No Love for the British Superhero

We have our own Captain Britain. Created by British born comic book writer, Chris Claremont in 1976 and designed to uphold British laws in the same way Captain America held up the US moral highground, our own super-saviour (real name Brian Braddock) has never really been taken to the nation's heart.

The star-spangled banner of an American superhero has been been swathing a blaze of red, white and blue across the pages of comics since the by-gone era of WWII and now sets look to dominate next month with his appearance in the Marvel team-up movie extravaganza, The Avengers. The man in question is Captain America. Known the world over as an icon of the west, he stands for truth, justice and the American way. Strong, agile, a natural leader and with a stick firmly rooted up his ass .He is the moral centre of a comic book universe and will forever be a legendary comic book character. But, he isn't the only super-power endowed captain.

Little known outside comic book fandom, there exists a man of equal honorary rank, adorned in the same tri-colour scheme as his trans-atlantic cousin, but with far less pomp and circumstance, we have our own Captain Britain. Created by British born comic book writer, Chris Claremont in 1976 and designed to uphold British laws in the same way Captain America held up the US moral highground, our own super-saviour (real name Brian Braddock) has never really been taken to the nation's heart.

The classic power-set is all there; super strength, speed, stamina, senses and the ability to fly. Though there is also the classic convoluted back story of just how these powers came to be his (there is a ring of right, the wizard Merlyn and the otherworld) lets just say, for now, they are magical. Nothing, of course, to do with the hit BBC show, Merlin, but nevertheless tied into our country's mythology.

So will this heroic figure ever be brought to life on the big scree? Not bloody likely. Other than the fact that he is an American creation copyrighted to an American company, there is little to no interest in it. Despite rumours that there was a project in development and that, "It will be darker and grittier than movies like Spider-Man and Iron Man - kind of like Marvel's answer to The Dark Knight" quoted an industry insider.

After the Avengers will undoubtedly do great box office success, heroes such as Captain America and Iron Man will continue their franchises along with some new character editions. There are a myriad of mutants to covey on screen, an ever expanding roster of Avengers being given the big screen pitch and a dozen supporting characters itching for the big screen. Will the British Superhero contingent be part of this? Unlikely. Perhaps as unlikely as DC making a Knight and Squire movie. Don't ask.

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