STEPHEN COLBERT
Real Name: Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert D.F.A.
Identity/Class: Normal human
Occupation: Host of TV's Colbert Report, "kingmaker pundit" (see comments);
former United
States Presidential candidate
Group Membership: The Colbert Nation (see comments)
Affiliations: J. Jonah Jameson, Spider-Man (Parker)
Enemies: Bears, "bleeding heart liberals", the Grizzly (Markham), Peter Parker, Eugene "Flash" Thompson, "ungrateful Manhattanistas"
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Partner", "TV's Stephen Colbert"
Base of Operations: New York City, USA
First Appearance: Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man#15 (February, 2007)
Powers/Abilities: Stephen Colbert has an unerring belief in himself and that everything he says is correct. Also of particular note is Colbert's "gut", it's instincts which have yet to prove him wrong. For all his strengths, Colbert suffers a soul-shattering fear and hatred of bears, the grizzly in particular.
History:
(Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man#15) - Stephen Colbert attended a signing for "Two-Faced", Debra Whitman's 'tell all' book about Spider-Man. After a disguised Peter Parker commented on another attendee's belief that her boyfriend might be a super-villain, that she would have to report to the government, was right out of Nazi Germany, Colbert put him "on notice" for trotting out Nazis to demonize the government like all "bleeding-heart liberals." Colbert subsequently put Flash Thompson "on notice" for pushing past him to the front of the line. (It's unclear if Colbert was able to get his copy of "Two-Faced signed following the destructive arrival of the Vulture (Toomes).)
(Secret Invasion#1 (fb) - BTS) - Colbert launched his Presidential campaign. (see comments)
(Secret Invasion#1) - A man touring the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building headquarters was spotted wearing a "Colbert '08" t-shirt.
(Amazing Spider-Man II#573/2 (fb) - BTS) - With his campaign well underway, Colbert began campaigning non-stop, later alleging to have rescued orphans, helped old ladies, and killed Skrulls in his pursuit of the White House.
(Amazing Spider-Man II#573/2) - Receiving a one hundred dollar campaign contribution from J. Jonah Jameson at a Colbert '08 rally in New York's Union Square Park, Colbert grew disillusioned by the few attendees and the possibility he wouldn't be elected President. Deciding that if voters didn't want him he would be "Stephen Colbert, no more", Colbert left his trademark jacket and tie in a garbage can while he walked away, his head and shoulders slumped in a curiously familiar fashion.
Unexpectedly running into Spider-Man as the webslinger crashed into a glass window, Colbert was stunned to learn Spider-Man was in the middle of a fight with the Grizzly. Summoning all his courage to combat his fear of grizzlies, Colbert charged forward, believing the Grizzly's presence to be part of an attempted assassination. While Spider-Man took the lead in the fight, Colbert wondered aloud who could have sent him (calling out the Red Skull, the Kingpin, and the Democratic National Committee as possible suspects). Whisked to a rooftop away from danger, Colbert saw Spider-Man in the Grizzly's steel grip, and pushed an American eagle gargoyle down on the Grizzly, noting it's appropriateness (the American eagle being the natural enemy of the bear, of course). Finding renewed zest from his daring deed and the cheers of appreciative Manhattanites, Colbert rededicated himself to his campaign, donning his jacket and tie once more, and embracing his destiny as a Presidential candidate.
Comments: "Created" by Peter David (writer), Scot Eaton (pencils), and John Dell (inks).
Without going into too much detail, the Stephen Colbert appearing in the Marvel Universe appears to be based upon Colbert's right wing conservative persona seen in his TV news punditry satire, the Colbert Report. It's unclear how much of "TV" Colbert's history has carried over to his 616 counterpart, although it's implied he hosts a similar program there (given Peter Parker's recognition of him and being referred to as "TV's Stephen Colbert"). It's no surprise really that Colbert has shown up in the Marvel Universe as regular viewers of his program will recall Colbert receiving a life-size replica of Captain America's shield (now hanging on the wall of his studio) from guest and Marvel editor-in-chief Joe Quesada.
The Colbert '08 announcements seen in Marvel comics beginning with Secret Invasion#1 (and continuing through titles including Amazing Spider-Man II#556, Incredible Hercules#116, and She-Hulk II#27) follow Quesada's second appearance on the Colbert Report where he told Colbert that despite his failure to become a Presidential candidate, he would remain one in the Marvel Universe. After the real-life win of Barack Obama however, Marvel announced Colbert won the Marvel Universe Presidential election, only to reveal it was a mistake and Obama would be the 616 President as well (adding that Colbert did win the popular vote).
Colbert's "On Notice" list as revealed in Amazing Spider-Man II#573 is as follows: Politics, Grizzly Bears, the British Empire, Dr. Doom, Canada, Barbra Streisand, Joe Quesada, "Business Casual", Black Hole at Center of Universe, and the Toronto Raptors. The Marvel Universe Colbert's "On Notice" list shares some similarities with the actual Colbert's list, with a few notable exceptions.
During their second encounter, Spider-Man noted Colbert looked "more liberal in person", no doubt a result of seeing Colbert without his jacket and neck-tie.
A Skrull impersonating Colbert was seen in Secret Invasion#5.
Profile by G Morrow.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Stephen Colbert has no known connections to
images:
(without ads)
Amazing Spider-Man II#573, cover (main image)
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man#15, p11, pan5 (close-up)
Secret Invasion#1, p30, pan2 (campaign t-shirt)
Marvel.com, (Daily Bugle election coverage)
Appearances:
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man#15 (February, 2007) - Peter David
(writer), Scot Eaton (pencils), John Dell (inks), Axel Alonso (editor)
Secret Invasion#1 (June, 2008) - Brian
Bendis (writer), Leinil Yu (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Tom Brevoort
(editor)
Amazing Spider-Man II#573 (June, 2008) - Dan Slott and Mark Waid (writer), John Romita Jr. and Patrick Olliffe (pencils), Klaus Janson and Serge Lapointe (inks), Stephen Wacker
(editor)
Last updated: 11/05/08
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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