History Main / PresidentSuperhero

A [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent President]] (or otherwise Chief of State) of a sovereign country ([[CreatorProvincialism most likely]] the good ol' [[EagleLand US of A]]) who happens to have superpowers -- and does use them for heroics as a side job. Or who, alternatively, [[TheyFightCrime fights crime]] in a [[BadassNormal Batman-like fashion]]. Quite often a result of AsskickingEqualsAuthority (and sometimes of [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking the opposite]]).

** One of Marvel's ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' titles explores what would have happened if Captain America were elected President.

** Happened with the "main" reality's Superman, in one of the ''ComicBook/{{Armageddon 2001}}'' possible futures explored by Waverider.[[note]]At that point, Superman's canonical origin was the [[ComicBook/TheManOfSteel John Byrne version]] in which, by a technicality too involved to go into here, he was "born" in Kansas.[[/note]] And as if being Supes and Prez weren't enough, he also [[UpToEleven ends up with]] a Franchise/GreenLantern ring. [[spoiler:He resists and manages not to get DrunkWithPower.]]

* President Listens-to-Wind in the ''Literature/WearingTheCape'' series is a downplayed example. As a founding member of the Chicago Sentinels SuperTeam she parlayed her the prestige from her time working on the team into a successful political career that by the time the series has started has seen her elected as US President. Downplayed because the series recognises that her position is a full-time job in of itself that leaves her with no time for heroics.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1633026183055125200
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.

[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/{{Superman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pressupes.png]]]]

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** The concept of Supes possibly being president goes back to the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] when ComicBook/JimmyOlsen had a dream about it. Some aspects of it are examined as to how Superman being the president would be different; for instance, the splash panel shows an emergency situation. President Superman tells [[BodyguardingABadass the Secret Service men to get behind]] ''[[BodyguardingABadass him]]''. Also, at the end, when the possibility is mentioned in some way to the Man of Steel, Supes points out that he ''couldn't'' be president as the U.S. president has to be a native, and he wasn't born in the United States.
** Happened with the "main" reality's Superman, in one of the ''ComicBook/{{Armageddon 2001}}'' possible futures explored by Waverider.[[note]]At that point, Superman's canonical origin was the [[ComicBook/TheManOfSteel John Byrne version]] in which, by a technicality too involved to go into here, he was "born" in Kansas.[[/note]] And as if being Supes and Prez weren't enough, he also [[UpToEleven ends up with]] a Franchise/GreenLantern ring. [[spoiler:He resists and manages not to get DrunkWithPower.]]
** In Earth-23 of the post-''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' [[TheMultiverse multiverse]], Superman is President of the USA in his secret identity. Also, [[RaceLift he's black]]. Creator Grant Morrison has said he explicitly based this Superman, Calvin Ellis, on Barack Obama.
** In the {{Elseworlds}} story ''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'' (later Earth-30 of the post-''52'' multiverse), the Soviet-raised Superman becomes Premier of the Soviet Union after the death of Stalin. He uses his powers to both fight crime and improve the living standard of every citizen in the expanding Soviet state, but also [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill eliminates all free will]].

* In ''ComicBook/TheNewUniverse'', an attempt to assassinate UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan fails because [[MassSuperEmpoweringEvent The White Event]] has given him [[HealingFactor regenerative powers]].
* In the original ''ComicBook/SquadronSupreme'' Kyle Richmond is the President while also secretly being the Batman expy Nighthawk.
* ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'': Black Panther is the state leader of the [[{{Bulungi}} fictional country]] of Wakanda in Africa. He's a genius inventor and mechanic, is knowledgeable with his tribe's mysticism, and he kicks ass as a side job.
* {{Deconstructed}} in ''ComicBook/{{PS238}},'' [[spoiler:Principal Cranston]] used to be POTUS for a short time, having used his secret PsychicPowers to get there. When exposed, this resulted in a near-coup and him resigning from office. It's implied a revised Constitution outright bans metahumans, or at least metahumans-in-hiding or those with certain power sets, from holding office.

* ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'': One story had ComicBook/TheMightyThor as President. He agreed to let the Skrulls give everybody on Earth superpowers, which turned out to be a planetwide poisoning plot ([[ComicBook/FantasticFour Ben Grimm]], who'd gotten rid of his powers and didn't want new ones, ended up as the only human able to fight back as a BadassNormal). Grimm then goes to the past and prevents the invention that allowed Earth to contact the Skrulls, and thus he SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong.

* ''ComicBook/{{Uber}}'': [[spoiler:After the Soviet leadership attempts ([[NotQuiteDead but fails]]) to have Maria killed because of her unreliability, she flattens the Kremlin before killing Stalin. She then decides to rule Russia by herself and replace communism with anarchism, declaring herself the "Protector" of the new state.]]

* In ''Comicbook/LordHavokAndTheExtremists'', Tin Man (the Comicbook/IronMan expy) was elected President of the United States of Angor after proposing a SuperhumanRegistrationAct, with Americommando (Captain America) as VP. Following Tin Man's death, Americommando becomes President and appoints Blue Jay (Ant Man) as his Vice-President, while continuing the draconian policies. [[spoiler: He ends up stripped of office and imprisoned, with President Blue Jay presumably following a more moderate course.]]
* The ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperheroes: Millennium'' miniseries that documented the centuries between the present day and the Legion had Kara Danvers become President Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} by the mid-21st century.
* ''ComicBook/ExMachina'': After retiring as the Great Machine, the world's only superhero, Hundred runs for mayor of New York City off of his fame and wins. The series follows his tenure in the role and his future political aspirations. It ends with [[spoiler:him becoming President John [=McCain=]'s vice president, with implications that he will soon rise higher]].

[[folder:Fanwork]]

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Series/RealTimeWithBillMaher'': Mocked by Maher in his "New Rules" segment where he bemoaned the glut of superhero-themed movies and television series, not just for most of them being StrictlyFormula, but because it instills a mindset that TheOnlyOne can save the day. He then portrayed Donald Trump's presidency as the story of a superhero named [[AtrociousAlias "Orange Sphincter"]].

* ''VideoGame/MetalWolfChaos'': Michael Wilson, veteran of the Arizona Conflict and 47th President of the United States, has been deposed in a military coup by his [[EvilChancellor running mate]], Richard Hawk. Now, he must take up the guise of Metal Wolf and take back America city by city, armed only with his MiniMecha and the power of '''[[PatrioticFervor burning American freedom!]]'''
* [[VideoGame/FinalFight Mike Haggar]]'s ending in ''VideoGame/MarvelVSCapcom3'' has him being president with Tony Stark aka Iron Man as his vice president.
* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', within the Fifth Singularity, the mages of 1783 America summon the heroic spirit UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison (albeit a giant and LargeHam version of him with a lion's head and electric powers) to lead America after the invading Celtic Spirits kill the Founding Fathers. However, Edison is focused on defending America by controlling it like an industrialized factory and protecting America at the cost of the rest of the world [[spoiler:not helped that his mind was combined with every American President up to 2015, driving him mad]].

* The president of the United States and head of the government-run The Company in ''Webcomic/EvilPlan'' is [[http://evilplan.thewebcomic.com/comics/2144585/chapter-14-page-20-maam/ Emmie Oakley, cowgirl superhero.]]

* The 1960s cartoon ''Super President''. President James Norcross has powers very similar to those of ComicBook/{{Metamorpho}}, and he isn't afraid to use them. It ''was'' apparently supposed to be a secret that [[PaperThinDisguise Super President was, in fact, the President of the United States]], though.

* ''Series/RealTimeWithBillMaher'': Mocked by Maher in his "New Rules" segment where he bemoaned the glut of superhero-themed movies and television series, not just for most of them being StrictlyFormula, but because it instills a mindset that TheOnlyOne can do the job. He then portrayed Donald Trump's presidency as the story of a superhero named [[AtrociousAlias "Orange Sphincter"]].

** In Earth-23 of the post-''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' [[TheMultiverse multiverse]], Superman is President of the USA in his secret identity. Also, [[RaceLift he's black]].

** Near the end of the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel line, Captain America was elected to the presidency of the United States, and apparently did a very good job. However, he resigned following [[DividedStatesOfAmerica the "Divided We Fall" arc]].

[[quoteright:380:[[Franchise/{{Superman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ad2e3ca3e3010ad5aad1b08f26c1df5a.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:380:President Kalel, uh, I mean Calvin Ellis.]]

[[folder:Film]]
* [[UnreliableNarrator If you believe]] what ComicBook/{{Magneto}} says in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy [[BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy was a mutant]]. And Magneto [[NotMeThisTime didn't assassinate him]], but was actually curving the bullet in an attempt to save his life that was stopped by someone knocking him out. According to the filmmakers, if he was telling the truth, JFK's powers were likely a form of MindControl by way of {{Telepathy}}.

* {{Deconstructed}} in ''ComicBook/{{PS 238}},'' [[spoiler:Principal Cranston]] used to be POTUS for a short time, having used his secret PsychicPowers to get there. When exposed, this resulted in a near-coup and him resigning from office.

* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', within the Fifth Singularity, the mages of 1783 America summon the heroic spirit UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison (albeit a giant and LargeHam version of him with a li
on's head and electric powers) to lead America after the invading Celtic Spirits kill the Founding Fathers. However, Edison is focused on defending America by controlling it like an industrialized factory and protecting America at the cost of the rest of the world [[spoiler:not helped that his mind was combined with every American President up to 2015, driving him mad]].

* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', within the Fifth Singularity, the mages of 1783 America summon the heroic spirit UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison (albeit a giant and Large Ham version of him won's head and electric powers) to lead America after the invading Celtic Spirits kill the Founding Fathers. However, Edison is focused on defending America by controlling it like an industrialized factory and protecting America at the cost of the rest of the world [[spoiler:not helped that his mind was combined with every American President up to 2015, driving him mad]].

SubTrope of ActionPolitician. Compare GodEmperor, SorcerousOverlord, BenevolentMageRuler and EmperorScientist.

** The concept of Supes possibly being president goes back to the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]], when ComicBook/JimmyOlsen had a dream about it. Some aspects of it are examined as to how Superman being the president would be different; for instance, the splash panel shows an emergency situation. President Superman tells [[BodyguardingABadass the Secret Service men to get behind]] ''[[BodyguardingABadass him]]''. Also, at the end, when the possibility is mentioned in some way to the Man of Steel, Supes points out that he ''couldn't'' be president as the U.S. president has to be a native, and he wasn't born in the United States.

* ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'': Black Panther is the state leader of the [[{{Bulungi}} fictional country]] of Wakanda in Africa. He's a genius inventor and mechanic, is knowledgeable with his tribe's mystcism, and he kicks ass as a side job.

* PlayedWith in ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'': The series' protagonist, the Boss, is elected to the U.S. presidency after the prologue and technically remains the President throughout the game (never mind that [[EarthShatteringKaboom Earth is destroyed]] half-way through). Before that happens, however, the Boss gains superpowers... but only in the [[{{Cyberspace}} Simulation]], where nobody recognizes them as the president. They eventually get superpowers in real world, too... but [[spoiler:become the GodEmperor of the Universe almost immediately thereafter]].

* The president of the United States and head of the government run The Company in ''Webcomic/EvilPlan'' is [[http://evilplan.thewebcomic.com/comics/2144585/chapter-14-page-20-maam/ Emmie Oakley, cowgirl superhero.]]

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': In issue 7 Diana views a possible future through the Magic Sphere in which she is elected president of the U.S. in the year 3000 in her secret identity as Diana Prince while still acting as Wonder Woman.

[[quoteright:280:[[Franchise/{{Superman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ad2e3ca3e3010ad5aad1b08f26c1df5a.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:280:President Kalel, uh, I mean Calvin Ellis.]]

* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': The Fuhrer President of Amestris, "King" Bradley, is a LightningBruiser who still punishes crime by himself, even when [[EyepatchOfPower he's got an eyepatch]] and pushing past middle age. Even when his army is made up of State Alchemists with elemental powers, he still surpasses them easily with little more than super-speed, super-strength, and his sword. [[spoiler:As it turns out, he's actually an artificial homunculus bred for being the leader of the country, hence his superhuman attributes and all-seeing eye beneath his patch. And he's also evil.]]

* ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'': One story had ComicBook/TheMightyThor as President. He agreed to let the Skrulls give everybody on Earth superpowers, which turned out to be a planetwide poisoning plot ([[ComicBook/FantasticFour Ben Grimm]], who'd gotten rid of his powers and didn't want new ones, ended up as the only human able to fight back as a BadassNormal). Grimm then goes to the past and prevents the invention that allowed Earth to contact the Skrulls, thus MakingRightWhatOnceWentWrong.

* One Creator/MarvelComics one-shot story had ComicBook/TheMightyThor as President. He agreed to let the Skrulls give everybody on Earth superpowers, which turned out to be a planetwide poisoning plot ([[ComicBook/FantasticFour Ben Grimm]], who'd gotten rid of his powers and didn't want new ones, ended up as the only human able to fight back as a BadassNormal).