Prez, Vol. 1

This new version of a 1970s series that lasted only four issues finds America’s first teenage president gender-swapped. Prez, now female, is elected via Twitter and deals with Middle Eastern terrorists and Big Pharma in a broad satire of modern America. While Russell’s (God Is Disappointed in You) story gets many of its political beats correct, and its heart is perhaps in the right place, its devotion to broad satire comes at the expense of any personality for the title character. Prez is ballsy but naive, she cares about the marginalized and says smart-ass things to old, white male politicians, but this is just a collection of traits rather than a character. These traits can’t compete with the huge collection of constantly shifting characters and scenarios that make up the story, despite the desperate need for a real center to the action. Although beautifully drawn, Caldwell’s art doesn’t manage to transcend the obvious. It’s a kitchen-sink approach to political satire that spreads itself too thin. (Feb.)