Barack Obama is to shed his pants in his new avatar. The American president will exchange his suit for a loincloth in a series of new comic books to be released in June.
Barack the Barbarian is a muscle-bound, loincloth-wearing President of ‘Kickassistan’ and is pictured in a fight to death with a screeching enchantress in the comic book The Righteous Retribution of Barack the Barbarian.
The comic book series also features former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who sports a cape made from wolf skin and her trademark glasses — and very little else. She is portrayed as his nemesis in the Quest for the Treasure of Stimuli. Chicago-based comics publisher Devil’s Due revealed its titles would involve Obama-related storylines.
It is not the first time Obama has appeared in a comic book title. He appeared in a Clark Kent-style transformation on the cover of comics, entertainment and pop culture magazine, Wizard. And in January, the 47-year-old was chosen as the star of the special issue of Marvel Spiderman comics because he was a childhood fan and used to collect the comics.
The Devil’s Due comics will also feature fictionalised versions of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former president George W Bush, a news report said.
Obama has proven to be commander-in-buzz for the comic book industry, where his highly-publicised five-page appearance in Amazing Spider-Man stimulated sales of the title to its highest level in nearly 15 years.
Drafted 100 Days folds Obama into Devil’s Due’s alternate reality world where the earth has united to fight off an alien invasion while in The Quest for the Treasure of Stimuli, Lara Hama (G I Joe, Wolverine) takes political satire to whole new level. She is not afraid to munch her words while poking fun at Washington’s sacred cows. According to The Maddowian Chronicles, Obama was the one destined to save the republic of America and dethrone the overpaid despots of the time.
Devil's Due took inspiration from a half-dozen other Obama comics, including the president's appearance with Spider-Man. And it’s not just comic books that are appropriating the image of Obama — or his family members. As recently reported, Ty, the maker of Beanie Babies, has produced dolls of the Obama children, Sasha and Malia, to the reported objection of Michelle Obama, who cited the children’s right of privacy.
So what does the future hold for Obama as a comic book character? While he still has a couple of appearances to make, given the announcements, the President’s likeness will probably fade from current comics within a few months as he battles the larger evil in global recession.