BRITAIN PREVAILS - Captain Britain & MI13 Appreciation PART II

[Morentez]

I was at a small local convention last weekend and we got to talking with someone about Cap and MI13, they had never read the series before but were curious.

I described it as "The Firefly of Marvel Comics. Far too damn good, and cancelled way too damn soon". All I want to know now is when we're getting our "Serenity moment"?

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Ha! Yes...

No time soon, I expect.

While Paul Cornell remains exclusive over at DC I don't see it so likely.

We're already seeing his work undone in some degree, with Cap back in the old costume, and talking like he was channeling Chris Claremont again. It may be quite some time before we see MI13 again. Sad. :(

[Morentez]

Ha! Yes...

No time soon, I expect.

While Paul Cornell remains exclusive over at DC I don't see it so likely.

We're already seeing his work undone in some degree, with Cap back in the old costume, and talking like he was channeling Chris Claremont again. It may be quite some time before we see MI13 again. Sad. :(

I honestly don't know why Marvel have written off the British side of their comics, in my mind with Dr Who doing so well I'd be jumping on them and making them work however I could. The success of Dr Who says tome that England can be popular in the US, so I think it's about damn time Marvel tried again.

Go grovelling to Warren Ellis to inject some much needed life into Cap and MI13, or Gillen, or Abnett. There's plenty of amazing British writers out there.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

I honestly don't know why Marvel have written off the British side of their comics, in my mind with Dr Who doing so well I'd be jumping on them and making them work however I could. The success of Dr Who says tome that England can be popular in the US, so I think it's about damn time Marvel tried again.

Go grovelling to Warren Ellis to inject some much needed life into Cap and MI13, or Gillen, or Abnett. There's plenty of amazing British writers out there.

You and me both.

The problem is, in my opinion at least, that Marvel has become incredibly myopic since the Disney takeover - intent only on establishing and building up existing brands, and getting said brands maximum exposure.

They've stopped doing anything new, taking any chances, and expanding any ranges or properties which cannot fit neatly into the brands they wish to build upon. Principally The Avengers, X-Men, Spider-man, FF and Hulk.

To that point they've even stopped using the expanded characters of the Marvel Universe during Event Season. Marvel has a rich world of properties across the world, and across the galaxy. But they are no longer used, even if existing characters travel to other Countries or planets which those other characters SHOULD be present in.

Artistically, bringing back the back catalogue of Marvel UK characters would be a great move. But Marvel just aren't interested in backing it at the moment. I wouldn't help them sell movies or merchandise. So it's off the table for the foreseeable future. Sad. Yet it seems to be true. :(

[Panic]

What we really need is Marvel U.K. again, able to print new material alongside reprints. But that's not going to happen.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

What we really need is Marvel U.K. again, able to print new material alongside reprints. But that's not going to happen.

Sadly, no. The set-up which Marvel UK had was something very special. Modern Marvel no longer sees it as either cost-effective or necessary to have offices in other Countries producing their own content. Companies merely reprinting their own content is both cheaper and easier for them.

These days Marvel only truly acquires access to new creators based on seeing what else they have done, mostly for other US publishers. Occasionally from film and TV also. They're top of the pile and that's the way they'd prefer to do business. The world is far more International, these days. When you can have a document sent from any other Country in seconds it is easy to see why they no longer feel it necessary to hold offices in other nations.

But then modern Marvel is putting out a much more homogenised product, in general. Sad to see. But true. Even compared to the Marvel of 2005 what we have on offer now seems very generic compared to back then.

Times have changed. And not, in many ways, for the better.

[Gallifrey]

To that point they've even stopped using the expanded characters of the Marvel Universe during Event Season. Marvel has a rich world of properties across the world, and across the galaxy. But they are no longer used, even if existing characters travel to other Countries or planets which those other characters SHOULD be present in.

This is why I was defending DC as being more committed to portraying a global aspect to its continuity than Marvel a few pages back, even after the relaunch. The UK/New Themyscira setting gave Dan Abnett the opportunity to create a new British heroine with Britannia - we might never see her again, mind, but she's there should other writers choose to use the character. And Godiva's on the JLI roster, along with August General In Iron (I love the Great Ten).

I think it'd be great if Marvel would get Morrison, Abnett or Ellis to redefine and establish a distinct British corner of the MU, but even if they did, going on past evidence it either wouldn't stick or wouldn't be utilised very much. As you say, Marvel has a very narrow focus nowadays.

[mightyness]

Personally the Chris Claremont version is the one I prefer. Although I do miss much of Marvel UK. I never liked Cornell's take on the character and would prefer him to stay far away in the future.

[Panic]

Though I found Cornell's take on the character a bit too blandly perfect, it wasn't the all-out character assassination that I found Chris Claremont's take to be. The Moore/Davis version of the character is how I would like the character to be portrayed in the future.

[quillero]

I'm enjoying Rememder's take a lot. Now that's a character worth reading about.

[Gallifrey]

I'm enjoying Rememder's take a lot.

I'm not.

Now that's a character worth reading about.

Opinions on this vary.

[Mighty_Zoltan]

Just Picked up the new issue of Secret Avengers! Pretty great to be picking up a comic with an Alan Davis / Captain Britain cover! Must be the first time he's drawn CB in a comic in maybe 15 years?

[Gallifrey]

Just Picked up the new issue of Secret Avengers! Pretty great to be picking up a comic with an Alan Davis / Captain Britain cover! Must be the first time he's drawn CB in a comic in maybe 15 years?

He drew a couple of X Men issues featuring CB during the House of M storyline, and the original Excalibur team crop up in at least one issue of Clan Destine, which I think was about 2005. But I think it's been a fair old while since Alan's drawn him on a cover in that costume, yes.

[quillero]

I'm not.

Opinions on this vary.

I get the impression he's playing a long game with Brian. The arrogant fool that gets taken down and grows from it. I could be wrong but I see an interesting character arc with him.

[Mighty_Zoltan]

He drew a couple of X Men issues featuring CB during the House of M storyline, and the original Excalibur team crop up in at least one issue of Clan Destine, which I think was about 2005. But I think it's been a fair old while since Alan's drawn him on a cover in that costume, yes.

Doh, which I own! I forgot about the House of M thing. I have the original issues and the trade. Yeah that was still the Captain Marshall Costume, you are right. I haven't read all of Clan Destine. Just realised he also did the Omnibus covers so my argument holds no water (I have the 70's costume variant).
BUT!!! (Life of Brian "what have the Romans ever done for us style") although he drew House of M, Clan Destine, and 2 different omnibus covers, this must be the first time he's drawn him on a cover in the original costume in aaaaaaages....