Sarah Palin Steampunks Her Way Into Comic Book Universe

The cult of Sarah Palin knows no bounds.

Antarctic Press, based in San Antonio, Texas, has published the "Steampunk Palin" comic, which features a vampy Palin holding a brass ray gun contraption with goggles perched on her bumpit and a canister on her back.

Steampunk, according to Wikipedia, is "an era or world where steam power is still widely used -- usually the 19th century and often Victorian-era Britain -- that incorporates prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy." The genre's popularity has surged in recent years with role-playing games, art, fashion and books. It's often related to the genre of cyberpunk.

This sexed-up version of Palin is as buxom as the old-school Wonder Woman. In one scene she even sports a tongue ring. But it's her mission that counts, right? Like all superheroes, Palin finds herself faced with a massive world problem – an energy catastrophe in the immediate aftermath of a war that has destroyed all the Earth's oil.

Mad Max Sarah to the rescue.

The 15-page comic is a creation by artist Ben Dunn, the initial founder of Antarctic Press, Brian Denham, who drew the cover and some interior pin-ups, and Jim Felker, a Canadian who wrote the story.

"We've been doing politial satire comics over the last few years or so and they have been very popular," Denham, a former Marine, says. "With the popularity of steampunk and Sarah Palin, it seemed like a perfect fit."

The promo copy for it says: "Massive oil spills, nuclear meltdowns and more leave us desperate for viable energy sources to rebuild global society and technology. Inspired by a little tea party, Sarah Palin hits upon the answer: steam power!"

Hence, her entry into the steampunk universe, which is in black and white to reflect the Victorian era. Palin, ever resourceful, creates the "Steam Initiative" to promote geothermal energy. She fights the bad guys of big oil and nuclear power. Not to be a spoiler – in case you want to add this to your Palin collection -- but the story also includes Palin in a coma, waking up six months later to find that 60 percent of her body has been replaced with steam technology.

In one frame, Palin says, "I can already feel the power this armor has coursing through me."

Sen. John McCain, with a robot arm, and President Barack Obama, now part-robot and re-named "Robama," also make an appearance. But Sarah saves the day, telling Obama, "Obama, don't even think of getting in my way."

As more energy enemies close in, never fear – Palin dons steam-powered armor and grabs a modern gun. Whew!

Antarctic Press also publishes a comic featuring one of Palin's favorite dead politicians. (No, not Ronald Reagan.) Rather, Abraham Lincoln. The comic series Time Lincoln also goes steampunk with required brass goggles and time travels. In one adventure, Lincoln is threatened by Void Stalin, the greatest villain of all time instead of John Wilkes Booth. In another, he saves Obama from a squadron of Time Fighters. The newest Lincoln comic lands him in 1952 China.

The press also published a strange comic called "Obamouse," a likeness of Obama with a tail and big ears who takes on "Owl Kaida" and crew of skeptics named Hen Beck, John McCrane, Sarah Penguin and Ratt Limbaugh. It also published a series of books called "President Evil" in which Obama fights a zombie army.

But Palin, too, seems to be a growing favorite at the company, which Denham says consists of both Republicans and Democrats.

There's another Palin full-color comic called "Rogue Warrior," with Palin wearing a stars-and-stripes bikini and a cross around her neck while holding a semi-automatic weapon. It is described as "a pulse-pounding plethora of pin-ups & stories, all featuring the hottest item ever to come out of Alaska, Sarah Palin" and showcases the "swimsuit sagas of the mighty maverick herself."

The big question: Is Palin's next stop at Comic(Neo)Con?