A Duck In The White House?

Presidential elections have become an increasingly pervasive part of our culture, with each campaign season seemingly getting weirder and weirder.

Presidential elections have become an increasingly pervasive part of our culture, with each campaign season seemingly getting weirder and weirder. Comic books have long been a medium for social commentary, and presidential campaigns have provided fertile ground for storytelling. Several iconic characters have thrown their hats into the political ring, each bringing unique perspectives to the fictional electoral process, and we’re coving some of our favorites below.

Howard The Duck
The first (and only) duck to run for President, Marvel’s Howard the Duck, created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik, ran a satirical campaign way back in 1976. With the campaign slogan, “Get Down, America!” (we don’t know what that means either.) Howard’s status as an outsider allowed for pointed critiques of the American political system, and got fans talking. What can we tell you...it was the 1970s...

Prez Rickard
One of the earliest examples of a comic book President is Prez Rickard, created by Joe Simon and Jerry Grandenetti for DC in 1973. Prez, a teenage prodigy, became the first 18-year-old president after a constitutional amendment lowered the age requirement. His series explored political idealism in the post-Vietnam era.

Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor, Superman’s arch-nemesis, achieved his ultimate power play by becoming president in DC’s main continuity in 2000. Written by Jeph Loeb, Luthor’s presidency explored themes of corruption, power, and the dangers of a businessman-turned-politician, eerily presaging real-world events. You can still find a really nice trade collecting this story arc.

Etrigan
In a more lighthearted vein, Etrigan the Demon, a hellish antihero created by Jack Kirby, ran for president in the mini-series “Etrigan for President” (1992). His campaign slogan, “A Demon for the White House? Why Not? We’ve Had Worse!” exemplifies the satirical nature of many of these storylines.

Captain America
Captain America, the living embodiment of American ideals, was drafted to run for president in a 1980 storyline. Though he ultimately declined, the scenario allowed writers to explore the tension between patriotism and political reality.

These fictional campaigns serve multiple purposes. They allow writers to comment on real-world politics, and often reflect the anxieties and hopes of their eras. From the idealism of Prez Rickard in the 1970s to the cynicism of Lex Luthor’s presidency in the early 2000s, these campaigns mirror shifting attitudes towards politics and leadership in American society. We always vote here at CSN HQ, but this year we’re yearning for a duck in the oval office.