Captain Britain
- You may wish to consult
Captain Britain (disambiguation)for other, similarly-named pages.
Captain Britain (real name Brian Braddock) was a superhero who was given his powers by a disguised Merlin the Wise, who was subtly directing Braddock's life to make him mentally and physically prepared for a task. Merlin would once resurrect Captain Britain from the dead. (COMIC: A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... [+]Loading...["A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... (comic story)"]) He would reluctantly work alongside the Special Executive. (COMIC: Executive Action [+]Loading...["Executive Action (comic story)"])
Later, he would be one of the founding members of the team Excalibur, after the apparent death of several members of the X-Men. (COMIC: The Sword is Drawn [+]Loading...["The Sword is Drawn (comic story)"]) At some point, he visited Maruthea. (COMIC: Party Animals [+]Loading...["Party Animals (comic story)"], The Incomplete Death's Head [+]Loading...["The Incomplete Death's Head (comic story)"])
After sacrificing himself, he was again brought back by Merlin, (COMIC: The Guns of Avalon [+]Loading...["The Guns of Avalon (comic story)"]) a fact that other individuals such as Plokta (COMIC: Hell Comes to Birmingham [+]Loading...["Hell Comes to Birmingham (comic story)"]) and Dracula were aware of, with the latter calling him, among other things, "Merlinson". (COMIC: Vampire State [+]Loading...["Vampire State (comic story)"])
Biography
Early life
Brian Braddock was born into a family as one of two twins, along with his sister, Elizabeth. He was "too poor to associate with his aristocratic peers", and "too proud to seek the company of the lower classes", making him a "lonely child", at least according to Merlyn.
He continued this loneliness as he grew, and studied physics. He pursued various "brief and shallow relationships", pursuing one of these on the night that his parents died, leading him to feel great guilt. (COMIC: A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... [+]Loading...["A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... (comic story)"])
Becoming Captain Britain
As a young man, Braddock attended Thames University and worked at the Darkmoor Research Centre, a job he took during his holidays from university. One night, the complex was attacked by Joshua Stragg, alias "the Reaver", with Braddock fleeing. Outside, he stumbled upon "the group of standing stones at the heart of Darkmoor", where he saw a vision, urging him to "take up the mystic amulet that was to change his very existence".
Transformed into Captain Britain, he fought various foes, such as Red Skull and Slaymaster. (COMIC: A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... [+]Loading...["A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... (comic story)"])
As a hermit
Mid-flight over the Atlantic Ocean, Braddock bailed out of the plane he was travelling in, convinced that it was under attack from the forces of darkness. He washed up on a beach in Cornwall with amnesia, not remembering who he was or how he got there.
He became a hermit on the Cornish coast for two years as his psyche settled. (COMIC: A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... [+]Loading...["A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... (comic story)"])
First death
After his psyche settled, he was called upon again to fight alongside the Black Knight in the service of Merlin, going on several adventures where he fought against trolls, ogres, demons, and nightgaunts. In fighting, he died, "his spirit drifting almost to the jaws of existinction before being rescued by Merlin. (COMIC: A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... [+]Loading...["A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... (comic story)"])
Second death
He was taken to Otherworld, where he was finally at peace, his two opposing halves finally being reconciled into a single being. He was later sent to an alternate Earth alongside the elf Jackdaw as his companion. During this, Jackdaw perished after assisting Captain Britain against the inhabitants of the parallel world.
He realised that Jim Jaspers was the cause of the lunacy he was experiencing, leading him to flee in terror, running into the Fury, Jaspers' "most lethal creation". With Captain Britain as its only remaining target, the Fury hunted him down and killed him. (COMIC: A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... [+]Loading...["A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... (comic story)"])
Second revival
Due to a reality-storm, the only remains recoverable of Captain Britain were a rag, a bone, and a hank of hair. With these, he was revived for a second time by Merlyn, with the assistance of Roma, first reconstructing his body and suit, then placing his spirit back into said body. He was placed in Darkmoor, 8 September 1982, and was grateful for being saved. (COMIC: A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... [+]Loading...["A Rag, a Bone, a Hank of Hair... (comic story)"])
Founding Excalibur
After the death of several members of the X-Men, he eventually became one of the founding members of the new team Excalibur. (COMIC: The Sword is Drawn [+]Loading...["The Sword is Drawn (comic story)"])
On Maruthea
He later attended Bonjaxx's birthday party at Maruthea. He wore costumes decorated with a Union Flag design, and another that was a red jumpsuit.
Two different versions of him participated in a fight which was started by a Meep: one fought a cyborg with a chainsaw arm, while another fought John Steed and Emma Peel. (COMIC: Party Animals [+]Loading...["Party Animals (comic story)"])
Encounter with Death's Head and Death's Head II
Captain Britain also offered Death's Head and his future self to help fight Hob, but they refused. (COMIC: The Incomplete Death's Head [+]Loading...["The Incomplete Death's Head (comic story)"])
Behind the scenes
- Captain Britain was Marvel UK's flagship character in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His ties to Doctor Who Weekly were written by Alan Moore and drawn by Alan Davis, both DWM alumni; Moore was also friends with Merlin creator Steven Parkhouse. Many years later, Paul Cornell would have Merlin the Wise appear in his Captain Britain and MI:13 run.
- Captain Britain is seen three times in Party Animals wearing three different costumes. First, he is wearing his original costume from Captain Britain Weekly (1976-77) while standing with Captain UK. Next, he is wearing his new costume from Marvel Superheroes #377 (1981), The Daredevils (1983), Captain Britain (1985-86), etc. while punching the chief of the cannibals. Last, he is seen wearing his costume from Knights of Pendragon (1990-91) while holding John Steed. As three different Doctors were present, this could mean Captain Britain is there three times too.
External links
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