ICFD Cover of the Week - 21st April 2013

 

 

 

 

This week's cover is from Captain Britain (vol 1) #19 from February 1977. Art I *think* by Herb Trimpe.

I love the pure melodrama of this cover.

This comes from the same 'Two Captains' crossover story which brought us the kidnap of Jim Callahan . You know I'm always surprised that the Red Skull hasn't been used as a Captain Britain (and affiliate) foe more often. He's always been a Captain America foe, and I can quite understand that. But ideologically while clearly America was an adversary for Nazi Germany I would have thought that Great Britain would be the bigger thorn in Hitler's side.

The largest European nation to say 'No' to that regime. 'No' to any alliance. 'No' to being invaded. A Country which survived nightly bombing raids, and could nt be taken down.

Sure, it's an American led comics industry. I know. As I am frequently reminded (seemingly even by the writers, these days) we are often no longer considered more than a footnote in American comics. But I still remain surprised thast more stories haven't chosen to take advantage of that.

ICFD Cover of the Week - 10th February 2013

Captain Britain vol 1 #23 (March 1977)

This week's cover takes us back to the 70s, and to the middle of the big 'Two Captains' storyline from the first run of Captain Britain.

That's one hell of a dramatic cover there. Captains Britain and America up in front of a Nazi firing squad, as The Red Skull tries to seize control of Britain and turn it into some kind of modern day Nazi superstate.

But that's actually not the most interesting thing about this cover. Awesome though it is to see Brian Braddock and Steve Rogers teaming up it's actually the figure of the man between the two of them that's of most interest.

Who is that? Why none other than (at the time, obviously) British Prime Minister James Callaghan!

I kid you not. A central part of The Red Skull's plot was the kidnapping of Jim Callaghan, and threatening to execute him unless the British Government handed him the reigns of power.

While it has always been Marvel's aim to set their comics in a plausible mirror version of the real world it still remains relatively rare to see real world political figures showing up in their comics. Remember all the fuss the other year over President Obama showing up in Amazing Spider-man? Well, forget that! Marvel UK were doing that kinda stuff a good thirty years before that issue was even conceived.

So, if you were under the impression that former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown showing up in Captain Britain & MI13 was a first, actually, you were wrong. Impressive though that was, he wasn't even the first Labour Prime Minister to appear in a Marvel comic.

And don't worry. Funilly enough, he does survive.)

I know! SPOILERS! All the way from 1977. :)

Artwork by Herb Trimpe