gay-friendly due to its inclusion of an out character, will not include Russia in a future storyline because of the rising tide of homophobia sweeping that country.

While at the Wizard World Comic-Con Chicago this weekend, the comic book artist and writer behind Archie's gay Kevin Keller character — Dan Parent — called the intolerance in Russia "upsetting."

"Russia should be boycotted, so much so that actually in an upcoming special four issue story arch I’m writing the Archie gang are going to take a world tour to four countries," Parent told Back2Stonewall. "Russia was to be one of them. But they’re not going there now. They just can’t and they won’t. They love and support Kevin.”

Aside from creating the popular Kevin character (pictured), Parent has introduced several LGBT-relevant issues, including bullying and "don't ask, don't tell," into the pages of the 69-year-old comic.

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