AP: BRITISH PM GORDON BROWN HELPS SAVE WORLD IN CAPTAIN BRITAIN & MI13

[MichaelDoran]

by GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) _ British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is deep in the political doldrums, with national polls showing his popularity at an all-time low, but he may take consolation from a new Marvel comic book that shows him helping to save the world from aliens.

The U.S. comic, called ``Captain Britain and MI13,'' depicts Brown and his Cabinet helping Britain ward off a threat from evil, green-skinned aliens called The Skrulls with the help of a fictional intelligence agency called MI13.

``He's marshaling the troops, showing leadership and acting heroically,'' Paul Cornell, an accomplished novelist and television writer who wrote the comic book, said Tuesday.

The task is made more difficult because several of the visitors from outer space have managed to infiltrate Brown's Cabinet disguised as real Cabinet members.

Cornell said Marvel comics often show real-life politicians portraying themselves, but he said the Brown cameo appearance is not likely to be repeated.

``I do admire the prime minister,'' said Cornell, whose television work has included penning some episodes of the popular show ``Doctor Who.''

He told the artists to make sure the character actually looked like Brown, who is shown in the comic wearing his customary dark business suit and tie rather than in the formfitting lycra bodysuits often worn by comic book stars.

``He's definitely not playing a superhero,'' Cornell said.

[Royal Nonesuch]

This should go over a lot better than Princess Diana in X-Statix, who was supposed to become a superhero.

[Statham]

Funnily enough, I can imagine Brown suiting a story like this better than Blair, who has featured in a few previous Marvel stories - He's kinda quiet and unassuming, so it'd be awesome to see him do a Churchill and pull out all the stops in unleashing some Great British power on Skrull asses.

I wonder if this means there'd be much objection to my 'Margaret Thatcher - Supervillain' story...

[durkadurka]

Originally Posted by MichaelDoran

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is deep in the political doldrums, with national polls showing his popularity at an all-time low...

He hasn't been PM for all that long, so this really isn't THAT bad.

``I do admire the prime minister,'' said Cornell, whose television work has included penning some episodes of the popular show ``Doctor Who.''

Cornell, you have some brief cameo by the Doctor, or show the TARDIS "accidently" smooshing some Skrulls, and i will buy every copy i can find.

[Corpulent1]

I'm not a huge fan of real political figures appearing in comics because it automatically dates comics, which kind of sucks for posterity. Brown's appearance in MI-13 was done pretty well, though. Short and sweet, and it felt really significant that Britain is in such hot water that MI-13 is tasked specifically with stopping the Skrulls straight from the top.

Originally Posted by durkadurka

Cornell, you have some brief cameo by the Doctor, or show the TARDIS "accidently" smooshing some Skrulls, and i will buy every copy i can find.

Aw, I'd love to see that. I think the fact that IDW holds the Doctor Who license now might prevent it, but maybe they'd let it slide if it's just the TARDIS, out of respect for all those years Marvel UK published the Doctor Who comics.

[Tom Daylight]

Originally Posted by durkadurka

He hasn't been PM for all that long, so this really isn't THAT bad.

What do you mean isn't that bad? He's suffered the worst poll rating drop since Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler in the 1930s. He's bullied and connived his way to the top without a single election. He lacks the most rudimentary leadership skills and he retreats to his bunker every time something goes wrong. His record as Chancellor is appalling - he sold Britain's gold reserves low, made British people excessively taxed and indebted and has left Britain woefully exposed to the global recession. He really is the worst British Prime Minister in living memory. And to see him glorified in a comic book frankly makes me feel sick...

[durkadurka]

Originally Posted by Tom Daylight

What do you mean isn't that bad? He's suffered the worst poll rating drop since Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler in the 1930s. He's bullied and connived his way to the top without a single election. He lacks the most rudimentary leadership skills and he retreats to his bunker every time something goes wrong. His record as Chancellor is appalling - he sold Britain's gold reserves low, made British people excessively taxed and indebted and has left Britain woefully exposed to the global recession. He really is the worst British Prime Minister in living memory. And to see him glorified in a comic book frankly makes me feel sick...

What i meant was the fact that he is apparently at an all-time low. But for somebody who hasn't been PM for that long, all-time doesn't mean too much. Frankly, i was being facetious. There was no call for it (Another Doctor Who reference, YES!!)

[Union Jim]

Must be a slow news day cos the Metro and the Daily Mail (spit spit) have been all over this story. I love how they are making out that Brown plays such a big role in the story when he's in a few panels.

Still, moaning aside, it's great that the book has got this much coverage here. Just a shame it's along the line sof "POW: Gordon Brown Saves The Day. THWACK: PM Thwarts Alien Invasion"

[kid_como]

This really isn't the correct avenue to say it... But I really, REALLY dislike the Daily Mail. I accidentally read it last week. My blood did boil and my eyes did burn, for the immense volume of bile, hate, homophobia, Thatcher-lovin' and xenophobia, all (imo) pretty unjustified. But, on point, there's a precedent for this - Jim Callaghan was in an issue way back when, although he looked nothing like he did when he was in power.

That is all.

[Goldenboy]

BBC News 24 (Or 'BBC News' as it's just been idiotically rebranded) has been running this all day. Amazing how much coverage Marvel gets these days.

[ParisCub]

Originally Posted by Union Jim

Must be a slow news day cos the Metro and the Daily Mail (spit spit) have been all over this story. I love how they are making out that Brown plays such a big role in the story when he's in a few panels.

Still, moaning aside, it's great that the book has got this much coverage here. Just a shame it's along the line sof "POW: Gordon Brown Saves The Day. THWACK: PM Thwarts Alien Invasion"

Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll reveal Gordon Brown is a skrull.

[Union Jim]

The Daily Mail had a stupid article on "emo" and how it's an evil cult corrupting the children. Of course, anyone that thinks My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy are emo need to get their ears sorted and buy a Rites Of Spring album!

Originally Posted by ParisCub

Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll reveal Gordon Brown is a skrull.

In real life?

[Tom Daylight]

Originally Posted by durkadurka

What i meant was the fact that he is apparently at an all-time low. But for somebody who hasn't been PM for that long, all-time doesn't mean too much.

It does when his all-time low is currently worse than his predecessor's all-time low. (Especially given the poll heights he reached during summer last year, all the way up to The Chicken Moment.)

[apo11o]

Brown is even worse than the oh-so-terrible Blair (who it turned out was a Catholic Tory just out to make money). In less time he seems to have done more damage.

Anywho lets have Brown turn out to be a Skrull !

[Barefootlib]

Originally Posted by Tom Daylight

What do you mean isn't that bad? He's suffered the worst poll rating drop since Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler in the 1930s. He's bullied and connived his way to the top without a single election. He lacks the most rudimentary leadership skills and he retreats to his bunker every time something goes wrong. His record as Chancellor is appalling - he sold Britain's gold reserves low, made British people excessively taxed and indebted and has left Britain woefully exposed to the global recession. He really is the worst British Prime Minister in living memory. And to see him glorified in a comic book frankly makes me feel sick...

WOW! now the Brits know how we've felt during 7 loooong years under Bush.

[Tom Daylight]

Sorry but your leader was elected (at least once), not a single vote was cast to crown Brown. And frankly for all his misgivings (and there are many), he's run your economy a lot better than ours has (compare his tax-cutting packages to Brown's recent succession of tax-raising budgets!). And I don't think anybody would call Bush a weak leader.