Barack Obama and Spiderman Save the Presidential Inauguration from Disaster!

It is no secret that President-Elect Barack Obama collected comic books as a child. One of his favorite characters was Marvel Comics' Spiderman. This month, Marvel Comics unveils a special commemorative edition of the presidential inauguration where our favorite superhero, Spiderman, is faced with two Barack Obamas (while every Republican in the country flinches at the thought of a double dose). Spidey must figure out which is the real Barack Obama and which is the impostor (also something the Republicans maintained was going on with the Senator during the campaign).

Marvel Comics Editor-in-chief John Quesada said, "When we heard that President-Elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics' Marvel Universe."

This is not the first time President-Elect Obama has been inked into a comics format. Obama was the subject of a graphic novel biography back in October (which the L.A. Times, tongue in cheek, referred to as the "October surprise"). It was part of a double set offered by IDW Publishing of Obama and presidential opponent Senator John McCain.

(But how cool is it that the president gets to team up with the world famous Spider-Man? If Obama don't watch out, he's going be world famous before long.)

The President-Elect has also admitted to being a collector of Conan the Barbarian comics. There is no word yet from Marvel Comics if there is a Barack Obama / Conan the Barbarian comic in the works. But in the comic book universe, anything is possible. Conan the Barbarian could step into a time warp and be transported to the future to help President Obama deal with those nasty terrorists or something. (Robert E. Howard would be so proud.) Or Marvel could pen a storyline in true Mark Twain fashion - a la A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court -- and send Obama back to Conan's time, where the president can use his centuries-advanced knowledge to deal with trouble in Cimmeria... or something. (Just think of all the things Obama could McGuyver in the ancient past. He's be like a wizard or a god. Some barbarians might take to calling him "The One.")

Perhaps he and Conan the Barbarian can compare six-pack abs...

Some are clamoring for the President-Elect to be included in a Superman comic. Obama once posed in front of a Superman statue in Metropolis, Illinois and had the image on his U. S. Senate website until recently.

Some have even attempted to bribe the President-Elect through his love of comic books. Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, who has himself been the guest-star in the adventures of Spiderman, signed a copy of Spiderman#573, whereon Stephen Colbert graces the cover. "The Colbert Report" host, ever in keeping with his over-the-top impression of a neoconservative talk show host, posited that Barack Obama was probably an autograph collector in addition being a collector of comic books. Colbert then had Marvel Comics illustrator John Quesada sign the issue as well. Placing it on his studio set's mantle, Stephen Colbert said it would sit in that place of honor until Barack Obama claimed it.

All he had to do was appear on "The Colbert Report."

So far, the President-Elect has not made it to the set.

The Amazing Spider-Man #583 will be available January 14.

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Sources:

News.com.au

LATimes.com

Telegraph.co.uk

Associated Press

"The Colbert Report," Comedy Central network