The Americans have Superman and Britain had Captain Britain, yes, we once had our own superhero courtesy of Marvel Comics back in the seventies. I wasn’t a big Marvel superhero fan but I remember in my youth reading a few Captain Britain comics.
Essex-born Brian Braddock was UK's answer to Captain America receiving his powers from Merlin, yes of the round table and King Arthur and his daughter, who I never heard of before. Braddock received his powers after a nearly fatal motorcycle accident.
According to my research because I couldn’t remember anything about how he became super. It was Merlin giving him the choice of the Amulet of Right or the Sword of Might. He selected the amulet over the sword feeling he was no warrior his backstory was that he was a bit of a loner would a reputation of being cowardly.
When Brian touched the Amulet of Right he was instantly transformed into Captain Britain with the powers of superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, reflexes, senses, and the ability to fly at supersonic speed (for 15minutes only). Merlin also made a telescopic Quarterstaff loaded with high-tech gadgetry later turning it to the Star Sceptre with the ability to generate a protective force field. He would eventually lead a British Avengers-style team called Excalibur.
Being British, he preferred a low profile, although he did garner attention after saving Prime Minister Jim Callaghan from the nefarious Red Skull and frustrating a takeover of London by time-travelling Nazis. I also like that one of his archenemies was Welsh anti-superhero Detective Chief Inspector Dai Thomas of Scotland Yard.
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| Dai Thomas |
Thomas’s hatred for Captain Britain comes from a defining event of his life when he and his wife, Valerie, were crushed under a falling building when the couple were visiting New York for a police conference. The collapse occurred during a fight between Thor and the Hulk with Thomas developing a hatred of superheroes, whom he saw as a serious threat to public safety.
The character no longer has a stand-alone comic but recently popped up in an Avengers story leading to speculation of a rebirth. A Scottish movie poster artist Ciara McAvoy announced on Twitter that Marvel is developing a Captain Britain TV show. Marvel have been scouring there back catalogue for characters to regenerate into new superhero franchises for television and films.
The news hasn’t set social media outlets alight. I saw one poll on line asking who should play Captain Britain if a movie was made with London mayor Boris Johnson top choice. There is plenty of potential for a reborn Captain Britain. His team Excalibur could be like Unit in the Doctor Who series and he could be at beckon call of the British Prime Minister.
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