Captain Britain and MI-13

Captain Britain and MI-13

Writer: Paul Cornell (Doctor Who writer)
Artist: Leonard Kirk (primarily)
Publisher: Marvel

This series is the best new Marvel series I've read in the last year. Yes, that is partially because I don't read many Marvel series these days. I'm fed up and tired of all of the crossovers. I am one of the 30+ fanboys/fanmen who have bought Marvel through thick and thin, but the only Marvel books I'm reading these days are Astonishing X-Men, Immortal Iron Fist, Wolverine (through the end of this future Wolverine storyline), Criminal, Incognito, Daredevil, Captain America (which Brubaker's slowly losing me on), and Captain Britain and MI13.

Paul Cornell has devised a Captain Britain story that has me interested. This really hasn't happened since the early issues of Excalibur (probably off and on through issue 60). But really since the Alan Moore issues of Captain Britain's own strip in the British comics. He's also managed to take a character I love, Black Knight, and make him more interesting. And to make things better, he has even taken Pete Wisdom, who I haven't cared for, and even made him an interesting and good character.

He's managed to take all of the baggage from the above characters and incorporated them into the story without being burdened by said baggage. This is no small feat. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who's read any thing featuring Captain Britain since about the time Alan Davis left Excalibur the second time. They're also handling a version of the super hero registration act a lot better than the US based comics.

Leonard Kirk's artwork is beautiful and fits the book like Cinderella's glass slipper. It's a perfect fit.

Points in Favor:

• Good, solid storytelling.
• Great super hero storytelling.
  
• Good, solid art. I haven't looked at Leonard Kirk's art much since the early 90s. He's really come a long way. He wasn't the artist on JSA until after I had already stopped reading that title.
• Captain Britain is cool again. He hasn't really been cool in a long time. Probably not since early in the original Excalibur run.
• Black Knight. He's one of my favorite Marvel characters.
  
• They're also going to deal with the duplicate ebony blade (see Black Panther series) and he appears to have his shield and horse from the 90s Heroes for Hire series.
• It's interesting how Paul Cornell is including the confusing bits about Black Knight and Captain Britain not getting bogged down by them.
• John the Skrull. What can you say about a shapeshifting alien who has chosen to look like John Lennon? Don't read his Wikipedia page until you read the books though.
  
• You should be able to pick up the whole run pretty cheap.
  
• It's a really good title even though it is a direct spin off from Secret Invasion. I've not enjoyed most of the Marvel crossovers since and including Civil War. There is a reason they used to publish 64 page annuals in the 80s/90s.
  

Points Against:

• It's a Secret Invasion spin off, but don't hold that against it.
• The story shoots off at a run. There is very little explanation of the history. You should probably read Black Knight and Captain Britain's Marvel Universe entries or their Wikipedia entries.
  
• I think it's one of the titles Marvel is giving the $3.99 treatment.
• Blade. I'm giving this a while though. Paul Cornell may be able to make him interesting.
• I've announced I like the title. There is a rule at DC and Marvel that once I announce I like a title in any public forum, they decide to cancel them (The Crew anyone?). Although Immortal Iron Fist has survived so far.
  

Definitely a recommended read. I'd give it a B (or a Hot Buy).

You can find the trade of the first six issues here:



Although, if you bargain hunt a bit, you can probably find the first 8 0r 9 issues for less than that. I think that's about what I paid on eBay for 1-9 including shipping (correction: I paid $15.49 including shipping, it only cost me a couple bucks more). The word is leaking out on this title though, so they may become harder to find.

Issue 10 went on sell last week. Go get it.