Me Geek, You Geek

I would like to offer this post as a call to all comic book publishers and comic book creators.  Big and small.  Indie and Main.  And I guess even, Democrat and Republican.

KEEP OBAMA OUT OF MY COMIC BOOKS!

I recently had enough of the comic book universe's collective "obamagasm" when I opened up my mailbox and found the latest issue of Wizard magazine.  On the front cover, again, is our POTUS.  This is the May issue, Obama was elected in November, inaugurated in January...do we still need to have him on the cover of our comic book news magazine 5 months later?!

This specific issue of Wizard had a "Presidential Material" article (display case really) highlighting all of the merchandise, comics, and toys (yes toys....don't you want your Obama Paper Dolls?) that has come out since the election.  And on the cover the line read: "The Obama's!  Barack and Michelle Rule Comics, Toys and More!"

Yikes.

Now, I'm all for historical moments.  I'm all for people expressing themselves in their art/creations/etc.  But let's be honest here.  This guy is the President of the United States!  He's not the latest American Idol finalist.  He's not the latest teen sensation (actually...the publishers wouldn't get away with doing this about anyone else since they would be sued for using their likeness).  He's the President of the United States!

I would hope there would be some respect for the office, if not for the POTUS.  For crying out loud, these are comic books!

So why are publishers using Obama in everything?  Are they dedicated to his cause?  Maybe.  Are they overtaken by the historical moment?  Possibly.  Are they looking to ride on his coattails and make a pretty penny off his notoriety?

In the words of Obama's defeated opponent:  "You betcha!"

Obama has been used in the Spider-Man comic that has sold about 18.5 trillion copies (I think we could bailout all failing companies in the USA with what issue #583 brought in).  He's been used in two Savage Dragon issues.  And Youngblood #8 (I wonder if Liefeld drew Barry's feet?).  Plus there are many more that came out since the election ramped up and Obama was the front runner.

But it's ridiculous.

As written in Wizard magazine, the synopsis for Youngblood #8 goes a little something like this:

"In a backup story by Liefeld, Obama puts together a new Youngblood team while defending the White House as the Presidential Action Hero that he is!"

Presidential Action Hero.

Ugh.

So again, I plead with the comic community, please stop disrespecting the office and the position just to make a lousy buck.

And yes, I would be posting the same thing if McCain would have won and then had a double page spread in Wizard magazine and was showing up in comics.  Cause I guarantee they would have showcased McCain in the exact same way.

Ha...I made a funny.

Labels: Comics, Daily Rant

Posted by Jon on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 11:47 AM | Permalink