World Enough and Time

Secret Invasion: Captain Britain and MI13 by Paul Cornell Leonard Kirk. This is the TPB version of Captain Britain and MI13 #1-4, part of the Secret Invasion series that happened at Marvel last year, when Skrulls invaded Earth.

MI13 is the Marvel version of the British branch of government which examines the paranormal. Captain Britain (created by Chris Claremont) is the flag-wearing superhero of the UK. And Pete Wisdom, created by Warren Ellis, is one of my favourite Marvel characters. Sadly, since Warren Ellis stopped writing the character, no one at Marvel seems to have any idea what to do with him. They produce a pale imitation. Paul Cornell is no exception here.

And my reaction to Captain Britain has always been one of boredom and annoyance. He's maybe not my least favourite superhero in the Marvel stable, but close to it. I love the DC version of Faerie - The Books of Magic, Neil Gaiman's lordly Auberon, and some rather good stories in The Sandman. But I've yet to like any Marvel story with the inclusion of fairies, even with the presence of Pete Wisdom, who was at his best in the comic Excalibur when Warren Ellis was writing it.

How I'd like to see him in a good series. A really good series.

Well, this isn't it, though it was fun to see him again. The story? The Skrulls who are trying to take over the world, are invading the dimension from which the UK gets its magic, Avalon. Heroes die, heroes are resurrected, Pete Wisdom cusses a lot in comicspeak and remains suitably heroic. Merlin and the sword Excalibur turn up, making me groan. Lots of jagged lines, lots of chaotic and bloody fighting, with a rather interesting pacifist Muslim female doctor is in the middle of the action.

There are some good lines and some good angles, but I wasn't impressed, except for the first few pages: a wonderful scene of death and deception regarding Skrull disguises. One other good page contrasts the death of Captain Britain with the death of Captain America. There are some great lines: "We just don't like to make a fuss," says Captain Britain, as he foils the Skrull invasion.

There was one quite wonderful character, John the Skrull, who looks like John Lennon (most of the time) and has been working for MI13 for years. I do love Skrulls.

But I don't care if I ever see Captain Britain again.