If gay marriage is a threat to "the future of humanity," Archie Comics doesn't seem to mind.

Pope Benedict XVI called gay marriage a threat to the traditional family in his New Year address at the Vatican this week, saying it undermined "the future of humanity itself."

The Pope's harsh language was ironically relevant to the comic world, which also made a significant statement this week. Archie Comics featured their first ever same-sex wedding on the cover of Life With Archie #16, which came out Wednesday.

The series' first-ever gay character Kevin, a soldier, was introduced in April 2010. He marries his partner, Clay, a doctor. They met in a hospital rehabilitation unit while Kevin was recovering from an injury on duty in Iraq.

Kevin was introduced to the series "to reflect what's going on with kids today in the real world," Archie Comics chief executive Jonathan Goldwater told CNN.

But the Archie gang aren't kids any more. Life With Archie follows the Riverdale High characters in their 20s – and the societal issues the comic is tackling reflect that.

The Archie audience seems oblivious to any "threats to humanity," too – but if that's the case, at least they're blissfully ignorant. After Kevin's character was introduced, a four-issue miniseries on him sold out in 2011. Now he's reported to be getting his own series.

It's an admirable undertaking to try to defuse hot-button issues with humour and entertainment, especially for something as personal as the right to marry. But in a way that's appropriate for kids, too? Hats off to the Archie Comics crew.

What do you think about the inclusion of same sex marriage into the comic book series?