I've noticed in many fanfics that Keith's past involves either his parents disappearing or dying when he was young. Was there ever anything definitive said about his past, either in the show or comics? I know it touches on Pidge's past and a bit of Lance's (the lil' country boy ) but I'm just wondering why all the fanfics seem to have that common thread. Thanks all!

In the comics, his parents both died. I don't believe it said how - just that they were deceased. He also had a fiancee' in the comics- Beverly. She was, I believe, killed in an airplane accident.

But in the cartoon series, there is nothing known about Keith's past.

I think the whole idea of Keith's parents demise began with a fanfiction that was created by CBear (AKA: Claire) called, "A Princess and Her Knight". To my knowledge, that is the first fanfic that started off with the disappearance of Keith's parents, as a means to set up the perceived 'loner' and military minded disposition he has.

I can speak for myself in this - (and for Kelly aka: AlluraBlue4 as well)
Kelly and I have used this premise (Keith's parents being MIA, presumed dead during a mission) because it helps us to create a sort of 'bond' between him and Allura - a sort of kindred spirit.

~In GoLion, Allura's parents were murdered by Zarkon.

~In Voltron, Allura's father was killed by Zarkon in the battle of Zohur. (It is not stated how her mother died, only that she is dead)

For Kelly and I, having Keith's parents MIA, presumed dead gives the Princess and Keith an 'even keel' of understanding each other's feelings while giving each the ability to empathize better with the other. For the Princess, its a bit more of a challenge because Keith is not always an open-ended book. You kind of have to dig for things in his life, because in our stories, he pretty much keeps his past to himself. Only Lance knows the full story behind Keith's past because he is Keith's best friend and they grew up together, and eventually, Allura finds out as well.

But that's my two Arusian cents worth of opinion.

From what I had gotten of the story was that his parents were from Planet earth & still alive. Some fanfics say his parents died, but then also still alive working as high-ranking officers.

There was one fanfic entitled, "Lotor's Legacy," which had me cracking up. Keith's Mother had the same last name as Lotor's Mother, which had Lotor thinking Keith's mother was his own. Come to find out, both Mothers were sister. It was funny for Lotor & Keith to find out that they were cousins.

The next one was another fanfic. I forget the title, but it tells about Allura finding out that Lotor was her half-brother.

However in reality, we know nothing about Keith's past, because he never talked about his past on the show. It's up to fanfic writers to figure it out.

One person's past we've never heard about was Hunk & Sven's. They're's raises more questions.

me too isn't his history sort-of vague?

There was one thing we know, and it came from the FLEET OF DOOM. He got lost in the forest and was afraid trees were demons. He was even afraid of a little lizard and he thought it was a monster. Fortunately, he overcame those fears as a man.

For some reason I want to say that in the comics, his parents died in a car wreck. I’ll have to check on that for you.

I thought it just said they died 'tragically' when Keith was 12 years old?

Hmmm . . . sounds like my bio that I made up for my Keith about 2001. But to be far, I borrowed the idea from CBear (Claire) author of, "A Princess and her Knight".