K.O. Kelly
Stepping out of the Golden Age with a debut in Pep Comics #65 (1948) courtesy of artist Irv Novick, K.O. Kelly is a charming piece of Archie Comics history who found a lasting home in the pages of Laugh Comics and the glamorous world of Katy Keene publications. With a publishing footprint stretching an impressive 64 years and two collector-recognized key issues to their name, this character proved far more enduring than a casual glance at the numbers might suggest. K.O. Kelly shares the page with some of Archie's most beloved figures — Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones, and Veronica Lodge among them — placing them squarely in that warm, fun-loving Riverdale orbit that has enchanted readers for generations. For collectors digging into the deeper corners of the Archie universe, K.O. Kelly is a rewarding find.
#65
Trivia
- 🗓️ K.O. Kelly first appeared in Pep Comics #65 in 1948 — that's 78 years ago. It's a recognized key issue.
- 🎨 Co-created by Irv Novick.
- 🏆 Ranks #2,612 of 59,192 characters in our catalog by number of appearances — one of the most-published characters we track.
- 📚 Appears in 59 issues across 22 different series.
- ⭐ 2 of their appearances are key issues collectors actively chase.
- 📈 Has appeared in comics for 64 years (1948–2012) — a true Golden Age mainstay.