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Prez: The First Teen President
One of the stranger series ever published by DC Comics, PREZ was the story of the nation's first teenage president. With the lowering of the voting age to 18 in the late 1960s, it was only a matter of time until a teenager ran for the highest office in the land—and in PREZ, the aptly named Prez Rickard won, becoming the first teenaged president in U.S. history! But with such power comes corruption—in this case, in the form of Boss Smiley, a literally smiley-faced political fixer who wants Prez to do his bidding.
This title collects all the appearances of Prez since his 1973 debut, including tales by Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN #54), Frank Miller (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #1) and Ed Brubaker (the grunge-influenced VERTIGO VISIONS: PREZ #1). Collects PREZ #1-4, a story from CANCELLED COMICS CAVALCADE, SUPERGIRL #10 (1974), THE SANDMAN #54, VERTIGO VISIONS: PREZ #1 and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #1.
This title collects all the appearances of Prez since his 1973 debut, including tales by Neil Gaiman (THE SANDMAN #54), Frank Miller (BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #1) and Ed Brubaker (the grunge-influenced VERTIGO VISIONS: PREZ #1). Collects PREZ #1-4, a story from CANCELLED COMICS CAVALCADE, SUPERGIRL #10 (1974), THE SANDMAN #54, VERTIGO VISIONS: PREZ #1 and BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN #1.
224 pages, Paperback
Published June 7, 2016
4 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Joe Simon
359 books25 followersJoseph Henry "Joe" Simon (born Hymie Simon) was an American comic book writer, artist, editor, and publisher. Simon created or co-created many important characters in the 1930s-1940s Golden Age of Comic Books and served as the first editor of Timely Comics, the company that would evolve into Marvel Comics.
With his partner, artist Jack Kirby, he co-created Captain America, one of comics' most enduring superheroes, and the team worked extensively on such features at DC Comics as the 1940s Sandman and Sandy the Golden Boy, and co-created the Newsboy Legion, the Boy Commandos, and Manhunter. Simon & Kirby creations for other comics publishers include Boys' Ranch, Fighting American and the Fly. In the late 1940s, the duo created the field of romance comics, and were among the earliest pioneers of horror comics. Simon, who went on to work in advertising and commercial art, also founded the satirical magazine Sick in 1960, remaining with it for a decade. He briefly returned to DC Comics in the 1970s.
Simon was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1999.
With his partner, artist Jack Kirby, he co-created Captain America, one of comics' most enduring superheroes, and the team worked extensively on such features at DC Comics as the 1940s Sandman and Sandy the Golden Boy, and co-created the Newsboy Legion, the Boy Commandos, and Manhunter. Simon & Kirby creations for other comics publishers include Boys' Ranch, Fighting American and the Fly. In the late 1940s, the duo created the field of romance comics, and were among the earliest pioneers of horror comics. Simon, who went on to work in advertising and commercial art, also founded the satirical magazine Sick in 1960, remaining with it for a decade. He briefly returned to DC Comics in the 1970s.
Simon was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 22, 2016
Surprisingly enjoyable (if slightly goofy!) read.
It's also an interesting comparison between these stories, and the recent, more "arc-y" volume of Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog in Chief.)
It's also an interesting comparison between these stories, and the recent, more "arc-y" volume of Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog in Chief.)
December 16, 2019
This is a nice collection of all the Prez comics prior to the 2015 Vertigo miniseries. What's surprising is that it's intriguing and an interesting read in all of its incarnations.
The prize of this volume is obviously Neil Gaiman's Sandman issue, which was one of the best of the run, and a wonderful mythologization of Prez.
However the original Joe Simon series from the '70s is also surprisingly good. Oh, it's a little dated in its storytelling, but it's bizarre and wacky and a lot of fun to read. (The Supergirl issue that follows is a much more normative superhero comic, and pretty weird as it suggest that Prez was the Earth-One President.)
The Ed Brubaker "vision" that finishes off the volume doesn't have quite the zest of its predecessors, but it's still an interesting personal story about adolescent discovery.
Overall, a volume well worth reading, front to end.
The prize of this volume is obviously Neil Gaiman's Sandman issue, which was one of the best of the run, and a wonderful mythologization of Prez.
However the original Joe Simon series from the '70s is also surprisingly good. Oh, it's a little dated in its storytelling, but it's bizarre and wacky and a lot of fun to read. (The Supergirl issue that follows is a much more normative superhero comic, and pretty weird as it suggest that Prez was the Earth-One President.)
The Ed Brubaker "vision" that finishes off the volume doesn't have quite the zest of its predecessors, but it's still an interesting personal story about adolescent discovery.
Overall, a volume well worth reading, front to end.
April 28, 2025
Prime "only in the funny pages" bizarrity from the last century. Fun, odd, and well done throughout.
June 13, 2016
Last year, DC published Prez, Vol. 1: Corndog in Chief to a good bit of acclaim. A rather biting political satire, it earned a Best Comic Book award from the Reubens, and deservedly so. Around the time the book was published, DC announced plans to collect the original Prez series from the early 1970s, along with his later appearances in Supergirl, Sandman, and a Vertigo one-shot. The 70s Prez was created by Joe Simon and Jerry Grandenetti. Simon, of course, was the longtime creative partner with Jack Kirby, co-creating such comics luminaries as Captain America, Sandman (Wesley Dodds), the Newsboy Legion, the Boy Commandos, and helped launch romance comics as a genre.
Prez is a regular 18-year old who becomes President shortly after 18-year olds were allowed to vote, which caused a snowball effect which also dropped the age for who could serve in the US Congress and as President. Soon, Prez is lifted up as candidate by a small town boss, Mr Smiley (eerily looking like the Wal-Mart smiley face), but Prez soon breaks free and becomes his own man. He advocates clean government, gun control, world peace, and even survives an assassination attempt. Along the way, Simon does a pretty good job at poking fun at the political system, although he is not as effective as Mark Russell's 2015 version. This was the early 70s, of course, and the readers were not thought to be as sophisticated as we are today (snicker). But he throws in a lot of madcap stuff, like a nation of vampires, and Prez himself breaks the fourth wall a few times, which leads the reader to think this is just for fun and not "in-canon". However, Prez only lasted for four issues, and was next seen in the last issue of Supergirl's 70s book, where Prez is very much shown to be the president of Earth-1's USA. I would have expected such continuity snafus from Bob Haney, but writer Cary Bates seemed to think this made sense. It didn't, and this appearance is best forgotten.
The unpublished fifth issue (published in-house in Cancelled Comics Calvacade #2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Implosion#Cancelled_Comic_Cavalcade ) shows up in black and white, and was much in the same vein as the earlier stories.
Next is Neil Gaiman's take on the character from Sandman, and it's a moody, almost existential tale of Prez and how he eventually lost himself in "America" after a tragedy marked his administration. Gaiman deals a bit with the headiness of political heroes, and the slow descent into irrelevancy many people experience after reaching the highs of their dreams.
The last tale is from a Vertigo one-shot written by Ed Brubaker. A boy is raised to believe he is the son of the legendary teen president, and he eventually decides to trek across America to find out what happened to his father. Brubaker builds on Gaiman's story, and presents a wrenching tale of loss, hope, and discovery. This was the most beautiful tale I've read in a long while. Brubaker is almost always a huge "win" for me, story-wise, and this was a perfect conclusion to the story of the first Prez.
There are also a couple pages from one of Frank Miller's Dark Knight shitfests, which are immediately forgettable, and then the entry for Prez's world from Multiversity by Grant Morrison. Interestingly, Brother Power the Geek is also on Prez's Earth. Hmmm.
So this book is half 70s Bronze Era DC goodness (ymmv), and the other half Vertigo transcendence. Take your pick, but it's a good collection and worth reading through. Definitely hope DC mines more of this era in future collections.
Prez is a regular 18-year old who becomes President shortly after 18-year olds were allowed to vote, which caused a snowball effect which also dropped the age for who could serve in the US Congress and as President. Soon, Prez is lifted up as candidate by a small town boss, Mr Smiley (eerily looking like the Wal-Mart smiley face), but Prez soon breaks free and becomes his own man. He advocates clean government, gun control, world peace, and even survives an assassination attempt. Along the way, Simon does a pretty good job at poking fun at the political system, although he is not as effective as Mark Russell's 2015 version. This was the early 70s, of course, and the readers were not thought to be as sophisticated as we are today (snicker). But he throws in a lot of madcap stuff, like a nation of vampires, and Prez himself breaks the fourth wall a few times, which leads the reader to think this is just for fun and not "in-canon". However, Prez only lasted for four issues, and was next seen in the last issue of Supergirl's 70s book, where Prez is very much shown to be the president of Earth-1's USA. I would have expected such continuity snafus from Bob Haney, but writer Cary Bates seemed to think this made sense. It didn't, and this appearance is best forgotten.
The unpublished fifth issue (published in-house in Cancelled Comics Calvacade #2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Implosion#Cancelled_Comic_Cavalcade ) shows up in black and white, and was much in the same vein as the earlier stories.
Next is Neil Gaiman's take on the character from Sandman, and it's a moody, almost existential tale of Prez and how he eventually lost himself in "America" after a tragedy marked his administration. Gaiman deals a bit with the headiness of political heroes, and the slow descent into irrelevancy many people experience after reaching the highs of their dreams.
The last tale is from a Vertigo one-shot written by Ed Brubaker. A boy is raised to believe he is the son of the legendary teen president, and he eventually decides to trek across America to find out what happened to his father. Brubaker builds on Gaiman's story, and presents a wrenching tale of loss, hope, and discovery. This was the most beautiful tale I've read in a long while. Brubaker is almost always a huge "win" for me, story-wise, and this was a perfect conclusion to the story of the first Prez.
There are also a couple pages from one of Frank Miller's Dark Knight shitfests, which are immediately forgettable, and then the entry for Prez's world from Multiversity by Grant Morrison. Interestingly, Brother Power the Geek is also on Prez's Earth. Hmmm.
So this book is half 70s Bronze Era DC goodness (ymmv), and the other half Vertigo transcendence. Take your pick, but it's a good collection and worth reading through. Definitely hope DC mines more of this era in future collections.
October 26, 2019
"Surreal" just begins to cover it when describing these comics.
The original issues from the '70s are among the strangest and most subversive comics I've ever read. The first issue tosses the reader in the deep end with overt commentary on big business influencing politics told from a place of incredible comic book weirdness. After that, the weirdness is still there in abundance, but the commentary is more subdued. Issue #2's story of a Chess King playing a Russian opponent is a subtle take on the idea of foreign interests, fame, and money; while #3 takes a not-as-exaggerated-as-it-seems look at gun lovers and haters, with something to say to both sides. Issue #4's commentary is even more subtle, but clearly pointing out just how complicated it can get when the U.S. intervenes in foreign affairs. The "lost" issue is super strange, with commentary so muddled I have to admit, I'm not really sure what was said. Jerry Grandenetti's art for these issues is dynamic, sometimes approaching photorealism while sometimes becoming garishly cartoonish. The Supergirl crossover, besides being another lovely DC continuity glitch, continues the assassination sub-plot from the Prez series while highlighting the character's naivete.
The Sandman issue (my original introduction to the character and concept) is, of course, a typical Neil Gaiman masterpiece with beautiful art by Mike Allred.
Ed Brubaker's Vertigo Visions issue definitely retools the concept to reflect America in the '90s. The surrealism is almost entirely absent for most of the story. That fact coupled with Eric Shanower's not too clean art style keeps the book grounded. Though taking place on a parallel Earth, it's still very much a vision of our own world with Prez symbolizing a lost idealism. It's when the idealized Prez finally shows up that Shanower adopts a cleaner line, but the America we see is far from ideal. As bleak as the issue seems on the surface, it carries a message of hope.
The snippet from From Frank Miller's DK2 is an odd bit. The figure presented is clearly not Prez but a twisted homage with a clear commentary on false fronts in politics, media manipulation, and the sort of blind loyalty voters show the elected officials they deify. The message is especially relevant today, but has me looking sideways at the page considering the source.
The book ends on a happy note with the profile page of the Love Syndicate of Dreamworld from Grant Morrison's Multiversity, a cool pinup by Scott Hepburn and Nathan Fairbairn. (So, when are we going to see more comics with these groovy characters?)
Overall, this volume is more than a little uneven and rough around the edges. But that only adds to the experience of reading a collection that is a psychedelic look-back and a stark examination of the day. Both visions are of the past, but are startling prescient today.
The original issues from the '70s are among the strangest and most subversive comics I've ever read. The first issue tosses the reader in the deep end with overt commentary on big business influencing politics told from a place of incredible comic book weirdness. After that, the weirdness is still there in abundance, but the commentary is more subdued. Issue #2's story of a Chess King playing a Russian opponent is a subtle take on the idea of foreign interests, fame, and money; while #3 takes a not-as-exaggerated-as-it-seems look at gun lovers and haters, with something to say to both sides. Issue #4's commentary is even more subtle, but clearly pointing out just how complicated it can get when the U.S. intervenes in foreign affairs. The "lost" issue is super strange, with commentary so muddled I have to admit, I'm not really sure what was said. Jerry Grandenetti's art for these issues is dynamic, sometimes approaching photorealism while sometimes becoming garishly cartoonish. The Supergirl crossover, besides being another lovely DC continuity glitch, continues the assassination sub-plot from the Prez series while highlighting the character's naivete.
The Sandman issue (my original introduction to the character and concept) is, of course, a typical Neil Gaiman masterpiece with beautiful art by Mike Allred.
Ed Brubaker's Vertigo Visions issue definitely retools the concept to reflect America in the '90s. The surrealism is almost entirely absent for most of the story. That fact coupled with Eric Shanower's not too clean art style keeps the book grounded. Though taking place on a parallel Earth, it's still very much a vision of our own world with Prez symbolizing a lost idealism. It's when the idealized Prez finally shows up that Shanower adopts a cleaner line, but the America we see is far from ideal. As bleak as the issue seems on the surface, it carries a message of hope.
The snippet from From Frank Miller's DK2 is an odd bit. The figure presented is clearly not Prez but a twisted homage with a clear commentary on false fronts in politics, media manipulation, and the sort of blind loyalty voters show the elected officials they deify. The message is especially relevant today, but has me looking sideways at the page considering the source.
The book ends on a happy note with the profile page of the Love Syndicate of Dreamworld from Grant Morrison's Multiversity, a cool pinup by Scott Hepburn and Nathan Fairbairn. (So, when are we going to see more comics with these groovy characters?)
Overall, this volume is more than a little uneven and rough around the edges. But that only adds to the experience of reading a collection that is a psychedelic look-back and a stark examination of the day. Both visions are of the past, but are startling prescient today.
March 6, 2018
The original Prez comic series was a lame early 70's attempt by DC to cash in on the youth culture of the time. I picture a stereotypical bunch of middle aged guys sitting around trying to come up with a comic to appeal to "those crazy hippy kids with their dope, long hair and love beads." What they came up with veers weirdly between satire and earnestness, and features a depiction of a Native American that is problematic to modern-day perception. Although the execution was lacking, the characters of Prez Rickard and his surreal nemesis Boss Smiley were unique, and apparently wedged themselves in the memory of the young Neil Gaiman.
Fast forward to 1993. Gaiman resurrects this bit of pop culture detritus for an issue of his successful comic The Sandman. "The Golden Boy" is an example of what Gaiman does best, and is one of his best single-issue stories from The Sandman. He did an amazing job at taking the modern mythology of the American presidency and all the cultural baggage of the 1960's and sculpting it into a riveting re-telling of the Prez story. Rather than a goofy cash-in, the character takes on an archetypal feel, a kind of American god for the late 20th century.
The Vertigo Visions story "Smells Like Teen President" has its own take on the character, telling a story through the eyes of the mid-90's "grunge generation." This is also a fine peice of storytelling, with a lot to say about American culture, much of which is still true 20 years or so later. It's only let down by its ending, which comes off as excessively preachy.
The final selection comes from Dark Knight 2, and is fine for completeness, but doesn't really do anything with the character. Frank Miller seems to be using the name President Rickard as an inside joke. The character is much more a pastiche of Philip K. Dick's The Simulacra than any development of the actual Prez Rickard character.
Fast forward to 1993. Gaiman resurrects this bit of pop culture detritus for an issue of his successful comic The Sandman. "The Golden Boy" is an example of what Gaiman does best, and is one of his best single-issue stories from The Sandman. He did an amazing job at taking the modern mythology of the American presidency and all the cultural baggage of the 1960's and sculpting it into a riveting re-telling of the Prez story. Rather than a goofy cash-in, the character takes on an archetypal feel, a kind of American god for the late 20th century.
The Vertigo Visions story "Smells Like Teen President" has its own take on the character, telling a story through the eyes of the mid-90's "grunge generation." This is also a fine peice of storytelling, with a lot to say about American culture, much of which is still true 20 years or so later. It's only let down by its ending, which comes off as excessively preachy.
The final selection comes from Dark Knight 2, and is fine for completeness, but doesn't really do anything with the character. Frank Miller seems to be using the name President Rickard as an inside joke. The character is much more a pastiche of Philip K. Dick's The Simulacra than any development of the actual Prez Rickard character.
October 19, 2017
This embodies all the best and not so good traits of 1970's comics. This is a story that hasn't happened, but it could. The youth vote has just been given to 18-year-olds, the Constitution is amended so teenage Prez Rickard can be elected President. It tries to break out of the box of strictly superhero fare, while it struggles to come to grips with the changing times. Great, that we have a Teenage President; couldn't be worse than the Victorian-minded dinkoffs we have to deal with now. In fact the old fuddidudd Senators harassing Prez could have stepped out of a time machine from our own f-ed-up time period. Issue #3's take on Gun Control was ahead of its time, although we've obviously slipped a light year backwards on that issue. Great, that Golden Age comic maker Joe Simon was still at work. Not so great, that his simplistic style was too reminiscent of the 1950's. Bad, that despite its good intentions, Jerry Grandenetti's artwork portrays African Americans as 1940's-type Mongoloid figures that would have been offensive, even 40 years ago. Great, that the Vice President is a woman, in 1973! Why, though, did a potentially great character like Eagle Free have to be a stereotypical Native American, who even Pre initially labels a 'savage'? I give it a C, for good intentions.
April 8, 2021
I first discovered Prez in Sandman and had no idea he was originally a standalone character with his own series. This book collects that tale along with all other DC comics featuring Prez. The original five by Joe Simon are slightly goofy but fun and interesting as is the Supergirl story with Prez. The Sandman tale is one of my favorites from that series and features wonderful art from Michael Allred. My personal favorite from this collection is Ed Brubaker's tale of a possible Prez son. My only beef is that there aren't more tales - seems like a great concept for tales. There is a sequel series by Mark Russell with a teenage girl protagonist and if you enjoyed this collection, I highly recommend that as well.
July 15, 2019
This is . . . weird.
The politics of this are weird. And the story at the end where
The well-meaning Native American FBI chief does not work especially well to my modern eyes.
It shows a lot of gumption and when it gets a full head of steam, it's captivating.
The politics of this are weird. And the story at the end where
The well-meaning Native American FBI chief does not work especially well to my modern eyes.
It shows a lot of gumption and when it gets a full head of steam, it's captivating.
January 9, 2024
The initial run of Prez is absolutely terrible. But the Sandman revisioning of it was fantastic, and the main reason this gets 4 stars instead of 2 or 3, but it definitely helps to have read at least the first issue of the original run. Feel free to skip the subsequent issues. The Vertigo Visions one shot, Smells Like Teen President, is also a pretty good addition.
June 6, 2024
This was some really wacky fun with some weirdly precognitive story beats. I'd read the Sandman and Vertigo Visions issues before, but having the context was the original Prez stories really enhanced my enjoyment this time around.
October 26, 2017
Interesting but very disjointed read. The original Prez series was fascinating but some follow ups didn't quite keep my interest.
September 30, 2020
This book could have been written yesterday. A lot of the ideals espoused were evident of the 1970s. It was still a good read through and through and I did enjoy it.
February 24, 2021
What a bizarre series.
March 1, 2022
It’s a trip, man.
September 3, 2016
Huh.
I didn't know what I was reading -- but these are the original series . or one off collections. I don't have the words.
Much of it is very earnest, but then it was from the 70's so that makes sense. I enjoined the Pied Piper one -- and then the Neil Gaiman Sandman one was fantastic. And Smells like teen president.
The graphics vary quite a bit . I like the more modern ones ,but that's me.
It's a good read, but I think it might be good as part of a history study of comics
I didn't know what I was reading -- but these are the original series . or one off collections. I don't have the words.
Much of it is very earnest, but then it was from the 70's so that makes sense. I enjoined the Pied Piper one -- and then the Neil Gaiman Sandman one was fantastic. And Smells like teen president.
The graphics vary quite a bit . I like the more modern ones ,but that's me.
It's a good read, but I think it might be good as part of a history study of comics
February 14, 2020
Yeah, it's kind of a mess, but it's an entertaining mess.
Middle aged writers decide to do a teen book, but they decide, rather than yet another Archie clone to make it a political satire...?
Prez and his cast are likable, the stories are somewhere between a Monkees TV episode and a 60's spy movie.
One of those comics where you give them credit for trying something different, but it's tricky to say how successful they were.
Middle aged writers decide to do a teen book, but they decide, rather than yet another Archie clone to make it a political satire...?
Prez and his cast are likable, the stories are somewhere between a Monkees TV episode and a 60's spy movie.
One of those comics where you give them credit for trying something different, but it's tricky to say how successful they were.
December 13, 2016
Brilliant political satire that seems even more relevant today!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews