Villains in the Oval Office: 6 Shocking Comic Book Presidents!

In the worlds of Marvel and DC comics, their respective versions of the United States show distinct differences, particularly in how they handle their superhuman populations. The Marvel Universe depicts a government that actively engages with its superhero community, whereas the DC Universe tends to keep its distance. Both universes feature presidents, some of whom are real historical figures and others who are entirely fictional, and surprisingly, some have even served as supervillains. Despite the presence of superhero presidents, it appears that supervillains are more likely to ascend to the highest office in the land.

In most instances, this phenomenon tends to occur in alternate realities, yet there are cases where it unfolds within the primary universe of at least one of the two prominent superhero worlds. The concept of supervillains occupying the presidency is quite intriguing; indeed, it seems plausible that these malefactors would seek the Oval Office. Remarkably, some have achieved this goal, leading to a wealth of captivating narratives. To date, six villainous figures have assumed the presidency in their respective realities, with one character managing this feat an impressive three times!

Green Goblin

One captivating Marvel tale that stands out among many is the Earth X. Although the Earth X Trilogy might not offer the same level of excitement as before, the initial fourteen-issue series is a thrilling exploration of Marvel’s history and future. The story unfolds in an alternate timeline where every individual on Earth possesses superpowers. An enigma arises as people mysteriously live longer lives, while resources like food become scarce. In the United States, an unexpected figure ascends to the presidency—Norman Osborn. However, Osborn does not significantly impact the main narrative of the story and is eventually killed by the Skull, who claims the title of America’s ruler.

Osborn appears to be corrupted and crooked, yet he seems to have an underlying motivation for bettering the U.S. Among villainous presidents, he’s relatively mild-mannered. Selecting him as president felt more like a startling decision than anything else, reflecting how dire the situation had become in Earth X that people chose to elect a businessman with a criminal record in their desperation for salvation. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?

Purple Man

Most fans of Marvel comics are familiar with the character Purple Man from the Netflix series “Jessica Jones.” Originally a Croatian spy named Zebediah Killgrave, he gained the power to manipulate minds through pheromones. While not always a top-tier villain, his role in Jessica Jones’ backstory, both on television and in the comic series “Alias,” demonstrates just how vile he can be. The ability to control minds could prove useful for someone aspiring to political leadership; in fact, it was revealed in “Marvel 1602” that Purple Man’s powers extended so far that he even became president.

In the comic book “Marvel 1602,” the action unfolds during the year 1602, when characters from the Marvel Universe first emerged in this timeframe. Steve Rogers appeared as Rojhaz, a white man who lived among Native Americans and served as their protector alongside Virginia Dare. The reason for his presence among the Natives was revealed in the final issue, and it was certainly not what readers had anticipated. In this story, Rogers hailed from a future where the Purple Man managed to rise to the highest political position. The Purple Man couldn’t kill Rogers directly, so he sent Captain America back through time instead. This action by Captain America triggered the commencement of the Marvel Universe at an earlier point in the revised timeline, leading to the creation of an entirely new universe. Although readers didn’t witness much of the Purple Man as president — it was only a few panels — he was indeed the sitting president in this alternate reality.

Number One

To put it another way, although it’s been more of an assumption than a fact, this point is still significant. During the ’70s, Captain America was engaged in a struggle against the Secret Empire, a covert band of villains headed by the Council of Nine. There were rumors that the Secret Empire’s leader held a prominent political position within the United States, and eventually, Cap managed to track him down. Pursued by Captain America, this leader stormed into the Oval Office and disclosed his identity before taking his own life instead of facing justice.

Essentially, there’s strong suggestion that Number One was none other than President Richard Nixon. This inference implies that his “high political office” encompassed the position of President of the United States of America. The unveiling of Number One’s identity left Captain America disillusioned with his country, leading him to relinquish the title of Captain America temporarily and adopt the identity of Nomad instead. It’s important to note that while this is merely an implication, many fans and inhabitants of the Marvel Universe have come to accept it as a fact, portraying Nixon as a villain who rose to the presidency.

Red Skull

In a reimagined Marvel timeline, where the antagonists have triumphed, the classic story “Old Man Logan” unfolds. The Red Skull, in a repetition of the “Acts of Vengeance” from the late ’80s, orchestrated a scheme to target heroes who were not their typical adversaries. This time, the strategy proved successful. The United States was divided into domains for supervillains such as Doctor Doom, Kingpin, Magneto, and the Hulk (who had sided with the villains). The Red Skull claimed control over the East Coast and proclaimed himself President.

Red Skull murdered Bucky, who was temporarily filling in as Captain America at that moment, and donned his uniform. Red Skull amassed relics from fallen heroes in a grotesque display room he frequently visited. He aimed to crush any potential uprisings before they even began, using his own adaptation of S.H.I.E.L.D. to locate and eliminate superheroes and their kin. Red Skull’s rule came to an end when Wolverine pursued him in retaliation for Hawkeye’s demise.

Doom 2099

2099 editions by Marvel present a wealth of unmined storytelling gems, with titles such as “Doom 2099”, “Spider-Man 2099” and “X-Men 2099”. The debate rages on about which one is the best, but “Doom 2099” stands out for its unique premise. In this series, a character awakens in the year 2099, claiming to be Doctor Doom from the past century. He sets his sights on reclaiming Latveria from Tiger Wylde and manages to regain his throne. As the story unfolds, we see Doom wielding increasing power, not just for personal gain but also aiding future superheroes in their struggle against corporations that have seized control of the world and its nations.

Over time, Doom opted to challenge the office of President, despite the dwindling prestige due to corporate control. However, the position retained much of its historical influence. Doom managed to conquer the United States, defeating both US forces and corporate entities. He seized the White House, coerced the incumbent president into suicide, and claimed the Presidency for himself. During his term, Doom waged a relentless war against corporations, culminating in the initiation of a global conflict aimed at rectifying issues in other countries worldwide.

Lex Luthor

The long-standing conflict between Lex Luthor and Superman has often been influenced by Luthor’s substantial wealth and influence. With the might of LexCorp at his disposal and the political clout that his billions could buy, Luthor consistently managed to avoid the repercussions of his criminal activities, maintaining a clean reputation. Eventually, Luthor aspired for the presidency and sought to improve his image. He capitalized on this opportunity during the Batman saga “No Man’s Land,” where he assisted in rebuilding Gotham after a viral outbreak and earthquake left it isolated from the US. This act of kindness earned him significant popularity, paving the way for him to become President of the United States. However, his unscrupulous actions eventually led to his downfall and loss of the presidency.

In addition to his role in our universe, Lex Luthor has assumed the presidency in two different alternate storylines. The comic book “The Dark Knight Strikes Again,” a sequel to “The Dark Knight Returns,” features him as president. Using his power and influence within the villain community, he launched an attack on future heroes, ultimately defeated by Batman. In another tale titled “Superman: Red Son,” Lex became president, contrasting with Superman’s communist ideology. Through a combination of long-term planning and Superman’s decision to disappear, Luthor managed to bring an end to Superman’s rule and helped save the world from destruction by Brainiac.

2025-02-28 08:27