Which Celebrities Have Starred in Comic Books?

Recently, comic books staring famous people -- including Lady Gaga, Hillary Clinton and Rush Limbaugh -- won their publisher Bluewater Productions media attention for their unauthorized, biographical take on these public figures.

But these are not the first of their genre. Comic books and celebrities have a long, often bizarre shared history, frequently in authorized material.

Premiering in 1950, DC Comics – the publisher of the Superman and Batman comic books, among others – produced 109 issues of "The Adventures of Bob Hope," with the comedian and singer engaging in original, humorous, skirt-chasing antics.
Then, beginning in 1952, DC Comics published 40 issues of "The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis," featuring the legendary comedy duo in a variety of wacky situations. In 1957, reflecting the pair's real life break-up a year earlier, the title was rechristened "The Adventures of Jerry Lewis." The new series saw Lewis, odd as it may sound, teaming up with iconic DC Comics superheroes such as Superman and the Flash, and lasted until issue No. 124.

Jerry Lewis wasn't the only celebrity to encounter the Man of Steel. In 1978, a special one-off comic book titled "Superman vs. Muhammad Ali" was released, depicting the titular match-up. To make it a fair fight, Superman was transported to a planet where he was powerless. Ali won.

Earlier in the '70s, the Partridge Family had also starred in a comic published by now-defunct Charlton Comics.
In 1989, Revolutionary Comics started "Rock 'N' Roll Comics," profiling the era's popular music icons with unlicensed biographies – their motto eventually became, "Unauthorized and Proud of It." In 65 issues, they covered artists as diverse as Paula Abdul and Bob Dylan, attracting a few lawsuits along the way.

The '90s didn't escape this trend, with Kid 'N' Play – yes, the hip-hop duo and stars of the "House Party" films – getting a nine-issue, allegedly humorous, series from Marvel Comics. And Billy Ray Cyrus had a one-issue special from Marvel, which has since received much ridicule online. The cover features the country music singer and father of superstar Miley Cyrus along with what appears to be some type of medieval warrior. Exactly what the two have to do with each other is unclear.

And it's not only entertainers that get the comic book treatment. In 1982, Marvel released a biography of Pope John Paul II, and followed up two years later with one on Mother Teresa. Neither of them interacted with any superheroes.

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