Captain Britain Vol.2 #1

Jan 1985. Cover price 50p.
36 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.

Edited by Ian Rimmer.

Cover by Alan Davis.

Contents:

.2 Classifieds

.3 UNTITLED (quarter page) editorial by Ian Rimmer. / Captain Britain illustration from strip, a: Alan Davis. / Freefall Warriors illustration from strip, p: Jerry Paris, i: Steve Parkhouse. / Indicia

.4 Captain Britain Myth, Memory and Legend w: Jamie Delano; a: Alan Davis, lettering by Steve Craddock. Edited by Chris Gill.

16 Abslom Daak, Dalek Killer UNTITLED [23 Charges of Murder, Pillage, Piracy, Massacre, and Other Crimes] w: Steve Moore; a: Steve Dillon.

r: Doctor Who Weekly (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #17 (06 Feb 1980).

20 The Mysterious Night-Raven UNTITLED [] w: Steve Parkhouse; David Lloyd.

r: Hulk Comic (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (07 Mar 1979).

23 Paragon of Painthorpe Street, part one, text story by Steve Alan; illustrated by Jeff Anderson.

27 Freefall Warriors Freefall Warriors Introduction to characters.

28 Freefall Warriors Warworld w: Steve Parkhouse; p: Jerry Paris, i: Steve Parkhouse. Edited by Alan McKenzie.

36 Spidey Watches advertisement.

Proudly boasting an Eagle Award Winner stamp, despite it appearing to be clumsily added. Alan Davis' cover illustration is perfect for the relaunch of the series, perfectly capturing the character's nature in a fourth wall-breaking pose. The choice of red text is interesting and eye-catching, adding to the appeal of the issue - an extremely restrained cover, considering several text-heavy examples published by Marvel over the previous decade.

Ian Rimmer's introduction tempts fate in a manner which would prove prophetic:

There are two ways we'll get to know your views if you are unhappy with anything... you can write to us via the Captain Britain Communications page, or you can stop buying the title.

Not that we want to remind him of those words.

Chief Inspector Dai Thomas gives a slide-show to his superiors where he outlines his theory that Brian Braddock and Captain Britain are the same person. Lining up corresponding dates and locations, Dai attempts to make clear that the presence of superheroes is a threat to civilians. Dai requests authority to investigate Braddock, as innocent lives are in danger as long as he operated unchecked, but is told to refrain from taking action. Brian, meanwhile, is relaxing in Braddock Manor with his sister, but admits that he enjoys the thrill of being Captain Britain. As they talk, someone watches from outside.

A remarkably low-key way to begin the series, yet very effective. The use of jigsaw puzzle-shaped panels is the kind of visually attractive trick which elevates what is usually drab flashbacks into something which retains interest throughout - the slide-show presentation is also handled meticulously, as befits such an impressive creative team.

Abslom Daak isn't a perfect fit for the title, but his strip is well worth seeing again, as is Night-Raven. It is a shame that such a reliance on reprints is affecting the title from the start, but when reprints are this good it doesn't really matter. Paragon of Painthorpe Street is a welcome change of pace - a text story about forty-eight year old Redmond Jonah Pringle, a rather mundane man who dreams about superheroics - reminiscent the stories in John Varley's Superheroes anthology, it doesn't tie in to the main strip in any way, but is still entertaining.

Free-fall Warriors, created by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons, is an odd bunch.

Cool Breeze
The latest development in bio-engineering from the laboratories of Intra-Venus Inc. But unknown to the executives of that company, an extra factor had been built into this android's genetic code - the "soul" factor!

Big Cat
The Free-Fall Warriors' maximum leader. Originally a mercenary flier, leader of the Hellcats Flight - he's capricious, vicious and vindictive. One quality sets him apart from his human counterparts... He can see in the dark!

Machine Head
Originally human, massive implants transformed this operational high flier into one of the most devastating weapons in the Intra-Venus armoury - a Dive Fighter of Warworld!

Bruce
Product of the surgeon-sculptors of Rubicon, this shark-faced weirdo started life as a "sub-spacer," cruising the lower strata of sub-space and pouncing on victims as they passed. In short, a pirate. Once wrecked on the planet Mahmoud and raised to deity status by stunned aborigines, he had bestowed upon him the gift (or curse) of invulnerability in battle. Seems to have held good so far.

We don't actually see them in action - save for Big Cat's piloting skills - so it is far too early to say whether I like this or not. Far too short, though with some beautiful artwork, it's the type of story which 2000 A.D. could have easily accommodated. Does it add to the overall quality of the issue? I'm going to be optimistic - on the strength of all the ideas floating around, along with the quality of art, the strip shows a lot of promise.