Other recent instances of Franken rendered in comic form: A cartoonish Franken in the “BobbleRep” iPhone app, and a fake MAD Magazine ad featuring the senator in a bathtub alongside former Sen. Norm Coleman.

The $3.99 Franken book will be available at comic shops in May.

Photo: Paul Demko, MnIndy

Minnesota politicians seem to be fueling a cottage industry of political comic books. First Rep. Michele Bachmann, and now Sen. Al Franken. But unlike the portrayal of Bachmann in her comic books, it appears Franken will get mostly complimentary treatment. Bluewater Productions says they’ll be debuting the comic book, called “Political Power: Al Franken,” in May.

“Al Franken has this reputation — not completely unfounded, if you read the comic — as a metaphorical bomb-thrower, a guy who hates his enemies and has an in-your-face style,” comic book writer Jerome Maida said in a statement on Friday. “While I did find some stuff that would support that perception, I also found out a lot more interesting stuff that makes him a real person, a character instead of a caricature.”

So far, Bluewater’s Political Power series has covered Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Collin Powell, and Ronald Reagan. Bluewater’s comics are biographical in nature.

Update: Here’s what the Franken books cover will look like.

The creators describe “False Witness” as a “behind the scenes look at the seedy, hairy, loathsome underbelly of the career of one of America’s most notorious right-wing nuts and demagogues!”

Collaborators include journalist Bill Prendergast, and artists Dan Olson, Danno Klownowski and Ken Avidor.

The book will be on shelves in several weeks.