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Prez #1-6
Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog-in-Chief
Meet Beth Ross, the first teenaged President of the United States. In a nation where corporations can run for office, the poor are used as human billboards, and tacos are delivered by drone, our only hope is this nineteen-year-old Twitter sensation. But the real question isn’t whether she’s ready for politics—it’s whether politics is ready for her.
Writer Mark Russell (God Is Disappointed in You) and artist Ben Caldwell (Star Wars: Clone Wars) take on a very unusual hero in these stories from PREZ #1-6, along with the Sneak Peek story from CONVERGENCE: BATGIRL #2.
Writer Mark Russell (God Is Disappointed in You) and artist Ben Caldwell (Star Wars: Clone Wars) take on a very unusual hero in these stories from PREZ #1-6, along with the Sneak Peek story from CONVERGENCE: BATGIRL #2.
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2016
15 people are currently reading
1031 people want to read
About the author
Mark Russell
435 books384 followersMark Russell is the author of God Is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now. He also writes the comic book series Prez and The Flintstones for DC Comics. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
April 4, 2016
Surprisingly sharp and relevant political satire that takes aim at the most deserving of all targets: corporatocracy. You know, the corporate-controlled political system that is currently destroying the planet. To be sure, the story is officially science fiction - this is a Time Warner publication, after all.
February 16, 2016
America, 2036. Beth Ross is a 19 year old college student working part-time at a corndog place, filming a training video where she accidentally burns her hair - which of course gets uploaded to the internet. The video goes viral and she becomes known as “Corndog Girl”. Regardless of being able to vote via Twitter, voter apathy is at an all-time high for the new election. Hacker collective Anonymous (they of the V for Vendetta masks) decide to put Corndog Girl up as a protest campaign - and she wins. Beth Ross aka Corndog Girl is… President of the United States!?
Writer Mark Russell and his art team, headed up by Ben Caldwell and Mark Morales, revive Joe Simon (Captain America’s co-creator) and Jerry Grandenetti’s short-lived DC comic from the early ‘70s about teenager Preston Rickard who inexplicably becomes President. This time though the protagonist is a girl but with similar characters from the original comic, like the antagonist, Boss Smiley, who’s a CEO with a smiley-face logo obscuring his real face. It’s also part of the relaunched line-up dubbed DC You and one of the best new DC comics I’ve read in some time!
The setup is clearly satirical and, like all great satires, the tone switches from comedy to pathos throughout to nail its targets effectively. It’s also a dystopian story, a genre which, while often set in the future, is always about the present, and the world of Prez is, sadly, all too familiar.
The government are spying on its citizens, corporations hold far too much political clout, novelty candidates become serious candidates (Trump), healthcare is bankrupting families, the public can “like” a candidate during a televised debate, politicians are getting stuff they want in return for votes/favours, there are border problems and immigrants are getting screwed with crap jobs and slave wages, warfare is conducted by Americans continents away who view it as a video game, and ordinary people are hauled off to Guantanamo Bay for being non-white and having the temerity to be living within warzones. The Church of Wormology, which believes that every living thing, including micro-organisms, have a right to life, feels very much like the pro-life crowd too.
Trial by Facebook doesn’t seem that far off given the public judge people on social media like Twitter already, and I’m sure we’ll soon start seeing candidates appearing on Youtube shows because more people watch those instead of traditional TV.
Russell pulls off the extremely tricky juggling act of going from groan-worthy comedy (the Majority Whip is literally whipping someone), to biting satire (where the poor shoot themselves on live TV for entertainment/money), to cold reality (dead kids in the Middle East). It’s remarkable how a book that has something as genuinely funny as Carl, the End-of-Life Bear, and the death of Beth’s father in the same scene manages not to feel stilted as it switches from humour to moving drama.
The original Prez, Preston Rickard, is now an old man but offers to help Beth as her VP with a salient piece of advice: “Do you know how hated presidents stay alive? They find a Vice President who is hated even more.” That said, I haven’t read the original comics so I’m not sure what he did to make him so hated - I’m guessing, considering this is America, he was anti-gun/Christianity/big business and pro-affordable healthcare/peace/social programmes?
Prez is a compelling read because of the various plotlines Russell expertly spins out. I’m not going to go into the details here but broadly they involve an eccentric billionaire who owns Delaware (whose surname is Wayne but isn’t Batman - he at least has the sense to know his billions can create real change through investment rather than dressing up as a “Dark Knight”!), a disease called Cat Flu that’s ravaging the nation, Beth’s decision to end all America’s wars and go on a global apology tour, and a robot killing machine that gains sentience and changes its name from War Beast to Tina! It’s really good stuff. I’m surprised Prez was actually published under the DC banner as this feels more like a Vertigo title - fans of the Vertigo series Transmetropolitan will definitely enjoy this one.
If there’s a criticism it’s that a 19 year old former fast food employee adapts into the role of Leader of the Free World a little too easily - she’s being a klutz when we first meet her and by the end she’s conducting complex negotiations and effortlessly making decisions on global issues! It’s also definitely got a liberal flavour to it which more conservative readers might dislike (not me, I’m a “socialist” Brit!), though Russell portrays both Republicans, Democrats, and all of Washington DC as useless fuckwits! So there is some nonfiction mixed into the fiction...
Otherwise, Prez is an outstanding title; a clever, sharply observed and inventive satire on the America of today through the facade of the America of tomorrow - definitely one of the best from DC I’ve read in some time. If quality like this is what DC You has in store for us, I’m all for it. I vote for everyone to pick up Prez!
Writer Mark Russell and his art team, headed up by Ben Caldwell and Mark Morales, revive Joe Simon (Captain America’s co-creator) and Jerry Grandenetti’s short-lived DC comic from the early ‘70s about teenager Preston Rickard who inexplicably becomes President. This time though the protagonist is a girl but with similar characters from the original comic, like the antagonist, Boss Smiley, who’s a CEO with a smiley-face logo obscuring his real face. It’s also part of the relaunched line-up dubbed DC You and one of the best new DC comics I’ve read in some time!
The setup is clearly satirical and, like all great satires, the tone switches from comedy to pathos throughout to nail its targets effectively. It’s also a dystopian story, a genre which, while often set in the future, is always about the present, and the world of Prez is, sadly, all too familiar.
The government are spying on its citizens, corporations hold far too much political clout, novelty candidates become serious candidates (Trump), healthcare is bankrupting families, the public can “like” a candidate during a televised debate, politicians are getting stuff they want in return for votes/favours, there are border problems and immigrants are getting screwed with crap jobs and slave wages, warfare is conducted by Americans continents away who view it as a video game, and ordinary people are hauled off to Guantanamo Bay for being non-white and having the temerity to be living within warzones. The Church of Wormology, which believes that every living thing, including micro-organisms, have a right to life, feels very much like the pro-life crowd too.
Trial by Facebook doesn’t seem that far off given the public judge people on social media like Twitter already, and I’m sure we’ll soon start seeing candidates appearing on Youtube shows because more people watch those instead of traditional TV.
Russell pulls off the extremely tricky juggling act of going from groan-worthy comedy (the Majority Whip is literally whipping someone), to biting satire (where the poor shoot themselves on live TV for entertainment/money), to cold reality (dead kids in the Middle East). It’s remarkable how a book that has something as genuinely funny as Carl, the End-of-Life Bear, and the death of Beth’s father in the same scene manages not to feel stilted as it switches from humour to moving drama.
The original Prez, Preston Rickard, is now an old man but offers to help Beth as her VP with a salient piece of advice: “Do you know how hated presidents stay alive? They find a Vice President who is hated even more.” That said, I haven’t read the original comics so I’m not sure what he did to make him so hated - I’m guessing, considering this is America, he was anti-gun/Christianity/big business and pro-affordable healthcare/peace/social programmes?
Prez is a compelling read because of the various plotlines Russell expertly spins out. I’m not going to go into the details here but broadly they involve an eccentric billionaire who owns Delaware (whose surname is Wayne but isn’t Batman - he at least has the sense to know his billions can create real change through investment rather than dressing up as a “Dark Knight”!), a disease called Cat Flu that’s ravaging the nation, Beth’s decision to end all America’s wars and go on a global apology tour, and a robot killing machine that gains sentience and changes its name from War Beast to Tina! It’s really good stuff. I’m surprised Prez was actually published under the DC banner as this feels more like a Vertigo title - fans of the Vertigo series Transmetropolitan will definitely enjoy this one.
If there’s a criticism it’s that a 19 year old former fast food employee adapts into the role of Leader of the Free World a little too easily - she’s being a klutz when we first meet her and by the end she’s conducting complex negotiations and effortlessly making decisions on global issues! It’s also definitely got a liberal flavour to it which more conservative readers might dislike (not me, I’m a “socialist” Brit!), though Russell portrays both Republicans, Democrats, and all of Washington DC as useless fuckwits! So there is some nonfiction mixed into the fiction...
Otherwise, Prez is an outstanding title; a clever, sharply observed and inventive satire on the America of today through the facade of the America of tomorrow - definitely one of the best from DC I’ve read in some time. If quality like this is what DC You has in store for us, I’m all for it. I vote for everyone to pick up Prez!
February 4, 2016
(Received from Netgalley for review.)
This was actually a really pleasant surprise. I requested this book basically on a whim, because it was so different from the majority of DC's offerings, and because I was curious to see what Russell would do with a mostly forgotten character. I can't say that I had any expectations, but if I had, this book would have easily surpassed them.
I'm not familiar with the original version of Prez, only with the one that guested in an issue of Sandman, so I don't really have a basis of comparison. That's ok, because this Prez absolutely stands on its own merits. The premise: in a day-after-tomorrow future America, teenagers can become president and anyone can vote on social media. This doesn't directly lead to viral video "star" Beth Ross getting elected, but it certainly helps. Rank corruption is what actually hands her the win, and it's incredibly satisfying to watch play out. This is bitter, often biting political satire, and it will definitely strike a chord with a lot of readers.
But political satire on its own isn't enough to make a full story. What really pushed this one over the top for me was the character of Beth herself. She's instantly, incredibly likable. It's heartening to watch her tackle the job of president, and it's satisfying that she doesn't win on every front all the time. There's also a host of minor characters on the outskirts of the story who have interesting lives of their own. I really, really hope that there's more issues coming, because I feel like there's so much more that could be done with this book, and I feel like Russell has plenty of ideas left.
And I have to say how much I love Caldwell's art. It suits the book, and there's a lot of life and variety in his characters. Sure, I've seen better, but somehow this art is just right for this book, and isn't that what really matters?
After a long series of disappointments from DC, it was so, so nice to finally get a really good book from them. This is something that they should be proud of, and I hope they are. No, it isn't a modern masterpiece, but it's a damn good book that's entirely unlike the vast majority of what they're offering. Well done.
This was actually a really pleasant surprise. I requested this book basically on a whim, because it was so different from the majority of DC's offerings, and because I was curious to see what Russell would do with a mostly forgotten character. I can't say that I had any expectations, but if I had, this book would have easily surpassed them.
I'm not familiar with the original version of Prez, only with the one that guested in an issue of Sandman, so I don't really have a basis of comparison. That's ok, because this Prez absolutely stands on its own merits. The premise: in a day-after-tomorrow future America, teenagers can become president and anyone can vote on social media. This doesn't directly lead to viral video "star" Beth Ross getting elected, but it certainly helps. Rank corruption is what actually hands her the win, and it's incredibly satisfying to watch play out. This is bitter, often biting political satire, and it will definitely strike a chord with a lot of readers.
But political satire on its own isn't enough to make a full story. What really pushed this one over the top for me was the character of Beth herself. She's instantly, incredibly likable. It's heartening to watch her tackle the job of president, and it's satisfying that she doesn't win on every front all the time. There's also a host of minor characters on the outskirts of the story who have interesting lives of their own. I really, really hope that there's more issues coming, because I feel like there's so much more that could be done with this book, and I feel like Russell has plenty of ideas left.
And I have to say how much I love Caldwell's art. It suits the book, and there's a lot of life and variety in his characters. Sure, I've seen better, but somehow this art is just right for this book, and isn't that what really matters?
After a long series of disappointments from DC, it was so, so nice to finally get a really good book from them. This is something that they should be proud of, and I hope they are. No, it isn't a modern masterpiece, but it's a damn good book that's entirely unlike the vast majority of what they're offering. Well done.
May 18, 2020
With a cat flu ravaging the country and big business in charge of everything, a teenager is elected president via Twitter. Can President Beth Ross change the world?
Mark Russell is one of my recent favorites so I had to pick this up. For a book published in 2015, I didn't expect it to be so timely, although I guess political corruption and ineptitude never goes out of style.
The year is 2036. The age limit has been lifted from the presidency and election is done via Twitter. Beth Ross accidentally set her hair on fire making corndogs and became president when the video went viral. When the ultimate Washington outsider goes up against the establishment, will she meet her match?
Mark Russell turns his darkly humorous gaze on politics and big business in Prez. As always, he managed to depress the hell out of me while making me laugh my ass off. As I said earlier, this is a very timely piece, what with the United States in the grips of a pandemic and politicians and big business reaping the rewards.
I was highly entertained but felt soiled while reading it. I'd like to say the greed displayed by the antagonists was unrealistic but it was all too believable. A pharmaceutical company wanting 9 billion dollars for research into a vaccine for a deadly disease and also wanting to make massive profits on the vaccine? Never happen... The art by Ben Caldwell, Dominike Stanton, Mark Morales, Seaon Parsons, and John Lucas did a lot to lighten the tone and make me want to eat a gun a little less.
Prez is an all too realistic portrayal of American politics and greed. Five out of five stars.
Mark Russell is one of my recent favorites so I had to pick this up. For a book published in 2015, I didn't expect it to be so timely, although I guess political corruption and ineptitude never goes out of style.
The year is 2036. The age limit has been lifted from the presidency and election is done via Twitter. Beth Ross accidentally set her hair on fire making corndogs and became president when the video went viral. When the ultimate Washington outsider goes up against the establishment, will she meet her match?
Mark Russell turns his darkly humorous gaze on politics and big business in Prez. As always, he managed to depress the hell out of me while making me laugh my ass off. As I said earlier, this is a very timely piece, what with the United States in the grips of a pandemic and politicians and big business reaping the rewards.
I was highly entertained but felt soiled while reading it. I'd like to say the greed displayed by the antagonists was unrealistic but it was all too believable. A pharmaceutical company wanting 9 billion dollars for research into a vaccine for a deadly disease and also wanting to make massive profits on the vaccine? Never happen... The art by Ben Caldwell, Dominike Stanton, Mark Morales, Seaon Parsons, and John Lucas did a lot to lighten the tone and make me want to eat a gun a little less.
Prez is an all too realistic portrayal of American politics and greed. Five out of five stars.
January 29, 2016
I received this from Edelweiss and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.
This was surprisingly good!
I was expecting a rehash of the old Prez comics from the 1970s, in which teenager Prez Rickards was elected president through a constitutional amendment eliminating the minimum age requirement for the post. I wasn't far off, but it has been greatly updated to incorporate the technology of our modern age, and Beth Ross (corndog chef) is elected through a constitutional amendment eliminating the minimum age AND allowing votes to be cast through Twitter.
What I wasn't expecting was a great story filled with political satire attacking all levels of the government, big pharmacy, the hog industry, and the defense industry. This was the strength of this book, and even though the book is set in the 2030s, it was surprisingly on target for our day, targeting the shady backroom deals that happen daily in our corrupt form of government.
The artwork wasn't anything spectacular, but somehow, even that works here.
There are several nods to the original series, too, which I enjoyed seeing, from the PrezUSA badge worn by Prez to a few of the character's names. (I'm dating myself here, but I did read the original series when they were first published. Just call me "old".)
Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read, and I'll be looking for more volumes in this series. I'm hoping DC doesn't lose their collective minds (again!) and cancel another great series.
This was surprisingly good!
I was expecting a rehash of the old Prez comics from the 1970s, in which teenager Prez Rickards was elected president through a constitutional amendment eliminating the minimum age requirement for the post. I wasn't far off, but it has been greatly updated to incorporate the technology of our modern age, and Beth Ross (corndog chef) is elected through a constitutional amendment eliminating the minimum age AND allowing votes to be cast through Twitter.
What I wasn't expecting was a great story filled with political satire attacking all levels of the government, big pharmacy, the hog industry, and the defense industry. This was the strength of this book, and even though the book is set in the 2030s, it was surprisingly on target for our day, targeting the shady backroom deals that happen daily in our corrupt form of government.
The artwork wasn't anything spectacular, but somehow, even that works here.
There are several nods to the original series, too, which I enjoyed seeing, from the PrezUSA badge worn by Prez to a few of the character's names. (I'm dating myself here, but I did read the original series when they were first published. Just call me "old".)
Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read, and I'll be looking for more volumes in this series. I'm hoping DC doesn't lose their collective minds (again!) and cancel another great series.
March 21, 2018
"Holy Jumanji!"
This was amazing! And from DC no less. Prez Vol. 1 is the most hilarious, comically random, disturbingly contemporary, scathingly satirical, hyperbolically political graphic novel I've ever read. This captures all the wrong, evil, backwards, ridiculous, shallow and stupid that is poisoning America (and our subsequent poisoning of the world) right now, but it makes you laugh and exclaim "you're god damn right!" instead of curling into fetal position and hate-crying yourself to sleep.
"I'll give you my cat when you pry it from my cold, dead hands."
It's quick wit, satire, and Easter Eggs, as well as strong and independent female lead, remind me no less of Tank Girl. Mark Russell is officially a genius, and Ben Caldwell's illustrations and Mark Morales' colors are the gorgeous icing on the funny cake. I won't summarize at all so you can enjoy discovering this on your own. But first, just a few favorite quotes (there were so many I couldn't write down the entire book):
"Cat flu. Hundreds dead. Mee-ouch!"
"When crisis comes, an empire will either change with the world, or entrench itself in past greatness. If it does the latter, it dies."
"How can you Americans condemn terrorism while you yourselves kill innocent civilians?"
September 9, 2020
Solid story, good art. A diatribe of where American society is headed. Idiocracy for millennials.
Given an advance copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Given an advance copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2019
That’s some wholesome near-future social satire right there. Warms my heart to see someone else who’s just as paranoid about the corporate destruction of the social net.
This dude has the right take on what ills our society, our planet. I lapped this up like some well-tuned Facebook feed of liberal orgasm fodder. I especially enjoyed the corporate CEOs with emojis for faces. And the “Gargamel as capitalism” rant.
Occasionally the narrative momentum screeches to a halt for a multi-page lecture, like the Prez’ inaugural speech. And sometimes the jokes go nowhere (or maybe the edits happened too late to stitch the story-as-patient back up).
There’s also a problem with too many “subplots” - they’re more like anecdotes, not given enough time to make a solid point or create empathy and an opportunity to see a side character evolve. It’s a little like all the storylines in the Westworld narratives - most of them don’t get the attention they deserve.
This dude has the right take on what ills our society, our planet. I lapped this up like some well-tuned Facebook feed of liberal orgasm fodder. I especially enjoyed the corporate CEOs with emojis for faces. And the “Gargamel as capitalism” rant.
Occasionally the narrative momentum screeches to a halt for a multi-page lecture, like the Prez’ inaugural speech. And sometimes the jokes go nowhere (or maybe the edits happened too late to stitch the story-as-patient back up).
There’s also a problem with too many “subplots” - they’re more like anecdotes, not given enough time to make a solid point or create empathy and an opportunity to see a side character evolve. It’s a little like all the storylines in the Westworld narratives - most of them don’t get the attention they deserve.
February 13, 2016
A lot of people were skeptical about this series when it was announced, but it turned out to be the single best thing DC is currently publishing. Prez is crazy, sarcastic and unapologetic social satire, making fun of american culture and especially, of course, politics, by exaggerating every single aspect of it to the point beyond ridiculous. It almost feels like Transmetropolitan of 2015, minus the brilliant but despicable bastard as the protagonist. Still, this series is very good and is the only thing I read out of all the DC's current terrible and uninspiring line of comics. More people should read this.
January 24, 2016
Read digitally.
Holy cat flu! (Literally, that's a phrase from the book.) This is one of the best political/sociological satires I've ever read. In an age of growing corporate influence over our politics and increasing dominance of social media platforms, this book takes aim at both square in the face and hits the bulls eye every time.
The age limit for President has been lifted, and elections are conducted on Twitter. Due to a deadlock between the two major parties, YouTube sensation Beth Ross wins in a fluke when the Electoral College is deadlocked and the election is thrown to the House of Representatives. Soon, this 19 year old is trying to actually govern and not be bought by the special interests that pervade American politics. Fighting cat flu (read: gun violence) and embarking on an actual apology tour around the world, she comes up against some really shady characters and wins.
Nice skewering of Monsanto, Con-Agra, Wal-Mart,the big pharmaceutical companies, FAUX/FOX "news," religion, and more, the writing is sharp. Check out the scroll on "DCNN," as there are a lot of puns and gags included. Art by Ben Caldwell is full of fun emotional content that helps deliver the story every time.
If this book had been published at Image, no doubt the book would have been a success. Published by DC, however, and based on a 1970s comic co created by legendary Joe Simon (Captain America), it was pushed as part of the failed "DC You" and never seemed to find its audience. This is very unfortunate, especially as there is supposed to be a second part to this series that now may never get published. At a time when readers say they want DC not to focus so much on Batman, Batman, Batman, and then turn a blind eye to a truly good, original, creative, and innovative series, it sucks to see such blindness from the monthly comics consumer. This book deserves to be reviewed across major media and given lots of exposure.
BTW, DC has announced plans to collect the original '70s Prez in all of his incarnations through the years. I hope they still do so, but the shitty sales on this series may keep that from happening.
Holy cat flu! (Literally, that's a phrase from the book.) This is one of the best political/sociological satires I've ever read. In an age of growing corporate influence over our politics and increasing dominance of social media platforms, this book takes aim at both square in the face and hits the bulls eye every time.
The age limit for President has been lifted, and elections are conducted on Twitter. Due to a deadlock between the two major parties, YouTube sensation Beth Ross wins in a fluke when the Electoral College is deadlocked and the election is thrown to the House of Representatives. Soon, this 19 year old is trying to actually govern and not be bought by the special interests that pervade American politics. Fighting cat flu (read: gun violence) and embarking on an actual apology tour around the world, she comes up against some really shady characters and wins.
Nice skewering of Monsanto, Con-Agra, Wal-Mart,the big pharmaceutical companies, FAUX/FOX "news," religion, and more, the writing is sharp. Check out the scroll on "DCNN," as there are a lot of puns and gags included. Art by Ben Caldwell is full of fun emotional content that helps deliver the story every time.
If this book had been published at Image, no doubt the book would have been a success. Published by DC, however, and based on a 1970s comic co created by legendary Joe Simon (Captain America), it was pushed as part of the failed "DC You" and never seemed to find its audience. This is very unfortunate, especially as there is supposed to be a second part to this series that now may never get published. At a time when readers say they want DC not to focus so much on Batman, Batman, Batman, and then turn a blind eye to a truly good, original, creative, and innovative series, it sucks to see such blindness from the monthly comics consumer. This book deserves to be reviewed across major media and given lots of exposure.
BTW, DC has announced plans to collect the original '70s Prez in all of his incarnations through the years. I hope they still do so, but the shitty sales on this series may keep that from happening.
November 11, 2016
11/11/2016
Really couldn't think of a better time to re-read this.
8/9/2015
This was brilliant! In a future where every idiot can vote in the election via Twitter, where corporations can run for the presidency, where taco drones replace the food stamp program and human billboards are a thing...a teenage girl in a viral video referred to as "Corndog Girl" becomes President.
If you're into satire, you need to read this mini series. Highly recommend!
Really couldn't think of a better time to re-read this.
8/9/2015
This was brilliant! In a future where every idiot can vote in the election via Twitter, where corporations can run for the presidency, where taco drones replace the food stamp program and human billboards are a thing...a teenage girl in a viral video referred to as "Corndog Girl" becomes President.
If you're into satire, you need to read this mini series. Highly recommend!
May 20, 2020
I'm gonna tell you this right here: the most important comic of 2018 was written in 2015, and none of us read it, and now we're fucking paying for it.
A friend lent me Prez, a comic I did not even know existed, and one that he only found (I think) when the comic book store down the street had a liquidation sale. He said it was pretty good and he thought I'd like it, and I said thanks and promptly did not read it and slid it to the bottom of my bookpile for a couple of weeks.
Today I reorganized my X-Men and Swamp Thing trades and came across the book again, having totally forgotten it existed after not really knowing it existed in the first place.
AND
HOLY
FUCK.
Prez is a reboot/sequel to a series from the 70s that was briefly resurrected in the 90s, but none of that matters. This version takes place in 2036, and begins a week before the election. The citizenry of the US have become so desensitized to the charade of the political stage that candidates have to scrape together votes by doing guest-spots on Youtube channels, and Anonymous decides to stir the pot by pushing "Corndog Girl," accidental star of a popular viral video, as a dark horse candidate. The party candidates each get so few votes that the election is turned over to the House, who in turn accidentally vote "Corndog Girl" into office because each state's Reps aren't satisfied with the bribes they're being offered from the actual parties.
"Corndog Girl" -- real name Beth Ross, a student at Paris Hilton Community College -- isn't too thrilled about being President. Her father's just died of a terminal illness because Beth wasn't able to cover his medical bills (she'd tried to be a contestant on Double Dare Billionaire, but lost out to a Mexican immigrant who shot himself in the knee in order to win enough money to bring his family across the border).
Meanwhile, the government's new public works program, the Taco Drone, feeds starving families with Tex-Mex fast food on the sole condition that they wear Taco Drone brand clothing and allow drones to record their daily movements.
AND I HAVE NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT "GLOBAL WARMING VILLAGE" -- A ZOO FULL OF REFUGEES -- OR THE FACT THAT PANDAS ARE NOW GENETICALLY BRED FOR BLOOD SPORT
I HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT HOW BETH'S DAD COULDN'T AFFORD HOSPITAL CARE BECAUSE HE WAS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
THERE IS TOO MUCH BOOK TO EVEN TALK ABOUT
THIS BOOK IS THE TARDIS OF FUCKING BOOKS IF THE TARDIS CAME FROM HELL
So. Look.
This book's main flaw is that it was written three years before we knew that nothing in it is a joke, that this WHOLE BOOK IS FUCKING REAL.
This book is so fucking real that reading it makes me want to rip my own eyeballs out of my face and SCREAM at them, SCREAM AT MY OWN EYEBALLS THAT WE ARE DEAD AND WE DO NOT KNOW IT YET.
Actual quote from this brutal fucking comic:
"Because they could not adapt, the Romans were overrun. The Goths sacked Rome. Deposed emperors at will. But even as the nation collapsed around them, everyone assumed life would go back to normal. The Roman Empire was dead for forty years before anyone realized it was gone."
Prez is a comic about a teenage president tasked with saving a dying country in a dying world. It came to us from the goddamned future and we all fucking missed it.
A friend lent me Prez, a comic I did not even know existed, and one that he only found (I think) when the comic book store down the street had a liquidation sale. He said it was pretty good and he thought I'd like it, and I said thanks and promptly did not read it and slid it to the bottom of my bookpile for a couple of weeks.
Today I reorganized my X-Men and Swamp Thing trades and came across the book again, having totally forgotten it existed after not really knowing it existed in the first place.
AND
HOLY
FUCK.
Prez is a reboot/sequel to a series from the 70s that was briefly resurrected in the 90s, but none of that matters. This version takes place in 2036, and begins a week before the election. The citizenry of the US have become so desensitized to the charade of the political stage that candidates have to scrape together votes by doing guest-spots on Youtube channels, and Anonymous decides to stir the pot by pushing "Corndog Girl," accidental star of a popular viral video, as a dark horse candidate. The party candidates each get so few votes that the election is turned over to the House, who in turn accidentally vote "Corndog Girl" into office because each state's Reps aren't satisfied with the bribes they're being offered from the actual parties.
"Corndog Girl" -- real name Beth Ross, a student at Paris Hilton Community College -- isn't too thrilled about being President. Her father's just died of a terminal illness because Beth wasn't able to cover his medical bills (she'd tried to be a contestant on Double Dare Billionaire, but lost out to a Mexican immigrant who shot himself in the knee in order to win enough money to bring his family across the border).
Meanwhile, the government's new public works program, the Taco Drone, feeds starving families with Tex-Mex fast food on the sole condition that they wear Taco Drone brand clothing and allow drones to record their daily movements.
AND I HAVE NOT EVEN TALKED ABOUT "GLOBAL WARMING VILLAGE" -- A ZOO FULL OF REFUGEES -- OR THE FACT THAT PANDAS ARE NOW GENETICALLY BRED FOR BLOOD SPORT
I HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT HOW BETH'S DAD COULDN'T AFFORD HOSPITAL CARE BECAUSE HE WAS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
THERE IS TOO MUCH BOOK TO EVEN TALK ABOUT
THIS BOOK IS THE TARDIS OF FUCKING BOOKS IF THE TARDIS CAME FROM HELL
So. Look.
This book's main flaw is that it was written three years before we knew that nothing in it is a joke, that this WHOLE BOOK IS FUCKING REAL.
This book is so fucking real that reading it makes me want to rip my own eyeballs out of my face and SCREAM at them, SCREAM AT MY OWN EYEBALLS THAT WE ARE DEAD AND WE DO NOT KNOW IT YET.
Actual quote from this brutal fucking comic:
"Because they could not adapt, the Romans were overrun. The Goths sacked Rome. Deposed emperors at will. But even as the nation collapsed around them, everyone assumed life would go back to normal. The Roman Empire was dead for forty years before anyone realized it was gone."
Prez is a comic about a teenage president tasked with saving a dying country in a dying world. It came to us from the goddamned future and we all fucking missed it.
October 11, 2016
This is ok but definitely not what I thought it could have been.
I was rather bored with the whole thing which is why it took me two months to read it.
Premise: In 2036, there are only crappy candidates running for president (sound familiar?) so the hacker group Anonymous puts forth a viral video sensation, Corndog Girl, as a contender and she gets voted in as President of the United States via Twitter.
Why is Twitter still active in 2036? Who knows.
Corndog Girl, who was made momentarily famous by a video of her hair getting cooked onto the grill at a corndog-focused eating establishment, is 19 (presidents can be young, now, thanks to the passage of the Corporations As Person bill, or whatever it was called) and figures, "Eh, why not?" so takes up the mantle of Commander In Chief.
There's also a cat flu killing off the denizens of earth, a rogue killer Warbot who wants to be a real person, and other stuff, too, that I just didn't care about at all.
I like that she's racially ambiguous. I thought she was supposed to be black or, at least, have black ancestry but in some panels, she looks like a white girl and in others, she looks maybe Polynesian; she could be a mish-mash of everything, who knows? But it's cool that she's a sort of anyteen-looking kid.
And that's where her interestingness ends. I found her to be the most boring comic book character ever. While I wasn't expecting her to be a young President Bartlet, I did expect more than a kid who was just hanging out at the White House, sometimes going against advisors to make Big Decisions, always unfazed that she'd been working fast food and was now running a country. There was just nothing to her, aside from her "crazy" mismatched, Punky Brewster As Teen fashion statements.
There are, of course, Political Messages and a few bits of satire and such, which is to be expected. Buuut...ok, this is not Alan Moore-level sophistication nor is it clever John Oliver jabbing. To me, it was just boring. Maybe I'm too old, not hip and sexy enough to understand this kind of thing because I certainly did not get it this time around.
I was rather bored with the whole thing which is why it took me two months to read it.
Premise: In 2036, there are only crappy candidates running for president (sound familiar?) so the hacker group Anonymous puts forth a viral video sensation, Corndog Girl, as a contender and she gets voted in as President of the United States via Twitter.
Why is Twitter still active in 2036? Who knows.
Corndog Girl, who was made momentarily famous by a video of her hair getting cooked onto the grill at a corndog-focused eating establishment, is 19 (presidents can be young, now, thanks to the passage of the Corporations As Person bill, or whatever it was called) and figures, "Eh, why not?" so takes up the mantle of Commander In Chief.
There's also a cat flu killing off the denizens of earth, a rogue killer Warbot who wants to be a real person, and other stuff, too, that I just didn't care about at all.
I like that she's racially ambiguous. I thought she was supposed to be black or, at least, have black ancestry but in some panels, she looks like a white girl and in others, she looks maybe Polynesian; she could be a mish-mash of everything, who knows? But it's cool that she's a sort of anyteen-looking kid.
And that's where her interestingness ends. I found her to be the most boring comic book character ever. While I wasn't expecting her to be a young President Bartlet, I did expect more than a kid who was just hanging out at the White House, sometimes going against advisors to make Big Decisions, always unfazed that she'd been working fast food and was now running a country. There was just nothing to her, aside from her "crazy" mismatched, Punky Brewster As Teen fashion statements.
There are, of course, Political Messages and a few bits of satire and such, which is to be expected. Buuut...ok, this is not Alan Moore-level sophistication nor is it clever John Oliver jabbing. To me, it was just boring. Maybe I'm too old, not hip and sexy enough to understand this kind of thing because I certainly did not get it this time around.
February 27, 2017
I had to trudge a bit to get through this - while I appreciated the satire (although closer to Idiocracy than Brazil in my opinion), I feel it had a premise that it failed to fully develop, even with the knowledge that this was only the first half of the planned story. Beth had no character arc, and her step up from an incompetent fast food worker to chief executive officer lacks credibility, especially in the context of a sea swimming with savvy corporate executives and militant antagonist political powers. Maybe if volume 2 hadn't been redlighted I would be able to appreciate this more, but by its own merits it comes off to me as a good idea that could have been executed better. Fans of Saga and Transmetropolitan might enjoy this, but with its teen lead character I think this title will be missed by that audience.
February 5, 2017
Actually really enjoyed this! It's only set about 20 years in the future and scarily believable, considering the dumbing down of the U.S. on the whole. Almost like a comics version of the movie Idiocracy. I also really liked the art in the this one, which is always a toss up for me personally. This one succeeded for me where the other "Young DC" titles like Batgirl and Grayson have failed, likely cause its a new concept instead of another trash reboot. Highly recommended if you're thinking of reading it. Thanks Netgalley and DC for the advanced copy! :)
May 30, 2019
The story of this graphic novel is rather scattered, but it was saved by some of the funniest passages I've read in a while. I actually laughed out loud (at one point my wife asked me what was going on) during several parts.
The artwork, although not my favorite style, works well with the offbeat quirkiness of the tale --a nineteen year old who becomes US president.
It was a decent read, but not good enough to make me want to read the rest of the series.
The artwork, although not my favorite style, works well with the offbeat quirkiness of the tale --a nineteen year old who becomes US president.
It was a decent read, but not good enough to make me want to read the rest of the series.
March 13, 2017
Great writing and gorgeous illustrations. Smart and relevant, with a kick-ass girl as the protagonist - my kind of series!
August 10, 2020
The technology evolved considerably with holographic ads all over the place. And dear God, the hairdos on the news announcer - out of this world. The issue I have with the story is that it tackles too many topics with too little story. It seems designed to take current-day measures to an extreme negative with the main character as the only human left that has a heart. The second half of the story just sucks.
The story starts off funny with a parody of the house of representatives. They are shown as immature opportunists who would sell their votes for candy. Literally. Karma comes around and screws up everyone's plans. With the new president in office things go from funny exaggerations to more serious issues plaguing this made-up society. Unfortunately it's the propaganda that makes the story a whole lot less enjoyable. Basically, it's ok to stop after the first two issues, unless you're reading this comic with a leftist buddy you want to start a political and philosophical debate with.
In a corrupt USA ruled by the corporations, the role of president is acquired by winning an arguably stupid televised competition. The contestants receive votes through social media - this is the general election process. In the house of representatives the votes swing all over the place due to the negotiations to buy off each member. Their greed gets the better of them and they accidentally make Beth 'Corndog Girl' Ross president. The corporations are worried that they won't be able to control Beth, since they have no dirt on her. Not that the story was overly smart or funny, but it all goes horribly downhill from then on.
Her vice president is hated by the corporations because he seems to want to do some good in the country. Beth is guided by Preston to build her cabinet using truly qualified people. Wow, nobody ever thought of that. Bad politicians need to go!
Beth tackles all sorts of issues like the Sentry Program, a government program that builds and develops large remote-controlled robots. She shuts it down because of the unlawful deaths that have resulted from it. She also starts apologizing to the nations that the US wronged in the past. Since this is fantasy land, most of them accept the apology, as if admitting you are wrong is sound diplomatic advice.
The country is going through an epidemic of cat flu that has killed hundreds of thousands, so protesters gather around the White House to demand solutions. Beth has most of the politicians ally against her for a bill that is supposed to regulate the cat flu vaccine. But the bad politicians only want money, not to cure the sick. All that democracy is going to their heads.
Wayne, the richest man in the world who employs millions of people in research, offers Beth the solution to defeat them. And it's a doozy - Wayne copyrights their DNA and sues them for copyright infringement. Say what? Then she quarantines the cats on the Arizona/New Mexico border, and area which she describes as 'a litterbox anyway.' 'To be continued'?! Are you serious?!
The story starts off funny with a parody of the house of representatives. They are shown as immature opportunists who would sell their votes for candy. Literally. Karma comes around and screws up everyone's plans. With the new president in office things go from funny exaggerations to more serious issues plaguing this made-up society. Unfortunately it's the propaganda that makes the story a whole lot less enjoyable. Basically, it's ok to stop after the first two issues, unless you're reading this comic with a leftist buddy you want to start a political and philosophical debate with.
In a corrupt USA ruled by the corporations, the role of president is acquired by winning an arguably stupid televised competition. The contestants receive votes through social media - this is the general election process. In the house of representatives the votes swing all over the place due to the negotiations to buy off each member. Their greed gets the better of them and they accidentally make Beth 'Corndog Girl' Ross president. The corporations are worried that they won't be able to control Beth, since they have no dirt on her. Not that the story was overly smart or funny, but it all goes horribly downhill from then on.
Her vice president is hated by the corporations because he seems to want to do some good in the country. Beth is guided by Preston to build her cabinet using truly qualified people. Wow, nobody ever thought of that. Bad politicians need to go!
Beth tackles all sorts of issues like the Sentry Program, a government program that builds and develops large remote-controlled robots. She shuts it down because of the unlawful deaths that have resulted from it. She also starts apologizing to the nations that the US wronged in the past. Since this is fantasy land, most of them accept the apology, as if admitting you are wrong is sound diplomatic advice.
The country is going through an epidemic of cat flu that has killed hundreds of thousands, so protesters gather around the White House to demand solutions. Beth has most of the politicians ally against her for a bill that is supposed to regulate the cat flu vaccine. But the bad politicians only want money, not to cure the sick. All that democracy is going to their heads.
Wayne, the richest man in the world who employs millions of people in research, offers Beth the solution to defeat them. And it's a doozy - Wayne copyrights their DNA and sues them for copyright infringement. Say what? Then she quarantines the cats on the Arizona/New Mexico border, and area which she describes as 'a litterbox anyway.' 'To be continued'?! Are you serious?!
October 10, 2016
This, I liked!
And this is coming from someone who is currently reading a book about fucking UFO's because I'm so tired of reading anything remotely related to politics, society, and everything that's real. It's gotten to the level that I'd rather read about UFO's and entertain the possibility that they exist than read anything else that's sold to me as being satirical or hilarious or pointed or the most important read of our times.
All that said, Prez is really good.
I've been wanting to read it, but I've been scared off for a while because I was worried that it was going to be more clever than it would be funny. More pessimistic about the future of the United States in a way that I didn't find interesting. More about how the innocent nature of one teen would really turn us around as a nation.
Basically, I thought it was going to be like a snarkier version of that dumb fuckin' Kevin Costner movie where he's the only guy who has to vote for President or something.
But it's not.
What I like about Prez is that it's actually funny. Not funny in a way where it's SO clever and SO on the money. It's got funny dialog. It's got jokes in it. The way the characters talk is funny. There's a lot of funny in here.
It's also weird. And in a good way. A lot of futuristic stuff tries to copy the feel you get from those satirical commercials in Robocop, but they just come off as dumb. But this one nailed it. I mean, hot dog heart? I'm in.
This is kinda what I wanted to read when I read that damn Brian K. Vaughn thing about America invading Canada. And I think what this had that the BKV book didn't is a sense of humor.
And I think that's why this book works so well, and works so well right now. I see a lot of the humor going out of politics. We don't think it's funny anymore. And maybe it's not. But it seems like we're still talking about it in a humorous-adjacent kind of way. I mean, you can't tell me that comparing Donald Trump to a butthole is done for serious minded reasons.
If you don't like humor mixed in with your politics, cool. I would encourage you to read or watch...basically everything else being produced by the media at this time. If you DO like a humor mixed in, if you DO think it's funny in a fucked up way that we are where we are, then I think Prez will deliver nicely for you.
And this is coming from someone who is currently reading a book about fucking UFO's because I'm so tired of reading anything remotely related to politics, society, and everything that's real. It's gotten to the level that I'd rather read about UFO's and entertain the possibility that they exist than read anything else that's sold to me as being satirical or hilarious or pointed or the most important read of our times.
All that said, Prez is really good.
I've been wanting to read it, but I've been scared off for a while because I was worried that it was going to be more clever than it would be funny. More pessimistic about the future of the United States in a way that I didn't find interesting. More about how the innocent nature of one teen would really turn us around as a nation.
Basically, I thought it was going to be like a snarkier version of that dumb fuckin' Kevin Costner movie where he's the only guy who has to vote for President or something.
But it's not.
What I like about Prez is that it's actually funny. Not funny in a way where it's SO clever and SO on the money. It's got funny dialog. It's got jokes in it. The way the characters talk is funny. There's a lot of funny in here.
It's also weird. And in a good way. A lot of futuristic stuff tries to copy the feel you get from those satirical commercials in Robocop, but they just come off as dumb. But this one nailed it. I mean, hot dog heart? I'm in.
This is kinda what I wanted to read when I read that damn Brian K. Vaughn thing about America invading Canada. And I think what this had that the BKV book didn't is a sense of humor.
And I think that's why this book works so well, and works so well right now. I see a lot of the humor going out of politics. We don't think it's funny anymore. And maybe it's not. But it seems like we're still talking about it in a humorous-adjacent kind of way. I mean, you can't tell me that comparing Donald Trump to a butthole is done for serious minded reasons.
If you don't like humor mixed in with your politics, cool. I would encourage you to read or watch...basically everything else being produced by the media at this time. If you DO like a humor mixed in, if you DO think it's funny in a fucked up way that we are where we are, then I think Prez will deliver nicely for you.
December 21, 2015
Read as digital ARC.
Prez = perfection. It was so interesting and outrageous, yet totally possible-seeming at the same time. The details are just all in there, from solid political scheming, to using corporation logos in front of faces, and I think I even caught an aged Miley Cyrus at one point. Plus, all of this with that classic DC touch--I'm lookin' at you, Wayne!
Prez = perfection. It was so interesting and outrageous, yet totally possible-seeming at the same time. The details are just all in there, from solid political scheming, to using corporation logos in front of faces, and I think I even caught an aged Miley Cyrus at one point. Plus, all of this with that classic DC touch--I'm lookin' at you, Wayne!
May 4, 2017
Absolutely incredible and relevant to our current world affairs. I found myself completely immersed and agreeing with corndog girl. This is a must read.
I will definitely try to read more.
I will definitely try to read more.
September 4, 2018
I was kind of worried before I started reading this because I thought it might be one of those 'oh can you imagine how horrible a teenage president would be? millenials are ruining everything!' kind of things, but actually it's the complete opposite of that because Beth is the only one actually trying to fix things as politicians and corporations strip more and more of people's rights away. Honestly the whole thing is a bit TOO on the nose sometimes [not in a bad way, just in #yikes I hate the world kind of way] and I am both disappointed and not surprised that it got cancelled before the shit-show we currently find ourselves in.
June 7, 2019
This is a satirical comic and very good. It feels a little too real now with Trump in office now though.
February 4, 2016
To be fair before reading this, I expected to hate it. But the first issue really got me interested. I think the general plot was intriguing. I think there was too much stereotyping in this series as whole. There were barbs thrown in randomly where it didn't make sense for what was going at the time. So that aspect felt unnecessary and I didn't like that. The artwork was actually really good, and fit the story perfectly. Also I was under the impression this was an all-age book, I don't think so after reading it. While it's not crude really, the humor is more Bill Maher than it is I-carly. Maybe I'm not giving pre-teens enough credit, but I highly doubt they would even understand the political jabs thrown in. This I believe appeals more to 16-21 type of demographic rather than 10 and up like I thought it would.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
February 14, 2016
A fun book with a great central character and a fine sense of satire. It rips apart government, religion, the military complex, the drug industry, and more. It looses its way a bit around issue #4, when it spins off into a variety of subplots that ignore Beth, but it finds it again as the book comes to a close. I'd definitely like to see the next volume.
(And I have no idea why this was produced as DC volume instead of Vertigo.)
(And I have no idea why this was produced as DC volume instead of Vertigo.)
March 6, 2016
The whole time I was reading this book, I was in disbelief that it could be a DC comicbook. Apparently Prez first appeared in the DCU in 1973, though I have yet to track down the older versions of the title. If you want an on-the-nose political satire that moves quickly, references many contemporary issues of socio-economic disparity and global corporate corruption, get this book asap.
September 3, 2016
Loved everything about this book. It was a cover buy (I have a problem) and I was skeptical that I would even like it. The story, the concept, the art, the characters, everything. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
February 3, 2018
This book presents a future that looks like a lot of sci-fi futures. Advertisements everywhere, corporations run everything. You know, the Blade Runner stuff that we've gotten ever since...Blade Runner.
BUT, where this takes a hard left turn is that is has a good story happening amidst all the future-ocity.
Basically, you've got a Presidential election, two candidates nobody likes, and someone, as a joke, runs a campaign for a young lady who works at a corndog place. AND SHE WINS! Because the other two candidates are so distasteful, she wins, and as you can imagine, this causes some problems. Not the least of which is the fact that she's totally unprepared to be President.
What really makes this book special right now is that it's truly funny, and you'll enjoy it regardless of your ideology. Mark Russell managed to write a book that sees a funny side to politics, but the humor doesn't come at the expense of anyone in our world. It's more about the inherent humor in the oddities of any political system. No cheap shots, and the humor will still be valid for decades.
~Peter
BUT, where this takes a hard left turn is that is has a good story happening amidst all the future-ocity.
Basically, you've got a Presidential election, two candidates nobody likes, and someone, as a joke, runs a campaign for a young lady who works at a corndog place. AND SHE WINS! Because the other two candidates are so distasteful, she wins, and as you can imagine, this causes some problems. Not the least of which is the fact that she's totally unprepared to be President.
What really makes this book special right now is that it's truly funny, and you'll enjoy it regardless of your ideology. Mark Russell managed to write a book that sees a funny side to politics, but the humor doesn't come at the expense of anyone in our world. It's more about the inherent humor in the oddities of any political system. No cheap shots, and the humor will still be valid for decades.
~Peter
September 17, 2018
The obvious reference point to mention in the same breath as PREZ is the movie "Idiocracy." However, while "Idiocracy" focused primarily upon declining intelligence levels and increasing crassness in human society, PREZ casts a wider net and ensnares not just individual people but the corporate oligarchy that plays us all.
While set in a future in which all of our foibles are dialed to 11, the grim humor is not only relatable, it is entirely conceivable. Hospital patients are forced to vie on "Sickstarter" to pay their medical bills. Voting for President is conducted on Twitter. Corporate CEOs mask their identities with holograms of company logos projected over their faces. As America's first teenage President attempts to navigate her duties, we get a side story of a young working stiff struggling to stay afloat and sinking fast. I'm going out on a limb and surmising that someone involved in PREZ did at one time work in a warehouse job, the satire of that environment is so spot on.
While set in a future in which all of our foibles are dialed to 11, the grim humor is not only relatable, it is entirely conceivable. Hospital patients are forced to vie on "Sickstarter" to pay their medical bills. Voting for President is conducted on Twitter. Corporate CEOs mask their identities with holograms of company logos projected over their faces. As America's first teenage President attempts to navigate her duties, we get a side story of a young working stiff struggling to stay afloat and sinking fast. I'm going out on a limb and surmising that someone involved in PREZ did at one time work in a warehouse job, the satire of that environment is so spot on.
June 19, 2019
Mark Russell es un escritor dotado para el comentario y critica social, como extra es suficientemente divertido para que no suene aburrido esto mismo, todo con ayuda de Ben Caldwell que brilla con su estilo entre caricatura y comic.
Lo único lamentable es que quizás nunca veamos un segundo volumen.
:(
Lo único lamentable es que quizás nunca veamos un segundo volumen.
:(
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