Kevin Keller: Drive Me Crazy by Dan Parent

Kevin Keller: Drive Me Crazy Reviews

• 
  LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions)

  Kevin Keller: Drive Me Crazy is very episodic. In the first chapter, each of the characters has to present a report on an inspirational figure, and Kevin chooses George Takei. Takei finds out about his report and decides to pay Riverdale High a visit. In the second chapter, Kevin has some car problems that complicate a date at the drive-in movie theater. In the third chapter, Kevin is now dating his first ever boyfriend, Devon, but there's just one problem: Devon isn't out yet. In the fourth chapter, Kevin's secret admirer is back (his first appearance was in a previous volume I haven't read), and both he and Kevin are starring in Veronica's musical. Devon, meanwhile, struggles with jealousy.
  
  This is apparently the second (?) Kevin Keller volume - I thought about getting the previous one through ILL first but instead decided to just jump in.
  
  This read much more like the original Archie comics than the Archie and Jughead reboots did, despite being more in-your-face about its progressive aspects. I found the art style to be a bit creepy, with everyone smiling 90% of the time, the dialogue was stiff and not particularly well written, and the stories beat readers over the head with their messages.
  
  Kevin Keller is the first openly gay character in the Archie Comics universe, and it's great that he exists. It's also nice that he's not the sole gay person in Riverdale, although he seems to be the only gay guy that anyone is dating. In this one volume, Kevin goes on dates with three different guys and meets a fourth guy who was his secret admirer in a past volume. I was somewhat confused when Kevin said that Devon was his first boyfriend ever, since I'd thought Todd (in Chapter 2) was Kevin's boyfriend, and it seemed like Brian (in Chapter 1) might have been a past boyfriend of Kevin's.
  
  It was great that Kevin got a few stories that weren't solely focused on him being gay - his car borrowing troubles and date at the drive-in were a nice examples of this. Unfortunately, there were times when I felt like Kevin was more of a big gay after school special. The end of the George Takei chapter and the "oh no, my boyfriend is in the closet" chapters were particularly glaring examples. The George Takei stuff was corny, but the stuff in Chapter 3, with Devon, struck me as being potentially painful for some readers.
  
  Kevin began dating Devon knowing that Devon was still in the closet because his parents were homophobic and wouldn't support him the way Kevin's parents did. However, Kevin hadn't even arrived at their first date before he started to have problems with their relationship. He hated that he had to drive out of his way to meet Devon and that they had to be secretive. When kids at school started to find out, Devon said some hurtful (and extremely dated - "I'm not fruity or light in the loafers, as they say!") things to try to reestablish himself as definitely not gay. (Okay, seriously, I had to google "light in the loafers." Does anyone who is not in their 70s even use that phrase anymore?)
  
  Things between Kevin and Devon devolved to the point where Kevin said he couldn't date anyone who was still in the closet. And yeah, he has the right to decide what's best for himself when it comes to relationships, but I disliked that the "happy" resolution to their relationship woes involved Devon coming out and becoming homeless after his parents kicked him out. Veronica gave him a place to stay, but still.
  
  Oh, and one thing I noticed: although I'm pretty sure that even the original Archie comics allowed its characters to kiss on-page, the most Kevin did with anyone was hold hands or hug. After a bit of googling, I discovered that Kevin does get an on-page kiss later on in the series, so that's good. If two heterosexual characters can kiss on-page and still be considered sickeningly wholesome, two gay characters should be able to do the same. Although, from what I've read, Kevin's kiss results in him having to deal with a homophobic stranger's complaints.
  
  I don't intend to read more of this series, although I do have a Kevin Keller novel in my collection that I plan on reading eventually.
  
  Extras:
  
  Six pages of full-color illustrations of Kevin, Betty, and Veronica acting as fashion models.
  
  (Original review posted on
  A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
• 
  Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind)

  Kevin Keller is a groundbreaking character that Archie comics has determined to be a permanent fixture in the Riverdale gang.
  
  In this volume we find Kevin dealing with relationship issues since he's dating a young man who hasn't told the world or his family that he's gay.
  
  I enjoy how Kevin is a portrayed as a well rounded teen and not just token diversity.i also enjoy watching his and Veronica's friendship blossom. Yes they do the stereotypical mall shopping but It's more interesting how Veronica behaves around a man who wants nothing from her, but her friendship. Yes some of the story lines are a bit predictable but as time goes on in sure the series will just get better and better.
  #36 For Coyer: Read a book with a car on the cover
• 
  Kris

  Pluses: George Takei. Comic Con. Kevin is a super nice guy. Veronica writes an unintentionally hilarious play. Jughead dressed as Spock. Very little Archie presence, which is always a plus in my book.
  
  Minuses: Kevin’s first real boyfriend is a jackass. Kevin deserves better. Why is Jughead such an asshole to Veronica in this one? Stop it, Juggie. You’re my favorite.
• 
  Danielle

  I feel like I should be clear that this writing isn't exactly "good" - but Archie is nostalgic for me, and I'm enjoying watching Kevin go through the ups and downs of adolescence.
• 
  Namratha

  The usual fare involving teenager Kevin Keller fitting into Riverdale, traversing the murky waters of dating and facing a fair degree of bigotry, courtesy his sexual orientation.
  
  And yes, GEORGE TAKEI.
  George Takei coming to Riverdale.
  George Takei coming to Riverdale and standing up for the LGBTQ community.
  
  Basically,
  
  
  
  but in a catering-to-the-gentle-readers-of-Riverdale way.
• 
  April

  Kevin Keller: Drive Me Crazy
  By Dan Parent
  2013
  
  Kevin Keller issues #5-8.
  Can you believe that the George Takei issue is the least humorous? It was hard for me to believe too. The other 3 stories have more humor and gags, but the George related story has the most depth. Plus, in 4 issues, Kevin meets a boy he previously dated who wants to date again, goes on a date with boy #2, gets a boyfriend (boy #3), and has a former secret admirer show up (boy #4). A fun collection of stories, but wow, does Veronica lack depth.
  
  3 1/2 stars.
• 
  Emily

  It was pretty good for an Archie comic! Kevin spends a lot of time on Grindr while Veronica tries to mold him into a GBF and Jughead is a catty bitch (presumably pre-coming out as Ace? I'm unsure). His boyfriends kind of cover the whole gamut of teenage coming out experiences in less than a hundred pages and it was a bit much. But that's Archie for you.
• 
  Ashleigh

  -Can't quite wrap my mind around how Kevin, a comic book character who is not real, wants to go to Comic Con to get a picture with George Takei.
  
  -Seriously, why does Veronica hate Jughead so much? This was referenced in Afterlife too... I feel like I've read passing remark about how it's because he eats like a pig, but I need more information. Like a Once Upon a Time-type backstory here... I dunno Juggie does say mean stuff to her a lot, but his face is so chill... Also, he often has a point.
  
  -Suck it, Fifty Shades of Grey. THIS is how you say, "Oh My!" Yesssssssss.
  
  -Money version of Wonder Woman--nice.
  
  -Archie comics has a booth at comic con. Please visit that table. OMG.
  
  -Heroes is my favorie tv show ever. Why do I always forget Takei was in it???
  
  -An Action Comics parody cover???
  
  -Hilarious. Veronica should write plays more often. "Teenagers!Teenagers! What'cha gonna do?"
• 
  Kathleen

  Zany antics with the Archie gang! Archie's place at the center of the narrative is taken over by Kevin, here; Archie himself appears only as a background character with few lines. I never noticed this before, but all the dialogue is either a question or an exclamation!
  A more socially conscious comic than the old Archie, but keeps the same focus on school life, dating, misunderstandings, and the general problems of being a teen. The lead is just dating boys instead of girls!
• 
  Judah

  Kevin finally gets a Steady and we get to meet Kevin’s secret admirer. That particular story has some rough plotting, I actually had to go back and check that I wasn’t missing anything from before, since I was a bit lost. Not helpful is that the glimpse of the secret admirer in “Welcome to Riverdale” looks like Kevin’s boyfriend, rather than his true identity. Was something rescripted? Either way Kevin is waaaaaaaay too forgiving. This relationship is doomed from the start.
• 
  Jacob

  Public library copy.
  
  This was a fine effort by writer/artist Dan Parent and I'm now going to hand off the book to my two daughters, I know they'll enjoy the stories. There are 4 different stories featuring Kevin Keller and the first tale also has Star Trek actor George Takei visiting Riverdale.
• 
  Sean Kennedy

  At times the Keller stories are a little preachy, but I think considering the younger audience they are targeted at the loss of subtlety is needed. Kevin Keller is an extremely important addition to the world of Archie, and it's groundbreaking even at its mediocre points.
• 
  Laura Melton

  Funny and realistic, just the way I like my comics. :)
• 
  Tif

  This series reads too much like an After School Special.
• 
  Inge

  Archie's come a long way, but he has a very long way to go. Can we get some more POC and more realistic body proportions for the ladies of Riverdale?
• 
  Ryan

  This is my first time reading an Archie comic, and I enjoyed the cute story and even cuter art.
• 
  J

  Meh,