Presidential candidates senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) are characters in a new comic book series released last week.

The cover created by comic strip artist J. Scott Campbell, who is famous for his Spiderman and Danger Girl work, features both candidates facing each other with two fluttering flags behind them. McCain wears a red tie and has a huge grin on his face. Obama wears a blue tie but has a stern look.

San Diego based publishers IDW expose both of the candidates pasts, including Obama’s student experimentation with “tobacco, alcohol, pot and cocaine” and McCain’s years as a rebellious student, his divorce and notorious temper.

College Republicans Chairman Andrew Bogda said the content of the comics were “pointless and dumbing down American politics.”

“The comic books focus on petty scandals and not the real policies and issues people care about,” Bogda said.

IDW has a separate comic book for each candidate titled “Presidential Material: John McCain” and “Presidential Material: Barack Obama” and does not endorse either candidate. However, a two-in-one flip book “Presidential Material Flipbook” that includes both candidates caters to undecided voters.

Graham Crackers Comics, 901 C Lucinda Ave., sells the new series.

Rick Berg, manager at Graham Comic books, said he expected people to purchase just one of the candidate’s comic books but the two-in-one flip book is more popular.

Sales have been a little slower, but people are buying them, Berg said.

College Democrat President Tony Wadas said he doesn’t think the comic will have much of an effect on the election.

“I do not think it will have a large impact on getting more young voters involved,” Wadas said. “I don’t have anything against comic books, but I don’t believe comics appeal to enough people to actually play that large of a role in this election.”

Wadas also said those who comic books appeal to probably already have their mind made up on which candidate they will vote for.

Bogda agrees the comic book won’t have much of an effect on the election because they make fun of both candidates.