5 Best Political Cameos In Comic-Books

So, Barack Obama's shown-up in Spider-Man. Considering the fact that one of the Total Film team is wearing a Obama t-shirt as we type this, we'd say that's pretty much the best comic-book cameo ever.

All we need to do now is convince Sam Raimi that he needs to stick Obama into Spider-Man 4 and we'll be the happiest film magazine in London.

And, while we're at it - we'd like Hollywood to stick this lot onto the silver screen, please.

Gordon Brown - Captain Britain

Appeared in: Secret Invasion: Captain Britain #1

Brown's been banging on about how he's saved the world recently. The Tories mocked him, thinking that he boasting about his economic plan. But maybe, just maybe, Browny boy was boasting about his appearance in the Captain Britain comic last year.

Because in that comic, he actually does save the world.

After discovering that three of his Cabinet members are really Skrulls in disguise, Brown devises a plan to destroy the alien menace using maps and everything. He then briefs Captain Britain and his mates and basically saves humanity.

Who should play him in the film version: David Morrissey.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it - Morrissey made a sublime Brown in The Deal, arguably acting Michael Sheen off the screen. Get him in a room with a man dressed in a preposterous lycra suit now, Hollywood!

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Bill Hicks - Preacher

Appeared in: Preacher #31

Now, Bill Hicks may not have been an elected official, but his stand-up routines were as much political speeches as a collection of strung together gags, so we'd say he more than deserves his place on this list.

And as cameos go, it's a perfect one. Bill Hicks belongs in the Preacher universe - this was a comic-book that raged against religious hypocrisy, discussed gender politics and liked a smoke every now and again. Just like Hicks.

Who should play him in the film version: Russell Crowe.

Ol' Russ is a long-time fan of Hicks, and if he shaved his beard off and dyed his mullet, we reckon he'd be a dead-ringer for the best stand-up of our lifetime. C'mon Hollywood - make it happen!
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Stephen Colbert - Spider-Man

Appeared in: Amazing Spider-Man #573

Okay, so Colbert's more of a comedian than an actual politician, but he's here because a) He found fame in Comedy Central's political satire The Daily Show and b) He appears as a candidate for the US Presidency in the Marvel Universe. Which, obviously, is quite ace. Good work Stan Lee.

Who should play him in the film version: Well, himself. He does play The President of the United States in Monsters vs. Aliens, after all.

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JFK - Superman

Appeared in: Action Comics #309

Now this is what we call brand synergy. One of the greatest American presidents of all time, palling up with the greatest American superhero. They both believed in truth, justice and the American way, and both offered hope to the hopeless. It's such a good cameo that we can just about ignore the irony of Superman's statement in the panel above. We wonder if he'd say the same to Dubya.

Who should play him in the film version: Barack Obama. He's the new JFK in the real world, so why not make him the movie version? And if he can appear in Spider-Man, he can pretty much do anything.