AUGUSTA, Maine — Independent U.S. Senate candidate Angus King’s opponents sometimes grumble that he has received superhero treatment from the national media since he announced his intention to run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Olympia Snowe.
On comic books pages, he is a superhero — or at least the inspiration for one.
Marvel comic book artist Matt Fraction based his reworking of the “Fantastic Four” series on a road trip the former Maine governor and his family took after King left office in 2003, he told USA Today.
The reworked storyline for what Marvel describes as “the first family of superheroes” is slated to debut in November, according to Marvel’s website.
Last year, Downeast Books published “Governor’s Travels: How I Left Politics, Learned to Back Up a Bus, and Found America,” King’s account of that journey, which took the family through 33 states over a five-and-a-half month span.
“It was this intensive road-trip home-school experience,” Fraction said in a USA Today report published Thursday. “I don’t really know any parent who wouldn’t want to do that with the time and money available.”
Whereas King, his wife Mary Herman, son Ben and daughter Molly traveled around the country for six months in an RV, the new Fantastic Four will ride a special trip across time and space for a series of historical adventures.
“If they’re studying ancient Rome, then by God let’s go have lunch with Caesar on the Ides of March,” Fraction told USA Today. “If they’re looking at the Big Bang, they’re going to watch it from the front row.”
“I thought it was a pretty cool RV trip too,” King told the Bangor Daily News Friday. “But even cooler would be to go back in history with my family and talk with Joshua Chamberlain, Abraham Lincoln and take some batting tips from Ted Williams.
“My only request is Brad Pitt play me in the movie.”
Too bad he wouldn’t head to the left coast and just stay
negative nancy
Crapola…..
Gulliver’s Travels is more like it! And who better than a small kernel of nothingness to speculate on whether men are inherently corrupt or whether they become gradually corrupt when a failed legacy is misrepresented and the pockets of unsuspecting citizens are pillaged. I doubt very much if Joshua Chamberlain — a man of stark contrast to the Lilliputian King — would have anything to commend to this remnant of average intellect except to deliver a sharp blow to his ego.
Bravo.
“Mother saves child from drowning.” Got any negative comments about that? I bet you would…
Idyl, sounds like you are over-revving: you could easily blow your head gasket that way.
This is pretty cool! School had always been boring for me, and this sort of experiential learning is exactly what I hope I can do with my children. Even if it’s on a smaller. Good on you, Governor, for being a dedicated parent – probably wasn’t easy with teenagers or however old they were!
I don’t read comic books, never understood the appeal, but pretty cool to inspire someone else like this….
This is great, it seems like a fun way to get kids excited about history. Also, I’m glad that Gov King is getting noticed by more than just the usual “beltway insiders” hes a real breath of fresh air i voted for him back in the 90’s and ill vote for him agin i only wish he could be senator and gov at the same time.
This sounds like a cool idea for a comic. And it’s about time that Angus had a superhero based on him.
Luckily, Happily, for all of US, Angus has returned to the right coast, and is about to bring a heaping helping of pragmatism and common sense to DC on behalf of all Mainers.
LOL!! Good one!
Only the most popular politicians can transcend politics and culture the way Angus King can. He is a tremendous politician and does what all politicians should do without needing the crutch of partisan ties. Gulliver while a funny play on words does not adequately describe the journey Angus has taken. Angus King was a terrific governor, and it is only logical he will make a tremendous senator.
Awesome! Angus is the coolest. He is definitely a Maine superhero. Brad Pitt might be able to pull it off, but he’ll need to grow an epic mustache like Governors Chamberlain and King.
Brad Pitt? Hmmm…maybe Robert Redford. Maybe.
The Most Interesting Man in the World guy! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Interesting_Man_in_the_World