Life with Archie is set in a possible future where the Riverdale gang is all grown up. Keller, introduced in 2010 as Archie Comics' first openly gay character, is a newly elected senator pushing for stronger gun control. Archie will literally taking a bullet for Keller, who is targeted by an unknown assassin.

“[Archie] dies in the manner that epitomizes not only the best of Riverdale but the best of all of us,”  Archie CEO Jon Goldwater told the Associated Press. “We wanted to do something that was impactful that would really resonate with the world and bring home just how important Archie is to everyone. That’s how we came up with the storyline of saving Kevin. [Archie] could have saved Betty. He could have saved Veronica. We get that, but metaphorically, by saving Kevin, a new Riverdale is born.”

While Archie Comics historically played it safe when it came to real-world issues, in recent years the publisher has embraced contemporary topics, including gays in the military and marriage equality.