Who Is Gary Callahan? Origin, Powers and Key Facts

Gary Callahan is a Creator-Owned comic book character, with over 43 comic issue appearances. The second man to become president during Transmetropolitan. Even worse than The Beast, he is Spider's primary antagonist throughout the series.

Who is Gary Callahan?

History He beat the former president known as "The Beast" by Spider . He wasn't the kind of man you would want as your savior of your country. He became the president to control the people. Nicknamed for his wide, rigid, nearly perpetual grin, The Smiler is originally given Spider's grudging support, until he proves to be far more corrupt and dangerous than The Beast. The Smiler privately admits to Spider that he hates everyone and only wants to be President in order to control and oppress people, and begins a personal vendetta against Spider after the journalist repeatedly humiliates him in the public eye. The Smiler goes so far as to send assassins after him, have him fired from The Word, and sic the National Guard on him. The Smiler also has no qualms about killing anyone whose death will help him gain or keep power, as demonstrated by his orchestration of the assassinations of Vita Severn and, later, his wife and children. In fact, Fred Christ reveals that this is not the first time the Smiler has done this; every time the Smiler's support fades, he has someone close killed (such that it looks like an accident) in order to regain loyalty via sympathy.

Key facts

Gary Callahan is of human origin and first appeared in "Year of the Bastard". The character is published by Creator-Owned. With 43 recorded issue appearances, Gary Callahan ranks among the most featured characters in comics.