Archie Comics covers with Sarah Palin and Odumbo

O-liitico ^ | sept 26, 2010 | patrick gavin

[max americana]

It was revealed earlier this month that Archie Comics had put President Barack Obama and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on the cover of 'Archie' issues #616 and #617. On the first cover we peeked, the two pols are featured looking downright friendly: Obama and Palin share a milkshake, prompting Archie to declare, "Wow, I guess *anything's* possible!" Inside, Obama and Palin get involved with Riverdale High's student government election, in which Archie is running against Reggie.

But, lest you think the comic book is all mush, POLITICO has learned that the company is set to announce two covers on a less bi-partisan theme: Palin and Obama fighting it out.

Archie Comics will announce on Tuesday variant covers on the Obama-Palin theme, with one cover showing Obama poised to clash with Palin in midair, while another — labeled "The Fight for America!" — depicting Obama and Palin sporting boxing gloves, prepped to spar with one other. Obama is dubbed "The Chicago Kid" while Palin gets named "The Thrilla from Wasilla."

Archie Comics co-CEO Jon Goldwater told POLITICO that the company had received so much positive feedback on the first Obama/Palin cover (which made the rounds last week) they decided, why ruin a good thing?

"We sat around and talked and said, 'Holy toledo!' This is something that we should take a look at and bring the president back on the cover for." (He said he just reached out to both the Palin and Obama camps and predicted that "I'm sure that we're going to hear from them" about their comics).

"At the end of the day, President Obama and Sarah Palin completely come from opposite sides, but they both want the same thing: The best interests of the United States. And we figured Riverdale High School was a place they can unite," he said.

[WileyC]

There's something profound gong on here and maybe it's just obvious but I'll state it openly: The writers put Obama and Palin on an equal footing with these covers. NOT McCain, NOT Gingrich, NOT any of the other possible candidates that have had a decent amount of face time. I truly believe the writers/editors understand that these two people occupy the opposite sides of the political/ideological spectrum. Even if they present both equally well and without any preferences, they are made equivalent. The sitting president and a former governor? Isn't that stunning?

Now it may just be that Sarah is the most photogenic conservative they could come up and also one likely to be recognized by their readers. But isn't this a telling reason to look to Palin for 2012? We need someone who is a sharp contrast from borderline Communism (we already know our Govt is currently socialist, right?) as our standard-bearer.

[Oztrich Boy]

Red Sarah was also a pretty good likeness (no idea who the black dude is supposed to be)