Prez (DC Comics)
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Prez: First Teen President was a four issue comic series by writer Joe Simon (the creator of Captain America) and artist Jerry Grandenetti, released by DC Comics in 1973 and 1974. It followed the adventures of Prez Rickard, the first teenage President of the United States of America, whose election had been made possible by a Constitutional amendment lowering the age of eligibility to accommodate the then-influential youth culture of the baby boom.
Martha Rickard, of Steadfast, Middle America, named her son Prez because she thought he should someday be President. Having made the clocks of Steadfast, whose towers were so out of sync that the town heard a constant chiming, run on time, he was hired as a ringer for shady businessman Mr. Smiley to run for Senator after the eligibility age was lowered. An idealist, he rebelled against Mr. Smiley. With 45% of voters under 30, the youthful Congress passed an amendment lowering the eligibility age for the presidency and Senator Rickard was voted President of the United States. He appointed his mother Martha Vice President and made his sister his secretary.
The most significant supporting character, however, was Eagle Free, a young Native American who has a deep understanding of animals. He lives in a cave well-stocked with books about them, but knows most of what he knows first hand. Prez appoints him director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Eagle Free wears a headband with feather, braids, and no shirt, and is often accompanied by a menagerie of native and non-native animals. Eagle Free trains Prez in multiple fighting techniques. This is never shown, but it is referred to.
[edit] Original series
Prez fought legless vampires, a right-wing militia led by the great-great-great-great-great-grand-nephew of George Washington, "Boss Smiley", a political boss with a smiley face, and evil chess players. He was attacked for his stance on gun control, and survived an assassination attempt during that controversy.
After four issues, the series was abruptly cancelled. Several years later, Issue #5 was included in Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2, though Prez itself predated the DC Implosion. Prez also appeared in issue #10 of the 1970s Supergirl series, cover dated October, 1974.
[edit] Later use
In 1993, Neil Gaiman featured the character in issue #54 of his Sandman series, "The Golden Boy."
In this issue, Prez was consistent with his previous characterisation of the ideal president; a young man who adored not simply his country but everything that it stood for. Aspects of his character such as never being the least bit tempted by bribes and of being infinitely forgiving (even after the murder of his fiancée he offers her murderer a chance at a pardon when he realizes that she is mentally unstable and in need of help) were reiterated in neat strokes and the character's Christ-like aspects further played up.
Gaiman's story ends with Prez completing his term and becoming a recluse, before eventually dying mysteriously. It was then revealed, as hinted at previously, that his reality was controlled by "Boss Smiley," but before Prez could be taken to that reality's heaven, he was rescued by Sandman who, as the King of Stories (presumably an aspect of dreams) allowed Prez to continue indefinitely, as his very being was a story unto itself. Rather than return to the Dreaming to live with the Sandman, Prez chose to travel across realities in the hopes of helping all Americas reach the peace and glory he had brought to his own.
Prez was also the indirect subject of the 1995 Vertigo one-shot Prez: Smells Like Teen President, by Ed Brubaker and Eric Shanower, in which a Generation X teenager seeks out the vanished former president, who, according to his mother, is his father.
There is also a reference to Prez in Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Lex Luthor creates a computer program which takes on human form and assumes the role of Commander in Chief. Its name is President Rickard and it bears a resemblance to a middle aged Prez.
