In December, KFC released a Lifetime mini-movie called A Recipe for Seduction, starring Mario Lopez as Colonel Harland Sanders himself. In addition to the film industry, the company has also made recent moves in the gaming market with the release of a KFC dating simulator in September 2019, as well as the June 2020 announcement of a new gaming console that can keep chicken warm. These are just some of the latest in a long line of wild marketing stunts that the restaurant chain has pulled over the years. Back in 2015, however, the company had its sights set on a different audience. Teaming up with DC Comics, KFC released a story in which Colonel Sanders was given a chance to join the Justice League.
KFC: The Colonel of Two Worlds, by Shaine Edwards, Tony Bedard, Tom Derenick, and Trevor Scott, is actually the first in a three-part miniseries featuring the epic adventures of Colonel Sanders. KFC: Crisis of Infinite Colonels dropped a year later, in 2016, followed by KFC: Across the Universe in 2017. With his signature white suit and plenty of finger lickin’ good puns, the Colonel shows his skills while fighting alongside the Flash and Green Lantern.
The first issue begins with Mirror Master introducing Captain Cold to their new partner in crime, Colonel Sunder. Hailing from Earth-3, the opposite version of DC’s main Earth, Sunder is an evil variation of Colonel Sanders, who believes that hard work is overrated. Working with the two Flash rogues, Sunder opens his own restaurant, which sells cheap, low-quality fried chicken. In addition to serving fast-food, the Anti-Colonel also hires some thugs to earn him more money by carrying out robberies and heists throughout Central City.
Noticing the growing crime rates, Flash and Green Lantern quickly deduce that the new restaurant in town may be involved. As Flash prepares to enter, however, he notices the real Colonel Sanders marching toward the establishment. The speedster tells Sanders that it may not be safe to go inside, but the Colonel says that this is about honor, as Sunder is tarnishing his reputation by doing things the easy way. Storming through the doors, Sanders wastes no time in calling out his lazy doppelgänger and hitting him with a clean uppercut to the jaw. In the ensuing battle, Sunder uses frozen chicken turrets and a pink slime ray to defend himself, but he can’t keep the Colonel down. As the two fight, Flash works on getting the restaurant’s customers to safety. Captain Cold and Mirror Master, on the other hand, watch in amusement as they’ve grown tired of working with Sunder. Realizing he’s been defeated, Sunder makes a break for it, returning home to Earth-3.
After the big battle, Colonel Sanders, accompanied by Flash and Green Lantern, takes Captain Cold and Mirror Master to KFC so they can see “what an honest meal tastes like.” As the two villains enjoy their food, Flash turns to Colonel Sanders and says, “Y’know, Colonel, the Justice League could use a man like you.” Sanders thinks about it, replying that he might take up that offer when he’s retired. Flash then turns to his rogues and reminds them that after their meal, they’ll be headed to prison, but Sanders tells the hero he has a different idea for them. Since Captain Cold and Mirror Master didn’t actually hurt anyone, Sanders suggests that they repay their debt to society by working at one of his restaurants. A hilarious final page shows the heroes meeting up with the Colonel one final time, while Captain Cold fills some KFC cups with ice and Mirror Master cleans the restaurant’s windows.
The Colonel of Two Worlds and its sequels are certainly fun reads, even if they are meant to be promotional stunts. Despite the Flash’s offer, though, it’s probably best not to expect Colonel Sanders to join the Justice League’s roster anytime soon. After all, who knows how well the powers of hard work and determination would fare in a battle against Darkseid?