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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stars as a superhero in new political comic book

<em>Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force</em> cover (Photo: DDC/TIm Seeley and Josh Blaylock)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force cover (Photo: DDC/TIm Seeley and Josh Blaylock)

Less than two months into her first term, freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has achieved unprecedented celebrity status for a politician. Whether she’s “slaying lewks” on the cover of Vanity Fair, sitting down for a special on 60 Minutes or hosting Q&A sessions for her dedicated following via Instagram Stories, there are few mediums that the Bronx native hasn’t dominated.

Now she’s taking on the comic book universe — or at least her superhero version is.

According to the comic’s publisher, Devil’s Due Comics (DDC) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force aims to celebrate the most diverse freshman Congress class in history, especially Ocasio-Cortez, who made history in the past election as the youngest person elected to Congress.

“She’s become the de facto voice representing this new Congress,” founder Josh Blaylock tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “She’s the star of the team right now.”

<em>Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force</em> takes down the GOP establishment in the first issue, titled “New Party, Who Dis?” (Photo: Devil’s Due Comics/Josh Blaylock and Tim Seeley)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force takes down the GOP establishment in the first issue, titled “New Party, Who Dis?” (Photo: Devil’s Due Comics/Josh Blaylock and Tim Seeley)

The warrior version cover (there are two) of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force depicts the Bronx native in a Wonder Woman–inspired costume standing triumphant, sword in hand, over a defeated red elephant in a king’s costume. A cartoon version of the Capitol Building sets the backdrop, alongside a blue donkey, similarly clothed, standing idly by.

The title of the comic’s first issue, “New Party, Who Dis?” is a nod to one of many times that Ocasio-Cortez has already stood up to the establishment — when she responded to the comment of Sen. Joe Lieberman, independent-Conn., that he hoped Ocasio-Cortez was not the future of the Democratic Party. To that, she fired back on Twitter: “New party, who dis?”

The comic book will be published by the independent Devil’s Due Comics. Blaylock says he was inspired to jump-start the project when he saw Ocasio-Cortez quote Watchmen author Alan Moore in a tweet and join in a gaming live stream to educate watchers about trans rights.

“When I saw that, I knew she was a fellow comic book and video game geek,” Blaylock says. “I knew that if we didn’t do this first, then someone else would.” Now, he’s bringing together diverse, high-profile names in the comic world, including Jill Thompson, Tim Seeley, Dean Haspiel and more. Some of the proceeds from the comic will be donated to RAICES, a nonprofit that provides free or low-cost legal aid to immigrants and refugees in Texas, and military veterans’ charities.

Although the series will focus primarily on Ocasio-Cortez, who will “engage in a series of super-heroic mini-adventures, taking on the GOP establishment from within,” especially the “orange overlord,” the comic book creators plan to “spare no one in this satire.” According to Blaylock, the special-edition comic will be sure to feature cameos from Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and former House Speaker Paul Ryan.

“This anthology comic satirically skewers everyone from President Trump to his near-endless team of morally compromised Republican cronies,” Devil’s Due Comics wrote in a release obtained by The Hill.

AOC is the latest politician to have her life imitated by art. In the past, DDC created a satirical comic inspired by former President Barack Obama, called “Barack the Barbarian: No F#¢*s Left!,” a commemorative “send-off to the Commander-in-Chief.”

For the AOC-inspired comic’s May 15 release, DDC invites the public to “grab a hamberder and cup of covfefe,” noting, “It’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the ‘Freshman Force’ of Congress vs. the establishment.”

Says Blaylock; “I hope this comic will encourage the [new Congress] to stick to their guns and continue to be an intervention to this stagnated legislative body that we’ve had for as long as I remember. Or, I hope its just a fun catharsis for people when they read it.”