Obligatory President Obama Likes Comic Books Reference
The fact that President Obama likes comic books is well-known among the geeky. He keeps reminding people with photos like this one, where the Fan in Chief poses with Nichelle Nichols and rocks a Live Long and Prosper hand sign.
This news item from Bleeding Cool, a site for nerdy comic book related news and trenchant debate, speculates that perhaps someone will “smuggle a Miles Morales Spider-Man comic” to President Obama. The logic they use for said speculation is more convoluted than a comic book storyline. But that’s ok.
In case you don’t know who Miles Morales is or what the thwip he has to do with Spider-Man, here’s the deal. After the break, in case you really don’t want to have me spoil it for you. (Note: its not a big deal, but we try to accommodate all levels of nerdiness here.)
OK, ready?
In the Ultimate Marvel Comics Universe, which is different from the main Marvel Universe, Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, is dead. He died in battle with the Green Goblin, who in this version is still Norman Osborn but the Ultimate Green Goblin is more powerful; instead of a businessman who takes a potion to get stronger and uses gadgets, you have a businessman who turns into a horrific creature that can shoot fire from his mouth. Anyway, Peter gets himself killed by the Goblin.
So somehow this kid named Miles Morales gets bitten by a radioactive spider. Just like Peter Parker! Except that the spider is in his Uncle’s house for reasons that are unclear to me. In the Ultimate Marvel U, there are multiple radioactive spiders and I think they were created by Norman Osborn. I’m not sure, feel free to correct me.
See? Geek Gold Card, folks. Use it wisely.
What does this have to do with the Prez? Well, Miles Morales is Black. This was controversial to people like Glenn Beck, aka dipsticks. Linking the comic to President Obama is a bit of a stretch and basically link-baiting, which isn’t exactly a crime.
That said, President Obama would probably agree with me when I say that Spidey’s motto-with great power there must also come great responsibility-is good advice for all world leaders.
