Harry Truman

A comics depiction of the 33rd U.S. President, Harry S. Truman appears as himself in Captain Marvel Adventures, bringing real-world political authority into Golden Age superhero storytelling. No fictional backstory is needed — he is simply the sitting Commander-in-Chief rendered in four-color form.

Stepping straight out of the headlines and onto the four-color page, this comics incarnation of Harry Truman made his debut in Captain Marvel Adventures #110 in 1950, courtesy of the legendary Golden Age team of Otto Binder and C. C. Beck. Published under EC, Truman's comics presence spans a remarkable stretch from 1950 all the way to 2013, turning up across an eclectic mix of titles including Mad and Captain Marvel Adventures — which tells you something about the range of tones his image could carry, from earnest to satirical. With seven catalog appearances that include one key collector issue, and a roster of page-mates ranging from fellow real-world figure Dwight D. Eisenhower to icons like Captain America, Wonder Woman, and even Santa Claus, this is a fascinating slice of comics history where the real world and the four-color universe collided with gleeful Golden Age confidence.