tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55109418698144533202024-02-20T20:21:40.826+00:00It Came From Darkmoor...A Blog dedicated to the British corner of the Marvel Comics Universe.Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-10089818006640011362019-07-21T13:32:00.001+01:002019-07-21T13:32:09.428+01:00The Return of (an) Excalibur, 2019.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hi all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a 3+ year gap you would be forgiven for asking such questions as 'Where did you go?' and 'Why did you stop blogging?' But I've largely come here today because while I elaborated in detail on this on Twitter last night the wonders of its modern algorithm appear to have somewhat fragmented my train of thought.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">So... yesterday evening I started to receive questions from people about the following image </span></span><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">unveiled</span></span><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> at an X-Men panel at San </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Diego</span> <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Comic Con:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">That's right. An Excalibur reboot. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some had questions. Others just wanted a gut </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">response</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. Me being that guy who used to blog about </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">all things Captain Britain, Excalibur and Marvel UK. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well... until I effectively mothballed this site. Largely because there wasn’t a lot of any of the above going on at Marvel anymore.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I suppose it’s natural for those who remembered this site to go ‘Hey! Mark/Sword, surely you’re all over this? Does this mean you’re coming out of retirement?’ </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firstly can I say that it’s actually kinda flattering that some of you even remembered. It has been a long time. Thank you for that. But to be clear here </span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm afraid that I don't quite have the readily available time and resources to more actively update this site in the way which I once did. Life changes for all of us. I don't quite have the readily available bandwidth I had a few years back.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">But I would like to answer a few of </span></span><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">those</span></span><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> questions. Because while it would be wrong to judge an entire series based off a </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">single</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> image, and while I also know very little of Tini Howard or Marcus To's other work, I would be lying if I were to say that this didn't trip some early warning systems in terms of Excalibur.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a huge Excalibur fan. No bones about it. That series will always have a definite place in my heart, and I'm not daft enough to think that any relaunch can ever take that away. But I also appreciate that it’s not a book which appealed to everyone and also that it truly was an exceptionally rare beast.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excalibur is what happens when a writer at the very top of their game and influence wants to play with a set of characters which they can’t easily fit into their current work. But yet they manage to find a way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the mid 80s </span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chris Claremont was one of the biggest names in the comics industry. Never underestimate that. And for good reason. This is the man who made the X-Men *work*! The man who turned them from a failing single book (which had never really gained proper traction) into a high selling franchise. </span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">But he was also the guy who had created the more obtuse character of Captain Britain for Marvel UK. </span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">And having seen what wonderfully strange and interesting things Alan Moore, Alan Davis and Jamie Delano had been doing with Captain Britain since he stepped away? He wisely wanted back in.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was, however, one problem. </span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Namely that there was no way that Marvel were going to Green Light a US market Captain Britain series. No way. A British character on their own in the US market? They thought that had sales flop written all over it. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">So instead Claremont chose a sleeper approach to distract Marvel into letting him do what he wanted. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">He and Alan Davis created <b>Excalibur</b>. <b>The X-Men satellite book which intentionally *wasn’t* an X-Men book.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs4-6SZQ-qF8K7DNnEtSIfAD0iIbNRL4P2JKBwmI8z8oQABoz0pq9uWFVOh4UD8GWgNj2GhuvzErJeSiwAQ2ydx9eagAh65H8D0fACafURaHCASN7abrsYq_z7-bvno7EX8YqKJQxzYDp/s1600/excaliburclassic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1280" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPs4-6SZQ-qF8K7DNnEtSIfAD0iIbNRL4P2JKBwmI8z8oQABoz0pq9uWFVOh4UD8GWgNj2GhuvzErJeSiwAQ2ydx9eagAh65H8D0fACafURaHCASN7abrsYq_z7-bvno7EX8YqKJQxzYDp/s640/excaliburclassic.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">It featured X-Men *characters*, yes. </span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">But for half of its decade in print Excalibur tried to do literally everything it could to avoid connecting any way other than circumstantially with the X-Men books. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead we got stories using Captain Britain’s rogues gallery, mythos (often with surprisingly little explanation to new readers) and other offshoots from Marvel UK. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">And. It. Worked. Really well.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The reason that Excalibur was such a brilliant title was that it just did whatever the hell it wanted. Across the multiverse. Across Marvel’s Britain. The Captain Britain concept elaborated on. That’s why people were buying it. It was a superstar creative team producing something utterly unique. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is also worth noting that when the decision was made to *make* it an X-Men book? That is what almost killed it the first time (under Scott Lobdell) and finally got it cancelled the second time (</span></span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">under Ben Raab).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">While Excalibur featured some X-Men characters (10 years of brilliant development for Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde and Rachel Grey which I wish Marvel would have acknowledged so much more than they have) it had nothing to do with Mutants. Nothing to do with either X-Genes or X-Men. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was really was only circumstantial that X-Men appeared in this book. It was playing in a much bigger ballpark. It was a Marvel Universe title which just happened to be coming out of the X-Men Office. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">E</span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">very incarnation of Excalibur which has been closely tied to the X-Franchise has failed. This is not coincidence. I’d say it’s fundamental failure of those creative runs to understand *why* the original book worked.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To readers and <b>Excalibur is a super team book set in Britain, about Brian and Meggan Braddock, with Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Phoenix, Widget and Lockheed, getting up to weird shit and having fun doing it. </b>For some it also has the addition of characters like Pete Wisdom, Colossus and Wolfsbane. Those from Warren Ellis' brilliant run in the late 90s.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">A run which (sadly) Marvel dropped the ball so badly with, in following it up with more generic stories trying so </span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">desperately</span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to hang on to vague plot threads from 20 year old (and very much no longer All-New All-Different) X-Men stories.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">And most bizarrely of all? Even to this day it seems that Editors and the X-Office in general seem so quite spectacularly blind to this. Seriously, Excalibur remains the only X-Men satellite book not to have been rebooted using its original cast. Not once. Not even close. Perhaps even m</span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">ore bizarrely the cast of Excalibur, as characters, have so very rarely even been allowed to interact with each other at all in the past 20 years. Though there was an Excalibur reunion in an X-Men Gold annual last year. That was an all too brief, but welcome, thing.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnQL1JPQbfQWZ6UEOqo-rirUP56pXsXWFboJ61nDZjzV9yzEiL8HirIluXtbqW32SJR8gVVET6wDEj3UBRjyaZmixjsvUuKWHA95-qKZlJMg6J4Rt4NtBSu6iaXtRgDw5Ss8Lj49EtacA/s1600/Xgold2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnQL1JPQbfQWZ6UEOqo-rirUP56pXsXWFboJ61nDZjzV9yzEiL8HirIluXtbqW32SJR8gVVET6wDEj3UBRjyaZmixjsvUuKWHA95-qKZlJMg6J4Rt4NtBSu6iaXtRgDw5Ss8Lj49EtacA/s640/Xgold2.PNG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which</span><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"> brings me to that House of X Excalibur cover, I guess. And if you’ve read my comments above you’ll probably have an inkling of my thoughts on it. A little disappointing, certainly. </span></span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No characters involved from the original book. No Brian. No Meggan. No Kurt, Kitty, Rachel or any other past member of that team. To what remains of a fanbase for 'Excalibur' that's a big no deal, right there. That's *not* Excalibur.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Rogue, Gambit, Psylocke, Jubilee, some guy who looks like Apocalypse and... is that Rictor? This look pretty squarely like an X-Men book to me - despite the Excalibur name. And as covered above, when Excalibur goes full-on X-Book it doesn't tend to work out at all well.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">No truly tangible connection to Marvel UK beyond Psylocke - who at this point doesn't have a lot of her Marvel UK iteration remaining in her as a character as it is. Too much damage done by a succession of writers getting her pretty badly mixed up. There are plenty of X-Characters *with* tangible connections of course. Pete Wisdom, Wolfsbane, Pixie, Chamber and others. Plus dozens of British characters outside of that. Marvel has plenty. They just aren't Mutants. Marvel UK didn't ever really *do* Mutants. But the X-Office keeps forgetting that, also.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;">Betsy Braddock is now Captain Britain. For... some reason. Despite turning it down on more than one other occasion in the past. And also despite the whole mutant-centric theming being a truly terrible match for all things Otherworld. </span>Whenever an X-Men writer has tried to touch the Captain Britain and Otherworld mythos over the past 20 years the same pattern has repeated. They have made a whole new, complicated and contradictory mess of it all. And that's very, <i>very </i>easy to do. Very few X-Writers during this time seem to have done their research. Several have justified writing whatever they wanted to by simply saying ‘But others have written it so inconsistently. Why should I have to make any sense of it, why can’t I just write... whatever I fancy?’. The simple answer of course is ‘because you’re just making it worse’. It shouldn't be rocket science, here. Your own work will be viewed as just as inconsistent by the next guy, for exactly the same reason. </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">With Brian and Meggan having had a daughter recently, in the form of Maggie (their super-smart beyond her years baby daughter), we got this glimpse of a really interesting new shift in dynamic on show, in that X-Men Gold annual. </span></span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We also got to see the strength of that original lineup playing alongside each other. Seeing those friendships, that chemistry, that Excalibur magic one more time. To tease that and then to abandon it seems like a huge missed opportunity. And one which is arguably a little tone deaf, also.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is not what is being offered here.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #14171a; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ranting aside though, I do not know the pitch for this new book. It could be amazing. I’m happy to be proven wrong if it is. But it's not the Excalibur which readers who bought that series at its peak will likely be interested in. For all of the reasons above. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm not saying that it can't, or won't, find its audience. But I can pretty conclusively say that the audience who this book *should* be there for? Probably won't be. Because it simply isn't what they will be wanting from a book <i>called </i>Excalibur. It is very difficult not to find yourself sitting here thinking 'We've been here before. Why haven't we learned from last time? Or from the time before that?' Long time readers will see that, and they'll probably be questioning why the X-Editors can't.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">But as I said much earlier in this post any new reboot or relaunch doesn't (and cannot) change the original product. In its original incarnation Excalibur remains a rare and incredible beast. Something truly special. Maybe of its time, but a good time all the same. It's still out there in trades and back issues. If you've never read it? Go check it out. It's something I'd definitely recommend.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f5f8fa;"><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">What are you own thoughts on this reveal? Let me know in the comments.</span></span></span></div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-9238548640255895962016-06-12T16:42:00.000+01:002016-06-12T16:42:14.936+01:00BBC Online posts new Captain Britain TV rumour article.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over the course of the weekend the BBC has posted up a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-36257379">new Captain Britain article</a>, relating to the recent TV rumours. Full disclosure, I did give a phone interview to the author of the piece, Nic Rigby, a couple of weeks back, and while my comments haven't made it into the piece directly I suppose you could say I have a vested interest in this. :)</div>
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While there are a few minor errors here (The "Red Skull gang" or "Braddock Hall" rather than Manor) it is a far better researched article than tabloid pieces we saw during the initial flurry of interest in the Rumour. Most importantly Rigby has spoken to both Chris Claremont and also prospective Producer, Chris Lark. </div>
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Claremont describes Brian as always trying "to represent the ideal of Britain and its island heritage, like Robin Hood, but he must never lose sight of his humanity. He wants to do the right thing."</div>
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And on that I would very much agree. Trying to do the right thing. Sometimes to a fault. :)</div>
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But more interestingly Chris Claremont also proffers his opinion on casting the role for TV. The two actors he suggested being Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba.</div>
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Of Hiddleston he says he "...could offer a physicality to the part yet pull off the human side of the role," but also "Who is to say Captain Britain would have to be white? We could have Idris Elba as Captain Britain."</div>
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The obvious drawback to both the suggestions however, is that both of these actors are already playing roles within Marvel's cinematic universe - Hiddleston rather iconically playing the trickster Loki and Elba playing Heimdall, the Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge. Both appearing in multiple Thor movies. </div>
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One thing I did say in conversation with Nic Rigby, though, was that I think the whole Captain Britain Corps concept lends itself to showing not one, but many facets of what Captain Britain can be. That potentially, through that, you can showcase the whole spectrum of British identity, as individual Captains from different worlds.</div>
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I mean, Brian Braddock himself is clearly a middle-class white guy, blonde, blue eyed and English. That's the guy who comic fans expect to see. That's your standard. But through showcasing other Captains (be those created anew or trying to use previously established ones) we can showcase a full spectrum of roles and aspects of the British psyche. Scottish Captains, Welsh Captains, Northern Irish Captains. Captains from different classes, different social backgrounds. Captains of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds. </div>
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There are so many different cultural sections of modern Britain. You could never fit them all into one individual. But as a team, as a Corps, there are many more options available there.</div>
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I still believe that we should be aiming for relatively close match the comics' Brian. Somebody of a similar age to the other major cinematic players (as I've said in the past, somebody like Jamie Bamber would probably be my pick) would be beneficial. But it depends on the approach taken from a TV point of view, I guess.</div>
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Most interestingly though, Nic Rigby has spoken to Chris Lark, the would be producer for the show. Which oddly, I don't think anybody else has done up to this point. I was certainly a little interested to know what his main connection to the character was. </div>
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Lark has said "I was first a fan of a fan of the X-Men comics and I read Excalibur magazine that all my friends were reading and it featured Captain Britain. And I wanted to find out more and more about Captain Britain and bought his solo series of comics".</div>
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And for American readers that is the typical experience. Excalibur was the route in, which (hopefully) would lead to hunting down other stories. </div>
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He describes Brian as, "He was not just a traditional hero like Captain America who runs around with his shield, he's much more interesting... He was a scientist that had these magical powers that he could not explain as a scientist. Like a lot of Marvel heroes, he is not all sunshine and happiness".</div>
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Well, that might ease the concerns a little of those worried that a US producer might not *get* the character of Captain Britain. At its very basics that would be a relatively strong overview of the character.</div>
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However, we are still talking in terms of "...looking to put the idea to Marvel early in 2017". There is no deal in place. Probably no meeting for that, as such. We'll have to wait and see if anything else comes from this.</div>
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Check the piece out. I always see the mark of a true story as being once the BBC get a hold of it. So, we've reached *that* point. Marvel Entertainment? It's over to you. :)</div>
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<br />Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-25976725028189652212016-05-02T16:34:00.001+01:002016-05-02T16:34:49.492+01:00Ciara McAvoy teases new image from prospective Captain Britain TV Pitch. You may remember a few weeks back that I posted about the image online which sparked a <a href="http://itcamefromdarkmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/thoughts-on-that-captain-britain-tv.html">Captain Britain TV series rumour</a>, but which in the end turned out to actually be artwork for a TV pitch, from two rookie Producers, who were hoping someday next year to get to show it to Marvel Entertainment.<br />
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Well, the poster artist (Caira McAvoy) who they have hired to produce artwork for their 'highlight reel' has over the weekend revealed a new work in progress image of the facial likeness she is working with:<br />
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Look familiar to anybody? Can't say that it instantly does, to me. Although I can say that I'm not really sold on the headgear. I've always preferred to see Brian's headwear as a solid framed helmet rather than a cloth cowl, which is certainly what this looks more like. </div>
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McAvoy herself has teased us a little info on her muse for this image:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMfujuYJwHVTgywFOlJGo-q0vwH_UgBRxW86PS9Hof96DwN3eIL24JFMBn5nZLzTlhpV-Z_pfRvSGpLMfu_KagAVG0HXjDLr3zIPVZmqOpRUBQCcjkoZoqfHeUPS7P4Op9eGE0xXxV58l/s1600/capbrittv2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMfujuYJwHVTgywFOlJGo-q0vwH_UgBRxW86PS9Hof96DwN3eIL24JFMBn5nZLzTlhpV-Z_pfRvSGpLMfu_KagAVG0HXjDLr3zIPVZmqOpRUBQCcjkoZoqfHeUPS7P4Op9eGE0xXxV58l/s400/capbrittv2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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So let the speculation begin. </div>
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Although, I still wouldn't get too excited about this, yet. Even with the artwork there is no actor in place, there is no series. It's a pitch which this team hope to get an audience with Marvel Entertainment to pitch sometime next year. </div>
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Nothing is at all approaching plausible just yet...</div>
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<br />Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-59815786712731179912016-04-12T21:28:00.001+01:002016-04-12T21:30:04.153+01:00Captain Britain's 40th Anniversary (Hopefully) on Marvel's Radar.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In my article from just over a week ago I was talking about how last year <a href="http://itcamefromdarkmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/thoughts-on-that-captain-britain-tv.html">Comic Book Resources had asked Axel Alonso</a> half of a question on the subject of Captain Britain's 40th Anniversary.<br />
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I say half a question, because the actual '40th Anniversary' part was the detail which they missed out.<br />
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My main concern with that was that here we have a landmark anniversary being reached this coming October, and it was just possible that Marvel Comics aren't entirely aware of that. Captain Britain Weekly was, after all, a Marvel UK title (and not an in-house title of their own). Many in the US still think of either that New Mutants Annual (which debuted 'Psylocke' to the X-Men) or the series Excalibur as being Captain Britain's debut issues.<br />
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So I decided to be a little bit cheeky and post back to that questions thread for Axel-in-Charge, on Comic Book Resources, asking directly if Marvel were aware of this landmark. I fully expected it to fall on deaf ears, of course. But my plan here was to be a little more determined and persistent about it. MY plan was to politely post the same question, each week, until it either got read out or somebody at Comic Book Resources told me to stop.<br />
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And if that happened I would obviously co-operate.<br />
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It seemed that I garnered a little bit of support from some of the other forum members, too. Several others echoed my sentiment, and also rather graciously asked this self-same question themselves.<br />
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At that point I started to wonder if we weren't perhaps pushing our luck a little.<br />
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But no. No cease and desist order (thankfully) arrived..<br />
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Instead they actually decided to pass the question on, for <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/axel-in-charge-black-panther-poe-dameron-dead-no-more">this past weekend's column</a>.<br />
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<b>CBR: Let's wrap with a question from the CBR Community. Captain Britain super-fan The Sword is Drawn asks, "This October marks the 40th anniversary of the first ever issue of Captain Britain, written by Chris Claremont and with artwork from the late Herb Trimpe. Are there any plans to mark the occasion?"</b><br />
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<b>Alonso:</b> No current plans, but that could change.</blockquote>
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So, yes, still no plans.<br />
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But that wasn't really the point of this exercise. The intention was purely to make sure that Captain Britain's 40th Anniversary was on Axel Alonso's (and therefore hopefully Marvel Editorial in general) radar. If he hadn't heard about it before, he has now.<br />
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That's all we can ask.<br />
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So, it's out there now. We'll see if anything comes of it.<br />
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As always, I'll be keeping a watchful eye out for any further developments should those occur. Many thanks to the staff at Comic Book Resources for raising the question.Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-73536337462826701482016-04-06T21:45:00.001+01:002016-04-06T21:45:32.893+01:00Looks like that Death's Head series might still be on, after all.Hello, again.<br />
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Well, isn't this a surprise? Two items of News in the space of a week!<br />
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I can assure you that it surprises me, just as much as it does yourself.<br />
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<a href="http://itcamefromdarkmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/thoughts-on-that-captain-britain-tv.html">In my weekend post</a> I mentioned that back at last year's San Diego Comic Con Marvel teased a Death's Head image in their slideshow of future titles coming for 'All-New All-Different' Marvel.<br />
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There he is, top right. Simon Williams' design, from the Panini trade collections.<br />
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I mentioned that pretty much every character on that screen had now been given a book of their own.<br />
<br />
Well, not Citizen V. But we do have a new <i>Thunderbolts </i>title. So that kind of counts. Sort of.<br />
<br />
Death's Head, however, had not. And we'd heard nothing more about that since then. Literally nothing. Not a peep.<br />
<br />
Well, <a href="http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/04/05/marvel-comics-trademarks-deaths-head-and-giant-man-what-does-it-mean/">yesterday Bleeding Cool reported</a> that Marvel Comics had registered a Trademark for exactly that.<br />
<br />
"<b>Death's Head</b>"<br />
<br />
No details of in what context, for what product lines. But it would certainly suggest that something may be on the horizon, at least.<br />
<br />
Bleeding Cool do this from time to time. It should probably be worth noting that a few years back Rich Johnston spotted Trademarks being registered for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' a while before Marvel announced work on a film project of that property.<br />
<br />
Don't get ahead of yourself in quite <i>that </i>regard, but the likelihood of a comic series for Old Horn-Head certainly looks a lot more plausible now, doesn't it?<br />
<br />
It's far too early to speculate more, right now. But I'd certainly keep an ear or eye out for DH in the coming months...<br />
<br />
Keep 'em peeled, Yes?Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-77774682848011538902016-04-03T21:31:00.000+01:002016-04-03T21:31:18.528+01:00Thoughts on that Captain Britain TV series rumour.Greetings, under-attended It Came From Darkmoor reader. It probably won't have escaped your notice that it has <i>been </i>a while.<br />
<br />
One of the central problems of running a Blog such as this (which since its inception has been a Marvel UK 'News Site') is that in order for it to function as originally intended there also has to be some actual <i>news </i>to report.<br />
<br />
And to be brutally honest, this past 6 months, that is something which has really not been quite as readily forthcoming as I would have hoped.<br />
<br />
I look back to March last year, and Captain Britain on the front cover of the upcoming (at that time) Secret Wars #2, wielding that ridiculously massive sword. I recall the hope I had at that time that Brian (or Jamie for that matter) Braddock might finally be getting the opportunity to play a proper, tangible, role in a Marvel crossover event. That a significant front of center positioning on that #2 cover would therefore lead to playing a further role in that storyline.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN9GPLFQrim_SPuQUe_Aky88Kh4A3CnSGphhWig4COM9v2HSJAoBZzscSSB59T_IxNy7aN45Ro3biPiVCUqCbcHww49dm_02j_etlk552GWzfkMsDs54eBoFHPKSpfGTvyN0b4WQvHC2G/s1600/secretwars2_ribicvariant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLN9GPLFQrim_SPuQUe_Aky88Kh4A3CnSGphhWig4COM9v2HSJAoBZzscSSB59T_IxNy7aN45Ro3biPiVCUqCbcHww49dm_02j_etlk552GWzfkMsDs54eBoFHPKSpfGTvyN0b4WQvHC2G/s400/secretwars2_ribicvariant.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
As we now know, that was not to be.<br />
<br />
I think back to San Diego Comic Con in July, and noting with enthusiasm that Death's Head was visible on a slide of other characters slated to be given books in 'All-New All-Different' Marvel.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmEtqXV7mRJ7DYIYKPgRp88E4SCRUwPnRd0KWb7qnHxPyGxL4euvEV3ltulP_0iszsE23CXYnGtdgc-qKCyyPCL9vt7uY8YPmUf_WOOvZlQQyTMOjEAiyufifp-jZHWOnFjTGvC-CYhS6/s1600/dh+at+sd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmEtqXV7mRJ7DYIYKPgRp88E4SCRUwPnRd0KWb7qnHxPyGxL4euvEV3ltulP_0iszsE23CXYnGtdgc-qKCyyPCL9vt7uY8YPmUf_WOOvZlQQyTMOjEAiyufifp-jZHWOnFjTGvC-CYhS6/s400/dh+at+sd.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hercules, The Black Knight, Starbrand, Nightmask, Red Wolf... There were some relatively obscure names up there. But now having seen several of those titles not only having launched, but in some cases now also been cancelled (The Black Knight cancelled all too soon), there is no sign of Old Horn-head alongside them.<br />
<br />
That's all gone very quiet, unfortunately.<br />
<br />
Well, now it's 2016. This coming October marks the <b>40th Anniversary</b> of the first issue of <b>Captain Britain.</b><br />
<br />
That's kind of a landmark Birthday, I'm sure you'd agree. 40 years since Chris Claremont and the late Herb Trimpe introduced readers to Brian Braddock and his own corner of Marvel's Universe. Among those of us who have followed the character (through thick and in increasingly thin) I think a fair few of us were hoping that this might well be the time for Marvel to celebrate that landmark.<br />
<br />
Maybe a new series? He'd been getting a bit of push on New Avengers before Secret Wars hit. It didn't seem implausible. Maybe with a recognised creative team - to give it a bit of profile?<br />
<br />
Heck, <a href="http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/07/a-new-captain-britain-comic-for-2016/">Bleeding Cool were even speculating that last year</a>, in relation to Miracleman and Fables artist Mark Buckingham talking about having a long held desire to work on the character.<br />
<br />
Now wouldn't that be something?<br />
<br />
With all these things places together was it really unreasonable to hope that something might come of that in 'All-New All-Different' Marvel?<br />
<br />
Well, sadly that too seems not to be on the cards.<br />
<br />
Comic Book Resources has <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=column&id=41">a regular chinwag</a> with Marvel EiC Axel Alonso named 'Axel-In-Charge', for which readers are suggested to pose questions for the man himself through a dedicated questions thread on their forum. Quite a few people raised the question of Cap's 40th birthday, and plans for the character on that that thread in the Autumn. Something which for several weeks did seem to fall on deaf ears. Nevertheless, it did kept cropping up.<br />
<br />
However, when CBR finally <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/axel-in-charge-dragging-angela-to-hel-entering-x-mens-extraordinary-era">did raise the question</a> (and CBR sadly neglected to mention the 40th anniversary) the reply was as follows:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
CBR: Any chance of Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze and Captain Britain showing in the All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Axel Alonso: <b>There are no current plans for Captain Britain</b>, and sketchy plans for Johnny Blaze. Unless. Wait. Sounds like a buddy book...</blockquote>
<br />
Certainly not what long time fans of the character were wanting to hear.<br />
<br />
Possibly even less wanted however was the news that with the final issue of the Secret Wars event, and the realignment of Marvel's multiverse after that event, perhaps Captain Britain's most significant contribution to Marvel Comics as a whole -<b> the naming of its universe</b> - has now been erased.<br />
<br />
While in the new continuity the universe itself is to most intents and purposes the same as it was before (with a few additions - Miles Morales, Old Man Logan, etc) it is now to be known as the "Prime Earth".<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Apx5YgEwcZysXegLfgP-Oa6PIUUkrMmobkCsxaoaKvxquaKtBNrpIDV4tixGjf9-zsWSoF9JEAnSWinyrVjt0q0D4RImuQHDjT40pWkNmUHW4aHWzebL1__2rMEQLkoAcSfOonIRIJ3x/s1600/prime+earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Apx5YgEwcZysXegLfgP-Oa6PIUUkrMmobkCsxaoaKvxquaKtBNrpIDV4tixGjf9-zsWSoF9JEAnSWinyrVjt0q0D4RImuQHDjT40pWkNmUHW4aHWzebL1__2rMEQLkoAcSfOonIRIJ3x/s320/prime+earth.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
"<b>Earth 616</b>" is no more.<br />
<br />
Yes, it's not the end of the world (well, figuratively speaking anyway) but most definitely not the greatest of starts to Captain Britain's 40th Anniversary Year.<br />
<br />
Sigh.<br />
<br />
Still, I don't want to get too bogged down with negativity here. That doesn't really help anybody. I'm always on the lookout for any more <i>positive </i>Marvel UK news, and early last month I came across the following tweet from Scottish based poster artist <a href="https://twitter.com/CiaraMcAvoy1">Ciara McAvoy</a>:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXoSWCaMQEc5RiUQwjpNWCFAnuThm0IsvX7dsaGCauepPpBuh2T0tvgm1esbjOt7Md5DOry5Y18rz-pBhEJ43WiMBdXGuiXG2MT6Nx6m1sxfQtbEmRyM1rAXDXO3J80tb4surDVPOeUc5/s1600/captwit1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXoSWCaMQEc5RiUQwjpNWCFAnuThm0IsvX7dsaGCauepPpBuh2T0tvgm1esbjOt7Md5DOry5Y18rz-pBhEJ43WiMBdXGuiXG2MT6Nx6m1sxfQtbEmRyM1rAXDXO3J80tb4surDVPOeUc5/s400/captwit1.png" width="332" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Caira McAvoy has done work for a number of movie studios and production companies. She paints in oils, with incredible detail. The Benedict Cumberbatch Doctor Strange picture pinned on her feed is a strong example of that. But at the time I dismissed it as a private project, likely for her own amusement. There are many people across the landscape of the internet who have done mock up movie artwork for their chosen Captain Britain subject. People fancasting what a TV series or Movie could look like. As far as I knew, this was another example.<br />
<br />
Then a couple of weeks ago, this happened:<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lGDMsMyGDn8tL5OeFFEhIJFJEyPI24_1EC0vYNNBOrOx-J9EHRwPLrT0gfYkZgIeVcP4IEQ3uW29-Bejw3EXBg5nTdmVJDgP7ybcg80INeGL1fS0pQfDybf_j-oVf8MKrqS5U50BYZE2/s1600/captwit2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lGDMsMyGDn8tL5OeFFEhIJFJEyPI24_1EC0vYNNBOrOx-J9EHRwPLrT0gfYkZgIeVcP4IEQ3uW29-Bejw3EXBg5nTdmVJDgP7ybcg80INeGL1fS0pQfDybf_j-oVf8MKrqS5U50BYZE2/s400/captwit2.png" width="280" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Upcoming *what* now?<br />
<br />
A Captain Britain TV series? <i>That </i>certainly seemed unlikely.<br />
<br />
But was it <i>implausible</i>? I mean this was a professional poster artist here. No such TV project had been announced, and you would expect that if Marvel were working on such a project then anybody involved with it would be under the terms of a pretty hefty non-disclosure agreement.<br />
<br />
But, still...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP6ufWxoH-gS08tIQFYvCGN2OKbCOT4p2pws49JW7vqZcc7HoU4jU-iVKY4QyTy31qQy20ln4degOYHRPV8LEdBZ8EODr84q5QPBi6YgDaU0az8Sg849_N0NiR07cjbuRkRmq8K1bnZhZ/s1600/captwit3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgP6ufWxoH-gS08tIQFYvCGN2OKbCOT4p2pws49JW7vqZcc7HoU4jU-iVKY4QyTy31qQy20ln4degOYHRPV8LEdBZ8EODr84q5QPBi6YgDaU0az8Sg849_N0NiR07cjbuRkRmq8K1bnZhZ/s320/captwit3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Suddenly that started to sound a lot more promising. People started questioning McAvoy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wkq47k-QRS-ymo8ZNnJM6_XcMqVgCTZvmbkr8vSzwUhEFkW3nLtpmX8lzlCoBigjOmTigtdngLnO451v3B4QAs40UiZajLc-VXmvFEOBcV9EWD_F6NfoQh_rvgWQ88CxUdrro-VmDMAP/s1600/captwit4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wkq47k-QRS-ymo8ZNnJM6_XcMqVgCTZvmbkr8vSzwUhEFkW3nLtpmX8lzlCoBigjOmTigtdngLnO451v3B4QAs40UiZajLc-VXmvFEOBcV9EWD_F6NfoQh_rvgWQ88CxUdrro-VmDMAP/s400/captwit4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBJ2NBvqa4IQ4KP4B1GYP9u94p9l_3Xds2-YiU_eqEKOUqDpbEu_PyNCJgI2meQXKc40jMlyeKFOj3OSoS_pRoUkgNfkhw4z6eSdE7TG6kYe2VHXfJzT6vX-V6Il0EcVsCCGu3Bx93Jni/s1600/captwit5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBJ2NBvqa4IQ4KP4B1GYP9u94p9l_3Xds2-YiU_eqEKOUqDpbEu_PyNCJgI2meQXKc40jMlyeKFOj3OSoS_pRoUkgNfkhw4z6eSdE7TG6kYe2VHXfJzT6vX-V6Il0EcVsCCGu3Bx93Jni/s400/captwit5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
And at that point tongues started wagging.<br />
<br />
NDA or no, this was apparently Paid work. Could it actually be that this was a credible leak from a genuine series in development?<br />
<br />
Fan sites and bloggers started reporting it. <a href="http://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/03/23/marvels-captain-britain-reportedly-coming-to-tv">IGN reported it</a>.<br />
<br />
Things were suddenly picking up.<br />
<br />
Since Marvel started dabbling with TV projects I think that quite a few of us have probably fancasted a series in our heads. Both Captain Britain and the MI13 setup are quite plausible concepts for a TV series. Alternate universes, magic, swords and sorcery, the supernatural - these are things which British Sci Fi does so well. Pair that with a lead character whose powers are connected to the collective conscious of the whole Country (in a very tangible way) and you could have a show which not only explores the usual superhero tropes but what it actually means to be 'British' in the modern world, also.<br />
<br />
When Captain Britain dies the whole Country feels it in their very soul. When they're behind him he has near godlike strength, but if that mantle fell, if that public confidence waned, all of that could just as easily fall away.<br />
<br />
Who wouldn't want to see storylines such as the Jaspers Warp adapted for television? Or finally seeing a British version of Betsy Braddock? Heck, we assume that 20th Century Fox own the rights to Pete Wisdom (through Excalibur being an X-Office title) but could Agents of SHIELD's Lance Hunter (a Captain Britain supporting cast member of old, remember) be a suitable replacement?<br />
<br />
Well, hold those thoughts.<br />
<br />
Just don't get <i>too </i>excited yet.<br />
<br />
The following day Caira McAvoy revealed just who it was that she was working with. One producer named <a href="https://twitter.com/MrCoolMintProd">Chris Lark</a>, of Cool Mint Productions, and a co-producer named <a href="https://twitter.com/MOVIESEL5">Eleni Larchanidou</a>.<br />
<br />
And this is where the story starts to seem a lot less plausible.<br />
<br />
A little research into Chris Lark, and Cool Mint Productions, pretty much only yields a single, quite <a href="http://coolmintproductions.com/">sparsely populated, company website</a>.<br />
<br />
The company describes itself as "small but talented US Independent (a.k.a. "Indie") Film & TV Production Company with the big goal to see its big film & TV visions through to a larger (as in worldwide) viewing audience."<br />
<br />
Small, sadly, is not an exaggeration. I can find no listing for either Lark (at least <i>this </i>Chris Lark) or a company of that name on IMDB. Their website lists no previous paid work. A student film project named "The Journey" is listed. But that's all. No past industry experience seems to be forthcoming for either.<br />
<br />
Which is never a good sign.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7178728/">Eleni Larchanidou</a>, on the other hand, does have one completed credit. Executive Producer on an indie horror movie called 'Wonder Valley'. Although it is rather unclear as to when/if that movie actually came out. Both 2013 and 2015 are given as dates for the movie, nobody has reviewed it and there is no plot summary added.<br />
<br />
Which, again, is not a good sign.<br />
<br />
Now I can't say with any authority that I know exactly how it is that Marvel Studios do business, but I think that it's relatively safe to say that on past form they have always aimed to work with companies and individuals who have well-proven track records. A body of work which can be used to prove their ability.<br />
<br />
That does not exist here.<br />
<br />
While its not unusual for Marvel to work with a third party Production Company on its TV productions, it's usually because the company is connected to a high profile individual who has a direct connection to the work. Joss Whedon's <i>Mutant Enemy</i>, for example, on Agents of SHIELD. Or Melissa Rosenberg's <i>Tall Girls Productions</i> on Jessica Jones.<br />
<br />
But in each case Marvel Television and ABC Studios (both part of Disney's umbrella of creative companies) has been the principle company behind each show. They choose the Property from their list of IPs and then they choose who to work with in developing it.<br />
<br />
That's the key detail. Marvel and Disney choose.<br />
<br />
And I find it relatively unlikely that they would be willing to take on a producer and company without proven experience of working on and producing TV drama.<br />
<br />
Chris Lark himself tweeted the following details for Caira McAvoy to share up in response:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHA-QtePLvb4M5JUaWQ8dstL7c-CIjVXVlKg6TLLRFaVLN4lfV1b5g_6NUw7mb3ro_Y5TkYI4FP6Q8AZQEfbKUc6Qg_MUl47H2EfKOy-njVSjZ-cd7ad1Hxq2ZtNfoJ5D6wcH_FvTdGb3H/s1600/captwit6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHA-QtePLvb4M5JUaWQ8dstL7c-CIjVXVlKg6TLLRFaVLN4lfV1b5g_6NUw7mb3ro_Y5TkYI4FP6Q8AZQEfbKUc6Qg_MUl47H2EfKOy-njVSjZ-cd7ad1Hxq2ZtNfoJ5D6wcH_FvTdGb3H/s400/captwit6.png" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A Highlight Reel? For a series which doesn't yet exist?<br />
<br />
And that's the point that the penny drops.<br />
<br />
This isn't a series. There is no planned development. This was artwork for a prospective Pitch.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong here, Ciara McAvoy has been paid to do artwork for this, but I wouldn't be getting too many hopes up here. This is a couple of unheard of producers, hoping to get an audience with Marvel to pitch a project.<br />
<br />
Will Marvel Studios be likely to grant an audience for such a pitch, from a company without a track record? I cannot say for certainty. But I would imagine it not to be terribly likely for that to occur.<br />
<br />
Phrases such as "to take to Marvel for 2017 with hopes of them helping us with the series" are kind of the giveaway to me. Marvel wouldn't be helping these guys make a show. Cool Mint Productions don't own Captain Britain. They couldn't make this series on their on, because Marvel own that IP. Captain Britain is their product. Not the other way around.<br />
<br />
And while I don't know either as individuals, I would also speculate that two random independent film makers from New Mexico would possibly not be the most natural of candidates to understand how best to develop and tell the story of <i>British </i>based series, about a set of <i>British </i>characters.<br />
<br />
No. Sorry. That's the point where my suspension of disbelief in the rumour finally snapped. I wish them luck, but I'm out.<br />
<br />
The only way a Captain Britain TV series is ever likely to actually happen is if Marvel decide to look into it themselves. I think it's really that simple.<br />
<br />
However, the one positive thing to come out of all of this is that even though the rumour that the series <i>was being developed </i>had been thoroughly debunked, people continued to talk about the possibility of a series.<br />
<br />
It started to get some mainstream press coverage.<br />
<br />
The Metro: <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/28/could-marvel-be-giving-their-first-british-superhero-a-tv-show-5779927/?ito=twitter#mv-b">Could Marvel be giving their first British superhero a TV show?</a> - "Move over Captain America, Captain Britain aka Brian Braddock might be getting his own TV series."<br />
<br />
The Times: <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article4722756.ece?CMP=Spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-thetimes-_-20160328-_-News-_-410262383-_-Imageandlink&linkId=22793956">Captain Britain back from the 1970s for TV adventure</a> - "The superhero, whose adventures in the 1970s included rescuing Jim Callaghan, the prime minister, from the villainous Red Skull, has been chosen for a revival after the huge success of other Marvel characters."<br />
<br />
The Mirror: <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/essex-born-captain-britain-could-7643573">Essex-born Captain Britain could be getting his own TV series - who will play the 1970s superhero?</a> - An article which fixates on the one basic detail they've bothered to research (his being born in Essex) and turns out this hideous suggestion - "Basically, the show could be a cross between The Avengers and TOWIE, with the main character wearing a Union Jack leotard instead of a mankini."<br />
<br />
I despair a little. But At least it's coverage.<br />
<br />
Even the BBC jumped on it with <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-35915759">Essex Marvel superhero Captain Britain 'could be made into TV series'</a> and Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston being asked to do <a href="http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/03/28/tonight-bbc-radio-4-covers-captain-britain/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook">an interview for <i>The World Tonight</i></a> on Radio 4!<br />
<br />
(Although as a side note, it is a shame that the Beeb opted to use the one Captain Britain character profile Marvel ever put out which incorrectly identifies Brian Braddock as a mutant. Don't go giving 20th Century Fox ideas on staking claims of ownership. They don't need encouraging.)<br />
<br />
It's all been a little bit surreal...<br />
<br />
But while I sincerely doubt that the pitch which started this rumour will come to anything, you would have to hope that perhaps the resulting mini media circus which it has stirred up has not gone unnoticed by at least somebody within Marvel. The response to the rumour (even amongst those seeking to poke a little bit of fun) has been one of well meaning positivity. <br />
<br />
Wouldn't it be great if in this 40th Year of Captain Britain that the Powers That Be took a moment to think about how they might be able to use the character of Brian Braddock to pitch into a whole other audience. Maybe this could be the year for some good news, yet?<br />
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And now I throw this open to you. If such a series were ever to see the light of day, what would you like to see? And who would you want to see involved? Which stories? What kind of approach?<br />
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Feel free to make use of the Comments section.Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-16283700497152663852015-12-19T13:52:00.001+00:002015-12-19T18:39:59.611+00:00Unused Wizard Magazine cover featuring Motormouth and Killpower, byCurrie and Lanning.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/138675371@N04/23555468480" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5765/23555468480_5be27c0d1f_c.jpg" id="blogsy-1450550388575.343" class="alignnone" width="500" height="771" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">An Unused Wizard Magazine cover featuring Motormouth and Killpower, by Andrew Currie and Andy Lanning.</span></div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-48718720043179403292015-07-27T10:00:00.000+01:002015-07-27T10:00:04.430+01:00A bit of Marvel Frontier Comics back matter.Glancing back at the two issues of Paul Neary and Liam Sharp's <b>Bloodseed</b>, for the <a href="http://itcamefromdarkmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/from-archive-it-came-from-darkmoors.html">Marvel UK A to Z</a> piece, was an interesting experience.<br />
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As I've said before, I always felt that of all the material from the imprint years the <b>Frontier Comics </b>material has probably aged the best. While there was some question over Bloodseed itself, the others maintained a perfectly plausible background role within the Marvel Universe but never suffering because of it.<br />
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I mean sure, <b>Mortigan Goth: Immortalis</b> featured an in-continuity appearance from Doctor Strange, and Spitfire too, but it wasn't the same kind of inconsequential guest appearances which so many readers had criticised in the main Marvel UK imprint.<br />
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It was for plot reasons. And well-reasoned ones too.<br />
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It was more in-step with the level of quality British readers had seen from the original Knights of Pendragon series. Which after all was so pivotal in those imprint years happening at all.<br />
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For those who have heard about the upcoming <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0785199268?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00">Marvel Frontier Comics collected edition</a>, and are curious to know what they might be looking at here, I thought I'd paste in the back matter from both issues of Bloodseed, which may just give you what you are looking for.<br />
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That was the mission statement at the top, those were the first wave of 4 titles and the suggestion of more titles to come. </div>
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Further to my previous article, and something I entirely failed to mention in that 2009 piece, is that there actually was an explanation given for Bloodseed's shortening from 4 to 2 issues, listed in the back of the second issue:</div>
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There is still a real sense of the ongoing in the sign-off, there. And certainly a plan for further titles. </div>
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Which there were, in a fashion. Prologues for, at least.</div>
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'The Marvel Frontier Comics quarterly' did see light in the form of the <b>Marvel Frontier Comics Special</b>. You can see its contents page, here:</div>
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<b>Evil Eye</b> was a small strip written and drawn by Strange Embrace and The Bulletproof Coffin writer <b>David Hine</b>.</div>
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<b>The Fallen</b>, on the other hand, was written by <b>Nick Vince</b>. The art though, came courtesy of 2000 AD legend <b>D'Israeli </b>(Matt Brooker). </div>
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Really makes you wonder what could have been, eh?</div>
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Oh, and there eventually was a letters page. Even if it only was for one final issue. </div>
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Mr Joey Marchete of Union, New Jersey (if you are still out there) you were the lucky individual.</div>
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Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-70796987655040634412015-07-26T10:00:00.000+01:002017-09-01T16:16:17.044+01:00From the Archive: It Came From Darkmoor's Marvel UK A to Z : B is for...Returning after a slight delay this the second in a series republishing earlier entries from the It Came From Darkmoor archives.<br />
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The following article was first posted in July 2009. There has been one piece of additional information added (as you'll see when you reach the end of the article) and a little bit of reformatting to suit the modern shape of the blog, but otherwise it appears here pretty much as it did back then. Once again, I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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Welcome to the second of It Came from Darkmoor's Marvel UK A to Z columns. The intention of this column is to spotlight a few of the more obscure Marvel UK characters - the kind who are probably less likely to come up in conversation or whose overall contribution to Marvel UK has not yet been acknowledged by this Blog.<br />
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We continue, as I guess would only be sensible, with the letter B. And in this alphabetical series...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">'B' is for BLOODSEED</span></div>
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<b>Lysander Bloodseed</b>, in fact. </div>
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Or if not in fact then certainly at least in theory.</div>
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<b>Bloodseed </b>was the brain-child of former Marvel UK E-i-C <b>Paul Neary</b>, Death's Head II artist <b>Liam Sharp</b>,<b> </b>and Motormouth artist <b>Cam Smith</b>. As with other titles such as <b>Mortigan Goth</b> (<a href="http://itcamefromdarkmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/who-hell-is-mortigan-goth.html">A link for those with shorter memories</a>) and <b>Dances with Demons</b>, Bloodseed was created for the somewhat short-lived Marvel UK sub-imprint of titles which went under the banner of <b>Marvel Frontier Comics -</b> a more adult orientated line of books which were more akin to DC's Vertigo line than to standard superhero comics. </div>
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The aesthetic for Bloodseed is quite an interesting one. On the surface it does very much seem like a European-styled Fantasy comic, with the familiar presence of swords, monsters and magic. </div>
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Bloodseed fights with a sword, he has magical healing powers, he battles fantasy monsters and giant ape-like brutes. You can see elements of Tarzan here, of Conan, of Marvel's Ka-Zar, pr other pulp adventure characters of this kind. It would not be out of place in a European fantasy anthlogy, and I do mean that in a positive manner.</div>
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It's also likewise relatively European in its attitude towards nudity. </div>
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Yes, Bloodseed is fighting naked on that page, if that's something which you felt needed clarifying. </div>
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There is also a heck of a lot female nudity throughout the book - something which would certainly not escape the attention of a teenager (and certainly didn't with <i>this </i>one) reading this book back in 1993. There are female naughty bits EVERYwhere! And frequently with very little attempt to cover them up.</div>
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But, by and large, it's not purely for titillation. It is plot driven nudity for the most part. When we join Lysander Bloodseed's story he is dragging his naked and only semi-conscious self through the snowy wastes of a planet he later discovers to be named Themax-2, trying to remember how it is that he came to be here, and perhaps more importantly who the hell he actually is. </div>
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The answer to which (to his current mind, anyway) is that he is Lysander, Warrior-King of Elyssium, a Kingdom in the land of Utopia. Elyssium is a Warrior Nation, whose landscape looks like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, where the men are built like Tarzan and the women built like porn-stars - all of whom appear to hold a fundamental distaste for the wearing of clothing. He rules as King, and Elyssa - a busty amazon type with flowing black hair and seemingly just as much distaste for clothing as the rest of her kin - is the loyal consort at his side. His one <b>true</b> love.</div>
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Sound just a <b>little </b>too good to be true? </div>
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Well, you'd not be wrong. </div>
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And how <b>can </b>he be King of Elyssium when a woman named <b>Elyssa </b>is also wandering the land, with the same set of memories, also believing herself to be the Queen of Elyssium? In her memories <b>she </b>rules Elyssium, with Lysander as her royal consort. And he's certainly <i>not </i>the Lysander we've already met...</div>
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The same memories, but two different people both believing them to be their own. </div>
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The truth of course, is that these are all false memories - implanted visions of a past that seemingly never was. Despite seeming like a fantasy world, it is at least partly a façade. A fair amount of what Bloodseed has been seeing is revealed to be a holographic computer simulation. Part of a method for both controlling and testing him. </div>
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He's actually the latest in a line of humanoids created by a company called "Gene-Corp" on behalf of an unnamed client. He's not the first, merely the latest in a production line of Bloodseeds, being tested for survival. As was another one-armed Bloodseed who Lysander later encounters, a dead test subject wearing the same armour as him which Elyssa stumbles upon, and in fact Elyssa herself.</div>
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Each Bloodseed appears to be 'birthed' out into the world, with these false memories in their head, and placed into a Darwin-esque scenario where they are expected to kill off the other test subjects. Each subject is a peak physical specimen, possessed of the ability to heal others by touch, some kind of telekinesis, and (if they reach the correct point in the program) they will be given a 'Helmet of Truth' a semi-sentient mask which allows the wearer to discern what is real from hologram. </div>
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Lysander and Elyssa's progress in these trials eventually alerts the attention of Gene-Corp's Chief Engineer, who having convinced Lysander to remove his helmet (unfortunately triggering Elyssa's programming, and setting her trying to kill him) then contacted his client. And that's kind of the twist in this tale. Their client goes by the name of Lord Juno. And he comes from Earth. </div>
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Only he's a dinosaur. A very eloquent, English speaking dinosaur.</div>
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Beyond that we know very little more.</div>
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Because, unfortunately, two issues complete issues of Bloodseed is pretty much all we got.</div>
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What does this all mean? Well that, I guess is purely open to your own interpretation. </div>
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For my own part (and I'd add that this purely conjecture, here) I speculate the following:</div>
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Lord Juro can speak. Maybe, just maybe, he is part of some kind of super intelligent/super evolved race of Dinosaurs. From Earth, but who fled Earth just before whatever ice age/meteor strike/catastrophe actually brought about extinction of their lesser evolved kin. </div>
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They used to hunt humans. For sport. And after thousands of years elsewhere in the galaxy they have decided that they missed doing that. That is something they used to enjoy. It's about time they brought that back.</div>
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As far as they know though, there are no more humans. They figure them to have been wiped out, along with everything else on Earth. How could <b>anything </b>have survived that ice age/meteorite/catastrophe? </div>
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So as far as they know, that's an avenue they cannot go down.</div>
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Juro's people therefore approach Gene-Corp to rectify that. A gene-tailoring company on the other side of the galaxy, capable of <b>growing </b>them some humans to hunt. Selectively bred, peak of their physical condition, humans. Humans designed to give them a challenge.</div>
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Themax-2 is the test world for this enterprise. But it's only part of a grander plan. The first step in a much larger scheme. A plan being to return to, and repopulate, the Earth with new genetically engineered subjects just like Bloodseed, and then to use this planet as some kind of messed up dinosaur hunting reserve.</div>
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But as I say, that is only conjecture. The way I've thought it through in the past 20+ years.</div>
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In reality it's honestly hard to say what the actual plan for Bloodseed was. For all we know Lysander may have been returned to the modern day Marvel Universe? For all we know Elyssa would have killed Lysander and traveled back to Earth herself? Maybe there would even have been some explanation as to what that giant glove/claw Bloodseed is wearing on the cover of #2 was?</div>
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Is that a glove? Or is it his actual hand? It's hard to say.</div>
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I mean it <b>looks </b>like it could be made of the same materials as the helmet, but what if-?</div>
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But I digress.</div>
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While I get the feeling that there was actually a longer story planned out for Bloodseed we didn't get to read it. While it was initially planned as a four issue limited series it was cut down to just 2 issues by the time it saw print. Two issues and (what seemed to be) a Prologue tale in the <b>Marvel Frontier Comics Special</b>. </div>
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All of the Frontier titles came out during the tail end days of Marvel UK, shortly before the US office closed things down and sold off parts of the business elsewhere. </div>
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The promised second series never came to pass.</div>
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Bloodseed remains a character and a series which still holds a certain amount of interest for me. Compared to Liam Sharp's later work some of the artwork here does seem a little rough around the edges in places, but I do see some early roots of a later style in play here. And conceptually I do believe there was a decent story being taken through its paces in the two issues we got. There aren't enough series with these kind of European fantasy elements at Marvel these days. It's a great shame that we never got to see how it could have panned out.</div>
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Update: If you are curious about Bloodseed - or indeed any of the other Marvel Frontier books - then January 2016 might just be your lucky month. Earlier this week this week, as I sat down to prep this article, I was alerted to the following listing which had turned up on Amazon:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0785199268?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00">Marvel Frontier Comics: The Complete Collection</a></div>
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The UK store listing is without a description of the collection. However, on the US store page the following blurb on display:</div>
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A forgotten gem from Marvel UK is uncovered, dusted off and collected in its entirety for the first time! Who is Bloodseed? And what is his mission in a barbarian world of talking pterodactyls, giant lizards and remnants of technology from a long-lost civilization? Something is haunting author Sam Wantling's dreams - could he be a Child of the Voyager? Will James Owl survive his dance with demons when he discovers that he is the heir to a great Native American spirit?</blockquote>
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COLLECTING: CHILDREN OF THE VOYAGER 1-4, DANCES WITH DEMONS 1-4, MORTIGAN GOTH: IMMORTALIS 1-4, BLOODSEED 1-2, MARVEL FRONTIER COMICS UNLIMITED 1</blockquote>
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That's right. A complete collection of all the books which were put out under the banner of <b>Marvel Frontier Comics</b>. An unexpected release to have found its way into the wilds. Not least because this does actually appear to be a release from Marvel in the US. Most previous UK material has been reprinted by Panini Comics here in the UK.</div>
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I would definitely recommend this collection, based on that promised content. Having reread all of the Frontier books a few years back I can confirm that they actually have aged pretty well. These were the books which seemed to be defining the direction in which Marvel UK was trying to go in those later days for the Imprint. Doing something a little different. Darker and more serious tales within the Marvel Universe.</div>
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It's only a shame that it had to end when and where it did. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'B' could also have stood for: </span></div>
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<b>The Battletide</b>: A demonic gestalt entity, powered by the souls of fallen warriors, which tore its way through the universe. As seen in the mini series Battletide and Battletide II.</div>
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<b>The Bane</b>: The big, bad, adversary of the Knights of Pendragon and age old nemesis of the Green Knight. </div>
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<b>The Bacillicons</b>: Digital analogues of human mercenaries brought into play to hunt down and kill Digitek, in the pages of his limited series.</div>
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Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-9450013610664919542015-04-26T10:00:00.000+01:002015-04-26T10:00:03.482+01:00From the Archive: It Came From Darkmoor's Marvel UK A to Z : A is for...As promised earlier in the year this is the first in a series republishing earlier entries from the It Came From Darkmoor archives.<br />
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The following article was first posted in June 2009. There have been a few minor updates which needed to be included since its first posting, a little necessary reformatting and a couple of hyperlinks added, but otherwise it appears here much as it did back then. I shall be reposting one of the A-Z pieces each month until we catch up to a point where I can continue this series anew. I hope you enjoy it.<br />
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Welcome to the first of It Came from Darkmoor's Marvel UK A to Z columns. The intention of this column is to spotlight a few of the more obscure characters from Marvel UK's annals - the kind who are probably less likely to come up in conversation or whose overall contribution to Marvel UK has not yet been acknowledged by this Blog.<br />
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We begin, as is frankly logical, with the letter 'A', and in my alphabetical world...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">'A' is for APESLAYER.</span></div>
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Let's go back to 1975, a year before Captain Britain became the first truly acknowledged UK originated Marvel material. This was the 70s and <b>Planet of the Apes</b> was huge, having turned into a global fan phenomenon which had inevitably sparked a licensing deal in the USA between Marvel and 20th Century Fox for a Planet of the Apes comic. It was a Black and White comic, which was later reprinted in colour, and ran to 29 issues between 1974 and 1977, adapting the movies and also adding new material.</div>
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At roughly the same time <b>Planet of the Apes</b> weekly began reprinting these stories in the UK (It should be pointed out that the preferred format for Comics in the UK has always been weekly, or fortnightly. In the 70s especially the expectation for weekly content was a given. So don't you go telling ME DC were doing something new and groundbreaking with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/52_%28comics%29">52!</a> :) ). But of course reprinting material weekly, when it was being originated monthly, threw out an eventual but inevitable problem.</div>
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There wasn't enough US material being published quick enough to meet UK demand.</div>
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And so it was that in March 1975, with #23, a new story set in the the Planet of the Apes universe began, featuring a new human character called APESLAYER.</div>
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The Plot and Concept of this new story is attributed to Marvel Legend Roy Thomas, with pencils attributed to Neal Adams and in later issues to Howard Chaykin. The script attributed to Gerry Conway. All well-recognised and respected creators for Marvel, I'm sure you'd agree.</div>
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Which might be reason to wonder quite as to how or why they came to be writing such an off-shoot story for a licensed comic from Marvel UK.</div>
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Apeslayer was very much part of a world where the Apes ruled, where he had been brought up a human slave, forced to fight in arenas for the amusement of the simian rulers of Earth, only to later free himself and make it his mission to wage war on his oppressors...</div>
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Pause there a moment. Does any of this sound a little familiar? </div>
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A little like another Roy Thomas concept from the 70s, maybe? </div>
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In fact, doesn't Apeslayer himself bear a certain physical similarity to Roy Thomas' <b>Killraven - "Warrior of the Worlds"</b> from <b>Amazing Adventures</b>?</div>
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Well, there might be a reason for that. </div>
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Because he kind of... IS Killraven. </div>
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In a truly bizarre turn of events, in order to fill in the gaps while waiting for new American material, the fledgling UK arm of Marvel comics literally decided to turn Killraven into Apeslayer. To re-purpose existing Killraven material as new stories to use as part of their Planet of the Apes series. </div>
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And the changes between the two were pretty much purely cosmetic - changing the length of Apeslayer's hair, removing Killraven's headband and armlets, changing Martians for Apes. </div>
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It's still Neal Adams' art. Just... altered. To fit the new purpose. </div>
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A few name changes, to mask the swap, and that was it. </div>
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Seriously. </div>
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A few years ago, back when Paul Cornell's <i>Wisdom </i>series re-introduced comics readers to Jonathan and Maureen Raven, some posters over a comic book resources were unaware of the connection to Killraven. I posted up the following images as reference.</div>
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Compare those now to the two equivalent Apeslayer pages from Planet of the Apes.</div>
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Jonathan 'Killraven' Raven becomes Jonathan 'Apeslayer' Dozer. Maureen Raven becomes Maureen Dozer.</div>
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Truly bizarre. And the length of Apeslayer's hair does not actually match between Covers and the stories themselves. Or indeed the spelling of his name. All very strange. The same story, with the barest of changes made. </div>
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Notice that some supporting cast members do not even get their name changed, they remain the same - Anne Carver remains Anne Carver. </div>
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How the decision was made to pass off the altered strip as part of the Planet of the Apes publication is certainly a curious one. To my knowledge Killraven had not been reprinted in the UK at that time, so it's not implausible the editors thought that nobody would notice the similarities. But it certainly raised a few eyebrows among UK readers a few years back, when Marvel printed an Essential Killraven volume - to find themselves greeted by a rather curious feeling of deja vu.</div>
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I've often wondered how Thomas, Adams et all felt about their work having been re-purposed in this fashion. Whether they knew about it, or whether they've been told about it in the years since. It seems such an unethical thing to have done, but I suppose Killraven was Work for Hire comics work. If Marvel US were happy with it happening I doubt they'd have had much in the way comeback on it.</div>
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Ethics aside - What are the chances of an Apeslayer revival? </div>
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Not... very likely. :)</div>
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He'll be covered as a property under the <b>Planet of the Apes</b> license. As of 2014 that comics license was in the hands of <b>BOOM! Studios</b>. By rights, I suppose, they <i>could </i>use the character. They haven't. And in all honesty, I doubt that they will. BOOM! are focusing primarily on books relating to the 2011 reboot of the Apes franchise, which began with the rather brilliant <b>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</b>.</div>
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While it is not implausible that we might see the mighty Jonathan Dozer turn up in this rebooted continuity? I'm not going to hold my breath on that. :)</div>
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For those wanting to read more of Marvel UK's <b>Planet of the Apes</b> title they are actually available online, in pdf format, through <a href="http://pota.goatley.com/marvel_uk.html">Hunter's Planet of the Apes Archive</a> - which you may find worth a visit.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">'A' could also have stood for: </span></div>
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<b>The Anti-Being:</b> Chaos Bringing enemy of Dark Angel and Death's Head II, and one giant mass of negative energy.</div>
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<b>Afrikaa:</b> Mohannda-based Black Axe and Black Panther ally, powered by the Heart of Africa.</div>
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<b>Abslom Daak - Dalek Slayer:</b> Doctor Who character, who's purpose in life should be rather clear from his title.</div>
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Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-52128590003163256562015-04-19T18:23:00.003+01:002015-04-19T18:23:46.629+01:00In memory of Herb Trimpe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was with great sadness this past Tuesday that I learned of the passing of comics artist Herb Trimpe, at the age of 75. Sad, because though I never met him, Herb's art did have a very definite impact on my formative years as a comic reader.<br />
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I'm sure to some of you, especially for those who have come in to comics in the past 10-15 years, Herb Trimpe's name is probably not instantly recognisable. For those of you who do recognise the name you may not instantly be able to peg an art style. In fact, I would imagine for a number of you that may be be a name you simply do not recognise at all.<br />
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Don't feel bad about that. As I say, Trimpe was 75. And while he has done some special comics projects for the likes of BPRD and Savage dragon in recent years his peak of output was across the late 60s, through the 70s and into the 1980s.<br />
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But the role which Herb Trimpe played, principally as an artist for Marvel Comics, really should not be understated. There are very few of the 1970s bigger named properties he did not draw at marvel, at one point or another. Most notably he was the artist on The Incredible Hulk for 7 straight years. During that time Trimpe co-created several characters who have become mainstays of the Hulk books such as Jim Wilson, the Hulkbusters, and Doc Sampson. But if even those don't ring a bell for you, I'm sure that you will be familiar with at least one other character which Herb co-created during that run.<br />
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Herb Trimpe was the co-creator of Wolverine.<br />
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My own personal exposure to comics as a young kid in the 80s was not through direct market comic stores. We had them in the UK, but I certainly wasn't taken to them at that age. It wasn't even entirely through newsagents, though they were the main outlet for UK comics. I hadn't the pocket money for that kind of thing until several years later.</div>
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For me it was jumble sales. My parents were teachers. School jumble sales played quite a role in my early childhood, and jumble sales meant people getting rid of their old stuff in the name of school fundraising. And that included old comics and magazines. Much of my early exposure to Marvel and DC comics, The Eagle, The Dandy, The Beano, et all came through picking up discarded comics from several years earlier.</div>
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And it was through those means also that I first came in contact with the work of Herb Trimpe. Not through The Hulk, or even Wolverine. But through a certain other character which Trimpe co-created for the British market with Chris Claremont.</div>
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Because Herb Trimpe was the co-creator of Captain Britain.</div>
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And while I am under no illusion as to which of those two creations the vast majority of people are likely to hold in higher esteem, these are the very books which brought me into reading comics. </div>
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Trimpe provided art for the first 23 issues of Captain Britain, working with both Chris Claremont and Gary Friedrich after him. And yes, true, the costume he created is not the costume which survived to the present day. At this point in the character's history Brian Braddock was more of a combination of Spider-man and Daredevil than he was the uber-powerful Superman type that he is today. But these humble beginnings will always be important to a good many people. Even today you'll still find a good number of people who will argue that they preferred Herb's look for the character, and that the departure from it is something which still saddens them to this day.</div>
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Herb Trimpe's passing this week came as a bit of shock. Though granted it has been a while since he worked on a monthly comic, he had remained very active as an artist, and remained a regular on the convention scene. Even as a recently as last weekend, at East Coast Comicon in the States, in fact. He was a guest at London super Comicon a couple of years ago, and sadly it was still just a little to close to my Treatment to risk conventions at that point in time. I wished I could have met him. </div>
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My thoughts go out to his friends and family. . </div>
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For those reading comics here in the UK during the 1970s and 80s Herb Trimpe was rightly synonymous with a lot what they saw of Marvel Comics. He will be remembered. He will be missed.</div>
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If ever there were a time you aught to dig out those old Incredible Hulk issues or the early days of Captain Britain, I'd say this is a good opportunity. </div>
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I'll leave you with some of tributes I have encountered online over the past few days. Please do feel free to share any others which you might have seen yourselves in the comments section, if you wish. </div>
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Until the next time</div>
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Mark (Sword)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04psrsU5c3kX5UyXJdZnpKCWQmA1CvxAtGciQTp-PrA10JbKHXJzjc-Z_Dk8v1Xi1mWzX8-zbasQjgONwLaxBZwiNPoEEmFYMxCCiPmWb1IZZjWze82CS8O_mjYSFH7CxthTP9STMjtw3/s1600/toddnauck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04psrsU5c3kX5UyXJdZnpKCWQmA1CvxAtGciQTp-PrA10JbKHXJzjc-Z_Dk8v1Xi1mWzX8-zbasQjgONwLaxBZwiNPoEEmFYMxCCiPmWb1IZZjWze82CS8O_mjYSFH7CxthTP9STMjtw3/s1600/toddnauck.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Captain Britain. In honor & memory of the passing of comic book legend Herb Trimpe. God bless you, Herb. Thank you." -Todd Nauck (<a href="https://twitter.com/ToddNauck/status/588403760256303104">@toddnauck</a>)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdCScqZFOEGCsygbw7at1Xz2Mjdn3I8GXSVjMCBKg7WoT0PH2h8bBheZWP0T0Y49ltPoh11NMurkG_KzcPnUY-HzDlAsm8EKigYBExKxYxVT1IWSkZtj2ttmfCRNnQKhB9WSCLJE9INOw/s1600/CCkJ7nxUsAACurI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdCScqZFOEGCsygbw7at1Xz2Mjdn3I8GXSVjMCBKg7WoT0PH2h8bBheZWP0T0Y49ltPoh11NMurkG_KzcPnUY-HzDlAsm8EKigYBExKxYxVT1IWSkZtj2ttmfCRNnQKhB9WSCLJE9INOw/s1600/CCkJ7nxUsAACurI.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"RIP Herb Trimpe. Thank you for bringing Wolverine, Captain Britain and many others to life. A true legend." Leo Sutherland (<a href="https://twitter.com/leosutherland/status/588012154860793857">@leosutherland</a>)<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjzJCpJVs611hc-YV3tPXV6iG5MOBsV2F9ZD-dVnuAso8JwAy586bL32t1KR4fP-JmA7ZKnm7S2-p6aSpO_Cj-8WZuH1d4nheESY1ObVWgaKTg7zgF6DnIZIpCF2M9KssFIUskbNCcWll/s1600/haward2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjzJCpJVs611hc-YV3tPXV6iG5MOBsV2F9ZD-dVnuAso8JwAy586bL32t1KR4fP-JmA7ZKnm7S2-p6aSpO_Cj-8WZuH1d4nheESY1ObVWgaKTg7zgF6DnIZIpCF2M9KssFIUskbNCcWll/s1600/haward2.png" height="640" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Herb Trimpe & David Roach Captain Britain reprint cover collection for @OfficialPanini RIP #HerbTrimpe great piece" - Jon Haward (<a href="https://twitter.com/ARTOFJONHAWARD/status/588245860766633984">@ARTOFJONHAWARD</a>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvTiSXhoBT2oucZ9C1wnYggrM28arj3rgUCX_OUHwl1Me-rbMIYGmqQc_n0AvF5oe45IFrS7V40hNxjIeP3XRdfyQXA7ekV-o1ebwrQYziiJ7DOiK6YwuPNRe0TvLLi-EoGWi7g9gyp1q/s1600/mccrea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvTiSXhoBT2oucZ9C1wnYggrM28arj3rgUCX_OUHwl1Me-rbMIYGmqQc_n0AvF5oe45IFrS7V40hNxjIeP3XRdfyQXA7ekV-o1ebwrQYziiJ7DOiK6YwuPNRe0TvLLi-EoGWi7g9gyp1q/s1600/mccrea1.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Here's a pic of #CaptainBritain vs Hurricane I did a while back for @LSComicCon -they asked for anything #herbtrimpe" John McCrea (<a href="https://twitter.com/mccreaman/status/588057052817313792">@mccreaman</a>)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXTZSctMm-TpvBw3235EBJt36Q1xqySAJhSKAWt1Gai-GTEgUHAiq8l933WrR8hxlVQzmJ_eHypf7WzWxbe6FEDsohP0ErpBB4NW9ELPD3xu9S7AiO8kZVjOiLVYyIb2iP9eL_5-8vhaw/s1600/mccrea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXTZSctMm-TpvBw3235EBJt36Q1xqySAJhSKAWt1Gai-GTEgUHAiq8l933WrR8hxlVQzmJ_eHypf7WzWxbe6FEDsohP0ErpBB4NW9ELPD3xu9S7AiO8kZVjOiLVYyIb2iP9eL_5-8vhaw/s1600/mccrea2.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Another Cap pic with Spidey vs the Fury- #AlanDavis #HerbTrimpe mash up! Thanks again, Herb, for all the memories.." John McCrea (<a href="https://twitter.com/mccreaman/status/588058047823642624">@mccreaman</a>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5I1VWQmhKSDhexvoWhuCfB14iqFSz_AT9RMaZkbPkuwXw51zRy5STVu5rqMLPp8iOXKi9j_X1y87p0hmrmoQ_qEFnEkMhuT89frVRIlWN7oOn3u5jHD6mh1RgCaBfDNEdzKPg4OazcIW/s1600/mike+perkins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5I1VWQmhKSDhexvoWhuCfB14iqFSz_AT9RMaZkbPkuwXw51zRy5STVu5rqMLPp8iOXKi9j_X1y87p0hmrmoQ_qEFnEkMhuT89frVRIlWN7oOn3u5jHD6mh1RgCaBfDNEdzKPg4OazcIW/s1600/mike+perkins.png" height="640" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"For Herb from Mike Perkins lovely tribute #herbtrimpe #captainBritain" - Jon Haward (<a href="https://twitter.com/ARTOFJONHAWARD/status/588053538653220864">@ARTOFJONHAWARD</a>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"72 hrs ago I was talking to this man & thanking him for years of creative inspiration #eastcoastcomicon. #herbtrimpe" - Karl Ottersberg (<a href="https://twitter.com/KarlOttersberg/status/588052775566729218">@karlOttersberg</a>)<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Beautiful Trimpe's self-portrait (via <a href="https://twitter.com/emmartian">@emmartian</a> )" - Javier Rodríguez (<a href="https://twitter.com/javiercaster/status/588032746393579520">@javiercaste</a>)</td></tr>
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Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-48364248379966611092015-03-29T16:33:00.003+01:002015-03-29T16:45:49.360+01:00Looks like we have confirmation of Captain Britain appearing in Secret Wars.So, yesterday I posted up a Blog post about how we didn't currently have any clear evidence that Captain Britain (at least in the form of Brian Braddock) would be making an appearance in Marvel's Secret Wars event.<br />
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Well, it seems that not long after I posted this up a variant cover by Esad Ribic, for the second issue of the central Secret War limited series, started doing the rounds online. It it shows exactly that. </div>
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That would be Brian, wielding some sort of sword, whose blade is made of energy. </div>
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What exactly that is, I guess we'll have to wait and see. I think it highly unlikely to be 'Excalibur'. Faiza currently has that one. But it does remind me somewhat of modern depictions of the 'Soulsword,' wielded by former New Mutant and current member of Scott Summers' 'Uncanny X-Men' team, Illyana 'Magik' Rasputin.</div>
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Probably entirely coincidental. But I guess we'll find out, in time.</div>
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The important thing, at least as I see it, is this is a confirmation the he shall be playing at least some role in what comes next. And that's certainly a positive start.</div>
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One further thing of note this weekend, which I spotted in <a href="http://www.newsarama.com/23947-axel-alonso-says-x-men-will-have-new-world-post-secret-wars.html">t</a>his week's <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/axel-in-charge-shaping-the-all-new-all-different-avengers-uncanny-inhumans">Axel-in-Charge column over at Comic Book Resources</a>. This relates to the aftermath of Secret Wars, and how it will be effecting the X-Men.</div>
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According to Alonso, Marvel's current editor-in-chief:</div>
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The X-Men office is taking the opportunity of "Secret Wars" to build an entire new world for the characters -- to create a shared universe within the X-books that's set off by a huge event/incident/surprise. At that point, they're going to introduce a new team that feels unlike anything you've seen before. It'll be... "extraordinary."</blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/23947-axel-alonso-says-x-men-will-have-new-world-post-secret-wars.html">A fair bit of commentary online</a> seems to speculating that this very much sounds like Marvel might be planning to separate the X-Men off into a separate 'Heroes Reborn' style Universe of their own. Something separate to the rest of Marvel's publishing line, with no direct connection to the rest of their books and continuity.<br />
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They've done it before, and you could quite easily understand why they might want to. The biggest problem that Marvel have with the X-Men is that (much like the Fantastic Four) they do not own those characters' creative rights in other mediums. Twentieth Century Fox own those. They make X-Men movies and cartoons. Some better than others. Marvel Studios, and more importantly Disney, do not own those.<br />
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This goes back to Marvel's teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, back in the 90s. The same period that ultimately also resulted in the winding up and selling off of Marvel UK spurred the publisher to sell of rights to a number of characters, as they tried to keep the business afloat. I know it's a little hard to imagine now, but back then it was really that serious a situation.<br />
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Many of you may already have seen that there's a new Fantastic Four movie on the horizon. But don't expect there to be any tie-in comic books. Marvel have cancelled the Fantastic Four comic, and split up the team. Heck, The Human Torch is going to be joining a 'Uncanny Inhumans' title after Secret Wars is done.<br />
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The general belief seems to be that Marvel no longer want to make Comics for the properties they don't own in other Media. So Fantastic Four is out. The X-Men on the other hand? Well, the X-Men titles sell much, much higher units. That'd have a financial impact, which might not be quite so easy to justify. But splitting them off into their own pocket universe and continuity, I guess, the logic would be that X-Men fans would still have books to buy, while the rest of the publishing line wouldn't even need to acknowledge their ever having existed.<br />
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Now, I'd have to say that this would be a prospect which I would not exactly be happy about. Since his by-proxy absorption into the X-Men office in the late 1980s Captain Britain has been awkwardly allied with the X-Men brand. It was understandable at the time. Chris Claremont created Brian, and he wanted to bring those characters over to his very successful ongoing line of X-men comics. Excalibur was technically (though obviously thematically not) an X-Men title. Even Captain Britain & MI13 was published through the X-Office. There's history here.<br />
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In modern Marvel Captain Britain is an Avenger. He fits very naturally into a role which he has always filled, protector of both Marvel's Britain and its Multiverse. He's a true Marvel Universe property.<br />
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Twin sister Psylocke, on the other hand, may well have begun that way but became synonymous with the 90s X-Brand. Never absent from those frankly cringeworthy 'X-Men Swimsuit Specials' etc. Criminally misused. Ethnically blurred and confused. But sadly, that is where she has stayed.<br />
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If the X-Men are to be split off I honestly wouldn't want Cap to join them. Nor Meggan. Nor Pete Wisdom or any of the other British Excalibur characters. They have far more in common with mainstream Marvel than they ever did with X-Gene. They've always been a poor fit. They need to stay in mainstream Marvel. At all costs in my book.<br />
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This also leaves us with the distinct possibility that we could yet end up with one Braddock Twin in one universe, and one in another. And I personally think that this would be a huge waste. We don't get enough Braddock sibling team-ups these days, as it is.<br />
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Remember Avengers vs X-Men? One Twin on one side of the divide, as an Avenger. One on the other, as an X-man.<br />
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Surely you haven't forgotten how awesomely awkward that encounter was? When they clashed over that? Making full use of such a brilliant metaphor for the entire storyline itself?<br />
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Well, you'd be forgiven if you <i>have</i>. Because Marvel forgot to tell that story themselves.<br />
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Completely.<br />
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Instead we had Brian sitting in a hospital bed (in full costume no less) while Betsy went off and fought with Daredevil. For... some... reason.<br />
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Such an incredible wasted opportunity, that one.<br />
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Still, nothing is concrete yet. For all I know this is purely hyperbole and press bluster. I'll be keeping an eye on it, all the same. You can bet on that. :)<br />
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Until the next time.<br />
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Mark (Sword)<br />
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<br />Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-5358832474862948582015-03-28T15:09:00.000+00:002015-03-28T15:09:09.934+00:00A Captain Britain title will be part of Secret Wars. But not the Captain you might expect...So, I've been keeping tabs on all things Secret Wars, as they've been developing, over the past month. Mostly because I've been living in hope of some kind of evidence that Captain Britain, or any other UK connected character, would be making an appearance amongst the maelstrom of Marvel properties being smashed together, at the this: the End of the Marvel Universe.<br />
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And hyperbole aside, it really does still look like that is genuinely what is occurring. No feint. No fakery. A full reboot is still very much on the cards.<br />
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Up until this week however, things weren't really looking up in that regard.<br />
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As most of you are probably aware now Marvel <a href="http://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/03/18/33-marvel-comics-will-be-cancelled-for-secret-wars">will be cancelling </a>almost the entirety of their publishing line before Secret Wars begins (33 books in total). Some titles will be getting <a href="http://marvel.com/cards/48/secret_wars_last_days_checklist/all">a "Last Days" storyline </a>as they prepare for the end.<br />
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Which certainly, at this point, leaves Brian Braddock's status as a bit of an unknown quantity. I mean, for most of the last year he has been an Avenger, part of the new Illuminati on Hickman's New Avengers, alongside Iron Man, Reed Richards, The Beast, Doctor Strange, Namor, Black Bolt and the Black Panther, as they have tried desperately to work out a way of stopping the multiverse disintegrating. We now know much more of what has been causing that to happen, too.<br />
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Last month we also discovered what had befallen Brian, in losing his eye, and seemingly the rest of the Captain Britain Corps.<br />
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In New Avengers #30 it was revealed that this group called the 'Ivory Kings' (who are apparently tied to The Beyonders, the race responsible for the original 1980s 'Secret Wars') who have at least <i>in part</i> been responsible for some of what has damaged the structure of the Multiverse, were being investigated by the Captain Britain Corps.<br />
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Largely because they had started killing other Captains.<br />
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It was explained that after capturing one of them Saturnyne attempted to draw them out for a confrontation, by turning one of their own into a beacon.<br />
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It did not go well.<br />
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Now bear in mind that Captain Britain Corps are more or less legion. Sure Marvel have done a good job at wiping them out every 2-3 years over this past decade, so maybe the numbers are not quite as infinite as once they were. </div>
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But as of right now? They're all dead. </div>
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No matter how many Captains there were, there were far more Ivory Kings who turned up in Otherworld to take them on. It was a massacre.</div>
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The Corps, it's Captains, its structure. All dead.</div>
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All bar Brian.</div>
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Well, okay. That's not entirely true.</div>
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Spider UK has also survived it seems. If your reading the Spidey books right now, you'll know this.</div>
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But that is exactly what has happened. Brian was cast away by Saturnyne, before her own presumed demise, and has with him the secrets of the Starlight Citadel (and presumably how to recreate it, after the reboot). </div>
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As far as he knows is the last Captain alive. </div>
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And he lost an eye in the process.</div>
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It really sucks to Brian, right now.</div>
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A lot.</div>
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But as we know, New Avengers is getting cancelled when Secret Wars starts, alongside Jonathan Hickman's other Avengers title - 'Avengers'. </div>
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Marvel have teased this image, which I believe will be the final cover for both books divided across their covers:</div>
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Excellent artwork from the always marvelous Jim Cheung, there.<br />
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It pictures the final lineups for both titles in the foreground, and the first lineups for each title ghosted in the background.<br />
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Yes. Lovely artwork, but a real sense of finality.<br />
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Beyond this? We just don't know what will happen. And that is also part of the fun, of course. But I know that it's been niggling a few people that we haven't seen any direct evidence of Brian in Secret Wars teaser material.<br />
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You would presume that as part of the Illuminati Brian will appear in the main Secret Wars series (also being penned by Hickman). But nothing is a given. I'll patiently wait and see.<br />
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Many of the tie-in limited series for the Secret Wars event have now been unveiled. Marvel are separating these out into two unique brands:<br />
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<a href="http://marvel.com/cards/50/secret_wars_battleworld_checklist/all">Battleworld </a>and <a href="http://marvel.com/cards/54/secret_wars_warzones_checklist/all">War Zones</a>.<br />
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Please do check those two checklists out. Some of the books listed do genuinely sound like pretty good fun. Out of continuity, self-contained stories. But some interesting ideas and mash-ups going on.<br />
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They don't though, further the direct subject matter of this Blog. But it's oksy. This week, finally, something Secret Wars related did.<br />
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It's not what I expected, at all. But boy, do I think it will be a pleasant surprise for many long time followers of the blog.<br />
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Let me first say that it *isn't* the new All-New All-Different Avengers team (debuting through this year's Marvel Free Comic Book Day offering) which Marvel have been teasing for the past couple of months. They finally started to unveil the cast of that, this week and unfortunately no Marvel UK character is connected to it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgEakMlDkUrcsT3k-kjKkkqEWaSofvbbWmdslxxVNCfecECil4JGYAvPZsO2j3FZT07cZFhc4YUaYIiGRGmDMCvLlR1QpbaV6BFrDosihWqyH2rzGxgJGHX3TaGQmd-9dKtR6lQ8mU6BW/s1600/allnewalldifferentavengers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgEakMlDkUrcsT3k-kjKkkqEWaSofvbbWmdslxxVNCfecECil4JGYAvPZsO2j3FZT07cZFhc4YUaYIiGRGmDMCvLlR1QpbaV6BFrDosihWqyH2rzGxgJGHX3TaGQmd-9dKtR6lQ8mU6BW/s1600/allnewalldifferentavengers.jpg" height="321" width="640" /></a></div>
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But don't get me wrong. I will be buying into this team. it's such a damned interesting lineup not to. Pretty much all of the major creative changes for older characters and some newly introduced characters of the past few years, all in one place.<br />
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The Falcon as Captain America, the mystery woman who is currently Thor, the new Ms Marvel. A revived Vision.<br />
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Even despite the mild irritation of the new Nova being on board cannot sour the transition of Miles 'Ultimate Spider-man' Morales from the Ultimate Universe to mainstream Marvel. I want to see Miles succeed. I've read the guy since his debut, I've no intention of stopping now.<br />
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It is however, admittedly, another potential avenue closed for the purposes of this blog.<br />
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So it's a good job marvel announced a Secret Wars Captain Britain series isn't it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-L2z3wbBJKhUFigQPjXfv4b3L4elReF1fppjXsR_aQiITflOuEXepAdvkQZlYv4mCeXdmy36ZaDCagJi2zOIHN53B10Za8cxzE_3az9YfB6XgU4LNQSw9mCWFni1UOuDnu2YEb_Gu1k1n/s1600/Captain-Britain-and-the-Mighty-Defenders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-L2z3wbBJKhUFigQPjXfv4b3L4elReF1fppjXsR_aQiITflOuEXepAdvkQZlYv4mCeXdmy36ZaDCagJi2zOIHN53B10Za8cxzE_3az9YfB6XgU4LNQSw9mCWFni1UOuDnu2YEb_Gu1k1n/s1600/Captain-Britain-and-the-Mighty-Defenders.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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Introducing <b>Captain Britain and the Mighty Defenders</b>, by 2000 AD stalwart Al Ewing, and with art from definitive Captain Britain artist (and Marvel UK legend, frankly) Alan Davis.<br />
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A two issue limited series which pretty much came out of nowhere.<br />
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And yes, that is Faiza Hussain, wielding Excalibur, in the middle of that cover.<br />
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The book is, effectively, a gestalt title which merges Al Ewing's Mighty Avengers cast with elements of Captain Britain. Faiza will be joined by She-Hulk, Kid Rescue, White Tiger and Hobie Brown, as Ewing explores two of his past projects in one.<br />
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But where is Captain Britain, I hear you ask?<br />
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That's where it gets a bit complicated. Because as with many of these Secret Wars titles this one has come about purely by universes smashing together and merging.<br />
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How many of you read Al Ewing's Age of Ultron issue of Avengers Assemble?<br />
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I know it was almost 2 years ago now, but if you didn't (and can find a copy) you absolutely should. This issue, set in London, featured Brian, Faiza and the some new students from the Braddock Academy facing the hordes of Ultron alongside Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers).</div>
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Reading this story back in 2013 I'd genuinely hoped that Marvel would let Al Ewing have a proper crack at writing a Captain Britain or Marvel UK team book. Because the tone and general vibe of this book gave me that level of confidence that he could deliver.</div>
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And given that he actually killed Brian and Carol off, fighting Ultron back, and I still had plenty time for it, that should go some way to indicating the level of praise allocated here.</div>
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It was an Age of Ultron book, though. As with most of the tie-in stories, the tale was set in one of the many timelines which were then overwritten, through multiple attempts at time travel, in trying to stop Ultron taking control of Earth. Not, however, before Brian (knowing that he was going off to die) passed the title and role of 'Captain Britain' on to Faiza Hussain, to carry on in his stead, after his passing.</div>
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Seriously.</div>
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It's rare for somebody to actually write Brian in a way I find convincing, too. </div>
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So yes, for the briefest of time, Faiza *was* Captain Britain. And god knows if Excalibur chose her, no man can really question her of being worthy of that title! But, ultimately, it is considered only to have happened in what became an alternate Universe.</div>
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But this is Secret Wars. And if all those alternate universe are crashing into each other, and merging together, all bets are off.</div>
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Captain Faiza gets to be, once more.</div>
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So yes, sorry, if you were looking for Brian Braddock as Captain Britain here... your probably out of luck. The title Captain here is Faiza.</div>
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<i>But </i>if you enjoyed that story, and if you were a fan of Captain Britain & MI13, this book looks well worth some of your time. And with a creative team of Ewing and Davis? Come on. This book just screams to be a must-read for all fans of British Marvel.</div>
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Going forward of course?</div>
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Brian Braddock</div>
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Captain Faiza</div>
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Spider UK</div>
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If you're going to restart the Captain Britain Corps once All-New Marvel kicks off? That's not a bad place to start...</div>
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Until the next time.</div>
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Mark (Sword)</div>
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<br />Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-28374197880899376542015-02-08T19:04:00.002+00:002015-02-08T19:04:51.098+00:00More on Battleworld and Secret WarsSo, here we are again. Once more I'm here to talk to you about Marvel's upcoming Secret Wars and Battleworld.<br />
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Firstly, I'd like to thank for Marvel UK writer and editor John Freeman for cross-posting my original Secret Wars article <a href="http://downthetubes.net/?p=19762">over on Down the Tubes</a>. I've fielded a few questions about this via the comments here and via email. It seems that more than a few of agree with a number of my comments - in particular on the pricing policies at Marvel over the past few years. I'm not going to cover that again (although is refreshing to see that I've not been alone on that one).<br />
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What I did want to explore however, is the recent additions to Marvel's <a href="http://marvel.com/comics/events/323/secret_wars_2015">interactive Battleworld map</a>.<br />
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As I mentioned last time round when the Secret Wars event kicks off it appears that all of the multitude of alternate universes and timelines from the entirety of Marvel's history will be crunching together in one singular universe where elements of all of them will be forced to coexist at the same time. This 'Battleworld' does not have a lot in the way of actual continents. There's a territory around the North pole and an (as of yet) unexplained Wall separating the southern most region from one giant land mass, made up of dozens of different story-lines from the past, each standing as an independent country in its own right.<br />
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Marvel has been unveiling those Countries gradually. At my time of last posting the list was:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Dystopia</b>: Future Imperfect Hulk (The Maestro version of The Hulk)</li>
<li><b>Domain of Apocalypse</b>: The Age of Apocalypse (in which Charles Xavier's death in the past created a timeline where Apocalypse took over the entire of America and much of the World)</li>
<li><b>Technopolis</b>: Armor Wars Iron Man (in which other supervillains gained control of Iron Man's armour tech designs and used them against him)</li>
<li>Iron Fist's <b>K'un-Lun</b></li>
<li><b>Higher Avalon</b> which links to a profile of Captain Britain's history (and may plausibly what has become of Otherworld/Avalon with all the Universes smashing together).</li>
<li><b>Spider-Island</b> (in which the Jackal's scheme gave everybody in Manhattan spider-powers)</li>
<li><b>The Monarchy of M</b>: House of M (in which Mutants became the ruling class of the planet, with Magneto as their figurehead)</li>
<li><b>Sentinel Territories</b>: Days of Future Past (the future timeline in which the Sentinels all but eradicated all superhumans and placed humanity into concentration camps for what they believed to be its Own Good)</li>
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As of this past week Marvel have begun to reveal some more.</div>
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<ul>
<li><b>Egyptia</b>: Forever Yesterday (A timesliding story in which New Warriors villain The Sphinx created an alternate timeline where Ancient Egypt rule over the world right up to the 20th Century).</li>
<li><b>The Regency</b>: Which brandishes links to the now infamous One More Day storyline from Amazing Spider-man (in famous for removing/erasing the marriage of Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson).</li>
<li><b>New Quack City</b>: Which matches up with recently announced <a href="http://marvel.com/cards/37/a_flock_of_facts_things_to_know_about_howard_the_duck">new series for Howard the Duck</a>.</li>
<li><b>2099</b>: Literally what it says on the tin. A whole Country for the 1990s Marvel 2099 imprint of comics.</li>
<li><b>Hala Field</b>: Which bears the following message "Hero! Pilot! Avenger! Captain Marvel, Earth's Mightiest Hero with death-defying powers and an attitude to match, is back and launching headfirst into a new role - Squadron leader of the interstellar defense team, the Carol Corp!" Intriguing.</li>
<li><b>The Wastelands</b>: Wolverine: Old Man Logan (Mark Millar's tale of an aged and long since retired Wolverine as a survivor in a post-apocalypse America)</li>
<li><b>Perfection</b>: Age of Ultron (In which a time travelling Wolverine and Sue Storm journeyed across time trying to stop Ultron from constantly taking over the world. A story which is very likely to be an important part of what caused the Marvel Multiverse to collapse in the first place...)</li>
<li><b>New Xandar</b>: The Infinity Gauntlet. (That what the blurb links to, anyway. Xandar was of course the homeworld of the Nova Corps up until its destruction during the Annihilation storyline).</li>
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Another point which is worthy of note is that there is an area still labelled up as "Marvel 616" on the Battleworld map.</div>
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It resides in the territory simply labelled up as "Manhattan". </div>
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That yellow land mass within it labelled up as "Attilan" (which is the name of the home City of The Inhumans) and to its north that brown-coloured mass is labelled as "Marvel 1610" (the universal serial number for Marvel's 'Ultimate Universe').</div>
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Oh, and can you see that there's a little alcove underneath, like some kind of hollowed out chamber?</div>
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That's been labelled up as "Monster Metropolis".</div>
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Make of that what you will... :)</div>
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Of course Marvel have stated that as a result of all this some book s will be ending, and others beginning.</div>
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I think it likely that books such as the shortly to be released Spider-Gwen (about the alternate universe spider-powered Gwen Stacy, from the recent Spider-verse storyline in Amazing Spider-man) are likely to survive the new status quo. Likewise the aforementioned new Howard the Duck series.</div>
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But as for other new titles, well Marvel have announced a few tying into this event. </div>
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For example the <a href="http://marvel.com/news/comics/24011/secret_wars_correspondence_battleworld">Battleworld</a> anthology series will be a chance for several writers to use this new mish-mash world of properties to play out battle between characters who you would never have dreamed of even getting the opportunity to encounter each other. </div>
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Another anthology title, <a href="http://marvel.com/news/comics/24031/secret_wars_correspondence_secret_wars_journal">Secret Wars Journal</a>, will showcase shorter stories featuring lesser seen characters, from Misty Knight and Paladin, to the Night Nurse... and apparently, even Millie the Model. </div>
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No. </div>
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Really. </div>
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<div>
Peter David will be returning to the Universe which he helped sculpt in the 90s, in <a href="http://marvel.com/news/comics/24033/secret_wars_correspondence_2099">Secret Wars 2099</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Haden Blackman will be taking on writing Shang-chi in a new <a href="http://marvel.com/news/comics/24026/secret_wars_correspondence_master_of_kung_fu">Master of Kung Fu</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But perhaps the most unexpected series unveiled so far is the new Avengers team to be written by G. Willow Wilson and Marguerite K. Bennett. Because once Secret Wars begins the Avengers are no more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But there is... A-Force?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMqvWVzFSYTnGGY6S-RiuADhYJ6FI8ySdTLZ7082qZXptdyElcGGO2kYhdX6lWMt9aeOZgOpykf55SrBXXImJ8pq-9J5r2l8jV01GLmz34njUM_y7YY771drKOqkxCwSA7mvbmxDPavpI/s1600/a-force.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMqvWVzFSYTnGGY6S-RiuADhYJ6FI8ySdTLZ7082qZXptdyElcGGO2kYhdX6lWMt9aeOZgOpykf55SrBXXImJ8pq-9J5r2l8jV01GLmz34njUM_y7YY771drKOqkxCwSA7mvbmxDPavpI/s1600/a-force.jpg" height="640" width="419" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes. A-Force an entirely female superteam, bringing together 'Earth's Mightiest Heroines'. A lot of very recognisable faces on that cover. Medusa, Black Widow, Storm, Rogue, She-Hulk, Dazzler. Is that Captain Universe from Hickman's Avengers, above Nico Minoru from Runaways? A Phoenix costumed Jean Grey, too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We know very little more than that cover, right now. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Makes me wonder if this is what was intended by that "All-New All-Different Avengers" teaser a while back?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Who knows?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'll be keeping an eye on this event, obviously hoping to find some kind of Marvel UK ties along the way. I'll be particularly interested to find out if "King James' England" <i>is </i>related to Neil Gaiman's 1602.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next time we get another batch of reveals I'll post another update.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Until the next time...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mark</div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-65377994447767657242015-01-24T19:24:00.001+00:002015-01-24T19:24:12.126+00:00Secret Wars, Battleworld and It Came From Darkmoor...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bS_0u3wMaU69kyqNS0VPjgxQmyTy09DoO1IaAXpTbuk3I4aLOZiWSRsGciY7LkFwJ_osnh1K7sPBFKZz9yhQz-IeM2jUOgcAyKg1zZdDH7q0prpCEczzEmHZwZ26kfsVzmQ0O9InqpeS/s1600/secret+wars.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bS_0u3wMaU69kyqNS0VPjgxQmyTy09DoO1IaAXpTbuk3I4aLOZiWSRsGciY7LkFwJ_osnh1K7sPBFKZz9yhQz-IeM2jUOgcAyKg1zZdDH7q0prpCEczzEmHZwZ26kfsVzmQ0O9InqpeS/s1600/secret+wars.png" height="220" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So this might surprise a few of you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Back blogging again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While I've certainly still remained active on social media I fully hold my hands up to having let the lights at It Came From Darkmoor... dim out a little over the past year. It was never an intentional thing, but 2014 became a bit of an odd year for me. It was the first year since late 2011 that my health was good, that I was back to returning to my full duties at Work, and finally I got the chance to spend some actual time with friends and family doing the normal everyday things with them which chemotherapy patients don't get to do. So I made the absolute most of that. It was great.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a result though I did start to fall behind with the general comings and goings of the Marvel universe. It's not that they didn't interest me. Far from it. But time and (for the first time) money started to create a heck of a backlog of reading material on my night stand. To the point that it now doesn't all fit on my nightstand. Or the table in the spare room. Or a few other places.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Mrs Sword is a very understanding woman.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Back in the early 2000s, when I first got back into reading comics, it was an easy time for completionists. At that lower price point it was perfectly possible to pick up a good cross-section of the Marvel Universe on a monthly basis without incurring too much debt or the wrath of a loved one. Monthly books were <i>just that</i>, and there hadn't been any <i>full universe</i> crossover event for a few years. Back then I was able to both purchase and spend considerable time scrambling through that cross-section of titles, searching and hoping for vague connections to the Marvel UK characters and concepts of my youth. And I found some. They became the roots of this blog.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the past few years that has changed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2014 was a watershed moment for me. It was the first year that I realised that with so many of Marvel's titles now priced up to $3.99, and with almost every major 'Monthly' title being published twice per month, there was just no way that I could carry on reading what I had been.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To put it another way, to read the equivalent of what I was in the early 2000s today, would now require a monthly stake of £120-140 a month. I love comics. But that's a point beyond what I'm willing to pay <i>for </i>comics.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I have now quite judiciously cut back my monthly purchases to what is at this point a very small number of core titles. It was not an easy choice, but one I haven't really had much of a choice but to make. The downside of course is that when your buying less books, and you're already very behind on current events, running a blog which (at least in part) is designed to provide news on all things Marvel UK is a bit difficult.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm aware of things Marvel UK related going on, of course. I know that Captain Britain is an Avenger once more (and part of the universe's behind-the-scenes braintrust - The Illuminati - no less). I know that he appears to have lost an eye, and grown a beard, in the process. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9wIhhnih-cP-OwpkZfHf9lySxB1i6x2NhWUhKUMlwufSYEodux82cCuAiuvEbcadaK3b_PGwYXb9ujgOwmO72D2m9l8i2M-tpoahbuBJSfz2Jb1pUuivlQnteRzEp9d5F2o8Hn-s67sa/s1600/captain-britain-new-avengers-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9wIhhnih-cP-OwpkZfHf9lySxB1i6x2NhWUhKUMlwufSYEodux82cCuAiuvEbcadaK3b_PGwYXb9ujgOwmO72D2m9l8i2M-tpoahbuBJSfz2Jb1pUuivlQnteRzEp9d5F2o8Hn-s67sa/s1600/captain-britain-new-avengers-25.jpg" height="366" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Oh, and the Captain Britain Corps are all dead. Again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The details of this, unfortunately, are lost on me until I read the issues. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I know that The Black Knight is now part of some European Superteam initiative. That Spitfire and Union Jack are back on an Invaders title. That there's an alternate universe Spider-man out there who is actually a Braddock, and goes by the name of 'Spider-UK'.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But the combination of time and expense has thus far barred me from reading those appearances.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
C'est la vie.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, at the start of this week I made a decision. I sat down and decided that it was about time that I began to play catch up. There was a lot of continuity for me to get through, a ridiculously high stack of issues which needed to be off my nightstand, and so I figured that there really was no time like the present to begin.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And then on Tuesday Marvel somewhat dropped a bombshell.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.newsarama.com/23276-the-marvel-universe-is-ending.html"><b>They went and announced the end of the Marvel Universe.</b></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For real. No fakery involved. It's actually ending. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And not just the Universe. Not just Marvel 616. The entire Marvel Mulitiverse is ending, with the advent of this summer's big Event 'Secret Wars'.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I'm a guy (not that I actually recall having made the conscious decision to) who has pretty much made it a crusade to remind people that Marvel UK existed <i>and </i>that its stories happened <i>in continuity</i>. So when the publisher confirms that they intend to end the Marvel Universe it's only natural for that information to concern me a little.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because if the universe ends, so does its continuity.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And if the continuity ends then in whatever continuity replaces it things are going to change. While certain characters may still exist in whatever follows Secret Wars the history of this new universe could be very different. The stories, characters and former connections of Marvel UK to the greater whole may not even make it into this universe. A universe which Marvel are calling "All-New Marvel".</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's my concern.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This has all been a long time coming though. Ever since the start of the Marvel NOW initiative we've had hints that this could be coming. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the pages of The Avengers we discovered that the super-powered individuals of the 1980s New Universe line at Marvel were (from a story point of view) also supposed to have been created in Marvel's 616 universe. That they are actually supposed to be some part of every universe's natural defense system. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Only in the 616 universe that did not happen. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because the 616 universe was broken.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It seems that all those time travel misadventures, characters coming and going, staying and leaving has had an accumulative effect. Cable and Rachel Summers for example. Days of Future past or the Age of Apocalypse maybe. In trying to avert the Age of Ultron, with those multiple changes made to the timeline. Remember how in All-new X-Men The Beast brought the original 5 X-Men to the present? Trying to teach Scott Summers a lesson, but only to find that he could not send them back? It's broken. The very fibres of the universe are coming apart.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the pages of New Avengers Marvel's 'Illuminati' have been trying to prevent the 616 universe from being destroyed as other universes collide with it. They've managed so far, but it looks like that's not going to stop. Because as Tom Brevoort stated last week:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">"Once we hit </span><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Secret Wars #1</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, serif, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">, there is no Marvel Universe, Ultimate Universe, or any other. It's all Battleworld,"</span></blockquote>
<br />
Every universe will be crashing together and amalgamating themselves into only one. And they're calling it 'Battleworld'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczfQvLcCrTY4WI3uWDHKatMNntDeSl6bpzIG6pSiOVcTj_U9PpayfPPx0sabLQcAo086jFsQafEk6KBuvGEq35QVoLFImbBG9BAVxWbjO8uO2wi7TFGRed-LSLpS_M_35bX1YayyfhZJz/s1600/battleworld.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczfQvLcCrTY4WI3uWDHKatMNntDeSl6bpzIG6pSiOVcTj_U9PpayfPPx0sabLQcAo086jFsQafEk6KBuvGEq35QVoLFImbBG9BAVxWbjO8uO2wi7TFGRed-LSLpS_M_35bX1YayyfhZJz/s1600/battleworld.png" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you go over to Marvel's own website you will now find an <a href="http://marvel.com/comics/events/323/secret_wars_2015">interactive Battleworld map</a> (which disappointingly does not seem to work on iOS devices, but will work on windows PCs).<br />
<br />
It's well worth a look at, actually.<br />
<br />
Each territory on the map relates to a property or storyline from some part of Marvel's history. Kinda like Marvel's greatest hits, somehow existing in the same World, all at the same time.<br />
<br />
A lot of them have yet to be revealed (they have date stamps on them of when they will) but the confirmed properties so far include:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Future Imperfect Hulk</b> (The Maestro version of The Hulk)</li>
<li><b>The Age of Apocalypse </b>(in which Charles Xavier's death in the past created a timeline where Apocalypse took over the entire of America and much of the World)</li>
<li><b>Armor Wars Iron Man</b> (in which other supervillains gained control of Iron Man's armour tech designs and used them against him)</li>
<li><b>Iron Fist's K'un-Lun</b></li>
<li><b>Spider-Island</b> (in which the Jackal's scheme gave everybody in Manhattan spider-powers)</li>
<li><b>House of M</b> (in which Mutants became the ruling class of the planet, with Magneto as their figurehead)</li>
<li><b>Days of Future Past </b>(the future timeline in which the Sentinels all but eradicated all superhumans and placed humanity into concentration camps for what they believed to be its Own Good)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Oh, and one more:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IFbYOlsbJPvhoFefUp5scn9oeXEG27-Wgoq128meGlneDKKzAYF1HKb0qnJ2oZ4VpRqOT8nMd2bk7B8zRPWNE0OTVOAEiQ9L02FJ3KQtG5zg6O2rXz_qKSDxF9m4IExhFJ_9qjFM5j1o/s1600/higheravalon.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IFbYOlsbJPvhoFefUp5scn9oeXEG27-Wgoq128meGlneDKKzAYF1HKb0qnJ2oZ4VpRqOT8nMd2bk7B8zRPWNE0OTVOAEiQ9L02FJ3KQtG5zg6O2rXz_qKSDxF9m4IExhFJ_9qjFM5j1o/s1600/higheravalon.png" height="362" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, I have no idea what 'Higher Avalon' is intended to be. Possibly it's what has happened to Otherworld with all of the Universes colliding. That would be my best guess. Much like the Iron Fist entry on the map all this really does is direct the reader to a list of suggested past stories featuring the character, but it does (at least to my mind) highlight the intention that the character is going to be used in the course Secret Wars. And if they're going to fix this multiversal crush having the last surviving Captain Britain - a former Multiversal Guardian to boot - could come in rather handy.<br />
<br />
As I say I have certain misgivings over 'All-New Marvel'. The ultimate goal here would be a consolidation of properties and publishing lines into a more coherent and easier to approach universe of comics characters. Something which would be less impenetrable to new readers, and perhaps easier to sell in other mediums.<br />
<br />
And that is a noble goal. Genuinely.<br />
<br />
However, they do need to be careful about how they actually do it.<br />
<br />
Having read DC's universe reboot as the 'New 52' there are plenty lessons to be learnt. Parts of their new continuity really was a bit of a hot mess of contradictions and confusions. Some stories and creative runs of more recent times (mostly those crafted by Geoff Johns and Grant Morrison) very much still happened exactly as they'd been told. Other stories (even going years back) were dramatically altered or erased entirely. Which could have been fine, but not every writer seemed to have gotten the same memo. Contradictions naturally ensued.<br />
<br />
As long as All-New Marvel is approached intelligently it could be great. And obviously I live in great hope that not too much of Marvel UK gets wiped away in the process.<br />
<br />
Though I'm sure we could fudge Death's Head surviving if we needed to. Heck, the Transformers and Doctor Who universes aren't part of the Marvel multiverse. He survived visiting those. ;)<br />
<br />
As far as It Came From Darkmoor is concerned? Consider this my return from exile. With one caveat.<br />
<br />
In the past I posted updates on this site several times a week, as and when new stories broke, etc. I wouldn't be expecting that to be the case this year. If something HUGE turns up I'll try to cover it, but otherwise I'm aiming to have something new for you a couple of times a month. And hopefully something worthwhile.<br />
<br />
Long term readers will remember my Marvel UK A to Z series, which began a few years back only to be derailed when I lost my planning notes in our house move. Those never showed up again, but I've had several people recently asking about that feature. I think it's the one feature from the past 5 years of this blog that people seem to ask me about the most, and so I have decided to republish and continue this feature in the coming months, until its completion. It's a great way to showcase some of the lesser known properties and characters of Marvel UK. Regardless of what the future holds.<br />
<br />
As always you can keep up to date with my more regular prattlings and updates <a href="https://twitter.com/theswordisdrawn">on Twitter</a> and once a month you can cringe at the sound of my voice on the Comiconference section of the <a href="http://www.weeklygeekspeak.com/">Weekly Geek Speak podcast</a>.<br />
<br />
Until the next time (and I promise not to take quite so long)<br />
<br />
Mark 'The Sword' RobertsMark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-69864656400754918162014-04-13T17:07:00.001+01:002014-04-13T17:13:03.305+01:00A few Marvel UK Tidbits from YesteryearHello everyone.<br />
<br />
Many apologies for my recent disappearances from the interwebs. I heard talk of search parties. It's okay. I am alive a well. :)<br />
<br />
Long term followers of this Blog will know that it's been a difficult few years for me. 2011 and 2012 were both years of stepping back and being treated, 2013 proved to be the year of recovery and that has led to 2014 - the year of getting back on track. Over the past few years I've had to put a lot of things on the back burner, I've had to take a less proactive role in a lot of areas of my life. With this having changed somewhat in the past couple of months, as you can see, regular updates to this blog have suffered. Do not worry. It's not been abandoned.<br />
<br />
I feel greatly frustrated that it has impacted on my coverage of the final issues of Revolutionary War, because the Motormouth, Warheads and the final Omega issue were something very special indeed. The new status quo set up for several characters over those issues are things which I dearly hope get carried over into future projects.<br />
<br />
Oh! And while it's coming a little late for the warning, Dark Angel fans? If you've not been picking up Kieron Gillen's Iron Man series, then you most certainly should be. Shevaun Haldane has now joined that title's supporting cast, starting with the Issue #23.NOW - as the curious Marvel Now numbering has named it. A good new platform for the character.<br />
<br />
Revolutionary War has served to remind both readers and creators as to just what a buzz of creativity the early 90s were at Marvel UK. Over on the Make Mine Marvel UK Facebook group recently, one half of Revolutionary War's writing combo - Alan Cowsill - posted up a couple of images from what would have been Roid Rage #1. Roid Rage and Red Mist 20-20 were both advertised in Marvel UK titles in the latter days of the imprint. Two page painted adverts if I recall correctly. Sadly it never made it into print before the sell-off, but it was definitely intended to be a big story. If I understand correctly, from what I've managed to pick up over the years, the Super Soldiers title was going to play a large part in that and I believe there was even a set of painted artwork destined to be promotional trading cards for the event.<br />
<br />
Beyond that? Well, we've not really known very much.<br />
<br />
I hope Alan doesn't mind me posting these up, here. I've tweaked the contrast a little for clarity, but the artwork comes from Andrew Currie on pencils and Bryan Hitch on inks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCkkH68dFPoQJWbOlwIy04YupebA20pyiQLo8l3YGUavPOSV1x1EaZiR4NuIZ6QC4VfvY3zyuUYt6qMOW98V8jzPyEIbeSdoMMe_SkJm0TylUJriETgzEqBxzWmkGpECHn_bMAulQw_0F/s1600/Roid+Rage+%231+image+2+contrast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCkkH68dFPoQJWbOlwIy04YupebA20pyiQLo8l3YGUavPOSV1x1EaZiR4NuIZ6QC4VfvY3zyuUYt6qMOW98V8jzPyEIbeSdoMMe_SkJm0TylUJriETgzEqBxzWmkGpECHn_bMAulQw_0F/s1600/Roid+Rage+%231+image+2+contrast.png" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_671860619"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Interestingly, from that second image, Cowsill posted that "Rw trivia, it's also the first time Agent Keller appeared...he didn't last long though...". So he was always a planned character, even all those years ago...<br />
<br />
Marvel UK artwork from this period is of course somewhat hard to come by. A lot of it, tragically, ended up being trashed when the Marvel UK offices closed. It has been lost forever. However, in the same category of unpublished artwork John Freeman also recently posted up these couple of images from an unpublished Warheads story.<br />
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The artwork comes courtesy of 2000 AD's SMS (<a href="http://www.smuzz.org.uk/">Smuzz</a>). Freeman notes that "Just to note, we're now thinking that these two 'pages' are amalgams of incomplete art from the strip, now everyone has had sight of the script. Neither 'page' matches the script exactly. I've been pushing Smuzz's excellent work for years and at some point he sent me these two pages as samplers". </div>
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A third and final page of artwork was later added, with a name for the story as "Target Practice".</div>
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"There are amendments on the script that asked that the alien on this final page be Vorin, the leader of the Shadow Riders," says Freeman, "I suspect that, as I have never seen this page before today, this would have been a matter of me asking for the change when I'd seen the art!"</div>
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It would have been great to have SMS doing art for Marvel UK. He's probably best known for his work on 2000 AD's ABC Warriors. I definitely think he'd have been a good fit for the tone of the series.</div>
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But perhaps the most interesting thing to have come from this stroll back through Marvel UK documents is that John Freeman has shared up some internal notes from 1993, on future plans for Overkill magazine. </div>
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US readers - For those of you unaware Overkill magazine was a UK market anthology series which printed choice sections of what was printed in the US market books (along with the odd bit of exclusive material) in a fashion not entirely dissimilar to, say, that of 2000 AD. </div>
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"(The document)outlines some of the unpublished comic strips planned for Overkill," says Freeman, "and my thoughts on the future of some of the company’s title such as Motormouth and Warheads, in January 1993, when I was in the process of leaving the company to take up life as a freelancer. The company was absorbed by Panini UK in 1995 and is no longer in business.</div>
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The hand-written notes re<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">fer to “Paul” – Paul Neary, Marvel UK’s Editorial Director; and editors Tim Quinn, Jacqui Papp and Bambos Georgiou."</span><br />
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And there are a number of interesting details within. Such as this, for example. Highlighted below:<br />
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How interesting is that? A US market book fronted by DH II, to collect the strips which the US market missed.<br />
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Now I can recall in the Marvel UK 'Bodycount' freebie from around that time that there was definitely some painted dinosaur artwork from a future project showcased there. I wonder if that was from the same piece?<br />
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But one of the most interesting parts of the document refers to two creators who would certainly play a role in shaping British characters for mainstream US Marvel at a later point.<br />
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Warren Ellis would later take the reins of Excalibur at Marvel and go on to create the character of Pete Wisdom - who is now among the most prominent British characters out there and active in Marvel Comics. Paul Cornell of course would also go on to write Pete Wisdom, as in integral part of his Captain Britain & MI13 series. Small world.<br />
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I'd have loved to have seen this. The MYS-TECH board were always intriguing characters, to me. There were so many possibilities in expanding their history and individual character. An organisation capable of rivaling The Hellfire Club with their clandestine operations around the world (and for a much larger chunk of history, at that).<br />
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For those who are interested in reading more, John has shared the document up here: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/217618955/Marvel-UK-Comics-Pending-01-1993">http://www.scribd.com/doc/217618955/Marvel-UK-Comics-Pending-01-1993</a><br />
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I'd also recommend looking over the ongoing list which John has been keeping of <a href="http://downthetubes.net/?page_id=10749">all Marvel UK projects, past and new</a>, over at his own site. It really is a comprehensive list, both of published titles and the many projects with never saw the light of day.<br />
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Well, that's it for now folks. Hope that's proven to be of interest to you.<br />
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Until we meet again... (and hopefully it won't take as long next time)<br />
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Mark (Sword)Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-17559715749106880622014-03-11T21:49:00.004+00:002014-03-11T21:49:42.733+00:00Out this Week - Revolutionary War: Motormouth and Avengers UndercoverWell, here we are into the third month of Revolutionary War already. This week sees the turn of Harley Davis, know better to many as 'Motormouth'. This time out the writer and artist pairing of Glenn Dakin and Ronan Cliquet will be taking on the reins, with Mark Brooks on the lead cover, and a variant cover by Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire:<div>
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There is 3 page preview <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=20621">up at Comic Book Resources</a>, for the curious, and this is probably one of the books I've been most curious <i>about</i>. As we saw in the Alpha issue Harley's former partner-in-crime Killpower was separated from the other UK heroes some time ago, lost into an alternate dimension at the Battle of London Bridge. Furthermore, as was mentioned in the solicits, apparently Harley is a... mum now??</div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY
WAR: MOTORMOUTH #1</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.glenndakin.com/">GLENN DAKIN</a> (W) • <a href="http://ronanhq.blogspot.co.uk/">RONAN CLIQUET</a> (A)<br />Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />Variant Cover By <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declan_Shalvey">DECLAN SHALVEY</a><br />• When
Mys-Tech returns and threatens the safety of Great Britain, MI:13 need to try to
convince MOTORMOUTH to come out of retirement.<br />• Harley Davis’ days of being
a hero are over, though. Now, her day job is being the mother of her two
children. Until an explosive Mys-Tech attack calls her out of retirement!<br />•
Be there as Motormouth gets her mojo back!</div>
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32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99 </div>
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Two kids. I wonder who the father is. </div>
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The story also picks up directly from where the Alpha issue left off for SHIELD Agent Keller and Col Tigon Liger of The Warheads. Both of whom are trying to locate Harley - who has always had a knack for not being found when she doesn't want to be...</div>
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I just love the darker tone this preview seems to have compared next to some of the other recent Revolutionary War issues. It's clear that Harley is in a pretty bleak place, right now. In her original Marvel UK stories she was always the mouthy teenager who the world could never bring down. Always cheerful. Frequently very funny. I suppose in some kind of messed up way Motormouth was the nearest Marvel UK had to a Kitty Pryde figure in the imprint years. And while they are quite different characters, seeing the ever positive Harley Davis broken by the real world has a similar powerful effect to it as the X-Men trend of putting Kitty in peril. People sympathise with her. She's an easy character for the reader to connect with.</div>
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This is exactly the kind of contrast I'd been hoping we'd see in Revolutionary War - how the intervening years have effected our forgotten heroes. I really look forward to it.</div>
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In connection with Motormouth, this week's issue has also reminded former Marvel UK editor John Freeman of his time editing the character. He's been<a href="http://downthetubes.net/?p=14509"> talking about it over at Down The Tubes.</a> You should check that out.</div>
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This week see the launch of another new series at Marvel, with ties to the British side of universe. For all of you who read and enjoyed Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker's <b>Avengers Arena </b>series, you'll want to pick up the continuation of that story. The name has changed, but the creative team and the surviving cast (including former students from 'Braddock Academy') are all still here in the new series <b>Avengers Undercover</b>.</div>
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What's the premise this time?</div>
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Well, here's the solicit blurb:</div>
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WHEN TEEN HEROES INFILTRATE THE MASTERS OF EVIL, WHO WILL BREAK BAD?<br />Damaged by their experience in Murder World, five conflicted young superhumans go rogue and infiltrate the Masters of Evil, planning to bring the Avengers’ rivals down from within. But the longer the teens spend undercover, the more they descend into darkness, and as they start to build relationships with these multi-layered criminals, the line between good and evil blurs. What will happen first…joining the Masters for real, or getting exposed and killed? If you thought Murder World was dangerous, just wait until “Most Promising New Talent” Harvey award-winner Dennis Hopeless and acclaimed artist Kev Walker surround you with Evil!</blockquote>
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Avengers Arena has been one of the rare gems of Marvel's recent history, which while some might only see tenuously connected to Marvel's Britain I've certainly enjoyed a lot. The first run is a hard act to follow, but it's great to see the Hopeless/Walker pairing got to continue into a second run. They do great work together.</div>
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Both <b>Revolutionary War: Motormouth</b> and <b>Avengers Undercover</b> are out tomorrow - Wednesday 12th March.</div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-29299849368553084202014-02-25T21:48:00.002+00:002014-02-25T21:48:47.436+00:00Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon - Some Thoughts & Theories Before I start, a reminder. While this is a summary for Chapter 3 (the greatest of apologies), Chapter 5 Revolutionary War: Super Soldiers is now coming out this Wednesday (26th February 2014), courtesy of Rob Williams and Brent Anderson. This one has a really interesting premise, so I would really recommend checking it out. A four page preview (which should cover that premise very well indeed) is <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=20390">up at Comic Book Resources.</a><br />
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Okay, back to the task at hand. So, albeit unavoidably delayed by a few weeks, here is my summary for the third Chapter of Revolutionary War - Knights of Pendragon.<br />
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This third chapter, written by Rob Williams, was originally solicited as having art supplied by Simon Coleby. This changed. The art for the issue is actually by Will Sliney. Though let me be absolutely clear when I say that it does not suffer at all for it. Sliney's artwork, with colours by Veronica Gandini, looks genuinely great. You'll see a few examples throughout this article.<br />
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This issue also had a variant cover (<a href="http://itcamefromdarkmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/revolutionary-war-knights-of-pendragon.html">as can be seen here</a>) supplied by 'Edwards, Pallot & Redmond'. It featured the second volume costume renditions of Adam Crown and Francesca Grace, alongside a modern Union Jack. It should, however, be noted that neither Adam nor Grace appear in this issue. It's purely a tribute cover.<br />
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Sorry about that. But a nice nod to the past, all the same. :)<br />
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Now we here at It Came From Darkmoor are huge fans of Knight of Pendragon. In terms of Marvel UK history it's a damned important book. Without its success we probably would not have had the 90s Imprint which spawned the majority of characters which are appearing in Revolutionary War. This was the precursor to the UK office really being taken seriously as an entity in its own right.<br />
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Knights of Pendragon was a standout book. It was still Marvel Comics' characters, but they were appearing in what was at its base a<i> </i>high concept myth and legend story, and with a decidedly different (and much darker) tone for those characters than was usually explored in their US appearances. While we're not quite talking Vertigo comics levels of 'mature reading' this was nevertheless a series which showed its readers things such as scenes of serial killers cutting motifs out of the flesh of their victims, showed the discovery of mutilated body parts turning up packing crates, and somewhat controversially even showed a costumed hero seemingly beating a non-powered character to a bloody pulp - beating him quite literally to within an inch of his life.<br />
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It was never gratuitous, but Knights of Pendragon was certainly a little more mature in its themes and content, that's for sure. It set a standard back in 1990. It <i>became </i>the standard by which Marvel UK went forward.<br />
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Understandably, to this day it has some very dedicated fans on the back of that. It even has <a href="http://www.aric-dacia.com/pendragons/pendragons_center.htm">a fan fiction community</a> who continued writing Pendragons stories online.<br />
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So yes. There's a certain tone which many readers expect from a title bearing the Pendragon name. For those readers the more light-hearted tone of Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon was not entirely to their personal tastes.<br />
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I got emails. And tweets. They were not happy ones.<br />
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I personally enjoyed the issue. If I had one grumble it would be that it did seem a little rushed to its conclusion, given some of the excellent concepts it touched upon. But I did enjoy it. I can however, understand where they are coming from. I want to draw a line under that and move on. But yes, guys, I heard you. I get where you're coming from.<br />
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I'm going to be looking at this issue objectively, and I hope that a few weeks on you might also think about a few of the things I'm going to be highlighting here, and give the book a second chance.<br />
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Okay, so with that in mind (and the issue as a whole) here are my Thoughts and Theories...<br />
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<b>So what's the story about?</b><br />
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Well, it seems that long time Pendragons foe the Omni-Corporation are out and about again. This time they're Fracking in the Lake District. And yes. I did say 'Fracking'. As in hydraulic fracking for gas and petroleum, and not the pseudo-swearing used by the likes of 2000 AD or Battlestar Galactica. :)<br />
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<b>Omni? Weren't they a front for Mys-Tech?</b><br />
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A subsidiary company of, yes. While in the original Pendragons run Omni were an evil multinational company (who just happened to be a front for an evil species known as 'The Bane') it was established at the start of the second volume of Knights of Pendragon that Omni were in fact a subsidiary company of Mys-Tech.<br />
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<b>So when they 'say' they're fracking there's more to it, right?</b><br />
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What do you think? :) But we'll get to that...<br />
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<b>So no Adam Crown, and no Grace? Which other Pendragons appear?</b><br />
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Well, maybe I should let them introduce themselves...<br />
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First up:<br />
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Both Dai and Kate were original members of the team during it's first run. All of the above is true. And yes, since we last saw Dai (way back in Paul Cornell's Wisdom MAX series) he has once again become possessed by the spirit of Arthurian Knight Sir Gawain, who occasionally channels his way into Dai's body to help or hinder him, depending on the occasion.<br />
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Something like that, for instance. Kate's been researching, and with Gawain's guidance they've realised that the position of Omni's fracking and that of an old Mys-Tech underground lab appear to have a little too much in common for it to be a coincidence....</div>
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We also have:</div>
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<b>Wait! Pete Wisdom wasn't a Pendragon. He'd not even debuted back then.</b><br />
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Correct.<br />
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But after the events of Revolutionary War: Alpha Captain Britain is now MIA, and with the dire need of a Powerhouse British Hero being a <i>thing</i>, Wisdom and Union Jack are off to reacquaint themselves with another one...<br />
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Union Jack was a Pendragon in both previous runs of the original series. Although thankfully his modern look is used here, rather than his appearance from the last Pendragons run...<br />
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Or the 'Union Juggernaut' as many fans have dubbed him...<br />
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<b>But didn't he appear in that costume in the flashback in the Alpha issue?</b><br />
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Um... erm...</div>
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Moving on!</div>
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<b>So which other British hero are they searching for?</b></div>
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Well, that would be Peter Hunter - 'Albion' the costumed hero of the trenches of World War One.</div>
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<b>Ah, yes! Because he appeared in that Un-Earth vision back in the Alpha issue.</b></div>
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He did indeed.</div>
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Appearing much as he used to in the first volume of Knights of Pendragon. The old school teacher who doesn't let his students know that he used to be a hero...<br />
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<b>So what's he been up to since last we saw him?</b></div>
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Well it looks like Albion has, at least for some while, been residing in the The Green Chapel, in Avalon.</div>
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<b>The <i>what </i>in the <i>where </i>now?</b></div>
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Sorry... let me explain.</div>
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The previous incarnation of the Knights of Pendragon were always based out of a structure called the Green Chapel. </div>
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The Green Chapel stands in the region of Otherworld known as Avalon. </div>
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It's also the home of the Pendragon's mentor, known only as The Green Knight.</div>
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The Green Knight is probably not its original name. I don't think <i>anybody </i>knows what its original name actually is, if it even had one at all. But it takes its name from the Arthurian legend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain_and_the_Green_Knight">"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"</a> in which Sir Gawain is tricked into a challenge with an opponent who he cannot beat, even having removed his opponent's head.</div>
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In Knights of Pendragon, though, the Green Knight is a rather complicated entity, which strives only to maintain the balance of nature in the world. When a threat arises to endanger the natural order, across history, the Green Knight has transformed men and women into its champions, to go out into the world and restore the balance. Hundreds across history. In the space of the 2 Knights of Pendragon series he has chosen ordinary men and women like Dai and Kate, but also existing Marvel heroes including Union Jack, Black Panther, Captain Britain, The Black Knight and Iron Man.</div>
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This is, to me, what has always made Knights of Pendragon a stand out, untapped, resource at Marvel. With ties to so many properties, and such a strong concept as the one above, leaving it untouched for so long is such a bizarre move, in my book.</div>
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But, anyway... Avalon and Otherworld. </div>
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It's important to understand that the landscape of Otherworld, which is probably most closely associated with Captain Britain stories, is always subject to a certain amount of physical change. This is because it is a whole dimension of space which is tied to (and shaped by) the people of Marvel's Britain. Their sense of what is 'British' is what effects how the landscape appears.</div>
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Now in the past Marvel has often shown us glimpses of Otherworld as being this kinda hokey 'Ye Olde England' theme park vision of Britain. Castles, Bowman, Robin Hood, Knights, Chivalry... terrible Olde Worlde dialogue.</div>
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Yeah. That.</div>
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In more recent times though we've had stories such as Journey into Mystery's 'Manchester Gods' arc, injecting a sledgehammer of industrialisation into the landscape.</div>
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Things have been changing in the consciousness of Marvel's Britons - and its no different here. Where once was idyllic and filled with greenery, a certain amount of globalisation has began to creep in.</div>
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<b>Ah. Yes. That's a <i>little </i>bit different.</b></div>
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I really like the concept here. These are the kind of ideas which I've been asking to be explored at Marvel, for years. British identity has changed such an incredible amount since the 1970s, and here we have a landscape which is simply perfect for producing a commentary on all of that through clever storytelling.</div>
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But this being a 'British Thing' it just hasn't been. </div>
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I can't help but think if Otherworld was as a dimension based upon the American psyche we'd be getting that regularly explored. </div>
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As it is. We don't. Sadly.</div>
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Anyway, this cultural invasion has permeated into the very fibres of Avalon. Of the Green Knight...</div>
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Even Peter Hunter, trapped between screens, in an endless cycle of daytime television...</div>
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<b>Wait! Albion wasn't bald in the Un-Earth Vision! What's going on??</b></div>
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You really don't miss a trick, do you? An Art error, maybe? Or in some way an added effect of what's happening around Albion. Who can say? I mean the last time we saw Albion in the 90s he was in a rejuvenated body again. Maybe that is what has caused him to age? </div>
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It doesn't match, no. Which is a shame, but not world shattering.</div>
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<b>So, back to the plot? Please tell me Fracking isn't the real enemy?</b> </div>
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Well, fracking is probably <i>always </i>the real enemy. :) But no. Mys-Tech intentionally had the area mined to unleash something, previously prepared, upon the world. </div>
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<b>Well? What was it?</b></div>
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<b>...</b></div>
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<b>...</b></div>
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<b>Okay...</b></div>
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<b>I was not prepared for that.</b></div>
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How many people are ever truly prepared for Knights of the Zombie Round Table?</div>
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<b>A valid question.</b></div>
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Isn't it.</div>
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<b>Are they the <i>real </i>Knights of the Round table... as Zombies?</b></div>
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Possibly. It's a little unclear. They certainly seem to believe they are. They even have a Zombie Excalibur.</div>
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<b>Oh, good grief...</b></div>
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:)</div>
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This is just one of those big, dumb, larger than life concepts which you can't help <i>but </i>enjoy. It's light-hearted silliness, but it's fun. My only grumble is that the knights keep on using the word "Briton" - meaning a person of Britain - as if they think it's just some kind of Ye Olde English term for 'Britain'.</div>
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<b>That really <i>is </i>odd. Does it happen a lot?</b></div>
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Just a little...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0St4Jnonr9D902ZOsBHCTWkC3ZZN3JQPO8dDw31Lf-IbWAPcQEgNUSy651eXaSa_Sy6H7EDlRJfAw3GLpUUaMyVfC_RZ7b1nFveLvm3rqdJ0gjad1Psutw-zOPiP-q4s5LOLU9I7heC7/s1600/briton0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0St4Jnonr9D902ZOsBHCTWkC3ZZN3JQPO8dDw31Lf-IbWAPcQEgNUSy651eXaSa_Sy6H7EDlRJfAw3GLpUUaMyVfC_RZ7b1nFveLvm3rqdJ0gjad1Psutw-zOPiP-q4s5LOLU9I7heC7/s1600/briton0.png" height="190" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>What the hell!? The mean 'Britain,' right?</b></div>
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I would assume so. It's all very odd. It would be like calling the USA the 'United States of Ameri<b>can</b>'. </div>
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The thing is, I can only assume this is a truly weird editorial or lettering muck up. I mean the writer, Rob Williams, is British. He'd know the difference. </div>
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Minor mistakes, such as when the term 'Ley Line' is incorrectly spelled as "Lay Line" in that first panel? Fine. Typo. That's okay. But this is a frequently repeated term being used completely incorrectly. It becomes very jarring. </div>
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<b>So I notice Sir Gawain appears on the cover of this issue...?</b></div>
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He does.</div>
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<b>But if he's <i>inside </i>Dai Thomas, how does that work?</b></div>
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Well, back in the original series, Gawain's spirit found it's way into Dai and slowly began to change him. From the out of shape, chain smoking copper of Scotland Yard...</div>
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Very quickly into a much leaner individual...</div>
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(Obviously the guy on the left. Not Captain Britain)</div>
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...the longer Gawain's spirit stayed in him. But it was still more like a possession. Gawain's memories in Dai's head. Physical tweaks rather than an actual change.</div>
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In this issue that kinda changed.</div>
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Here Dai is shown to physically transform into Sir Gawain. Off camera, so to speak, but a physical change nonetheless. Where exactly the armour and sword actually comes from, I'm unsure. I'd imagine this approach was taken because it's far quicker and easier to illustrate this way than try to explain Gawain directing Dai's actions. Far easier to display to new readers. But nevertheless I can understand why it's rubbed some readers up the wrong way. </div>
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So yes, that's why a filly armoured Gawain appears as he does on the cover. Not an android. Not a ghost. The real deal. Maybe something to explore another day, in another series. It's a little odd, but if we can buy into the logic that the Green Knight can de-age Peter Hunter is Dai transforming int Gawain really that far a stretch?</div>
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<b>So Albion <i>does </i>get de-aged?</b></div>
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Oh. Yes. Sorry. Probably aught to have mentioned that.</div>
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<b>Okay, maybe the Zombie Excalibur thing <i>is </i>kinda funny...</b></div>
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Yeah. It made me laugh.</div>
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And it is great to see Albion back in action. My only grumble is that it actually only lasts 4 panels. We don't really get to see who takes Hunter down. Or how. He's briefly visible in the background, seemingly fighting back, and then he's down and carried off.</div>
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<b>That's a bit abrupt.</b></div>
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It really is.</div>
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And just like that Mys-Tech have their hands on one more hero. That's three now. Captain Britain, Dark Angel, and now Albion.</div>
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<b>Wait, did they just mention The Bane??</b></div>
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Spotted that, eh?</div>
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Yes. The Bane. Original adversaries of the Pendragons. Certainly the adversaries of The Green Knight.</div>
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These guys... </div>
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No signs of The Red Lord, though it's possible that Albion is referring to 'him' when the Zombie Knights begin to stir. The Zombie Knights themselves mention serving The Bane several times, although we don't actually see <i>them </i>in panel.</div>
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It does make me wonder if they were originally planned to play a more active role in this story. </div>
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<b>So how does the issue get resolved?</b></div>
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Well, that would be the Green Knight. Sort of. </div>
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<b>Sort of?</b></div>
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Sort of. Just not as... we know him.</div>
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You see with Albion kidnapped, what remains of the Pendragons are really up against it. Overrun. By Arthurian Zombies.</div>
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Which is when Pete Wisdom tries a risky play. Zombie Excalibur's still lying around to hand and with the Green Knight grown over by bracken he decides to try and... wake it up. By introducing one to the other. </div>
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The result is a melding of old and new.</div>
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Meet "G Knight".</div>
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<b>Meet <i>who</i>, now?</b></div>
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"G KNIGHT".</div>
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All the magic, heart and soul, of an Old God repackaged in the form of modern Britain. And what better typifies modern Britain than the form of a giant Olympian Athlete treading zombies into the dirt.</div>
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In the likeness of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Farah">British double Olympic Gold medalist, Mo Farah</a>.</div>
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You know what's really odd here? I honestly would have thought that to be a fairly obvious likeness. I mean Farah was such a huge personality of the 2012 Olympics, right? Yet I've seen several posters on forums confused by this one. Granted, mostly American readers, but I was very surprised that they wouldn't have been aware of who Mo Farah is. I mean, I'm British (funnily enough), but I know what guys like Michael Phelps look like, for example. I was quite surprised by that.</div>
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Anyway, I know that this one upset a few people. While they conceded that the idea was a pretty clever one, they felt that this transformation in some way belittled the Knights of Pendragon concept. Or to some degree, even if unintentionally, that it sent it up.</div>
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Again, I can kind of understand how some might feel that way, but I honestly wouldn't feel too aggrieved. Clearly no offense was intended, here. And think about the transitory nature of Otherworld. The Green Knight has assumed this form specifically for this situation. Where a giant running shoe was the quickest way to resolve things. He can assume many forms. He has before, and will again. Yes, it's for comic effect here. But it's a joke which makes use of a knowledge of the series. I don't think that it sends it up. There is respect here.</div>
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All in all, granted, in comparison to the Alpha or Dark Angel issues of Revolutionary War this one does read more like an interlude than a crucial part of the story. But there are some really strong elements to this issue. From ongoing gags like Pete Wisdom's Prog Rock references and Dai's Dylan Thomas quotes, to the overall concepts of the modern world encroaching on the British psyche. For me personally, my only major grumble is that concept alone could have spawn a mini series worthy of exploration in its own right. There's not enough space to explore it in a single issue. Nor is there really space to explore a whole new Knights of Pendragon status quo - which I'm sure many readers would love to read, but wasn't really ever going to be on the cards in a single issue. </div>
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I do find myself hoping though, as was also the case with Journey into Mystery's 'Manchester Gods', that we do at some point get some kind of peaceful synthesis for Otherworld. Here again we see the old torn up an replaced with elements of the new. But this is Britain. It is both old and new. There's no reason why both can't co-exist, as an overview.</div>
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But, yes. That too is a story for another day. </div>
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As it is, this issue has moved one more important piece into Mys-Tech hands. And Albion makes three...</div>
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Well, we assume three. </div>
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If that's where Death's Head II was taking Captain Britain. </div>
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More of that in the Death's Head issue. Which should still be available, and which I would definitely recommend you track down if you missed it. It's something rather special.</div>
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I'll have a summary for that up in the next week. And again, apologies for the delays with the site, of late. I'm working hard to catch up when I get a moment. </div>
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In the meantime, Revolutionary War: Super Soldiers is out on Wednesday. Joseph 'Invincible' Hauer was in that Un-Earth vision, as well... </div>
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I think we can see where that might be going. ;)</div>
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Until the next time.</div>
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Mark</div>
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(Sword)</div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-68364816456309405492014-02-11T20:58:00.001+00:002014-02-11T20:58:22.100+00:00Out Tomorrow: Revolutionary War - Death's Head IIHi guys.<br />
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Just a quick post to remind you that tomorrow (12th January 2014) sees the release of the fourth Chapter of Revolutionary War. This time it's Death's Head II's turn, courtesy of Andy Lanning, Alan Cowsill and Nick Roche.<br />
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If you're interested the cover looks like this:<br />
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With a truly wonderful variant cover courtesy of DH II's co-creator Liam Sharp.</div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY
WAR: DEATH'S HEAD II #1</strong></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Lanning" target="_blank">ANDY LANNING</a>
& <a href="http://www.alancowsill.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">ALAN
COWSILL</a> (W) • <a href="http://nickroche.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">NICK
ROCHE</a> (A)</div>
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Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK
BROOKS</a><br />Variant Cover by <a href="http://www.liam-sharp.com/" target="_blank">LIAM SHARP</a><br />Part 4 of "Revolutionary War"<br />• The
long-awaited return of DEATH'S HEAD -- one of the biggest hits of the original
Marvel UK!<br />• Death's Head! Death's Head II! On an adventure together for the
first time EVER!<br />• What threat could be grave enough to bring these two
heroes together from across time? How about the villainous Mys-Tech organization
resurfacing with an army?!<br />32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ ...$3.99</div>
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There's a 3 page<a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=20191"> preview up at comic book resources</a>. In which we see Captain Britain being returned 'home' of sorts, to the Darkmoor Research Centre from Captain Britain #1. This issue has a number of promising factors in play, not least of which being BOTH Death's Heads.</div>
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So, go out and grab it! :)</div>
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And for the astute among you, yes, I know we're missing a Chapter 3 Summary. It's coming...</div>
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In the meanwhile enjoy this page from tomorrow's issue.</div>
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<span id="goog_1106824650"></span><span id="goog_1106824651"><br /></span>Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-4201189220096631212014-01-26T10:00:00.000+00:002014-01-26T10:00:01.883+00:00Revolutionary War: Dark Angel - Some Thoughts & Theories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys.<br />
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Other pursuits have delayed me getting this article out this week. My Bad, but it's finally here. A few days ahead of the third chapter in the story, Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon. I've <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=19973">seen the preview</a>. And that is looking like something rather special. But before it arrives, let's take a moment to catch up on the previous issue. Here are few thoughts and theories on Chapter Two.<br />
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Right. So here we are, again. This time courtesy of Kieron Gillen and Dietrich Smith - Revolutionary War: Dark Angel. And I'll be honest, while the last issue set the quality bar pretty high I'm glad to say that this one very neatly matched it. Not just through serving as a continuation of the story, but also as an individual issue in its own right.<br />
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Kieron Gillen has built somewhat of a reputation over recent years, for telling some intricate and rather clever stories at Marvel, involving magic, myth and legend, with a strong internal logic and a central message behind them. Firstly on Thor, but in particular in telling Kid Loki's story on Journey into Mystery. Anybody who read the 'Manchester Gods' arc of that story (which featured Captain Britain and focused on the logical application of the mechanics of Otherworld) will know what I mean.<br />
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I'm very glad to say that he delivers once again .<br />
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I was really impressed by Dietrich Smith's artwork too. I'll be honest, before seeing his name in the solicits and looking him up I knew pretty much nothing about him. I see that he's mostly done bits and bobs of indie work, and worked on the Battlestar Galactica comic for Dynamite, but there wasn't an awful lot to go on. His artwork here fits the tone of both the character, setting and story incredibly well. It reminds me a little of Chris Samnee's art on books like Thor: The Mighty Avenger. The art may initially look rather uncomplicated at a glance, but it actually has an awful lot of detail to it. Ruth Redmond's colours compliment the art work very well. They keep it looking very clean, but give it depth where it matters - such as the outlines of energy pulses and portals.<br />
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Really good stuff.<br />
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But what does the issue offer in way of story, I hear you ask. Well, here are a few little thoughts and theories...<br />
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<b>So Dark Angel survived the last issue, then?</b><br />
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Yes, she did. Whatever electrocuted her (and I'd say Death's Head II is a strong contender for 'culprit' there) appears to have done little more than render her unconscious. She awakes in this issue to find herself on the floor of the same room she was in at the end of Revolutionary War: Alpha.<br />
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<b>Who the hell is 'Shevaun Hadley'?!?</b><br />
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You read the primer page, didn't you?<br />
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No. Shevaun has not changed her name. Nor has she (at least that we know of) had some kind of off-panel marriage to Spandau Ballet's <i>Tony </i>Hadley. It's 'Haldane'. Which is how it correctly appears throughout the rest of the issue. This is thankfully just an editorial slip up. :)</div>
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<b>So what <i>about </i>Captain Britain and Death's Head II???</b><br />
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Patience, reader. They are long gone, it seems. But the means of their exiting the scene appears fairly clear.<br />
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I'm sure we'll return to them in the Death's Head issue...</div>
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<b>Meet Doris - Darkmoor resident, reader of tea leaves and casual magician.</b></div>
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Yes. She's new. It would be best to describe her as a bit of a local busy-body, with a very wry sense of humour and a relaxed attitude.</div>
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A magician... 'of sorts'. I mean we don't actually see her doing any magic per se, in this issue. It certainly sounds as if she owns a shop which caters to that, but in the practice of it I don't think we can really say that this counts...</div>
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Effective though a shotgun is... :)</div>
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Doris is a welcome addition to Dark Angel's supporting cast (which after all, was not huge in number in the first place). She gets to make some snarky comments, sure, but her true strength here is that she gives the story a down to earth perspective. A lot of Shevaun's dialogue is a little complex, a little wordy - as it <i>should </i>be with the concepts she deals with in her world. Doris' no nonsense attitude to everything balances things out nicely. So many scene stealing phrases, too.</div>
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I really hope that if we do get to see more Dark Angel material we'll also get to see more of her. </div>
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<b>What's that about a vision?</b></div>
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Ah, yes. Apparently while Shevaun was out cold she had a vision.</div>
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A woman made of electronic parts, rising from a grave. </div>
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We'll return to that shortly...</div>
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<b>Kieron Gillen pretty much covers everything you need to know about Dark Angel's origins in the course of one page.</b></div>
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Yes. No messing about, here. No long winded pages of exposition and backstory. One page summarising pretty much everything you might need to know. This one, in fact.</div>
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Pretty concise. And it means that it doesn't dominate the issue. It's out of the way early.</div>
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<b>Wait a second... did they just tweak Dark Angel's origin...?</b></div>
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Well... yeah. Yes, they did. Those of you who can remember back to 1992 may remember how these events unfolded the first time around. But for the rest of you, it all began with Shevaun's father Ranulph Haldane - a member of the Mys-Tech board - who had constructed a process and device which was going to be capable of granting him and his cronies continued immortality, separate from the boon offered to them by that centuries old contract with the demon Mephisto. </div>
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Only Mephisto found out. </div>
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It didn't work out well for Ranulph.</div>
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After his death Mephisto claimed Ranulph's soul. Which was a bit awkward when another, more saintly entity, calling itself 'the Darkangel' arrived attempting to do the same. It informed Shevaun of her father's secrets, for the first time.</div>
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And while Shevaun initially rejected what it told her, when she met the Darkangel for a second time (planning to extract revenge on her Father's colleagues) the entity took a strong of fibre from the very universe itself, and bonded it to her, body and soul.</div>
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Thus becoming the Darkangel's envoy, with the same kind of incredible power Gillen's page describes, above...</div>
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<b>But shouldn't we be hacked off about this??</b></div>
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Well, I cannot tell you each how you should personally feel about it. But I'd actually lean towards the side of 'No' on this one. </div>
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Let me explain why.</div>
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For one this 'Darkangel' entity has never reappeared or even been referred to in a Marvel comic since. Not in Dark Angel's own series, or in the wider Marvel universe as a whole. It's not like it would be particularly missed. </div>
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But, that aside, there's the name too. When Dark Angel's series was launched in '92 it was actually named "Hell's Angel". As was she after this transformation. The title had its name altered with issue 6 due (as I understand it) to the threat of legal action from members of a certain Biker Chapter of the same name. :)</div>
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As 'Hell's Angel', an envoy or agent of the 'Darkangel', that kind of scans okay. But having two virtually identically named characters on the same book is more than a little confusing. The name change was always a bit of an awkward transition, and as it was never really necessary to refer to it again after the first issue it's no real loss.</div>
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What Gillen has done is to write around all of that - now telling us that Shevaun's powers were always part of her father's plan for her. That he was in some way instrumental in her gaining them. </div>
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Some might see that as a dramatic change, but it is not as if such an idea wasn't actually foreshadowed in Shevaun's original series. There was more than one occasion where it was stated that Shevaun had been brought into the world as part of a former Mys-Tech science project. A test subject who was intended to be terminated, but whom Ranulph Haldane found ways to keep around. </div>
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It was actually mentioned as early as her very first issue:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSbcagX-603hyphenhyphen80t7Rk-cSN3u25eyaA155xaY406IM862u-4saf3hr-srO2iHwZtwhj4MQ2akTftIC5dNMTLGmBzk_TeqD5tdO3TKzMElBcynWd8g5XSXLBRgT_oQFVpFOvtxvjLltU64/s1600/mystech.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSbcagX-603hyphenhyphen80t7Rk-cSN3u25eyaA155xaY406IM862u-4saf3hr-srO2iHwZtwhj4MQ2akTftIC5dNMTLGmBzk_TeqD5tdO3TKzMElBcynWd8g5XSXLBRgT_oQFVpFOvtxvjLltU64/s1600/mystech.png" height="320" width="201" /></a></div>
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<b>So what's Dark Angel been up to since her appearance in Captain Britain & MI13? Where has she been? </b><br />
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And that's the really interesting part...<br />
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One might wonder, what with the kind of power levels Dark Angel has at her disposal, why hasn't she been appearing in Marvel's bigger stories - fighting the good fight, alongside the other heavy hitters. She's a powerhouse. Where has she been?<br />
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Well, it seems that Shevaun has been kept busy. By a higher (or should that be lower?) power...<br />
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Yes. That would be Mephisto.<br />
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And this is the clever part. Because, remember, Shevaun's father signed a contract with Mephisto? A centuries old legal agreement with the Devil himself? Well, with his betrayal and subsequent death, Mehisto has chosen to pass that Debt on from Father to daughter...<br />
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Yeah. That's got to suck pretty hard hasn't it?<br />
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Shevaun now gets to spend every evening serving Mephisto to repay her father's debt. Doing whatever he should wish. From quelling minor uprisings in Mephisto's domain to making the Demon bleed for His own Sins. Really.<br />
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The problem is that in order to do all these things it also means Shevaun has to expel some power. Quite a lot of it to be exact. When Dark Angel gets back to Earth 616 she can't buddy up with the likes of the X-Men or Captain Britain. Because she often has to wait for her powers to recharge.<br />
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You know, almost as if that is that was EXACTLY what Mephisto had planned in advance. :)<br />
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In the past few years, of course, Mephisto has been appearing in a number of different marvel series. Spider-man, X-Factor, New Mutants, Journey into Mystery... he's becoming a frequently more visited character. So Gillen placing Dark Angel squarely in his control is a great idea for future story options. It's not without foreshadowing, either. Way back in her own series Mephisto was shown taking an interest in Shevaun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXs9GuMOyF0kqYQpgS8wLfOGyHHcVvZQWddrXdmgDH5NFVwSAqiPE_OIaQtbpI3aTVYTe6FnmlZRmiXFhbVy46gXxfuNxTDHymKIBBuyoRpFyMPFsFWB-c0Y0gZ96DNFIDvzWtfXAGuOp/s1600/mephisto1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGXs9GuMOyF0kqYQpgS8wLfOGyHHcVvZQWddrXdmgDH5NFVwSAqiPE_OIaQtbpI3aTVYTe6FnmlZRmiXFhbVy46gXxfuNxTDHymKIBBuyoRpFyMPFsFWB-c0Y0gZ96DNFIDvzWtfXAGuOp/s1600/mephisto1.png" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
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I think you could quite easily construct a case for Mephisto having planned this all along...</div>
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Gillen always writes a really strong and interesting Mephisto. Which helps a lot. The fact that he has him insisting on calling Shevaun by her former name of 'Hell's Angel', the banter between the two, is something I truly hope other writers pick up on.</div>
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<b>Mephisto talks about Karmic Debt in the Age of Austerity.</b></div>
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<i>There's </i>a sentence I never thought I'd find myself typing...</div>
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It's true to say that in times past Mephisto did indeed invest a lot of time and effort in all things British. From Mortigan Goth to the Sect of Chadism he made a good many deals for British souls. But in this age of Austerity, with the hearts and minds of the British people beaten down by governmental cuts and coalition politics... well, as the Devil seems to suggest, British souls apparently just are worth as much as once they were. :)</div>
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And who WOULD you sell that karmic debt on to...?</div>
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Thes theme of Debt, and the need for the current generation needing to pay for the excesses of a previous one, run throughout this story. They're a nice a nice touch. </div>
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<b>Darkmoor is now a fully fledged Village</b></div>
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And it's being invaded by Psycho-wraiths. But we'll get to that...</div>
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We here at this site are big fans of the locality of Darkmoor. Enough to borrow it's name, as I'm sure won't have escaped your notice... ;)</div>
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The fictional locale of Darkmoor, in the real world area of the Cheviot Hills, goes right back to very beginnings of Marvel UK. It debuted in the very first issue of Captain Britain and it's popped up, from time to time, ever since.</div>
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In its first appearance we saw that (as the name suggests) it comprises of a moor, a Stone Circle (with a entrance to The Siege Perilous), and also a scientific research facility. Later on, in Dark Angel's series we saw the introduction of the Castle, and also a Police Station in the locality. But this is the first time we've actually seen any evidence of a larger settlement.</div>
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And weirdly this might be one of the things which I was most stoked about from the entire issue.</div>
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Gillen describes Darkmoor as a 'New Age Tourist Trap' - similar, I suppose, to places like Glastonbury. It appears to be a small market town, filled with the kind of stores which sell crystals, herbs and 'white magic' ingredients. A hots spot for spiritualists, clairvoyants and healers. Mysticism is something Marvel's Britain does so very well. Why <i>not </i>make it a Tourist site! I really love this idea, and again I hope this forms a basis for future stories.</div>
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<b>And the Psycho-wraiths?</b></div>
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Oh. Yes! </div>
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So, there's more of these. Just like we saw in the Alpha issue. They look a little different, and they arrive via some kind of tunneling vessel, but they're the same type of creatures.</div>
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What is perhaps more interesting is that Gillen highlights just what these creatures actually are. We've seen that their bodies are tank bred, but beyond that what's actually inside of those bodies is a little darker. </div>
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In a word 'Soul's.</div>
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Lost human souls.</div>
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Conjured by Mys-Tech, given a second chance of life in an engineered body. </div>
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And they claim that they want to to be put out of their misery. Something Shevaun foolishly agrees to.</div>
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Foolishly, because it expends almost the entirety of her power. Just in time for an unpleasant surprise...</div>
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<b>Meet Psycho-Wraith Prime. </b></div>
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Yes. Prime. A more advanced, more powerful variant of the Psycho-Wraiths.</div>
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And that's one hell of a plan.</div>
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The Prime claims that Ranulph Haldane came up with this scheme. And Shevaun is central to it. The void inside her, the portal in her chest, is apparently the key to Mys-Tech's route back into this dimension. Something Daddy Haldane planned for just this kind of eventuality.</div>
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One might theorise that this is very reason he had her kept alive all these years.</div>
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That would be a bit messed up, no? :)</div>
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<b>Is that what the vision was about?</b></div>
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Yes. Kind of.</div>
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A woman made of electronic parts, rising from a grave. "Miss Tech - Rising from the Grave". Get it!</div>
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Yeah... a bit tenuous. But that was what it was all about! :)</div>
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<b>Always read the Small Print!</b></div>
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Yes! Really do.</div>
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Wiping out the other Psycho-Wraiths left Shevaun with a big problem. Power almost expended she used the last of it to fly the injured Doris out to a hospital. With her power so low she knew that the Psycho-Wraith Prime was following her, and that she had no way of defeating it when it arrive, without waiting for those powers to recharge. Which would take a degree of time which she simply did not have.</div>
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So, what's a girl to do but to call in a favour? </div>
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And that seems logical, right? If Mephisto takes her power away then Mys-Tech can't access the void inside her. And if they cannot access the void then they don't get to come back.</div>
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Only this is Mephisto. This is the nearest thing Marvel comics have to the Devil, himself. And entering into a Pay Day loan scenario of the Soul is not something you should ever do lightly.</div>
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Because even if the Big Bad has just touched down behind you, reaching for the pen without checking what you're signing...</div>
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Can only ever end badly...</div>
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And you might get to spend eternity trapped inside the terms of a legal document. In this case quite literally and physically. </div>
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<b>One-Sixth of what they're Looking For?</b></div>
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Oh, yes. </div>
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It seems that Dark Angel is the first of six souls required for whatever Mys-Tech have planned.</div>
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Six.</div>
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Wasn't there Six individuals shown in the vision which the Un-Earth projected last issue?</div>
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Why, yes there <i>was</i>!</div>
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<b>Just a coincidence?</b></div>
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What do you think? :)</div>
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And that is Revolutionary War: Alpha. If we're to follow the Un-Earth vision Mys-Tech's agents on Earth now have Dark Angel, and through Death's Head II they may shortly have Captain Britain. They may of course also require Death's Head II. Wonder how <i>he'll</i> feel about that if it turns out to be true? :)</div>
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Wednesday (29th January) brings us Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon to stores. The Pendragon who we saw in the Un-Earth vision was Peter Hunter - the WW1 costumed hero known as Albion. So I'd imagine he'll be playing a significant part in the upcoming story.</div>
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Wonder what he's been up to in the intervening years? He was a teacher by trade. Maybe he's working at Braddock Academy or something? That'd be an interesting idea. One with no evidence to support it or anything, but who knows? :)</div>
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Until the next time, make sure you order your copy, and I'll be back to chat about the issue a week later.</div>
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Mark</div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-34494280290400565392014-01-25T18:56:00.000+00:002014-01-25T18:56:36.083+00:00Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon Preview.So, Revolutionary War reaches it's third chapter on Wednesday (29th January). I'll be posting up a summary/catch up of the Dark Angel issue tomorrow morning, but for now I thought you'd probably want a heads up of a preview for the next issue - focusing on Knights of Pendragon - which <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=19973">Comic Book Resources have posted up</a>. An unlettered preview of the first two pages turned up a few weeks ago, but without a context it was a little difficult to get much info about it. There are now four lettered pages on show there, along with the variant cover for the issue.<div>
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It looks like this:</div>
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Alongside Union Jack there, is former head Pendragon Adam Crown and villianess turned Pendragon Francesca Grace. So far there has been no other info as to whether they actually appear in the issue itself. But it's great to see them at least remembered.</div>
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Unfortunately, the solicits don't mention who this cover is <i>by</i>. But then that's not the only way that the solicits are now out of date, it seems.</div>
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Rob Williams remains the writer for this issue, but at the time the solicits were released the artist listed for this issue was Marvel UK's Simon Coleby. Coleby has been replaced by Irish artist <a href="http://sliney.blogspot.co.uk/">Will Sliney</a>, who has been doing art in more recent times for Fearless Defenders and Superior Spider-man Team-Up.</div>
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But when you get a glimpse of his artwork I don't think you'll be left in any way disappointed for the change. I know that I wasn't. It looks great.</div>
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I won't spoil the issue by printing a full preview on this site. Go check it out at the link above if you want to read more. But I will post a couple of teaser images.</div>
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Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon is out on Wednesday. </div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-38777009612457591672014-01-19T17:14:00.000+00:002014-01-19T17:14:59.555+00:00Clarifying the Timeline of Revolutionary War in the Marvel Universe.Hi folks,<br />
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In my last blog article I went into quite some detail over the first issue of Revolutionary War and how it fitted into Marvel continuity. In particular trying to place the Battle of London Bridge may have occurred, and asking if (as it seemed) Killpower had gotten trapped on the other side of a portal how could he have taken part in the events of Captain Britain & MI13.<br />
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Well, on that issue thread we were lucky enough for series co-creator Andy Lanning to have dropped by and clarified a few things about the course of events we are seeing in Revolutionary War. And as it turns out I had the order of events a little skewif in terms of quite where they fit. <br />
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I've asked Andy if he'd be okay why my posting his comments up for the rest of you to easier find, and he's said he's okay with that. So here, in his own words, is how things fit.<br />
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Wotcha Mark,<br />
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Just thought I'd pop in and clarify the confusion about the timeline in Revolutionary War.<br />
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I've noticed a few comments about when it is set and probable continuity errors regarding Killpower.<br />
This is a problem facing most creators when dealing with long running continuity in any established comic universe. We had to make a call early on as to when this story was set and how it slotted into on-going story continuity.<br />
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I've always tried to respect continuity as much as possible- out of respect for previous creators and for the fans who have been reading a title for a long time. <br />
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Sometimes this can be difficult; especially when you want to bring in new readers who may be put off because of the weight of established continuity as well as dealing with the complete illogical nature of story time verses real time.<br />
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So, bearing in mind all the above, here’s our approach for revolutionary War:<br />
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It’s been 20 years since the last Marvel UK title was published in 1994.<br />
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The last time we saw any Marvel UK characters was in Paul Cornell’s excellent Captain Britain & MI13 series which was published in 2008-2009. That’s 5 years ago, real time.<br />
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Death’s Head II and other characters have popped up recently in Iron Man and other Marvel titles but MI13 was the last time we saw anything that could be considered ‘Marvel UK’ continuity.<br />
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In the Marvel Universe story continuity the events in MI13 were during and after the Skrull Invasion. There’s been a lot of Events in the MU since then but no real sense of how long has passed since the Invasion and now. Just that time has passed because of the changes to various characters in the MU.<br />
We took it that at most 5 years has passed in the MU since the events in MI13 and the start of RW (because this is fact based on real time) but were careful not to be specific as it may cause problems down the line and we want to keep our options open should we get the chance to tell more stories in the MUK Universe (one of which would almost certainly be revisiting the events surrounding the fall of MYSTECH).<br />
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During those years, the Battle for London Bridge has taken place and MYSTECH have been defeated, setting the scene for the story we’re telling and the changes in the characters when we meet them now.<br />
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It may not be ideal but it’s the best we have and, more importantly, allows us to once and for all establish that the events and characters from Marvel UK take place in the bigger Marvel Universe.<br />
Hope this clears things up.<br />
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Thanks for all the support and kind comments <br />
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Hope you keep enjoying the story and fingers crossed we get enough buzz from it to do some more in the future!<br />
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Cheers<br />
Andy</blockquote>
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I hope that helps clear a few things up for folks.<br />
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So basically, think of Captain Britain & MI13, with its guest appearances of Motormouth, Killpower, Death's Head, Digitek and Dark Angel as the last Marvel UK story. The flashbacks you are seeing from the Battle of London Bridge happen a while AFTER that. Mys-Tech are taken down, S.H.I.E.L.D. take some element of control, characters get trapped in another dimension, but all some time after that series had concluded.<br />
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So, yes, Killpower may well be trapped in another dimension. We'll just have to wait an see... ;)<br />
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And I do agree with Andy on this. Story time vs Real Time is a very difficult to balance to strike up. Probably even more so in recent years. Since the end of Secret Invasion really the incredible flow of storylines, crossover Events and status quo changes at Marvel has been much higher than the preceding ten years of comics. With the bulk of Marvel's books also double shipping these past two years that also adds complexity to situation. <br />
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Try logically putting a time scale on something like 'Dark Reign' - the period after Secret Invasion where Norman Osborn was given full control of S.H.I.E.L.D., closed it down and replaced it with his own organisation - for example. That period of Marvel status quo lasted for just over a year in publishing time, but even with all the tie-in issues (and there were many) you could probably only truly account for a months worth of actual 'events' in panel. Osborn was clearly in charge for much longer than that, which just kind of shows that any attempts to formulaically measure such things in terms of Real Time is a pretty pointless exercise.<br />
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Does it effect the story? No. All you need to know is that Mys-Tech have been gone a long time, and they were defeated a while after Captain Britain & MI13 wrapped.<br />
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But, I suppose, for those who absolutely need to place the Battle of London Bridge in amongst all those Marvel status quo periods? Here goes...<br />
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Captain Britain & MI13 started during Secret Invasion but wrapped during Dark Reign. Dark Reign ended with Siege, which then began the period of focus upon Heroes coming back, getting together and winning the day named 'The Heroic Age'.<br />
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Now it is purely my own opinion here, but a day where all the heroes of Marvel UK got together, in one co-ordinated attack, and took down their greatest enemies once and for all? Well does that just sound in step with the Heroic Age, now? :) It even roughly fits time wise too.<br />
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So there you go. No new issue out this week, but I'll be posting up a summary for Revolutionary War: Dark Angel in the week.<br />
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Hopefully I'll see you then.Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-46859010949709540002014-01-14T21:00:00.000+00:002014-01-14T21:00:00.861+00:00Revolutionary War: Alpha - Some Thoughts & TheoriesHi guys. Right, so I've intentionally left this summary a week, in order to maximise the number of people who are actually going to pick the book up get the chance to go out and do just that, without having it spoiled by me. Comic book stores here in the UK will now have closed. When they reopen tomorrow the second issue of this Event, <i>Revolutionary War: Dark Angel</i> hits the shelves. Courtesy of Kieron Gillen and Dietrich Smith. I have heard a couple of anecdotal reports that the first issue had sold out at their local store, and that more of future issues had been ordered in.<br />
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That is hopefully a good sign.<br />
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I'm sure there are still copies available out there if you haven't grabbed one yet. The first issue is obviously also still available digitally, on ComiXology.<br />
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So, <i>Revolutionary War: Alpha</i>, eh? This one's been a long time coming. But bloody hell, did it deliver. Lanning Cowsill and Elson managed to deliver an opening issue which both pleases the long term fans but I also think is perfectly accessible to new readers.<br />
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Do a lot of characters appear in this issue? Sure. Is it important to know who all of them are at this stage? Not imperative, no. This was an issue about introducing concepts and setting a scene, for what is yet to come. Even for us long time readers there were new angles on show here. Things which have come to pass during our time away from these characters.<br />
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So, here are a few Thoughts & Theories over what we saw this week. Hopefully they'll serve as a convenient catch up for the following issue also.<br />
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<b>1) Psychowraiths. Yes. Psychowraiths.</b><br />
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Or should that be 'Psycho-wraithes'?<br />
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Who knows? Does it matter? Not in the slightest. Stop being a pedant.</div>
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Along with Psycho-Warriors these guys formed the private armies of the Mys-Tech Corporation. Tank-bred foot-soldiers, who would do exactly as their masters ordered. </div>
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Somebody had to do the heavy lifting for the bad guys. And so much more reliable to just breed them rather than rely on real <i>people</i>, with lives and opinions. </div>
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Mys-Tech had a number of facilities breeding these things for combat, back in the day. Well, it seems like in the Marvel Universe Crossrail's continuing expansions to the London Underground don't merely irritate commuters. They also uncover lost caches of <i>these </i>nasties...</div>
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But is this purely an unfortunate disturbing of a long forgotten scientific relic, or did something else trigger these tanks into action?<br />
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<b>2) Mys-Tech.</b><br />
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Yes. Mys-Tech. When was the last time we heard from Mys-Tech?<br />
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Well, they got a mention back in 2010's Spitfire one-shot, by Paul Cornell and Elena Casagrande. But otherwise we've pretty much heard nothing from them since the end of the Marvel UK imprint. But as anybody who has read this issue will know it certainly looks like they're going to play an important role in this story.<br />
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So, in way of reminder, who are the Mys-Tech Board?<br />
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The Mys-Tech Board, as they became, started life as a group of men and women who dabbled in the occult. In the year 987 AD they conjured up the demon Mephisto, and entered into a contract with him. A contract in which Mephisto would bestow upon them the gift of immortality, on the proviso that they delivered a prescribed quota of human souls to him. </div>
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A quota which, this being Mephisto, kept on rising. Every year.</div>
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To meet the constantly rising numbers they had to get creative...</div>
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In the modern age the group formed a company, by the name of the Mys-Tech Corporation, which had a finger in many, many different multinational pies, and owned many many subsidiary companies, research centers and other projects. They orchestrated regional famines, wars, supplied Arms to others, all so that when people died, even indirectly, it was by their hand.</div>
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And thus their soul was claimed by Mephisto, and the quota met.</div>
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It's all a little bit messed up, when you think about it. But also pretty disturbingly clever. :)<br />
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Anyway that's the short version. Observe the picture above. To put names to faces (from left to right) the Board members are Eadmund Porlock, Brendan Rathcoole, Bronwen Gryffn, Gudrun Tyburn, Algernon Crowe and Ormond Wychwood. We did actually see them in flashback form in this issue (in that double page spread).<br />
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And I have a feeling we'll be seeing them again.<br />
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Crowe is the nominal head of this organisation. It also had a 7th member originally. He was Ranulph Haldane. Father of Shevaun Haldane - Dark Angel. Ranulph was killed by Mephisto some years ago, for trying to find ways out of their Contract, but still maintaining their immortality.<br />
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Yeah. Dark Angel's Dad. It's all that closely interconnected. :)<br />
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And speaking of that double page spread...<br />
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<b>3) Lanning and Cowsill give Marvel UK the conclusion it never got.</b><br />
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The Marvel UK imprint didn't ever get to conclude. When Marvel US pulled the plug the output just... stopped. Warheads, Death's Head Gold, Dark Guard Gold and others just stopped where they fell in the schedule. No conclusion. Many loose ends.<br />
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Well, Andy Lanning and Alan Cowsill have retroactively created one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76-1Sso-KQiSIHRAWqnNEJcq0_cmAq-oL2gUcSaoslg9orZtSwGbdDkZndPz4WaSjOGVqDNDSU1q07aLavH6NojHKtLQyhXOiFlULdTsm_3D5dkQKIxz687dmcSyGRjFT0ZXxgXRd8VX6/s1600/the+battle+of+london+bridge.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76-1Sso-KQiSIHRAWqnNEJcq0_cmAq-oL2gUcSaoslg9orZtSwGbdDkZndPz4WaSjOGVqDNDSU1q07aLavH6NojHKtLQyhXOiFlULdTsm_3D5dkQKIxz687dmcSyGRjFT0ZXxgXRd8VX6/s1600/the+battle+of+london+bridge.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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They're calling it 'The Battle of London Bridge'. S.H.I.E.L.D. apparently covered it up from the general public, but as you can see pretty much every last damn Marvel UK character was involved. See if you can name them all! Even Black Axe and Digitek are in there.<br />
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Oh, and the 'Union Juggernaut'. As the messageboards have come to term that period, best left forgotten, in the life of Union Jack. :)<br />
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The details are not fully fleshed out yet, but the battle appears to have ended by forcing Mys-Tech through a portal and trapping them in another dimension.<br />
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This was not without it's casualties...<br />
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<b>4) Wait, did you say S.H.I.E.L.D. ?</b><br />
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Yes. And that's another big reveal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aS9gY_6sEC1Fwqop8LZkz6QT9A3N9JhREqLqw__mRqIUSWYUvAAn14knxLW8ueeKUrqQED-D4BNJlNLGt6-eU8HN1N0Xgpry3E970CCzKDQEVAxGCGLFuuDQjV-RQNBLyVwKULyMdy9s/s1600/shield+reveal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aS9gY_6sEC1Fwqop8LZkz6QT9A3N9JhREqLqw__mRqIUSWYUvAAn14knxLW8ueeKUrqQED-D4BNJlNLGt6-eU8HN1N0Xgpry3E970CCzKDQEVAxGCGLFuuDQjV-RQNBLyVwKULyMdy9s/s1600/shield+reveal.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes. Apparently S.H.I.E.L.D. has a European division. It's been monitoring the situation since Mys-Tech fell, and Captain Britain has apparently been working with them, in secret.</div>
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Now this has, it has to be said, put a few fans' noses out of joint. The idea that MI13 are swept aside by what most perceive to be a US Government Organisation has irritated some. The notion that Captain Britain could, and would, have kept this a secret from everybody seems either at odds with the character or something they simply could believe.</div>
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But let me say two things on this...</div>
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Firstly, though Marvel often confuse this, in the way that S.H.I.E.L.D. are used or portrayed, they ARE an international organisation. Much like the United Nations. Just with access to flying battlestations, superheroes and other technology. Their remit is Global. MI13's is National. MI13 aren't being done away with, It's just that here they're kind of the smaller operation.</div>
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It's also worth noting that S.H.I.E.L.D. have featured frequently across the history of Marvel UK, from early Captain Britain right through to several appearances during the Imprint Years. This is not the first time they've come in to oversee threats of this kind.</div>
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So please calm down. </div>
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They are also used here somewhat as a metaphor. This US based organisation which swept in, chose the guys they wanted to work with and left the others in a state of limbo, either retired or simply unused...</div>
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When you think about what happened when Marvel closed down Marvel UK? Well, there are some parallels one could easily draw, there. </div>
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You know. Should they wish to. </div>
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And yes, Captain Britain was probably still with Excalibur at point Mys-Tech fell. Would he have told Pete Wisdom about his involvement with S.H.I.E.L.D.? Then, or later? Possibly. Possibly not. </div>
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I mean when I read this...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGidRy5Z0KzFd6CS6ObRssG3q26Q_JnQnlZpiBSVlL0nPRPQcoClsSw5zXyPdJL4p1_QQbEyB69jT-rnUdfWgemMDxn53NbZPImfR2yg9jRB7PJ2LqjlIyFzQIc9Da_3FFkYLUtRqrLKo/s1600/cap1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGidRy5Z0KzFd6CS6ObRssG3q26Q_JnQnlZpiBSVlL0nPRPQcoClsSw5zXyPdJL4p1_QQbEyB69jT-rnUdfWgemMDxn53NbZPImfR2yg9jRB7PJ2LqjlIyFzQIc9Da_3FFkYLUtRqrLKo/s1600/cap1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I start to get the feeling that Brian himself is only involved with this whole thing because he has to be. Because something stinks about it. Because S.H.I.E.L.D. can't be 100% trusted. Because somebody has to watch over them.<br />
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Brian is often noble to a fault. Could he have kept all of this to himself in order to do that? It's not impossible in my book. Either way there's clearly more too this than is currently being revealed.<br />
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<b>5) It's not just the Imprint characters making a Comeback.</b><br />
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No, Sir. Bet you never thought you'd see this guy again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphF-Duh9ddEcJxI1OuB9JmT-UxnIKNvf_JO3XSCgmZJjnFYu5PcJRLCILutUT3oGDuE11YjTwIQxJj1KQlx-uAV0QtX2fd6eKJwjxeGpjOjo3wDCU7nOs45Ew_JTr3K1oKLU77y_5T8XV/s1600/hunter1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphF-Duh9ddEcJxI1OuB9JmT-UxnIKNvf_JO3XSCgmZJjnFYu5PcJRLCILutUT3oGDuE11YjTwIQxJj1KQlx-uAV0QtX2fd6eKJwjxeGpjOjo3wDCU7nOs45Ew_JTr3K1oKLU77y_5T8XV/s1600/hunter1a.png" width="95" /></a></div>
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Yes. That's Commander Lance Hunter. Formerly of S.T.R.I.K.E.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbvyHeFeIUOmWdF0oX57g7Hpeqv9f5K7NtBfcUsBeht0Pe7jz_Ngh5NDIjug2jqN-SGsUUk1x21JuYl1BaY09zEOgg28WnSc3QuOLXKybnpvINbWqK3MM0b3unP9D-w49zrVOHjvSVXaa/s1600/Captain+Britain+vol+1+%2321.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbvyHeFeIUOmWdF0oX57g7Hpeqv9f5K7NtBfcUsBeht0Pe7jz_Ngh5NDIjug2jqN-SGsUUk1x21JuYl1BaY09zEOgg28WnSc3QuOLXKybnpvINbWqK3MM0b3unP9D-w49zrVOHjvSVXaa/s1600/Captain+Britain+vol+1+%2321.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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During Captain Britain & MI13 it was mentioned that Lance Hunter was now Joint Intelligence Chair, for MI5, MI6 and MI13. We never actually got to see him in panel during the course of that run, but as you can see he's alive and well. And now working with S.H.I.E.L.D.</div>
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Oh, and yes. That's Marcus Johnson. Nick Fury's illegitimate son, who just happens to look like Samuel L Jackson in the Marvel movies. And now calls himself 'Nick Fury'.</div>
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Yeah. I'm pretty sure it's a edict somewhere that EVERY Marvel book must use this guy at some point, right now. In the hope that some day readers will accept him.</div>
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Though I wouldn't wait up for that...</div>
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<b>6) Meet Agent Keller.</b> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuqb89_b0QFucnjV66vhZefTd8uku312fSyIb1u-ExxD_OrGl7D7z24p8G_B-sL-eRmSYDOfK7xjruCJ9M-FoyhnEmM98YqEUN6VVl7L-xMY_sTqdlkV4PHQR-xuWlvYzaL9l1h_dLuoC/s1600/keller.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuqb89_b0QFucnjV66vhZefTd8uku312fSyIb1u-ExxD_OrGl7D7z24p8G_B-sL-eRmSYDOfK7xjruCJ9M-FoyhnEmM98YqEUN6VVl7L-xMY_sTqdlkV4PHQR-xuWlvYzaL9l1h_dLuoC/s640/keller.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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While we know very little about Agent Keller we do know that he's attached S.H.I.E.L.D.'s European division, and he appears to be along for the ride. Do we trust him? Only time can tell...</div>
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As far as I can tell Keller's new. No currently obvious or revealed connections to previous characters.</div>
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<b>7) So, Col Tigon Liger is a Drunk...</b> </div>
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Following the theme of the characters Marvel US left behind (Wait, S.H.I.E.L.D., surely ;) ), Colonel Tigon Liger of The Warheads really hasn't fared so well. When Agent Keller and Pete Wisdom go to retrieve him we find him living rough. Homeless, and also kind of a Drunk.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMQ7wzeWmx7lCR37n1aGGP7HjzTCaaAcgmMMoDgag_ujoHgvGhdkg370ylXPc7HK7UJzu0A6r1YwK06fB5UXiqZTVfn1UywF4CTtNJZkLNQM-4rcYiLJqvsNchhMRLg_K6Szl3-pCN1rE/s1600/liger1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMQ7wzeWmx7lCR37n1aGGP7HjzTCaaAcgmMMoDgag_ujoHgvGhdkg370ylXPc7HK7UJzu0A6r1YwK06fB5UXiqZTVfn1UywF4CTtNJZkLNQM-4rcYiLJqvsNchhMRLg_K6Szl3-pCN1rE/s1600/liger1a.png" width="383" /></a></div>
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What is particularly messed up about this, though, is that S.H.I.E.L.D. have been monitoring him all this time. Ever since the fall of Mys-Tech. All of it. They've known exactly where he's been, and what he's been doing. And they just... let it all happen to him.</div>
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Think about that for a moment. A guy descends into vagrancy and potential alcoholism, and S.H.I.E.L.D. <i>do nothing</i>.</div>
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S.H.I.E.L.D. are kind of... dicks, aren't they?</div>
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Liger is a Drunk for a slightly more understandable reason though, it seems. As we find out this issue he was the only surviving Warhead from the Battle of London Bridge. When it came to the crunch they had to close that portal and trap Mys-Tech on the other side. Close it down with Stacy, Misha and the rest of Kether Troop all still on the other side. Trapped in another dimension with them.</div>
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Liger lost his Troop. And it has justly hit him hard.</div>
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<b>8) Wait a second... did we see Killpower get trapped, too!? But wasn't he in Captain Britain & MI13???</b></div>
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Yeah. There is some debate on this one. </div>
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Here is the image in question, from the issue itself.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecpo6xvuoxz7qBCzH82eX6E78cqdO7U-HyqWtQ84ZXaeoJUyENjIvjw098JdFUbNv4VUfnU1sVllbI_tU_KZwLup2cuZecswNY1Gw24Qdsg6bfHi_Wa853v-rUQ2LDqn8zTG6Sn5Dhyns/s1600/killpower+lost.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecpo6xvuoxz7qBCzH82eX6E78cqdO7U-HyqWtQ84ZXaeoJUyENjIvjw098JdFUbNv4VUfnU1sVllbI_tU_KZwLup2cuZecswNY1Gw24Qdsg6bfHi_Wa853v-rUQ2LDqn8zTG6Sn5Dhyns/s640/killpower+lost.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Killpower charging towards the mass of tentacles which are coming out of that other-dimensional portal, the fading text of Motormouth's words perhaps suggesting that Julius has crossed over into that other dimension. </div>
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So did he get trapped too? Surely not. Because those of you pointing out that both Motormouth AND Killpower appeared in the 'Vampire State' arc of Captain Britain & MI13 are absolutely correct. Harley and Julius went to protect Faiza 'Excalibur' Hussain's father when Dracula began his invasion plan.</div>
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They failed. Harley ended up hospitalised, and Julius ended up captured by the vampires, seemingly turned into a vampire himself. And just to make sure there can be no room for doubt here, he was even name-checked by Spitfire, introducing him to Dracula himself!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJCYDqTRFLpUCc4ejTUU5DXgE5cog28Wc64rKZir2jIT_GbPM3vxp2rwHVSVdFohu-P_K_xWVDQKxutAK905v7-UwckieaU9azacvp8I3UcT6rtLWLRjZIVUyB5XXqA1pySVwBDjr2dVL/s1600/killpower1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJCYDqTRFLpUCc4ejTUU5DXgE5cog28Wc64rKZir2jIT_GbPM3vxp2rwHVSVdFohu-P_K_xWVDQKxutAK905v7-UwckieaU9azacvp8I3UcT6rtLWLRjZIVUyB5XXqA1pySVwBDjr2dVL/s640/killpower1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Well, we all know why. Mys-Tech is <i>why</i>. Everything is interconnected in this crazy little corner of the Marvel Universe. You should know this by now.</div>
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He wasn't actually vampirised, of course. And I'll let Killpower explain that to you for himself.</div>
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Killpower was MI13's mole within Dracula's ranks. His mystically tweaked genetics meant that he couldn't be taken under Dracula's thrall, and therefore he was there intentionally to look out for Faiza's dad. It was actually a pivotal role to play in the plot of the story. Killpower effectively saved the day here, and led those who had previously been captured to freedom.</div>
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So, how could he have been around to do all that if he had spent the past X number of years trapped in another dimension?</div>
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Well, I'm hoping that this is just a bit of an art error, rather than somebody forgetting about the story. Given that it was the last big Marvel UK storyline people do remember it pretty well. A continuity glitch like that would certainly not pass undetected under the radar.</div>
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I guess we'll find out in time.</div>
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<b>9) The Museum of Pagan Antiquities is now under S.H.I.E.L.D. control</b></div>
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Which, given the contents within is probably for the best.<br />
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<b>10) The Un-Earth is activating...</b><br />
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You remember the Un-Earth, right? Big mystic crystalline computer system attached to a scale replica of the real Earth?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ-0Chz3UG4dpSF3TQ3mCTjwVdgrmr7hNzfsFAQZNfh53c91UwTxtNioNrld3uoPLMJXjD8MA5cHD_ktaEMSKI6pmQRP7fT7kl0YMIJlpb5QKnhSSS5P1Y2PTAoTqWwFb3oEayqowsaUc/s1600/un-earth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ-0Chz3UG4dpSF3TQ3mCTjwVdgrmr7hNzfsFAQZNfh53c91UwTxtNioNrld3uoPLMJXjD8MA5cHD_ktaEMSKI6pmQRP7fT7kl0YMIJlpb5QKnhSSS5P1Y2PTAoTqWwFb3oEayqowsaUc/s640/un-earth.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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It played a very important part in the events of the Marvel UK crossover event 'Mys-Tech Wars'. </div>
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Think of it effectively as a kind of Voodoo Doll for planet Earth. Whatever designs the Mys-Tech board's members placed on the Un-Earth, whatever changes they made to it, were then enacted upon the real world. It was an insanely powerful, wish fulfilling, Doom Engine!</div>
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Which is why when this happens...</div>
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That is definitely NOT good news.</div>
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And leaves us with several important questions. What is controlling it? Who activated it? And from where? From how far?</div>
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<b>11) Hold on... several 'Metres' below the museum? That cavern is much further down than that, surely!?</b></div>
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Well, yes. But let me no-prize this for a moment. That line comes from S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Keller. Agent Keller is presumably American. Surely we can forgive him a misunderstanding of the Metric System... :)</div>
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<b>12) What does the Un-Earth show us?</b></div>
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I've got a feeling that this image is going to be pretty important. You may want to open this picture in a new Tab for scrutiny.</div>
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So, clockwise from top left I see:</div>
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<b>Captain Britain in flight</b> - This one seems fairly straightforward, as he is en route to meet up with Dark Angel at Darkmoor castle. </div>
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<b>Peter Hunter (Albion) looking at a glow of energy around his hand</b> - Now we have no idea what Hunter has been up to since Dark Guard. He's certainly not in costume. Hunter was previously a Teacher, and in that kind of attire maybe he has gone back to that life. Maybe the Green Knight took his power away, after the threat of Mys-Tech faded. and this is a vision of Pendragon fire returning to him?</div>
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<b>A downtrodden Motormouth, in sweater and baggy trousers, carrying some shopping</b> - This is very much Harley in civvies. And she looks pretty depressed. The solicit for her own one-shot kind of gives away what's changed for her since Mys-Tech fell. But you can seek that out yourself. I'm not going to spoil. :)</div>
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<b>Joseph 'Invincible' Hauer, toting pistols</b> - Although I'm pretty sure Image Comics hold the trademark for 'Invincible' now. He looks like he's waiting to open fire on somebody. Guess we'll find out who in the Super Soldiers one-shot.</div>
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<b>Dark Angel accessing multiple computer terminals</b> - Presumably before what we see of her at the end of the issue.</div>
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And in the centre, <b>Death's Head II with a fist extended</b>.</div>
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Make of these images what you will. But remember, where the Un-Earth is concerned anything seen on Un-Earth can have a very REAL effect upon what is happening on the ACTUAL Earth.</div>
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Yeah. This could get very interesting. :)</div>
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<b>13) What the heck happened to Dark Angel???</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNmITlGnL6ZyEgdHN5fIj73mtYqYiCfhEIyn6wLAsB814GK5XV7HvCo0_j6sMiBlYlJs_en08is76PW24w6yaFpf_aZtc2T7shZKoFKuEnivCsB2jSm5lsXnArVX5aL0qZiMOi-c4p5qi/s1600/dark+angel1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNmITlGnL6ZyEgdHN5fIj73mtYqYiCfhEIyn6wLAsB814GK5XV7HvCo0_j6sMiBlYlJs_en08is76PW24w6yaFpf_aZtc2T7shZKoFKuEnivCsB2jSm5lsXnArVX5aL0qZiMOi-c4p5qi/s640/dark+angel1a.png" width="355" /></a></div>
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What <i>indeed</i>. </div>
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As Captain Britain arrives at Darkmoor Castle Shevaun appears to be in the process of either being electrocuted or fading out of existence. Brian tries to grab hold of her, but then somebody else intervenes.</div>
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It's a little unclear as the what has actually happened here as the punch up kinda brushes Shevaun aside.</div>
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At the start of her one-shot (which should be your next port of call this Wednesday 15th January) we see Dark Angel waking up on the floor of Darkmoor Castle, with a hole in its exterior wall. </div>
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My current personal theories as to what may have happened there are:</div>
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a) Shevaun has been unconscious since passing out. Captain Britain and his attacker have both left. Most likely straight through the exterior wall. </div>
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or</div>
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b) Shevaun may <i>think </i>she's just woken up on the floor of the Castle, and in a manner of thinking she has. Only she's not quite where she thinks she is. It all looks the same, but she's actually been transported to the same point on the Un-Earth. Hence her semi transparent state in the first issue.</div>
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The last time we saw Shevaun was in the form of a brief cameo in the final issue of Captain Britain & MI13, fighting Dracula's forces alongside Tangerine, Digitek and at least one other notable Marvel UK Alumni. I am definitely glad to see her back in her original costume here (love Salvador Larroca's art, but I was never a huge fan of his redesign) even if it is as she is seemingly taken down. :)</div>
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I guess we'll have to wait and see how this plays out. But thankfully the wait isn't too long...</div>
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<b>14) Bet you didn't see THAT coming. Yes?</b></div>
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And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a cliffhanger.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccViwz_fGpMyOZnpTRsc08jZuJoriFVSaCbvgo5f-69cnIf2XZ5NG4InJmDLj0YXZNXJl8vl9DVgV15oPel4adsYCfnm7zI_MoI5Mzu3b0pPBKUqaPvN2pTkx1LIlE3JtYyeFUSaxEyDw/s1600/dh2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccViwz_fGpMyOZnpTRsc08jZuJoriFVSaCbvgo5f-69cnIf2XZ5NG4InJmDLj0YXZNXJl8vl9DVgV15oPel4adsYCfnm7zI_MoI5Mzu3b0pPBKUqaPvN2pTkx1LIlE3JtYyeFUSaxEyDw/s640/dh2.PNG" width="416" /></a></div>
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Death's Head II. The backstabbing cyborg turncoat. :)</div>
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Clever DH2. Throw Cap off balance with an image inducer show of his greatest foes, before taking him down.</div>
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The last time we saw 'Minion' was in that self-same final issue of Captain Britain & MI13. The Marvel factfile handbook 'The Heroic Age: Superheroes' expanded a little upon how he came to be working for MI13.</div>
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Purely for Profit. As it turned out.</div>
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I guess somebody has made him a better offer...</div>
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We have been promised a Death's Head vs Death's Head II face-off in the upcoming Revolutionary War: Death's Head one-shot. Is that going to be related to this? Is the other DH going to try and teach his later self a lesson for ruining his good name? Is he going to cut into the Deal? </div>
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And will we finally find out where Tuck is these days?</div>
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All questions yet to be answered... :)</div>
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I hope this article has been of interest to you. I intend to do a similar one next week for Revolutionary War: Dark Angel. But in the meantime allow me to reiterate that this series really does need your support if we are to see more from the characters of Marvel UK in the future.</div>
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You can find a full<a href="http://itcamefromdarkmoor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/the-time-has-arrived-revolutionary-war.html"> list of upcoming issues here</a>. And if you want to make sure you can get a physical copy ask your local comic book store to put a copy by for you. Let them know you're interested.</div>
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You can also pick up Revolutionary War digitally, through ComiXology on iOS and Android. So if you can get a physical hand on it, or you just prefer reading on a tablet or PC screen, you can grab it there, too.</div>
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In the meantime I am curious to know what you thought of this issue. Feel free to add your opinions in the Comments section.</div>
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Until next time.</div>
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Mark</div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-68034013248663079042014-01-12T20:28:00.000+00:002014-01-12T22:08:28.210+00:00Revoutionary War continues this week as Gillen and Smith take on Dark AngelWell, I hope you all picked up Revolutionary War: Alpha on Wednesday.<br />
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I did. And it was pretty bloody marvelous. Pun, plausibly, intended.<br />
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I've had a few people asking me to post up my thoughts on the issue, and some kind of summary. I am actually going to do this. But you'll have to wait until Tuesday night, as I am very much of the opinion that a) I do not want to spoil the issue for people, and b) There are some out there who might thing to themselves "Nah. I'll pass on this first issue, and just wait for that Darkmoor bloke to summarise it..."<br />
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So, I'm going to wait until Tuesday night as, at least for UK readers, this will be the last point you can go out and buy it in print before the second chapter drops.<br />
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Then the summary will just serve as a catch up, and some thoughts fresh in your mind, as you pick up the next issue.<br />
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Sound fair? <br />
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I hope so. And seriously, go to your local comic book store or purchase it now on ComiXology. This was a great issue, and you really won't be disappointed.<br />
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So, you've read Revolutionary War: Alpha. What next? Well, Wednesday brings us the turn of Kieron Gillen and Dietrich Smith as they take on the mystical cyber-punk world of Shevaun Haldane; Dark Angel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoyqSOxCiMuOmnwXcwWUFwK8gAh6AQAbNHqrsBlxWVN3psRLK8lhnk68wYGEfXWAuMDxv8F3u7xsGxesg40oYPH8YQKf-JqoZKtUQe7mIvAJNlBPOX36HSZR9m_iYnfwZ9e-BGic24hjZ/s1600/2013_REVOLUTIONARYWAR_DARKANGEL_LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoyqSOxCiMuOmnwXcwWUFwK8gAh6AQAbNHqrsBlxWVN3psRLK8lhnk68wYGEfXWAuMDxv8F3u7xsGxesg40oYPH8YQKf-JqoZKtUQe7mIvAJNlBPOX36HSZR9m_iYnfwZ9e-BGic24hjZ/s1600/2013_REVOLUTIONARYWAR_DARKANGEL_LOGO.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>REVOLUTIONARY WAR:
DARK ANGEL #1</b><br />
<span id="goog_601379394"></span><span id="goog_601379395"><a href="http://gillen.cream.org/wordpress_html/about-the-author/" target="_blank">KIERON GILLEN</a> (W) • <a href="http://dietricho.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">DIETRICH SMITH</a> (A)<br />Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />Variant Cover by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Larroca" target="_blank">SALVADOR
LARROCA</a><br />Part 2 of “Revolutionary War”<br />• When Shevaun Haldane
experiences a troubling vision in Darkmoor Castle, she realizes danger may be
coming for the heroes of Marvel UK.<br />• With time running out, Shevaun has no
choice but to suit up as Dark Angel once again.<br />• An adventure that will take
fans through the past, present, and future of Marvel UK!<br />32 PGS./
ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99</span><br />
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And the lovely people over at Comic Book Resources have a <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=19776">three page preview up for the curious</a>.<br />
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I will post one page of it below, which should give you an idea of Smith's art style. Which I really like, and also think is pretty good match to the character.<br />
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If you're really spoiler conscious, look away...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboYXS8QhsEw_lxDOqUBV8S4lxaFIOgXjyAf8YabEGEe9sqUUIWH5SOpQDOchk-0-wxwTFwDUwWaFvPJuXLdwj62mOjQckiMwQRP5rbdYHqClACz0aZ5Vs3tc8wmnSl1JNrA9fnDZWlELV/s1600/darkangelpreview1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboYXS8QhsEw_lxDOqUBV8S4lxaFIOgXjyAf8YabEGEe9sqUUIWH5SOpQDOchk-0-wxwTFwDUwWaFvPJuXLdwj62mOjQckiMwQRP5rbdYHqClACz0aZ5Vs3tc8wmnSl1JNrA9fnDZWlELV/s1600/darkangelpreview1.png" height="640" width="421" /></a></div>
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I really want to know where this is all going.<br />
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I'm sure you will too.<br />
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Revolutionary War: Dark Angel is out Wednesday (15th January 2014). The cover you should be looking for is shown above, or the Salvador Larroca Variant, which looks like this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaZ6_AckjEFJNsXJWruLznBkVwR-a5udgrb_s1m1cbbbTdWHz7FOp8gqm0TjzVIWEMUPm7UQE18Pd2Dk4xXMpxA1gGXYQWMZm1zP2zMcHgCURZpTXJyXtSqVN6lKsGFwP2alglLinwGCg/s1600/larroca+variant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBaZ6_AckjEFJNsXJWruLznBkVwR-a5udgrb_s1m1cbbbTdWHz7FOp8gqm0TjzVIWEMUPm7UQE18Pd2Dk4xXMpxA1gGXYQWMZm1zP2zMcHgCURZpTXJyXtSqVN6lKsGFwP2alglLinwGCg/s1600/larroca+variant.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I am really looking forward to this one. The pairing of Dark Angel with Kieron Gillen seems like a complete no brainer. If there was one guy in modern comics who suits the concepts and sensibilities of the character it would be him.</span></div>
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I've got a good feeling about this one.</div>
<br />Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5510941869814453320.post-7798774928758491852014-01-05T19:53:00.000+00:002014-01-05T19:53:51.434+00:00The Time has Arrived: Revolutionary War starts This Week!Well, 'Hello' everyone. I hope you had a suitably enjoyable Christmas and New Year break. I have been giving myself a little time away from the internet during December. Recharging for all that 2014 has to offer.<br />
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And boy, DOES it offer!<br />
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This week brings us the start of the Marvel UK mini event 'Revolutionary War'. Marvel UK stalwarts Andy Lanning and Alan Cowsill are bringing back the largely forgotten characters of the Marvel UK 90s imprint, for a multipart story played out over three months.<br />
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This all begins this coming Wednesday (8th January, 2014), with Revolutionary War: Alpha, by Lanning and Cowsill, with art by Richard Elson.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL7GUkMlprU-0fDtxur4mwmpVL_5PbS05PPTOMm3DskvJJSDgAyFx3Ki5fPlDvRmDZfA1jqY3FzjVS4QRVoA9OEnPBapAupBXp_8mWyYgixQtM_IYD25vqO4HfNc-w0-s1kRr8tGuoVnp/s1600/2013_REVOLUTIONARYWAR_LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAL7GUkMlprU-0fDtxur4mwmpVL_5PbS05PPTOMm3DskvJJSDgAyFx3Ki5fPlDvRmDZfA1jqY3FzjVS4QRVoA9OEnPBapAupBXp_8mWyYgixQtM_IYD25vqO4HfNc-w0-s1kRr8tGuoVnp/s640/2013_REVOLUTIONARYWAR_LOGO.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
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The solicit for the issue itself reads as follows:</div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY WAR: ALPHA #1</strong></div>
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ANDY LANNING AND ALAN COWSILL (W) • RICH
ELSON (A)</div>
Cover by MARK BROOKS<br />
Variant Cover by BARRY KITSON<br />
Part 1 of
“Revolutionary War”<br />
• Marvel UK’s greatest heroes come together for the first
time in 20 years to face a threat that could destroy the world.<br />
• Featuring
Captain Britain, Pete Wisdom, Death’s Head II, Motormouth and Killpower, the
Warheads and a host of British heroes.<br />
32 PGS./ ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99<br />
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I cannot overemphasize both how excited I am about this and just how important this issue is to all fans of Marvel UK. Marvel probably doesn't have huge expectations for this series, so please join in me in surprising them by exceeding those expectations in a definite way.</div>
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Ask your comic store to put a copy aside for you, do not miss this issue. That's the cover you are looking for, or this Barry Kitson variant:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X3_09sppIjjEouomI6jC7bz-QzcPukR8dM_U4x4t_VUYQwTIIprySKsvJ3ZxG555mNaTex-bNwBOuZ5K-IvlNBWH2BJFahJmrl7hF4gmDhnCi4H1idQeAtvqBjalks49yKgbbEXyYS7d/s1600/RevWarKitsonVar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X3_09sppIjjEouomI6jC7bz-QzcPukR8dM_U4x4t_VUYQwTIIprySKsvJ3ZxG555mNaTex-bNwBOuZ5K-IvlNBWH2BJFahJmrl7hF4gmDhnCi4H1idQeAtvqBjalks49yKgbbEXyYS7d/s640/RevWarKitsonVar.png" width="420" /></a></div>
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And for those who are curious a 4 Page Preview is now up <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=19685" target="_blank">over at Comic Book Resources</a>.</div>
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Want more? Well, now we have a much clearer picture of what is coming via Marvel's own solicitations and via Alan Cowsill himself over on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/5511398398/" target="_blank">Make Mine Marvel UK</a> Facebook page.</div>
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So, Revolutionary War: Alpha is effectively Chapter 1 of this story. Here is how the rest of Revolutionary War will break down. </div>
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<strong>Wednesday January 15th 2014:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xHOaA549qZfrtR6SkJn3xOkdfViqSi_3LWY6higztPfjeFYBSBSmxjwuNNSx5xsea6fhHdqg6wdHZ6NeG7tV1NFzhVxwpPwDSH2bWJTGy5W37NNcA3-QMiRdZcwxA8C5jqxZZD4kMxNO/s1600/2013_REVOLUTIONARYWAR_DARKANGEL_LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xHOaA549qZfrtR6SkJn3xOkdfViqSi_3LWY6higztPfjeFYBSBSmxjwuNNSx5xsea6fhHdqg6wdHZ6NeG7tV1NFzhVxwpPwDSH2bWJTGy5W37NNcA3-QMiRdZcwxA8C5jqxZZD4kMxNO/s1600/2013_REVOLUTIONARYWAR_DARKANGEL_LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xHOaA549qZfrtR6SkJn3xOkdfViqSi_3LWY6higztPfjeFYBSBSmxjwuNNSx5xsea6fhHdqg6wdHZ6NeG7tV1NFzhVxwpPwDSH2bWJTGy5W37NNcA3-QMiRdZcwxA8C5jqxZZD4kMxNO/s320/2013_REVOLUTIONARYWAR_DARKANGEL_LOGO.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<b>REVOLUTIONARY WAR:
DARK ANGEL #1</b></div>
<a href="http://gillen.cream.org/wordpress_html/about-the-author/" target="_blank">KIERON GILLEN</a> (W) • <a href="http://dietricho.deviantart.com/" target="_blank">DIETRICH SMITH</a> (A)<br />
Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />
Variant Cover by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Larroca" target="_blank">SALVADOR LARROCA</a><br />
Part 2 of “Revolutionary
War”<br />
• When Shevaun Haldane experiences a troubling vision in Darkmoor
Castle, she realizes danger may be coming for the heroes of Marvel UK.<br />
• With
time running out, Shevaun has no choice but to suit up as Dark Angel once
again.<br />
• An adventure that will take fans through the past, present, and
future of Marvel UK!<br />
32 PGS./ ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ …$3.99<br />
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<strong>Wednesday 29th January 2014:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVQMhdm6OnsFGnUG3QVdHQ6F_mFVuUYRqURzSpyqQSZO95TvSkovJYgpKSUbBaKhQ4SY4qsshwSEDY-K0fq32m9do-aAXZ2-MH7lb5xdpk9GvMif7oPQ08I9tx_ndJAEXWq7PiXZOz7SF/s1600/REVOWARKOP2014003-Cov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVQMhdm6OnsFGnUG3QVdHQ6F_mFVuUYRqURzSpyqQSZO95TvSkovJYgpKSUbBaKhQ4SY4qsshwSEDY-K0fq32m9do-aAXZ2-MH7lb5xdpk9GvMif7oPQ08I9tx_ndJAEXWq7PiXZOz7SF/s320/REVOWARKOP2014003-Cov.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>REVOLUTIONARY WAR:
KNIGHTS OF PENDRAGON #1</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.robwilliamscomics.co.uk/" target="_blank">ROB WILLIAMS</a> (W) • <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Coleby" target="_blank">SIMON COLEBY</a> (A)</div>
Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />
Variant Cover by TBD<br />
Part 3 of “Revolutionary War”<br />
• A
corporate deep-mining setup unearths an old MYS-TECH base, where magical cloning
experiments have been taking place.<br />
• What mysteries or monsters are waiting
in Britain’s subterranean bones?<br />
• Featuring fan-favorite Marvel UK
characters Dai Thomas, Pete Wisdom, and Union Jack!<br />
32 PGS./ ONE-SHOT/Rated
T+ …$3.99<br />
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<strong>Wednesday 12th February 2014:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7aywS4vNg5h5tdKrvQhk0FUpxD2GlZYlFprM_MM5ZbjyXxymosG2F6fayE8c0kpocTf0N6avM6V3WwLQSwzh7YAz0RB0_uzPjnNaA-2YAIa6_1jcJWHgWubEGpC3jrwO2jEEltjjgSlD/s1600/RWDH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih7aywS4vNg5h5tdKrvQhk0FUpxD2GlZYlFprM_MM5ZbjyXxymosG2F6fayE8c0kpocTf0N6avM6V3WwLQSwzh7YAz0RB0_uzPjnNaA-2YAIa6_1jcJWHgWubEGpC3jrwO2jEEltjjgSlD/s320/RWDH.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY WAR: DEATH'S HEAD II #1</strong></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Lanning" target="_blank">ANDY LANNING</a> & <a href="http://www.alancowsill.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">ALAN COWSILL</a>
(W) • <a href="http://nickroche.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">NICK ROCHE</a> (A)</div>
Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />
Variant Cover by <a href="http://www.liam-sharp.com/" target="_blank">LIAM SHARP</a><br />
Part 4 of "Revolutionary War"<br />
• The long-awaited return of DEATH'S
HEAD -- one of the biggest hits of the original Marvel UK!<br />
• Death's Head!
Death's Head II! On an adventure together for the first time EVER!<br />
• What
threat could be grave enough to bring these two heroes together from across
time? How about the villainous Mys-Tech organization resurfacing with an
army?!<br />
32 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T+ ...$3.99<br />
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<strong>Wednesday 19th February 2014:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzMFglrKye-VS3-7PmohZNFphIbMnmssBDKEH06lLI5RUevSTrIbgeSAPDGby1JG6P9oaVyDYS5FVlz7__ygBs4MlOj2IU6RTfu-ykaVMEu6s_Yo4fTziIkLc8IqOrxhadzx4-W81tVmV/s1600/RWSS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzMFglrKye-VS3-7PmohZNFphIbMnmssBDKEH06lLI5RUevSTrIbgeSAPDGby1JG6P9oaVyDYS5FVlz7__ygBs4MlOj2IU6RTfu-ykaVMEu6s_Yo4fTziIkLc8IqOrxhadzx4-W81tVmV/s320/RWSS.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY WAR: SUPERSOLDIERS #1</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.robwilliamscomics.co.uk/">ROB WILLIAMS</a> (W) • <a href="http://www.brentandersonart.com/">BRENT ANDERSON</a>
(A)<br />Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />Variant Cover by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Gibbons">DAVE GIBBONS</a><br />Part 5 of "Revolutionary
War"<br />• Some of the most popular heroes of Marvel UK return for SUPERSOLDIERS
– and where the Supersoldiers go, trouble isn't far behind!<br />• It's the
Supersoldiers versus Mys-Tech in all-out war!<br />• When a vast army of Mys-Tech
Psycho Wraiths come calling on a small Scottish town, it's up to the
Supersoldiers to put them down for good!<br />32 PGS./ ONE-SHOT/Rated T+
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<strong>Wednesday 12th March 2014:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhUhuRXZzyEQoz6uI8vxOG9vGGBZgrKnRlcCWq2bpVQwjCNywr4VZhVG7GqFI26sQck0vZnzrxcAE-K0IerK1EO2me9Yj_hFowExPbO4QH-hJCo9Wx5-xb_jDgvCajM_PyS2lanyzZprU/s1600/RevWarMotormouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhUhuRXZzyEQoz6uI8vxOG9vGGBZgrKnRlcCWq2bpVQwjCNywr4VZhVG7GqFI26sQck0vZnzrxcAE-K0IerK1EO2me9Yj_hFowExPbO4QH-hJCo9Wx5-xb_jDgvCajM_PyS2lanyzZprU/s320/RevWarMotormouth.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY WAR: MOTORMOUTH #1</strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.glenndakin.com/">GLENN DAKIN</a> (W) • <a href="http://ronanhq.blogspot.co.uk/">RONAN CLIQUET</a> (A)<br />Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />Variant Cover By <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declan_Shalvey">DECLAN SHALVEY</a><br />• When Mys-Tech returns and threatens the safety of Great Britain, MI:13 need to try to convince MOTORMOUTH to come out of retirement.<br />• Harley Davis’ days of being a hero are over, though. Now, her day job is being the mother of her two children. Until an explosive Mys-Tech attack calls her out of retirement!<br />• Be there as Motormouth gets her mojo back!<br />32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99</div>
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<strong>Wednesday 19th March 2014:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS2Bf2Crgik0y3ZZD8dIedcvp5od1g0kFmEhg5wRe8HScbH7OwUMpqF9WIKIqJ5TF5siMgS5ZFENjfPC6IKnh4UWS_J0GAAuUQku1aqAD0JYJT8-9xcjtMNtZlOuY1olQigTMK4P4N5JP/s1600/RevWarWarheads.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMS2Bf2Crgik0y3ZZD8dIedcvp5od1g0kFmEhg5wRe8HScbH7OwUMpqF9WIKIqJ5TF5siMgS5ZFENjfPC6IKnh4UWS_J0GAAuUQku1aqAD0JYJT8-9xcjtMNtZlOuY1olQigTMK4P4N5JP/s320/RevWarWarheads.png" width="213" /></a></div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY WAR: WARHEADS #1</strong></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Lanning" target="_blank">ANDY LANNING</a> & <a href="http://www.alancowsill.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">ALAN COWSILL</a> (W)<br /><a href="http://garyerskine.blogspot.co.uk/">GARY ERSKINE</a> (A)<br />Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />VARIANT COVER BY <a href="http://garyerskine.blogspot.co.uk/">GARY ERSKINE</a> <br />• Colonel Liger, formerly of the evil organization Mys-Tech, has started working as an agent of MI:13, Mys-Tech’s rival agency.<br />• Not everything is as it appears, though – because Liger has just discovered that his old team, The Warheads, are still alive – and nothing’s going to stop him from finding them.<br />32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99</div>
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And finally...</div>
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<strong>Wednesday 26th March 2014:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfIt3cn-ZXdAbw2ytnPrCKuv4VXd6yup09whyphenhyphensltnavpq13l6Hmpd1KdZv0Y1XMGXacxpnHMp-YObNHjolHZNmRRaW0mk4bIj60lypTIVF5BRFNXw1wGleorU4M1YobDTJc_izvQhWzH_/s1600/revolutionary+war+omega.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfIt3cn-ZXdAbw2ytnPrCKuv4VXd6yup09whyphenhyphensltnavpq13l6Hmpd1KdZv0Y1XMGXacxpnHMp-YObNHjolHZNmRRaW0mk4bIj60lypTIVF5BRFNXw1wGleorU4M1YobDTJc_izvQhWzH_/s320/revolutionary+war+omega.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<strong>REVOLUTIONARY WAR: OMEGA #1</strong></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Lanning" target="_blank">ANDY LANNING</a> & <a href="http://www.alancowsill.com/?page_id=2" target="_blank">ALAN COWSILL</a> (W) • <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Elson">RICHARD ELSON</a> (A)<br />Cover by <a href="http://diablo2003.deviantart.com/">MARK BROOKS</a><br />Variant Cover by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_McKelvie">JAMIE McKELVIE</a><br />THE FINAL ISSUE IN AN 8-PART EPIC<br />• Marvel UK’s triumphant return reaches its epic conclusion!<br />• Will the agents of MI:13 be able to stop whatever Mys-Tech has been planning?<br />32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99</div>
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And there you have it. A list of issues, dates, variant covers and creators. And with this again may I reiterate what is fast becoming somewhat of a mantra for me, right now. Make sure you Order (or Pre-order) your copy.</div>
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I'm sure that most of you, much like myself, are eager to read these books. They're kind of a big deal to us, we want to read more Marvel UK character stories, and we know that the only way that is going to happen is if this series succeeds. The best way to ensure that is for you to go to your local comic book store, speak to the guy who
orders them in, and ask them to pre-order you a copy of each book. You have the issue names. You have the dates they come out. They can do this for you.<br /><br />Why?
Well, it's no secret that the characters involved here are not as high profile as, say, the
Spider-man, Avengers or Wolverines of this world. Those Mark Brooks covers are gobsmacking. Really standout covers. But the Marvel UK characters have been away for
a while, and some store owners out there might not even be completely aware of
Revolutionary War as a series or event. <br /><br />So go and spread the word to them.
:)<br /><br />Pre-ordering the book, asking the owner to put an issue aside,
guarantees that you'll get your copy, but it also lets the owner know that
people are interested in the series. So hopefully they'll order enough copies in
for others too.<br /><br />If championing Marvel UK appearances over recent years
(Such as Captain Britain & MI13, for example) has taught me anything it's
that there's nothing more frustrating than wanting to support a series only to
find that you cannot get hold of a copy - either because the store owner didn't
order enough copies in, or didn't order it in at all. I've received a number of
emails over the years from guys telling me just that. So let's make sure this does not happen this around.<br /><br />Avoid
disappointment, get your Revolutionary War order in today, and pick up Revolutionary War: Alpha this Wednesday. I have a really good feeling about this.</div>
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Speak soon.</div>
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Mark (Sword)</div>
Mark Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13499212500786272512noreply@blogger.com0