Archies Comics Publications likes to publish letters from its young readers. The letters section in Archie & Friends (one of dozens of different titles chronicling the adventures of Riverdale teens) is called “Pep Talks,” presumably in honor of the now long-defunct Pep Comics, which in its 22nd issue (released in December, 1941) hosted the very first appearance of Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper and Jughead Jones. (Those stories can be savored in a new hardcover collection, Archie Firsts, from Dark Horse Comics.)

Reggie Mantle, Veronica Lodge, Moose Mason and others came along soon afterwards. The first regular black characters in the Archie gang—Chuck Clayton and his dad the school sports coach—were on board by the early ‘70s.

Anyway, the letter:

Dear Pep Talks!,

I heard that you be adding a new character that is gay. You are making a huge mistake!

Archie and his friends are good kids and wouldn’t hang out with a gay person. Please don’t do this!

N. Withheld,

Washington

 

The editor’s response (written in the voice of Archie Andrews himself):

Well, gosh…sorry to hear you feel that way, Mr. Withheld. Kevin’s a classy guy and I think I’ve got great taste in friends (Reggie excluded). But I think you’ve forgotten the nicest and bestest trait about Riverdale: we’re all pals and gals here! No matter what your skin color, orientation, religion, or even if you’re a teenage witch—everyone’s welcome, loved and respected in our town!

“Reggie here. ‘Bestest’ isn’t a word, you thimblewitted, carrot-headed gherkin.”

Well…some of us are respected, anyway…*sigh*.
I once went through a similar editorial moment at the New Haven Advocate, publishing a homophobic letter to the editor, fully aware of the tumult it might cause, and ultimately gratified by the positive debate it inspired. Archie Comics knows its market extremely well, and has been ramping up the diversity of Riverdale for years now. This was a well-tuned and useful response.

The gay character, Kevin Keller, by the way, has been granted his own four-issue miniseries as part of the comic named for his best friend, Veronica.