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Robert Greenberger
by Robert Greenberger
The hiring of Joe Simon in the early 1970s was a curious decision DC Comics publisher Carmine Infantino’s part. Simon had not been actively creating comic book material for a quickly altering market in years, working instead on Sick, a competitor to Mad. however Infantino was scrambling to contend with marvel as well as believed Simon may still have magic left.
His output was short-lived as well as an strange assortment of features aimed at a younger audience, which was a diminishing portion of the comics purchasing public. He provided up tryouts like the eco-friendly team in very first problem special as well as champion sports however his many notorious providing was Prez.
Prez: The very first teen President
Just as America was souring on president Nixon, right here was a fresh handle the Oval Office, featuring recently elected 18 year-old Prez Rickard. His escapades lasted a simple four issues, beginning in September 1973 before Infantino saw the sales as well as pulled the plug. The character endured, though, as well as continued to appear in different titles with the years before the recent new 52 incarnation. DC is now collecting those myriad appearances in Prez: The very first teen President.
In an interview with Gary Groth, Simon said, “I believed Prez was great. I believed the eco-friendly team was great. I assumption I was the only one. [Laughter.] But at that time, let me tell you something, nothing was going. Kirby was doing book after book, as well as they were bombing all over. You understand what the stating was? ‘If you want to stop the war, have DC publish it.’”
Jim Simon told The everyday Beast, “It was the early ’70s, Prez was produced in Joe Simon’s studio, in the home where we resided in Stony Brook, new York. I was assisting out in the studio. Jerry Grandenetti, the artist, who lived nearby, was there, as well as we were all kicking around concepts for a new comic book character that wasn’t a common superhero as well as that in shape in with those turbulent times. We got to speaking about a film we had all seen on TV that we enjoyed, Wild in the Streets, as well as riffed off the movie: what America may be like if the youth motion got one of their own into the White House. As you know, Joe produced the satirical-humor magazine Sick, as well as I believe he saw much more humor than drama in the Prez premise. all of us did eventually.”
Prez #2
Many a mom back in the day envisioned their child may someday grow to ended up being president of the United States. Martha Rickard took things one step even more as well as named her newborn child Prez. In a somewhat off-kilter world, Prez was tapped by manager Smiley to run for Senate after a constitutional modification lowered the voting age. Ignoring the political plans of Smiley, Rickard was fortunate to be in the best location at the best time as the 35 year old limit on being president was lowered as well as he was elected to the greatest office in the land.
Prez promptly named his mom as Vice-President as well as let his sibling ended up being his personal secretary. His native American good friend Eagle totally free was assigned to run the FBI. ever the environmentalist, Eagle totally free moved his office to a teepee on the banks of the Potomac River. Prez was in favor of gun manage and, no surprise, was targeted for assassination.
Then the fun started as Prez had to fend off the old guard represented by Smiley as well as his cronies, a right-wing militia led by the descendant of George Washington, as well as even a pack of legless vampires. then there was the USA vs. Russia chess match played by super-heroes firing energy rays at one one more while considering their next move.
Simon composed as well as edited the series with art by professional cartoonist Jerry Grandenetti, who likewise dealt with Simon on the eco-friendly team as well as The Outsiders, one more abortive idea (and unrelated to the Mike W. Barr-created team).
Supergirl #10
After the book’s unsurprising cancellation in March 1974, Prez next turned up guest starring in Supergirl #10, the final problem of that title edited by Robert Kanigher, just accepted a teenaged president in the DC Universe. The story from Cary Bates (who truly ought to have understood better), Art Saaf, as well as Vince Colletta saw the house maid of Steel save the president’s life from yet one more assassination attempt. It was all a configuration as a voodoo priestess named Hephzibah utilized a doll to manage Supergirl’s mind, making her the next assassin. She outwitted the criminal who hired Hephzibah as well as the world was when much more risk-free for democracy.
In an strange note, in spite of Prez preceding the DC Implosion by four years, his fifth as well as final problem was taken out of the wardrobe as well as included the ultra-rare Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2, however is thankfully included right here for the completests.
Sandman #54
It took nineteen years as well as Neil Gaiman to resurrect the teen president in, of all places, Sandman #54. Here, in a story illustrated by Bryan Talbot as well as Michael Allred, he’s understood as “The golden Boy” as well as has to offer with one more assassination attempt although this time around his heretofore unknown fiancée. When Prez does die, he discovers manager Smiley awaiting him however dream provides the grieving young guy a possibility to see alternating Americas, working now as a philanthropist.
Vertigo Visions: Prez #1
A few years later, Vertigo released Vertigo Visions: Prez #1 featuring “Prez: smells like teen President” by Ed Brubaker as well as Eric Shanower. A disillusioned young guy seeks out the former president, who has gone missing, believing he is Prez’s son. Prez is believed to have died from brain cancer, a physical manifestation of a metaphorical cancer growing in the collective spirit of the country because the conventional guideline from 1980-1992 under Ronald Reagan as well as George H.W. Bush.
Perhaps an even odder handle the character was seen in Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Rick Rickard is a computer program handling a human appearance as well as ending up being the very first synthetic intelligence to serve as commander in Chief. as well as yes, those pages will be here, too.
The final as well as many recent appearance was in The Multiversity Guidebook, which listings Earth-23 as being the world where Simon’s version appeared. A different Prez is an immortal world leader on Earth-47, funding the like Syndicate of Dreamworld, possibly a nod to Sandman appearance.
There’s bit question that this is one of the odder as well as yet much more compelling looks at a cult preferred character who continues to appear when you least expect it.
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Prez: The very first teen president SC
Classic covers from the Grand Comics Database.