Today, for Presidents Day weekend, I was still getting over a nasty case of the head cold--a sinus infection plus bronchitis. I've had it for about a week already, I got some antibiotics, but I'm still plugged up in the head. I felt justified in laying in bed and spending some time reading the Prez: The First Teen President TPB. This isn't the new incarnation, but the one from the 70's, with some stories from the 80's, 90's, and even one from the 00's.
The original series, written by Joe Simon with art by Jerry Grandenetti, was kind of a head-trip of a comic. It was teen wish-fulfillment, but in a very optimistic and idealistic kind of way. Prez Rickard is elected by the American people to be the first teenage president of the United States. His cabinet members and appointees are also idealistic picks. His villains are of the psychedelic variety, such as the Chess Men, some vampires with political views, a resurgence of the Founding Fathers, and a modern-day Pied Piper with much clearer political leanings. It was entertaining in a retro 70's kind of way that would have been right at home with such 70's stories in Mad Magazine or House of Mystery or Eerie.
The second story is a Supergirl story written by Cary Bates with art by Art Saaf. It's not bad. It's kind of a light political story where Supergirl sweeps in to save the day from some rotten scoundrels who have a plan to take Prez down using, well, Supergirl.
Then there is a story that I'd read before--from Sandman--written by Neil Gaiman (natch) with art by Michael Allred and Mark Buckingham. In it, a hopeful presidential candidate, Prez Rickard, is visited in a dream by Richard Nixon, who gives him some helpful advice for his future as the POTUS. It follows through his presidency, with an unexpected guest star Wildcat, along with naysayer Boss Smiley, and eventually Death and Dream as well. This is a really strong story, and I can see now what I didn't see fifteen years ago when I first read it. It is a story that seemed crazy at the time, but is actually quite tame in retrospect.
Almost lastly, we have the story by Ed Brubaker and Eric Shanower, Prez: Smells Like Teen President. This was a part of the Vertigo Visions line. I had read this one--a few times--before as well. This has the former teen president go on a road trip during the 90's with a couple of his stoner buddies, in search for his father. Along the way, he visits past conquests, takes peyote, and goes on the existential Gen-X find-yourself journey that leads him back to realizing that it's not about where his roots are, it's about who he is now that matters. I love this story. Not because it is incredibly insightful (because that's questionable), but because it is right up there with Reality Bites and The Pixies' Trompe Le Monde as the ultimate slice of 90's at their most 90's.
Lastly, there is a forgettable bit about Prez from DK2. Not even the same thing as the rest of the book.
I had intended to read the second, much more recent edition, Prez: Corndog-In-Chief, today as well, but time got away. Hey, I had to install a new garbage disposal as well, so it just didn't happen. Maybe tomorrow.
Replies