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George W. Bush and the Weapons of Mass Distraction (IDW Press Release)

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:35 pm
by Seibertron
George W. Bush and the Weapons of Mass Distraction

Trading Cards about Influential Leaders Mix Facts and Satire

George W. Bush and the Weapons of Mass Distraction tell a comical story of politics gone awry

San Diego, CA (March 12, 2007)- The art of satire always seems most absent at times when it's most needed. But IDW Publishing is here to fill a void by taking a left turn in more ways than one. The comic book publisher is pleased to announce that they are bringing back the noble tradition of politically minded trading cards with a new set that celebrates the world in which we live even as it points out the foibles of those in charge.

Coming in May is George W, Bush and the Weapons of Mass Distraction, a 36-card boxed set of illustrated trading cards that looks at all the political figures you've come to know and "love," complete with notable facts and their career "highlights," their quotable quotes and jibes.

Each trading card is dedicated to a different member of the "team," the Bush administration figures and peripheral folks who move and shape policy and public opinion.

Among the recipients of this dubious honor are "team captain" George W. Bush, here represented as "King George II," who "reigns over the proud monarchy of Americaland;" also included is Vic-President Dick Cheney; The Colbert Report's host and truthiness proponent, Stephen Colbert; former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld; Tony Blair; Bill O'Reilly; and 30 others.

IDW Publishing is please to announce the debut of their George W. Bush and his weapons of mass distractions trading cards. Not a "once upon a time" type of story, this one begins quite differently: "King George II reigns over the proud monarchy of Americaland." Told through a series of 36 trading cards, this is the tale of George W. Bush and his weapons of mass distractions.

While chock-full of facts, these cards offer an alternative way of viewing these powerful men and women. You’ll discover that:

Stephen Colbert is the ultimate weapon of mass distraction. His viewers tune in for a laugh, while secretly-seeded propaganda pellets seep into their synapses
George Bush's wife, Laura Bush, has influence on George. While not obvious, it has always been strong: she participated in the National Book Awards, and George once read a book.
Previous Secretary of State Colin Powell stood for truth, justice and the American Way for most of his life. But under the tutelage of Bush, he had to ignore the first two, and simply had to stick with the third.
Graphic illustrations help illustrate the personalities and predilections of those involved, too. One card shows Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly with a dog snout and floppy ears, demonstrating who he really is—an attack dog for the Bush Administration; another depicts Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson as a cyborg—due to a chip in his arm that supposedly carries medical information, but really allows him to launch nuclear weapons.

IDW's Mission will be Accomplished on May 20, 2007, when George Bush and the Weapons of Mass Distraction hit comic specialty shops and bookstores nationwide. (Diamond Distributors order code MAR07 3535)

ABOUT IDW PUBLISHING

IDW Publishing, a division of Idea + Design Works (IDW), produces small runs of high-quality publications, including comic series, graphic novels and trading cards. One of the first titles published, "Popbot," won two Spectrum Gold Awards. Another, "30 Days of Night," was named the #1 Hot Comic of the Month by Wizard Magazine several months running and the #1 Breakout Product of 2002. IDW Publishing also publishes a comic based on the hit CBS TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Other licensed comics include Sony's Underworld; FX's The Shield; Fox's 24 and Angel; Hasbro's The Transformers; Universal's Land of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead; and Konami's Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Metal Gear Solid. In 2004, 2005, and 2006 IDW was named Publisher of the Year by Diamond Comic Distributors. More information about the company can be found at http://www.idwpublishing.com.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:59 pm
by Skowl
haha! Let's hope the CIA doesn't find out about this, or the IDW crew might find themselves jailed indefinately with no right to an attorney...

I'm sure good 'ol Colbert will have something good to say about this!

Stephen Colbert is the ultimate weapon of mass distraction. His viewers tune in for a laugh, while secretly-seeded propaganda pellets seep into their synapses


EDIT: Though looking at this, I believe they don't quite grasp what Colbert is trying to do with his show... they see it as a right-wing thing, but it's just the opposite. Colbert is a satirist, his show is like a modern-day version of Swift's "A Modest Proposal".

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:32 pm
by Operation Ravage
Those are terrible.

I don't have any sympathy for the people being mocked, but the cards are just terrible. They're not funny; I've seen the same jokes on Lettermen only a billion times.

Sorry to come off so negatively about them, I just find them completely unnecessary.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:52 pm
by Ironhidensh
Agreed. Old jokes. It would be nice to see something new and original.....

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:29 pm
by Darth Bombshell
Ironhidensh wrote:It would be nice to see something new and original.....


Yeah. Unfortunately, it's not like Bush and co. have been giving us anything even remotely new to chew on lately, so they got to make the best with what they got.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 6:48 pm
by Seibertron
SKowl wrote:EDIT: Though looking at this, I believe they don't quite grasp what Colbert is trying to do with his show... they see it as a right-wing thing, but it's just the opposite. Colbert is a satirist, his show is like a modern-day version of Swift's "A Modest Proposal".


Yeah, I didn't quite get the Colbert one either. I feel like I'm missing something. I was trying to read behind the lines that they were trying to being humorous by saying that Colbert was truly a Bush supporter, but after having watched a good 2 dozen or so of his shows, I most certainly don't get that. One card isn't going to make me change my mind either. Is there something about Colbert's humor that I don't get?

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:07 pm
by Dr. Caelus
Seibertron wrote:
SKowl wrote:EDIT: Though looking at this, I believe they don't quite grasp what Colbert is trying to do with his show... they see it as a right-wing thing, but it's just the opposite. Colbert is a satirist, his show is like a modern-day version of Swift's "A Modest Proposal".


Yeah, I didn't quite get the Colbert one either. I feel like I'm missing something. I was trying to read behind the lines that they were trying to being humorous by saying that Colbert was truly a Bush supporter, but after having watched a good 2 dozen or so of his shows, I most certainly don't get that. One card isn't going to make me change my mind either. Is there something about Colbert's humor that I don't get?


The joke is that the card is using the same humor as Colbert does: Colbert is a liberal comicly pretending to be a diabolical conservative, so the card says he is a conservative diabolically pretending to be a comedic liberal.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:41 pm
by Bluebullet
I just might pick this up for a million laughs. It's funny how they mixed comedic personality traits with hard political fact. I'm sure my family will get a good laugh, too.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:41 pm
by Skowl
Caelus wrote:
Seibertron wrote:
SKowl wrote:EDIT: Though looking at this, I believe they don't quite grasp what Colbert is trying to do with his show... they see it as a right-wing thing, but it's just the opposite. Colbert is a satirist, his show is like a modern-day version of Swift's "A Modest Proposal".


Yeah, I didn't quite get the Colbert one either. I feel like I'm missing something. I was trying to read behind the lines that they were trying to being humorous by saying that Colbert was truly a Bush supporter, but after having watched a good 2 dozen or so of his shows, I most certainly don't get that. One card isn't going to make me change my mind either. Is there something about Colbert's humor that I don't get?


The joke is that the card is using the same humor as Colbert does: Colbert is a liberal comicly pretending to be a diabolical conservative, so the card says he is a conservative diabolically pretending to be a comedic liberal.


Oooookay, I think I get it now. The card profile is ironic as well.

The card is sort of making fun of conservatives who want to believe Colbert is actually on their side... or maybe we're just giving the people who write these cards waaaaayyyyy too much credit!