The book is a collection of 3 comic books that IDW Publishing released from Oct. 2008 to July 2009. Written by Jeff Mariotte and drawn by Tom Morgan, with covers by superstar artist J. Scott Campbell, these books covered Barack Obama’s life from his childhood through to his first 100 days in office. I bought the individual comics as they were published, but they’re all out of print now, with only this collection still available for purchase (in Kindle format).

The books are all essentially short prose biographies but with comic book panels illustrating the events that are being recounted in third-person caption, with occasionally word balloons used to recite important dialog or speeches.

The first book was called Presidential Material: Barack Obama. Released a month before the election in 2008, this book chronicles the then-candidate’s life from childhood up to his speech at the 2008 Democratic convention where he formerly accepted the party’s nomination. Along the way, it covers his time growing up in Hawaii and Indonesia, graduating college, becoming a community organizer in Chicago, meeting and marrying Michelle, running for the State Senate, looking a run for Congress, then running for Senator, and then, of course, for President.

This issue was likely a surprise success, which is what led to the two follow-up books. In June 2009 we got Barack Obama: The Road To The White House. This issue focused specifically on the Presidential campaign in 2008, as he ran against the GOP candidate Senator John McCain. We his choice to select Senator Joe Biden as his running mate, and McCain’s choice to select Governor Sarah Palin as his. And what a brutal campaign that was. And this issue ended with a transcript of Obama’s speech at the inauguration.

This was followed a month later by Barack Obama: The First 100 Days. It, obviously, covers the accomplishments and failures that the President encountered during his first 100 days in office, which ends with him still having an impressive 63% approval rating.

While I have no complaints about Jeff Mariotte’s writing, I do have to say that Tom Morgan’s artwork is a minor weak spot. It just feels average. I can’t help but incision how much more dynamic this trilogy of comics would be if J. Scott Campbell had also drawn the interiors in addition to the covers.

Make no mistake, these books are made to celebrate Barack Obama, but I wouldn’t call them just propaganda pieces or anything. They don’t shy away from exploring some of the controversies that he had to deal with, from dubious associates to embarrassing gaffs made in interviews and speeches. In particular, the 100 days book shows he made have been somewhat naive in what he thought he could accomplish, as his attempts at bi-partisanship largely failed, and several of his cabinet nominees were forced to withdraw for various reasons. But altogether this trilogy presents an inspiring life story of a remarkable man.

Chacebook rating: FOUR STARS

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