As we celebrate this President’s Day weekend in the United States.  I thought I would take a moment to highlight all of the appearances of our first President George Washington.  For those of you who want more Presidential goodness, I did the same thing last year and focused on Abraham Lincoln. 

To learn more about George Washington, the man go to the official White House page.

Otherwise, prepare to be amazed at how comic creator's have utilized this founding father over the years.

More after the jump.

George Washington: The Life of an American Patriot

Let’s start with an obvious one.  Patriot, war hero, and statesman, George Washington played a crucial role in the birth of the new American nation. This handsomely illustrated saga carefully chronicles Washington's life from his childhood years in Virginia, to his stunning successes as commander in chief of the Continental army, to his time as first president of the nascent republic.

True Comics

Another easy one. There were a lot of Washington stories in this series. 

* "John Honeyman," True Comics #5, October 1941.

* "Wilderness Adventures of George Washington," True Comics #7, December 1941.

* "Washington's Only Defeat," True Comics #8, January 1942.

* "George Washington's Advice," True Comics #9, February 1942.

Great Zombies in History--The War of 1812

Of course, I have to mention my own book coming this May from Elevator Pitch Press.  In this story Washington's zombie rises up and leads an army into the Nation's Capital and only the combined British and American forces can stop them. But, at what cost?

The book also features Teddy Roosevelt, another great President.

Giant Size Fantastic Four #2

The Watcher sends Reed and Johnny back in time to the days of the Revolutionary War, disguising themselves as locals from that era, the two quickly learn where history changed in this reality: George Washington has been captured by the British army, and the Americans are at risk of losing the war. Attacking the British military base, Mr. Fantastic and the Human Torch easily free Washington from his prison. After getting Washington to safety, they learn that he was captured due to the appearance of a man who appeared in a bright flash of light. This event spooked his horse enough to buck him off and be captured by the British. With Washington free, Reed and Johnny are transported out of that time, leaving Washington to resume his proper role in history.

X-Men 181

This issue of X-Men had a Franklin Richards Backup called "Christmas Time Warp!" by Chris Eliopoulos.  In the story, Franklin Richards forgets to buy Christmas presents for his family and uses the Fantastic Four Time Platform to go shopping before Santa arrives. He overshoots and eventually meets George Washington.  When Franklin returns home empty-handed he learns that he is the best gift they’ve ever received.

Action Comics 399

In Action Comics 399,  “Superman, Your Dead Dead Dead,” Superman is captured and brought to an alternate future Earth in the 24th century to defend it from a energy vampire that has killed two alternate counterparts to himself before he can be transported back to his home reality and time.  The story features the Earth 399 George Washington, George Washington, who in the 1770s penned the Emancipation Proclamation, which frees the slaves in the American colonies.  An important moral document, it soon results in the ending of slavery throughout the British Commonwealth. 

In Action Comics 463, “Die Now Live Later.” Clark Kent finds himself a reporter for Benjamin Franklin’s newspaper in 1776, but soon remembers that he is Superman and that Karb-Brak has used his psi-machine to brainwash him.  George Washington was, of course, big news then.

But why should her cousin have all the fun.  In Action Comics 274, Supergirl gets in on the action with "Supergirl's Three Time Trips!" Traveling to the year 1776, Supergirl witnesses Betsy Ross invent the American flag, and follows it's travels to George Washington. When the flag is accidentally burned when the wind carries it onto a fire pile, Supergirl quickly stitches up a new one and secretly places it back in the carriers hands who isn't the wiser. When she goes to watch Washington receive the flag, she is once more surprised to find that the rock Washington is sitting on is Kryptonite.

But,Kryptonians aren't always helping Washington. Let's not forget Action Comics 6, which contained an elseworld's story.  In this story the kryptonian Kal-El is not sent in a rocket to Earth by his parents when their planet explodes, but one of his ancestors from the House of El arrives as a fully grown man two hundred years earlier during the American Revolutionary War and takes the side of the British Empire. Given supreme power, he eventually dominates the entire planet to his will and constructs a totalitarian regime depriving his subjects of both freedom and liberty. Many years later his descendant Kal, almost entirely human through generations of inter-species breeding, fights back against him in a rebellion. There is dichotomy as the two characters battling embody respectively Superman's power and his ideals in conflict.

Washington is hung with the rest of the Founding Fathers.

Superman

As long as we are on the Man of Steel, Superman 48 featured a story called "Autograph, Please!" Written by Siegel and John Sikela, this charming tale has Superman helping a wheelchair-bound boy win an autograph contest by getting the signatures of historical figures, including good old George Washington, whom he helps clear out icebergs in exchange for the autograph. (This story is notable for being the first one in which Superman travels through time under his own power.)  At the end, the boy is so happy, he can walk.  I miss the Golden Age.

In Superman 283, Mr. Mxyzptlk causes trouble for Superman and Congress in Washington, D.C.  in the story "One Of Our Imps Is Missing!"  George Washington makes a cameo on the Senate Floor.

Superboy

Superboy 2 had a story called “George Washington's Drum!”  When Clark Kent is baffled by the sight of a Superboy cape in a drum dating from the American Revolution, he goes back in time, helps General Washington and his forces triumph over Cornwallis and the British, and makes a flag for a drummer boy out of his red cape, white bandages, and blue cloth. The flag is kept in the drum afterwards. When Superboy returns to the present, he reconstructs his cape, the other cloth having long deteriorated.

In addition to a strange cover, Superboy 75 featured a story called “How Krypto Made History!” Krypto finds a dinosaur bone, but it tastes a bit stale, so he goes back in time to find a fresher one. When he does, he inadvertantly helps historical figures, like Washington, do things.  Again, he helps him cross the Delaware.  It must have really easy to cross the Delaware with all the superheroes helping Washington.

Adventures Comics 297

In “"The Bizarro Who Goofed Up History", Bizarro No. 1 has a dream in which he straightens out history by getting John Wilkes Booth to assassinate George Washington and other equally bizarre things. When he wakes up, he learns that he has been talking in his sleep, Bizarro-Junior No. 1 has transcribed his dream for an Earth history test, and has been responsible for his son getting a perfect score.

Adventure Comics 137

George Washington appeared in "Johnny Quick Makes History"  After a newsreel is destroyed, Johnny Quick uses his time wheel to get footage of incredible historical events including Washington crossing the Delaware (he, like Superman cleared the ice in Washington’s path).  This was reprinted In Colossal Comics 50.

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen 126

Jimmy Olsen pans a time-travel movie in a review and causes slight turnout for it. In revenge, the movie-maker stages a ruse that causes Jimmy to believe he has been thrown back in time to Revolutionary War days, where he meets George Washington.

Anarky #7

In this tie-in to the Day of Judgment crossover event, Anarky encounters The Haunted Tank and teams up with its crew to defeat an army of zombies rising from Arlington National Cemetery. Anarky also encounters various Founding Fathers in the process. The story carries a strong anti-war message, and ends when Anarky, demoralized by the sight of pointless fighting among men from every war in US history, refuses to fight and abandons the battlefield.  George Washington appeared as a reanimated corpse.

Archie Comics

Issue 602 of Archie Giant Series Magazine featured a story called “"The World of Jughead / Unstuck in Time!" The story is pretty much what it sounds like and there is General Washington right on the cover. (I should also note that this is title of the First Album from the band Jughead’s Revenge)

Washington also appeared In Archie 36  printed in 1948 in a dream in the Story “Spirit  of 48”.

Captain America 344

I'm not sure this one counts as the Captain looks to Washington for inspiration in the White House.

Flash Gordon 10

This king publication had a back up about the First President. called Washington Attacks Trenton.

Battle 33

George Washington appeared in a story called "The Colonel!" in the old Atlas book.

Black Hawk 14

George Washington appeared in a story called, "The Eternal Enemy"

Wonder Woman 5 (1942)

In one of Wonder Woman’s earliest adventures, she went up against Doctor Psycho, who said he could channel the spirit of George Washington in a séance. The ghost shows up twice in the book, the second time, Wonder Woman ensnares George Washington in the Lasso of Truth, and discovers that the entire séance was a ruse.

Super Friends 17

Fiddle-de-dee! The Super Friends celebrate Independence Day with a time-travel trek in this all ages book! The teams set off to meet the greatest heroes they can imagine – the Founding Fathers!

This time Aquaman helps with the crossing.

Flash Comics 66

This Golden Age Flash book had a Picture Stories from American History with "The Story of Young George Washington" written by M.C. Gaines, penciled & inked by Don Cameron.

Star Trek 9 (Gold Key)

The cover says it all “George Washington is alive and well - Watch out Mr. Spock!” In this Gold Key book from 1971, the Enterprise landing party walks up to a man wearing an old-style military uniform, complete with tricorn hat and epaulets. Kirk speaks to him, and when the man turns to reply, the Captain recognizes him instantly. "Good Lord!" he says, "George Washington! But this is impossible! You've been dead for centuries!". Spock tells Kirk that his tricorder readings prove the man is very real.  Eventually, it turns out to be manipulated by a villain named Lazarus.

Herbie

President Washington appeared in issue 1, 2 and 8 of this series and even made the cover of Issue 1.  Again, Washington is helped across the Delaware.

In issue 8, George Washignton's teeth take center stage.

S.H.I.E.L.D. # 4

George Washington showed up in this great Hickman sleeper hit. 

Green Lantern 1

This book featured a text piece by William Moulton Marston (creator of Wonder Woman) entitled “Will Power Is the Flame of the Green Lantern! My Flame Shall Be Yours If You Develop Will Power!”, which extols the virtue of will power and uses two great men (Washington and grant) from American history as examples.

Worlds Finest Comics

Issue 9 Featured a public service announcement entitled “The Minuteman Answers the Call.”  Throughout history, American men have been ready and willing at a moment's notice to stand and fight for this nation's freedom.....a call now being accepted by a new generation of "minute men"  he also appears in issue 28, but I can’t figure out where.

President Evil #1

What can I say about this look I-put-President-Obama-in-a-comic comic?  An original idea or a new genre?

DC Decisions 2

DC Universe: Decisions is a 2008 was a 4-issue miniseries that focused on the political aspects of various DC Comics superheroes, and revealed their political orientations. While the candidates in the election, while they are aligned to actual political parties, are fictional, George Washington, who appeared in Issue 2, was real.

Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact # 19

This series featured a story about the history and construction of Mount Rushmore."The Shrine of Democracy: The Story of Mt. Rushmore"

Startling Comics  10

This was the first appearance of the Fighting Yank.  This Captain America rip-off (who, himself was a Shield rip-off) was Bruce Carter III, who obtained his superhuman powers when the ghost of his ancestor Bruce Carter I, a hero from the American War of Independence, appeared to him and showed him the location of a magical cloak that could give the wearer invulnerability and super strength. Carter I dies after meeting George Washington.

Spy Smasher 4

There was a six page story entitled, “George Washington, Hope of the Patriots.”

Incredible Hercules  #124

In this issue of Greg Pak’s incredible take on the Prince of Power, Washington has a vision while laying down the cornerstone for the Capital. Washington is not the only one with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

All-Star Comics #22.

Although the story in this issue, "A Cure For The World," features time travel, no one meets Washington.  But, there he is on the cover of the book.

MySpace Dark Horse Comics Presents

This series included some "Founding Fathers Funnies."  Martha and George Washington were in several of them. 

Fury of Firestorm 42

In this Crisis of Infinite Earth’s tie in, Firehawk meets Wonder Girl,. All this plus Tomahawk, Dan Hunter and George Washington!

Secret Origins 22

It turns out Washington played an important role in the Manhunter's history.

And there were others: