Barack Obama in comics

Barack Obama has appeared as a character in comic books published by a number of publishing companies, sometimes appearing as a realistic fictionalized version of himself and sometimes as a spoof.

Publication history
Obama made his first appearance as a comic book character in July 2007 in Licensable BearTM No. 4 by Nat Gertler and, where he appeared as a U.S. Senator. The comic only had a print-run of 1,050 issues. A year later, in September 2008, Obama appeared in Erik Larsen’s Savage Dragon No. 137. This issue featured a variant cover which showed Obama with the Savage Dragon, who proclaims that he is endorsing him for president. The issue sold out four print runs. A month later, the comic was followed up by Presidential Material: Barack Obama by Jeff Mariotte and in November 2008 with Obama: The Comic Book by Rod Espinosa.

In November 2008, two things led to an explosion in popularity of the Obama comic book character. One of Obama's advisers gave an interview to journalist Jon Swaine of The Daily Telegraph titled, "Barack Obama: The 50 facts you might not know." In the interview, it emerged that Obama collects "Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian." Then later that month, on November 4, 2008, Obama became the first African-American to be elected President of the United States.

When Marvel Comics discovered the president-elect was an avid collector of Spider-Man comics, they decided to have Obama the comic book character be put on the cover of their The Amazing Spider-Man No. 583 (January 2009), for the story "Spidey Meets the President!" written by Zeb Wells. This particular release proved extremely popular and sold out in a matter of minutes. A day after the release, the edition was sold for $300 on eBay. Prior to the Spider-Man story, the president-elect was featured in Secret Invasion #8; this is the first appearance of president-elect Barack Obama in a Marvel comic.

Obama the comic book character has been put on the cover and pages of many other comics including Savage Dragon No. 145 (February 2008) by Erik Larsen and Youngblood No. 8 (February 2008) by Rob Liefeld. The Savage Dragon No. 145 had a special edition variant only offered at the WonderCon 2009 in San Francisco in March 2009 (only 1,500 were produced). On the cover, Barack Obama can be seen holding an American flag and punching Osama Bin Laden in the face.

Barack Obama is the subject of graphic novel "Barack Hussein Obama" by Steven Weissman. In this, President Obama and his cast of characters (Secretary Clinton, VP Joe Biden, his family) experience life in a parallel universe.

Barack Obama has also appeared in Archie Comics Veronica #199, and Archie #616 and #617.

President Obama was in the Flashpoint Storyline of DC comics of 2011. He discusses the earth members of The Green Lantern Corp with Amanda Waller.

Comics featuring Barack Obama

MAD Magazine #479 Publisher – Mad (magazine), Release – July 2007
Captain America #41, Publisher – Marvel Comics, Writer – Ed Brubaker, Artists – Steve Epting, Rick Magyar, Release – October 2008
Secret Invasion #8, Publisher – Marvel Comics, Writer – Brian Michael Bendis, Artists – Leinil Francis Yu, Mark Morales, Laura Martin, Release – December 2008
Barack Hussein Obama Book 1, Publisher – Fantagraphics Books, Inc., Writer/Artist – Steven Weissman, Release – November 2012
Licensable BearTM No. 4, Publisher – About Comics, Writer – Nat Gertler, Artist – Lonny Chant, Release – July 2007
Savage Dragon No. 137, Publisher – Image Comics, Writer – Erik Larsen, Artist – Erik Larsen, Release – September 2008
Presidential Material:  Barack Obama, Publisher – IDW Publishing, Writer – Jeff Mariotte, Artists – Tom Morgan, Release – October 2008
Obama:  The Comic Book, Publisher – Antarctic Press, Writer – Rod Espinosa, Artist – Chris Allen, Release – November 2008
The Amazing Spider-Man #583: "Spidey Meets the President!", Publisher – Marvel Comics, Writer – Zeb Wells, Artists – Barry Kitson, Mark Farmer, Dean White, Cory Petit, Release – January 2009
08: A Graphic Diary of the Campaign Trail, Publisher – Three Rivers Press, Writer – Michael Crowley, Artist – Dan Goldman, Release – January 2009
Savage Dragon No. 145, Publisher – Image Comics, Writer – Erik Larsen, Artist – Erik Larsen, Release – February 2009
Youngblood No. 8, Publisher – Image Comics, Writer – Rob Liefeld, Artist – Rob Liefeld, Release – February 2009
Thunderbolts #128–129, Publisher – Marvel Comics, Writer – Andy Diggle, Artist – Roberto De La Torre, Release – March–April 2009
Female Force: Michelle Obama, Publisher – Bluewater Productions, Writer – Neal Bailey, Artist – Ryan Howe, Release – April 2009
 Drafted: 100 Days one shot, Publisher – Devil's Due Publishing, Writer – Mark Powers, Release – June 2009
Barack the Barbarian, Publisher – Devil's Due Publishing, Writer – Larry Hama, Artist – Christopher Schons, Release – June 2009
President Evil, Publisher – Antarctic Press, Writer and artist – David Hutchison, Release – July 2009
Political Power: Barack Obama, Publisher – Bluewater Productions, Writer – Chris Ward, Artist – Azim Akberali, Release – September 2009
Army of Darkness: Ash Saves Obama, Publisher – Dynamite Entertainment, Writer – Elliott Serrano, Artist – Ariel Rey Padilla, Release – September 2009
Air Gear , Publisher – Weekly Shōnen Jump, Writer – Oh! great, Artist – Oh! great, Release – Chapter 227
Gamble Fish, Publisher: Weekly Shonen Champion, Writer: Aoyama Hiromi, Release: March 2007
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters No. 1, Publisher – IDW Publishing, Writer – Eric Powell, Artist – Phil Hester, Release – March 2011
Veronica #199
Archie #616 and #617

See also
Depictions of Barack Obama

Notes

References

External links
Lining Up for Obama and Spider-Man (New York Times, 1/14/09)
PREVIEW: "Political Power: Barack Obama" (MTV Splash Page, 5/22/09)

Comics
Fictional presidents of the United States
Obama, Barack
Comics set in Washington, D.C.
White House in fiction
2007 comics debuts
Black people in comics