IRREVERENT News

WASHINGTON - In their first official act, today the deficit reduction "supercommittee" announced it has commissioned a comic book series of itself.

In the comic, individual "Superlegislators" combat the ultra evil "Spendthrift Alliance," a group of legislators and other fiendish villains intent on destroying the nation with reckless spending habits. Each Superlegislator has a specific superpower: Superlegislator John Kerry, for instance, has the power of "quantum debate," in which he can simultaneously hold two contradictory positions in any debate to baffle opponents. Other legislators aren't as funny.

"We hope to raise awareness and a few bucks through the comic," said Senator David Camp (R-MI). "Proceeds raised from comic sales, of course, must offset the costs of the committee, including our salaries and enormous overhead. That's why each comic must cost $39.95 to stay revenue neutral."

Despite this claim, however, some have accused the supercommittee of using their position for financial gain. "The profits go directly to the campaign coffers of [supercommittee] members," said John Jackobmeyer Schmidt, a political advisor at Jery, Cheetum & Howe, a K-Street law firm. However, no confirmation of this statement was available as of filing.

Although initially planned to run 20-25 issues, some supercommittee members dream of a much longer run. "With good stories and decent artwork, I think we could easily go 10 or even 20 years," said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). "A comic about the inner workings of a debt reducing legislative committee? How would we EVER run OUT of stories?"

Comic insiders, meanwhile, aren't as sanguine. "Worst. Idea. EVER," said one comic book guy, on condition of anonymity. "Now I have no further time to answer your questions, as I must be the FIRST on the internet to register my disgust about this ridiculous comic."

Photo Credit: Flickr/cliff1066