Caped campaigners battling voter apathy

By Scott L. Miley, Herald Bulletin Special Projects Editor

Comic book heroes are stumping for politicians this year.

Savage Dragon, a green pointy-headed hero, publicly endorses Barack Obama on the cover of Issue 137. Dragon himself is a former, fictional presidential candidate.

In another comic book series, Wonder Woman appears on stage with a candidate who supports a strong military. He says, “We’re not a nation of warriors ... but we step up when we’re called to duty.”

Not being a U.S. citizen, Wonder Woman can only agree with the candidate’s beliefs but she won’t endorse him. As she and other superheroes battle a villain attempting to assassinate fictional candidates, they have to endorse politicos in the four-part “DC Universe Decisions.” (It is only natural that the Green Arrow comes out in support of a liberal “green” candidate.)

Writers and illustrators may be reminding readers to vote but the presence of politics in these stories may be more a sign of the societal trends that comic books follow.

“It’s a snapshot of the current politics,” said Martin Dale, comic book buyer for Danger Room Games and Comics, 2213 S. Scatterfield Road. “It’s a reflection of the American society and what people think is important.”

A good trend can make for good sales, enticing new customers to visit stores.

“Hopefully they’ll come pick up a comic,” said Pete Kilmer, general manager of Downtown Comics in Castleton on Indianapolis’ northeast side. “Another thing is to remind a person that, oh yeah, I guess I better go vote, which can only be a good thing.”

Besides the fictional fare, IDW Publishing, which has a reputation more with vampires and monsters, has published separate, factual biographies on Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain. Both are depicted on the covers as confident Americans; a U.S. flag waves behind them. The books can be purchased separately or as a combined “flip book,” one side is Obama, the other McCain.

Inside are biographies with blemishes.

Obama’s book begins with a dejected candidate losing Super Tuesday (Feb. 2, 2008) races to Sen. Hillary Clinton. His life is depicted with side stories about a credit card being rejected at the 2000 Democratic National Convention and with references to controversies over his fiery pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and his acquaintance with anti-war activist William Ayers.

McCain’s story, however, caters more to graphic illustrations due to his military service. There are drawings of McCain as prisoner of war and crashing jets — pictures ripe for color and action. Yet there are also panels referring to McCain’s mid-1980s trips to the Bahamas paid by Charles Keating, known for his role in the failed savings and loans scandal.

“It’s been the general consensus that they’re fairly balanced and written fairly,” said Dale at Danger Room. “I find they’re mostly selling to collectors, people who back either candidate.”

Kilmer said he has sold a number of both books to teachers who take them to the classroom.

While both books have the appearance of editorial balance, another comic book released this week makes no apologies.

This month’s “Tales From the Crypt” depicts Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin swinging a hockey stick at ghouls. Inside, publisher Papercutz takes a swipe at reports that Palin sought to ban books for a library when she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. Palin has said she was asking a rhetorical question about ways to remove books from the shelves, trying to understand the library’s policy.

Book banning is a natural enemy to Papercutz, said Editor-in-chief Jim Salicrup.

“Tales From the Crypt,” then published by EC Comics, fell under scrutiny in the 1950s during a Senate subcommittee hearing on juvenile delinquency. The lurid comic books led to industry self-regulation.

Sixteen months ago, Papercutz revived “Tales from the Crypt.”

“Whenever we hear anything about banning books, we pay attention,” said Salicrup. “We see it not so much as political as this particular issue which we’re ultrasensitive to.”

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Spidey saves Colbert

Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s satirical “The Colbert Report,” is portrayed as a presidential candidate with little support in the most recent issue (No. 573) of “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

In a short, silly story line, Colbert is shown in the first cartoon panel at a rally for his campaign, accepting a check for $100. The second panel shows the event is attended by less than a dozen people. Colbert is attacked by a bank robber dressed as a bear. Colbert mistakes the bank robbery as an assassination attempt. He’s saved by Spidey.

In 2007, Colbert was joking but tried to get on the Republican and Democratic ballots in his home state, South Carolina. After the campaign died, Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada suggested Colbert get on a make-believe ticket via the comics. A Colbert presidential billboard appeared in a previous Spider-Man comic.

“As he'll be the first to tell you, Stephen Colbert is a true American hero,” said Quesada.

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