CAPTAIN BRITAIN RETURNS TO...BRITAIN

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Captain Britain returns to comics next month in the country of his namesake.

According to writer Jim Alexander (Metal Hurlant, Deathwatch), Spectacular Spider-Man #114, which features all-original material published by Panini/Marvel UK, pits Spider-Man and Captain Britain against a cosmic cube-enhanced Red Skull. Introducing the character to a new generation of comic readers, this will be the first time in 13 years that Captain Britain appears in an original strip in a British comic.

“The editor usually comes to the writer with characters in mind. I think we'd discussed how great it would be to bring back Captain Britain, and it sort of evolved out of that,” Alexander told Newsarama.

“Captain Britain is the champion of the British Isles. A superhero made in Britain imbued with mystical energies from the time of King Arthur and Merlin.

“[In the story], The Red Skull uses the cosmic cube to wreak havoc on New York City. The cube's influence is now so strong, Captain Britain takes the journey from London to NYC in order to stop the growing menace. He hooks up with Spider-Man only to be transported by the cosmic cube back to Darkmoor and the time of Captain Britain's origin. There, a reality warping Red Skull wants to combine the source of Captain Britain's power to his own, making him unstoppable. Spidey and Captain Britain are the only guys standing between the Red Skull and world domination.

“It's a great thrill to be involved with this character especially when you look at the creators who have worked on him previously - Chris Claremont, Alan Moore, Alan Davis, Warren Ellis. There's been quite a buzz surrounding the return of the character. I as a writer have never personally experienced anything like it. I hope I do the character justice and I'm sure people will be quick to let me know one way or the other!”

Brian Braddock aka Captain Britain first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly #1, a Marvel UK title written by legendary X-Men writer and creator Chris Claremont in 1976. The character, also briefly known as Britannic, made his American debut in Marvel Team-Up #65. He is the twin brother of deceased X-Men member Psylocke (Elisabeth Braddock). Captain Britain was also one of the founding members of Excalibur, UK’s premier team of super heroes together with Meggan, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Phoenix II (Rachel Summers).

In the American continuity, Braddock has recently transferred his powers and the mantle of Captain Britain to Kelsey Leigh in Chuck Austen’s “Lionheart of Avalon” arc (Avengers #77-81). His most recent appearance was in Chris Claremont’s Uncanny X-Men.

The self-contained story in Spectacular Spider Man # 114, written by Alexander with art by Jon Haward (Tales of Telguuth, Of Ancient Blood), John Stokes (Black Knight) and Alan Craddock (Mercy Heights, Judge Dredd), is due in all leading UK supermarkets and newsagents March 17.

[Monsterx7]

how can an american like myself get this comic??

[twoarmman]

OK. Am I the only one who can't get my head around a UK Spectacular Spider-Man #114? I didn't realize they had different books across the pond...

[Peter Geddes]

Wow! A new non-reprint British Marvel Universe comic

I'll definitely look out for this (in the children's section of my nearest supermarket ). The story sounds interesting, looks good and - Yay! Free Spidey Tattoos! Free Disc Launcher! Packed with Jam!

I'd normally put in at least a little reservation about it being out-of-continuity, but who wants that crappy ex-Avenger Captain Britain rather than the fantastic (in-original-costume) Mr Braddock?!

[JONAS]

I have spentpart of this week trying to figure out how I can get my hands on these issues (it is a 2-part story arc, right?)

In the past I have ordered UK SF-comic magazone 2000 AD by calling the back issue department. I now have the contact info for Marvel UK/Panini back-issues...........once have talked to them and KNOW they can deliver to the US, I can post the contact info IF anyone is interested.....

[JONAS]

Here is something I have been thinking about. As a wee lad growing up in Sweden (i currently live in the US for the time being) Captain Britain and Alpha Flight were huge favorites of mine, because it showed that non-Americans could be cool superheroes too. As much as I loved Metalmen, Captain America, Superboy, Teen Titans, Spiderman and The Avengers, having a few non-American superheroes was kind of cool.

Any one else who thought so growing up??

What is the status of Captain Britain/Britanic??? Where is he now, etc, etc??

[Peter Geddes]

After the original X-Men and Devil Dinosaur ( ), Captain Britain was one of my favourite heroes when I was growing up. Those early Captain Britain battles against Mad Jasper and the Fury really got me hooked!

[Richard Emms]

Well done Jim!!

Nice one matey!!!

See you in Bristol 2005!

For those American guys and gals who want a copy, try getting in contact with these shops!

www.comix-shop.co.uk
www.megacity.co.uk
www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk
www.area51.co.uk


Richard Emms
APCOMICS

[Chaddice]

I couldn't be less excited. Who the heck is Captain Britain?

No-one.

He has next to no profile in England, and his origin makes little sense. Given gifts by Merlin, Guardian of the Omniverse or somesuch? And if his costume is so mystical, why does it have a Union Jack (first designed 1801) as its basis.

As a British reader, I want to read about good superheroes, it'd be nice if they did come from other places than America, but why the needless stereotype?

I mean, do you think of Wolverine would have a better profile if he was called Captain Canada? No - he'd be taken a lot less seriously.



End of my rant.

[Tiger47]

Originally posted by JONAS


What is the status of Captain Britain/Britanic??? Where is he now, etc, etc??

In the MU, it's kind of unknown. Following the end of Excalibur, Brian and Meggan became the guardians of the Otherworld, and when he learned Morgan Le Fay was going to attempt to kill him in order to destroy Britain, he selected a new Captain Britain, Kelsey Leigh, who had been killed by the Wrecking Crew while protecting Captain America. However, Kelsey chose the sword of might, and so it was declared she could never see her children again or they would die. Along with the Avengers, Kelsey saved Brian from Morgan, joined the team, and also brought her children and elderly mother to Avengers mansion so she could be close to them. During Avengers: Disassembled, however, Kelsey was beat by the out of control She-Hulk, and after recovering in the hospital, quit the team.

Meanwhile, in Uncanny X-Men, following her recent return to Super-heroing, Rachel Grey, along with Cannonball and Bishop, travelled to Braddock Manor to pay their respects since Betsy's death. However, when they entered they manor, it was empty, and the team was attacked by the Fury . Despite barely defeating it for good, the X-Men never found Brian and Meggan, and several times during the fight Rachel thought she saw Jamie, the Braddocks' unstable, reality-warping brother, leaving questions as to whether the X-Men had actually spoken on the phone to Brian at all, or if it had really been Jamie.

[JONAS]

Originally posted by Chaddice
I couldn't be less excited. Who the heck is Captain Britain?

No-one.

He has next to no profile in England, and his origin makes little sense. Given gifts by Merlin, Guardian of the Omniverse or somesuch? And if his costume is so mystical, why does it have a Union Jack (first designed 1801) as its basis.

As a British reader, I want to read about good superheroes, it'd be nice if they did come from other places than America, but why the needless stereotype?

I mean, do you think of Wolverine would have a better profile if he was called Captain Canada? No - he'd be taken a lot less seriously.
End of my rant.

I still think the Alan Davis/Alan Moore/Jamie Delano stores were really cool. So what if teh origin does not really make sence.

[JONAS]

Jon Haward...it could have been funnier if the artist was John Howard (!!!)

[BBSR]

Originally posted by Chaddice
I couldn't be less excited. Who the heck is Captain Britain?

No-one.

He has next to no profile in England, and his origin makes little sense. Given gifts by Merlin, Guardian of the Omniverse or somesuch? And if his costume is so mystical, why does it have a Union Jack (first designed 1801) as its basis.

As a British reader, I want to read about good superheroes, it'd be nice if they did come from other places than America, but why the needless stereotype?

I mean, do you think of Wolverine would have a better profile if he was called Captain Canada? No - he'd be taken a lot less seriously.



End of my rant.

Well firstly I reccomend you go READ the Captain Britain TPB. Do you know who wrote it, Alan Moore. Heard of him, common consensus seems to be that he's pretty good and frankly I'm an enormous fan of that series. The Fury and mad jim jaspers are fantastic villains, the omniverse concept was brilliantly done and has become so popular it's led to regular marvelittes calling the mainstream continuity 616. Your bias to the character may be dispelled if you look at the quality work based on him. The Excalibur run's one of the best comics of the 90's as well, Chris Claremont and Alan Davis is always a winnign combination.


Secondly there is nothing especially mystical about his origin. it isn't mrlin but merlyn, effectively god. He puts a Captain Britain (or hauptein englander or captain airstrip 1 or commander albion) in every dimension as a protector of the area he calls home. The Captain's draw strength from their homeland not the costume, the costume powering bit came a little later to allow Cap to have adventures outside England and it wasn't even his original costume.

He not only has next to no profile in england he ahs next to no profile anywhere. he isn't an english super hero he's an american creation (later a british one) and a very minor hero whose being in some really excellent comics largely because as a minor hero mroe interesting thigns can eb done with him (another common consensus. second stringers always get the best comics i.e. Captain britain, Animal Man, Swamp Thing, Shade the Changing Man, etc, etc)


There are plenty of major British heroes and heroines in comics both super and otherwise, Psyloke John Constantine, Moira Mactaggert, Jason Blood, etc, etc. Two get linked to Britain via name (Union Jack and Captain Britain) and you complain about it, well what else where they going to call a defender of Britain who flies has super strength and a force field. Punching Guy, The Bruise, Power Physicist?


Don't assume a character you've never heard of isn't a "good" superhero based on your pre-conceptions.

[Somniator]

Just a warning to those of you trying to hunt this down - the non-reprint UK books tend to be very flimsy, lightweight, over-simplified, kiddy-orientated fare. I'm sure it'll be pretty amusing to see Captain Britain show up, but I doubt the story will be particularly taxing. Most comic shops here don't tend to carry these comics, as the market is much more based around supermarkets and newsagents, and aimed at the under-11s...

[KACH]

Captain Britain Comeback: COOL.

UK Comic only: BAH.

Shoddy artwork & scripting: BAH.

We need the original Captain Britain back in the MU. And the Ultimate U too.

--J.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by twoarmman
OK. Am I the only one who can't get my head around a UK Spectacular Spider-Man #114? I didn't realize they had different books across the pond...

Well, Marvel India (actually, Gotham Entertaiment ) recently made the news just a few weeks ago with their own version of Spidey.

I think Marvel Italy also has some material created there independently from Marvel Central.

I don't know about the rest of the "Marvels" all over the world.

[Stuart]

Originally posted by Kolimar
Well, Marvel India (actually, Gotham Entertaiment ) recently made the news just a few weeks ago with their own version of Spidey.

I think Marvel Italy also has some material created there independently from Marvel Central.

I don't know about the rest of the "Marvels" all over the world.

Marvel Italia released an original mini-series, Europa, back in the mid-1990s.

Marvel Netherlands did a couple of original strips in the early 1990s.

Marvel Japan have done a fairly lengthy run of their own version of Spider-Man, some of which was reprinted in the U.S. Plus there was the live-action Japanese Spider-Man tv series made in the late 1970s.

I believe Marvel France did at least one original story.

Marvel U.K.'s been the busiest of the non-U.S. branches, with tiny spatterings of new material in the 1960s and early 1970s, and a lot through the 1980s and early 1990s. There's currently two ongoing titles in the UK producing new material, although both are aimed at the newer reader; Spectacular Spider-Man is one, Rampage is the other.

And Matt, please don't call Excalibur "England's premier team of super heroes". For nearly half their run they were based out of Muir Island in Scotland, and they had adventures in other parts of the U.K. They are Britain's premier team, or most accurately the U.K.'s premier team.

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by Stuart
Marvel Netherlands did a couple of original strips in the early 1990s.

Wasn't there a Dutch Spider-Man? Oh, yeah. I found it.

http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/d/dutchspiderman.htm

Originally posted by Stuart
Marvel Japan have done a fairly lengthy run of their own version of Spider-Man, some of which was reprinted in the U.S. Plus there was the live-action Japanese Spider-Man tv series made in the late 1970s.

Yeah, I had forgotten about that. They also had their own X-Men. I have a few issues of both series. Fairly decent, at least from what I can remember right now.

Originally posted by Stuart
I believe Marvel France did at least one original story.

That's interesting.

Originally posted by Stuart
Marvel U.K.'s been the busiest of the non-U.S. branches, with tiny spatterings of new material in the 1960s and early 1970s, and a lot through the 1980s and early 1990s. There's currently two ongoing titles in the UK producing new material, although both are aimed at the newer reader; Spectacular Spider-Man is one, Rampage is the other.

I didn't know Marvel UK has been active for so long. The one thing I don't like about Marvel UK is a good part of their production in the early 90's but I can't really fault them too much. They just did the same as the others and reacted to the market.

Originally posted by Stuart
And Matt, please don't call Excalibur "England's premier team of super heroes". For nearly half their run they were based out of Muir Island in Scotland, and they had adventures in other parts of the U.K. They are Britain's premier team, or most accurately the U.K.'s premier team.

Completely agree. But I have to say that's a common mistake. Still, it's a mistake, Matt.

[JONAS]

Originally posted by Somniator
"Just remember whose shoulder you cried on when the last girlfriend dumped you. And when Johnny Alpha got killed by that big flying monster in 2000AD."

[/b]

Were is that quote from....I have a vauge memory of it from TV..I think...

[JONAS]

Jamie Delano and Alan Davis alos did some overlooked Cap stories.

[magellan]

Originally posted by JONAS
Here is something I have been thinking about. As a wee lad growing up in Sweden (i currently live in the US for the time being) Captain Britain and Alpha Flight were huge favorites of mine, because it showed that non-Americans could be cool superheroes too. As much as I loved Metalmen, Captain America, Superboy, Teen Titans, Spiderman and The Avengers, having a few non-American superheroes was kind of cool.

Any one else who thought so growing up??

What is the status of Captain Britain/Britanic??? Where is he now, etc, etc??

What I always wanted was a communist superteam put together during the cold war to combat the western imperialist Avengers. Although Millar did that now in 'The Ultimates,' a red team consisting of a Crimson Dynamo, Omega Red and a few others would have been kind of cool. Maybe an alternate history version, where Colossus was never brought into the X-Men, and Black Widow never defected? Hmmm... sounds like an 'Epic' pitch.

[pah25]

This title started out called Spec. Spiderman Adventures #1 7/10/95 at 99p. This title started reprinted the US TV show comic, then old Amazing SM comics, SM Chapter One - then new comic strips with artwork by the like of Andrew Wildman, Simon Williams, John Royle.

It's currently priced £1.75 [$3.35]. The title is 3 weekly with free gifts. The last issue had art by Simon Williams & featured Iron Man. If anybody would like me to pick the comics up for them I can do. If you want to email me p_transfer at hotmail.

Marvel Rampage - with stories by Jim started on 28/10/4. New UK stories featuring X-men, Spiderman, Fan 4, Daredevil, Starwars. This is title is every 4 weeks with free gifts £1.75.

[Stuart]

Originally posted by JONAS
Were is that quote from....I have a vauge memory of it from TV..I think...

Spaced

[Rawle Austin]

Would be nice if Captain Britain had the same recognition over here as Captain America does in the US.

The biggest (by recognition) home grown, comic book superhero over here is Judge Dredd which leans towards sci fi than spandex clad adventures. There's a marked difference in tone between the two. Both good.

For the spandex lovers like me I'd like to see more Captain Britain type stuff and am creating some concepts as we speak...

Growler

[Kolimar]

Originally posted by magellan
What I always wanted was a communist superteam put together during the cold war to combat the western imperialist Avengers. Although Millar did that now in 'The Ultimates,' a red team consisting of a Crimson Dynamo, Omega Red and a few others would have been kind of cool. Maybe an alternate history version, where Colossus was never brought into the X-Men, and Black Widow never defected? Hmmm... sounds like an 'Epic' pitch.

Uh... There were at least two "Communist" superteams.

The Supreme Soviets, later re-christened the People's Protectorate. Members: Red Guardian (Captain America counterpart), Crimson Dynamo (Iron Man), Sputnik aka Vostok (the Vision), Perun (the Slavic God of Thunder) and Fantasia (Scarlet Witch).

Soviet Super-Soldiers

Vanguard, Darkstar, Ursa Major, Gremlin and the Crimson Dynamo.

http://www.marveldirectory.com/teams/supremesoviets.htm

And I think the Colossus thing was done as a What If, but don't ask the number.