Captain Britain
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Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), briefly known as Britannic, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe, he first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly, #1 (October 13, 1976). The character has been used in stories through the years by many people, most notably Alan Moore.
The character was meant to be the British equivalent of Captain America. Endowed with extraordinary powers by the legendary magician Merlyn and his daughter Roma, Captain Britain was assigned to uphold the laws of Britain.
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[edit] Publication history
The character is especially notable for a classic run by British writer Alan Moore and writer/illustrator Alan Davis in the 1980s. In these stories, Captain Britain visited multiple alternate reality versions of England, each guarded by its own member of the Captain Britain Corps.
In 1988, after the cancellation of Captain Britain's solo series, Claremont and Davis launched the American monthly Excalibur, featuring an eponymous team lead by Captain Britain. In 2006, New Excalibur is introduced with Captain Britain as team leader.
[edit] Fictional character biography
[edit] Origins
Born and raised in the small town of Maldon, Essex, Brian is a shy and studious youth, living a relatively quiet life with his parents and siblings (older brother Jamie and fraternal twin Elisabeth). After the death of his parents (James and Elizabeth) in what seemed to be a car accident, Brian takes a fellowship at Darkmoore nuclear research center. When the facility is attacked by the Reaver, Brian tries to find help by escaping on his motorcycle. Although he crashes his bike in a fatal accident, Merlyn and his daughter, the goddess Roma, resurrect Brian. They give him the chance to be the superhero Captain Britain. He is offered a choice: the Amulet of Right or the Sword of Might. Considering himself to be no warrior and unsuited for the challenge, he rejects the Sword and chooses the Amulet. This choice transforms Brian Braddock into Captain Britain.
It is later revealed that Braddock is only one member of a much larger, inter-dimensional corps of mystical protectors. Every Earth in Marvel Comics' Multiverse has its own Captain Britain who is expected to defend that version of the British Isles and uphold its local laws. They are collectively called the Captain Britain Corps. Captain Britain protects "Earth-616" of the Marvel Universe.
[edit] Early career as Captain Britain
As his career as a superhero begins, Brian fights as the champion of Great Britain, often clashing with S.T.R.I.K.E. and Welsh anti-superhero police officer Dai Thomas. During one episode, he learns that his parents did not die in a car accident, but rather were killed by the sentient computer Mastermind. Soon afterwards, Brian travels to America to study. By a strange twist of fate, he rooms with Peter Parker (the hero Spider-Man) at Empire State University. As a result, the two begin meeting for nightly patrols and training, neither aware of the other's secret identity. Around this time, Brian begins to drink heavily, and it affects his performance both as a student and as a hero. He is able to take control of his drinking enough to graduate with a doctorate in physics.
As time goes on, Brian begins fighting more supernatural enemies rather than regular supervillains, eventually being driven to madness and isolation by the demonic Necromon. Existing as a hermit for two years on the Cornish coast, he is eventually called to Merlyn's service again. Alongside the Black Knight and the elf Jackdaw, Captain Britain fights to defend Otherworld from Necromon, finally defeating him with the help of King Arthur himself.
[edit] Jaspers' Warp
With Necromon defeated, Captain Britain is sent with Jackdaw to the bizarre Earth-238, a madcap dictatorship run by the Status Crew, where he works with the extra-dimensional Saturnyne to jump-start the reality's development. Just before being sent to Earth-238, Merlyn merges the powers of the Amulet of Right and the Star Sceptre into a uniform to be worn by Braddock. Arriving on Earth-238, Braddock discovers that he must prevent the evil Mad Jim Jaspers from killing all superheros.
[edit] Substituted
Due to the pressures put on him after the Warp, Braddock travels abroad for a while and gives up the Captain Britain identity. Government taskforce R.C.X. recruits his sister Betsy to take up the mantle. She manages in the role for a while, but unfortunately she proves no match for Slaymaster, who tears out her eyes. Aware of his twin's pain through their telepathic bond, Brian rushes back to fight Slaymaster, who he eventually kills. After this episode, Brian resumes the mantle of Captain Britain.
[edit] The Drawing of the Sword
- Main article: Excalibur
Promotional art by Alan Davis.
After the cancellation of the Captain Britain series, writer Chris Claremont and artist Alan Davis created Excalibur, with Braddock in the role of leader. When the X-Men appeared to perish in Dallas (see The Fall of the Mutants), a group of heroes including Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Phoenix II, and Meggan join Brian to form Excalibur - Great Britain's premier superteam - in an effort to continue the work of the X-Men.
[edit] Identity Crises
Brian quits costumed adventuring for a time and concentrates on research, building the Midnight Runner for Excalibur. Eventually, he and Meggan become engaged. However, Brian, Meggan, and the rest of Excalibur are soon captured by the R.C.X. and Brian is severely beaten while resisting. Dying, broken and bloody, he is healed by Roma, who fixes the arcane circuitry in his costume to match his body's frequencies. She also removes the "blunder factor" she had secretly cast over him (a curse she had cast ensuring that he would need the help of the entire team until he saw the innate value in it). Immediately afterward, Phoenix II reappears and Excalibur journeys into the future to save the world from the Sentinels. On the way back, Brian is lost in the timestream. Eventually, his body parts start reappearing in the same space as Rachel's - first his arms, then his chest - for brief flickers. Evenutally, a rift is opened in which Brian and Rachel switch places. Rachel is flung to the far future to become the Mother Askani and Brian returns home. He is flooded, however, with memories of the far future and remains disconnected from the real world. He calls himself "Britannic" for some time, but eventually re-acclimates himself to his old life. Brian has a prophetic vision concerning the London Branch of the Hellfire Club's plan to take over the United Kingdom. Brian infiltrates the Club by claiming his father's position as Black Rook and thwarts its efforts at domination.
[edit] King of Otherworld
King of Otherworld.
Promotional art for Excalibur: Sword of Power. Art by Pablo Raimondi.
In a battle with the Dragons of the Crimson Dawn, Brian expends all of his power to stop a dimensional portal from opening. Having lost his powers, he leaves the team for some time, but returns to fulfill his dream of marrying Meggan. After the ceremony on Otherworld, the team disbands and its members return to the United States.
Brian soon finds work at the Darkmoor research facility. During one of his tests on the new blade and armor of his friend the Black Knight, Widget appears with warriors who begin to attack on Roma's behalf. The heroes (including Psylocke, who is also visiting England) drive the attackers off, then follow them to Otherworld where they discover that the Captain Britain Corps has been decimated. Together with the survivors - Crusader X and Captain UK - Brian and his comrades attempt to stop Roma from acquiring the Sword of Might. This, together with the Amulet of Right, would have the ability to remake the cosmos. Brian searches for the Sword but finds a computer-filled shrine in a cavern built by his father. A hologram of James Braddock, Sr. explains to Brian that he is the savior and rightful heir of Otherworld with the innate right to wield Excalibur. The hologram re-activates Brian's powers and as he draws the sword, a fiery cross (similar to the British flag) appears as a mask on his face. Brian then confronts Roma, who is revealed to be his father's sentient and insane computer Mastermind. With the aid of the real Roma, Braddock defeats the powerful computer. Roma then relinquishes control of Otherworld to Captain Britain. He and Meggan remain in Otherworld as effective rulers of the multiverse. Unbeknownst to Brian, the events leading up to his assumption of the Otherworld were orchestrated by Kang the Conqueror, for reasons yet to be revealed.
In the "Lionheart of Avalon" storyline in The Avengers, the sorceress Morgan Le Fay captures Brian and Meggan. Le Fay hopes that by killing Braddock and severing his mystical ties to the land, she will destroy all of Great Britain. However, Brian appears to Kelsey Leigh, a British mother who dies protecting both her children and Captain America from The Wrecking Crew. Braddock offers her the choice between the Amulet and the Sword and, feeling that she could better defend her children with a weapon, she chooses the latter. Although she is changed into a new Captain Britain, she remains cursed by the inability to ever reveal herself to her children. Because he transfers his power to Kelsey, the plan to destroy Britain fails.
[edit] New Excalibur
- Main article: New Excalibur
Returning to Otherworld, Braddock and Meggan become rulers of the realm. However, Captain Britain is forced to come back to Earth to stop the House of M reality-shift from destroying all dimensions. During this time, his wife Meggan apparently sacrifices her life to close a rip in time that would have destroyed all existence. This results in Brian becoming active as Captain Britain again and the formation of the all new Excalibur, along with Peter Wisdom, Sage, Juggernaut, Dazzler and Nocturne. Captian Britain also believes his sister Psylocke to be dead, unaware that she has joinied the Exiles.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Originally, Captain Britain's powers were linked to the Amulet of Right, worn around his neck. When Brian Braddock rubbed the amulet he was transformed from an ordinary mortal into a superhero version of himself, complete with a more muscular physique. He also possessed a telescoping staff to vault. This also had other functions (many of which were not utilised or even understood) the most heavily relied upon being the ability to project a forcefield. Later, Merlyn changed the staff into the mace-like Star Sceptre, which also gave him the ability of flight. Merlyn changed his costume just before he entered the alternate Earth-238, fusing the powers of the Amulet and the Scepter into a new uniform.
Brian Braddock has superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, reflexes, senses, and the ability to negate or direct gravity, which permits him to fly. He also possesses enhanced perceptions that allow him to be aware of things others may miss (such as objects cloaked by spells of illusion). The energy that powers his abilities is drawn from inter-universal space and friction. When he and Meggan destroyed the Otherworld energy matrix at Roma's prompting, the energies that allowed him to retain his power within the UK without his costume were dissipated. Hence, to retain his powers anywhere on Earth, he must wear the costume at all times. His costume acts as an antenna and battery, allowing him to retain his powers wherever he goes.
Brian is the fraternal twin of Betsy Braddock, resulting in a strong psychic bond between the two. As described by writer Chris Claremont in the Uncanny X-Men House of M story line, the two are in fact immune to each other's powers because of their genetic connection. (See issues of Uncanny X-Men, #462-#465.)
In addition, Braddock is a brilliant scientist with a Ph.D. in physics.
It is somewhat disputed as to wether Braddock is in fact a mutant or not. There are several conflicting sources. If he is a mutant, it is not clear what exactly the nature of his powers are in respect to the powers mystically bestowed upon him. During the alternate Age of Apocalypse timeline he is portrayed as a member of the Human High Council (but so is Emma Frost - though one or both of them could be hiding their mutant identity). In addition, both his siblings, including his twin, are mutants. However it is not unheard of in the Marvel Universe for one twin to be born human, while the other a mutant(even among identicals as seen in Generation M #4 ). Most of the evidence in cannon suggests he is not a mutant.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] Age of Apocalypse
- Main article: Age of Apocalypse
In the Age of Apocalypse, Brian Braddock never becomes Captain Britain, and is one of the members of the Human High Council, alongside Moira Trask, Bolivar Trask, Emma Frost and Mariko Yashida. Braddock is also the most vocal advocate for the extermination of mutants, much to the weariness of Yashida and Frost, who seems much less fanatical in their beliefs. However, Braddock becomes the victim of a mind control device and is forced to act as a mole for Donald Pierce and his Reavers, all servants of Apocalypse. Under the control of Pierce, Braddock proposes the assembly of the entire Council fleet to attack Apocalypse's capital. Braddock dies at Pierce's hands when he overcomes his influence and refuses to kill Emma Frost.
[edit] Marvel Zombies
A Zombie version of Captain Britain briefly appears in the miniseries Marvel Zombies while the Silver Surfer travels the globe.
[edit] Ultimate Captain Britain
- Main article: Ultimate Marvel
In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, Captain Britain is a member of the European Defense Initiative (the EU equivalent of the Ultimates), along with Captain Italy, Captain France and Captain Spain, all of whom have the same powers: flight, super-strength and a force field. All four of them developed their powers from the super powered exo-suits developed by Professor Sir James Braddock, who oversees the EDI super soldier program.
[edit] Appearances in other media
[edit] Television
Captain Britain was briefly seen in the fourth part of the Phoenix Saga from the X-Men animated television series, in the episode, The Starjammers. Psylocke mentions him during Beyond Good and Evil, though she merely says "my brother", hinting also he's a mutant in this continuity.
[edit] Bibliography
[edit] List of titles
[edit] Collections
- Captain Britain volume 1: The Birth of a Legend (collecting Captain Britain Weekly #1-23). Paperback, ISBN 1-905239-30-0. Published by Panini Publishing, a division of Panini UK Limited.
- Captain Britain tpb (2002) reprints Marvel Superheroes, #387-388, The Daredevils, #1-11 and The Mighty World Of Marvel, volume 2, #7-13. All stories are written by Alan Moore and drawn by Alan Davis.
- Captain Britain (1988) trade paperback reprints The Mighty World Of Marvel, volume 2, #14-16 and Captain Britain Monthly, #1-14. By Jamie Delano and Alan Davis.
[edit] UK published titles
- Captain Britain Weekly, #1-39
- Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain, #231-253
- Hulk Weekly, #1-63
- Marvel Superheroes, #377-388
- The Daredevils, #1-11
- The Mighty World Of Marvel, volume 2, #7-16
- Captain Britain Monthly, #1-14
- Knights of Pendragon, volume one, #1-18
- Recently Panini Comics have reprinted Marvel UK's Captain Britain monthly material in The Mighty World Of Marvel (vol. 3). They have also produced new material in Spectacular Spider-Man (UK edition) #114.
[edit] US published titles
- Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn (also known as Excalibur Special Edition)
- Excalibur, Vol. 1, #1-125
- Excalibur: Mojo Mayhem
- Excalibur: Weird War III
- Excalibur: The Possession
- Excalibur: Air Apparent
- Excalibur Annual, #1-2
- Excalibur #-1
- Excalibur Vol. 2 #1-4 - a mini series solicited as Excalibur: Sword of Power, and occasionally called by that name.
- Marvel Team-Up, #65-66
- New Excalibur, #1 - present (on-going series, starting November 2005)
- New Mutants, annual #2
- X-Men Archives featuring Captain Britain (1995), #1-7. All but the first were collected in the 2003 Captain Britain trade paperback.
