First American (comics)

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First American
Publisher America's Best Comics
First appearance Tomorrow Stories #1 (August 1999)
Created by Alan Moore and Jim Baikie
Characteristics
Affiliations The U.S. Angel (Joanie Jupiter)
Abilities None. Probably below average human physical/mental capabilities


First American is a fictional, humorous superhero created by Alan Moore. F.A. appeared in America's Best Comics, specifically in the anthology series Tomorrow Stories.

The First American's, or F.A.'s, first appearance was in Tomorrow Stories #1 (August 1999). Although he had a brief cameo in the earlier 'mini-comic' given away free with an issue of Wizard Magazine (later reprinted in America's Best Comics 64-Page Giant). He appeared in every issue of the comic as well as in an original story in one of the two 64-Page Giants in which art was supplied by Sergio Aragonés.

F.A. is a slightly overweight middle-aged man who, despite his claims, has no superhuman powers. Given his incompetance, he probably has below average physical abilities. His sidekick, The U.S. Angel or Joanie Jupiter, is a promiscuous young starlet (and former stripper) who greatly dislikes F.A. and dreams of replacing him as "The Next American."

The tag line of the stories claim that F.A. and U.S.Angel were "genetically engineered today for our nation's tomorrow." However a definitive origin or biography is difficult to piece together given the comical nature of the F.A. stories and the fact that F.A.'s incompetence borders on mental illness. In the 64-Page Giant it is shown that he is not the first First American, with ancestors/namesakes dating back to Christopher Columbus discovering America. According to his own muddled origin story he was born to a poor family somewhere in America during the Great Depression. He gained his powers through a series of bizarre events (A convoluted parody of the origins of Superman, Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, Batman, The Hulk, Daredevil, and others). Despite the paradox this presents F.A. also claims to be directly or indirectly responsible for all the major historical events of the 20th century.