Archie, Homosexuality and a Bridge Over Blue Waters

KEVIN KELLER

Are people’s sexuality still up for topic?

Given the opportunity to discuss Archie Comics’s April announcement that the comic book company will be introducing a gay character, CosmicBookNews contacted our old Bluewater buddy Adam Gragg who we interviewed back in March to discuss his bio-comic Female Force: J.K. Rowling.

Gragg has also written the 10th Muse, Bluewater’s upcoming Paparazzi comic (think “TMZ” meets super heroes) and has admitted to being in a same sex relationship; he was gracious enough to talk about Archie Comics, his work and the importance of crafting a story. 

Cosmic Book News:  What do you think of Archie adding a gay character? Do you think this is good representation for a demographic or pandering?

ADAM GRAGG: That’s a bit tricky. It could be one, the other or even a bit of both.

I think here in 2010, when there are more people accepting themselves and coming out, it’s becoming more apparent that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are everywhere. Having a gay character in Archie Comics certainly reflects our changing society and from what I’ve seen (only one page so far) he seems like a fairly normal guy.

However, if one is creating a gay character just for the sake of progress and not because it really has anything to do with the story then I would have to say it’s pandering.

With that said, I think it’s too early to tell if that’s the case or not.

Cosmic Book News: Do you think this is even a big deal?

ADAM GRAGG: Not to me.

Some of the older hardcore or traditionally minded fans may feel otherwise but like I said before; This is an example of changing times, and I’d like to hope (probably in vain) that people will continue to read and enjoy Archie Comics just as before (especially considering Kevin’s first story arc involves screwing with Veronica’s head…my kind of guy!). [LAUGHS]

Cosmic Book News:  How important do you think it is to focus on "character" in a story as opposed to something big for a plot point?

ADAM GRAGG: That’s a very good question!

I’ve always been a believer that ‘Story is King.’ The Story is the most important part and the characters are just there to move things along…it’s all part of the Theory of Narrative Causality.

I mean, if you think about it, any story can be told with a variety of different characters but ultimately, they are slaves in service to the story and if there is any deviation from what they are expected to do, readers or viewers (of movies and television shows) tend to get pissy.

Take a look at the recent big screen smash hit from last winter (I won’t name it, because I think we can all figure out the movie I am referring to).

It was a story that a lot of people were already familiar with, but had brand spanking new characters, and a vibrant mind-blowing way of telling a story that we’ve already seen before which resulted in unprecedented success (and I have no problem admitting I enjoyed it very much…despite having seen something similar on TV two weeks before involving native Americans).

I think it’s more important to focus on the story then on any specific character…no matter how big the character is.

Characters come and go but “THE STORY IS KING!”

Cosmic Book News: Have you written gay characters before?

ADAM GRAGG: Possibly.

In most cases, I don’t know. You could also ask, “Have you written straight characters before?” and I would probably give you the same answer.

Now there are occasions in which a character I write is explicitly gay, but really only because the story needed that fact to be apparent. I’m a big believer that sexual orientation should not define a person (and I’m probably gonna get a lot of bullshit for saying that) but it’s true.

I mean, when it comes down to it, all that really matters when it comes to sexual orientation is who you (ahem) connect with on that intimate level, whether it’s gay, straight, bi, Thai…whatever.

Anything beyond that is just window dressing.

Therefore, many characters that I write may be gay, or may be straight. It’s hard to say.

Cosmic Book News: Thanks so much, Adam!

ADAM GRAGG: Thank you!