Obama Packs a Gun in New Comic Book

Image from June's 'Youngblood #9'

 ENLARGE IMAGE

President Obama is portrayed as an under-siege, gun-toting John McClane-like President of the United States in a new comic book.

Creator Rob Liefeld has 5 simple words for anyone with a strong reaction to the images:

"It's just a comic book," he told Newsarama.

The comic he refers to is June's Youngblood #9, part 1 of a two-issue "First Strike" story arc that finds the White House under attack, with Barack Obama alone and on-the-run after his Secret Service detail is killed in rather graphic violent fashion.

President Obama, who has made previous unauthorized comic book cameos in Marvel Comics Amazing Spider-Man and Image's Savage Dragon to tremendous sales response, first appeared in the Youngblood title's previous issue, hand-picking the new line-up for the titular government-sponsored superhero team. But this is the first time the new Chief Executive will be woven so prominently into the fabric of an extended storyline, as well as perform provocative actions like picking up a gun to defend himself.

Image from June's 'Youngblood #9'

 ENLARGE IMAGE

"The White House is under attack, the President's life is in danger, he does what is necessary to survive after his Secret Service agents are killed," explains Liefeld. "He does not engage in a shoot out, he runs for cover after knocking over the clock as cover. But for the record he never fires the gun."

The often-controversial writer and artist says he's not expecting a strong public reaction to the imagery as the storyline has been promoted for months. Nor has he given a great deal of thought to using a real-life figure so conspicuously in a work of fiction.

"I imagine it's hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube," says Liefeld. "Look, Obama is more popular than Spider Man, Batman, and Wolverine combined. I have a government-directed super-team, he's the President of the United States. This makes sense. Is this the first time a sitting President appeared in danger in a comic book? I'm not certain, but I can't believe we're treading in uncharted waters.

"But if Secret Service comes to my door, I'll let you know."

Related:

Preview - Youngblood #9

Top 5 Things We Hope Obama Learned from Spider-Man