Similar to the explanation for Norse magic within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, at times within the comics, Captain Britain’s powers are explained to be thanks to ancient advanced technology held by Merlyn and others, which appears to be magic to those primitive people who don’t understand it.Īcross the many writers that Captain Britain has seen, this explanation for magic isn’t always dwelt upon as with many elements of the character’s backstory and abilities, it depends on the story at hand as to what origin magic might hold.Įven so, Brian’s abilities as a scientist are also periodically relied on – the character, in addition to being inspired by Britain’s history, is also connected to Britain’s continued relevance in fields of technological discovery, making Captain Britain a relevant hero for all aspects of UK culture.Ĭaptain Britain isn’t a warrior. In addition to gaining power from the magical realm of ancient Britain, Brian Braddock’s powers are also often connected with a high form of technological wizardry. In his most recent incarnation, Captain Britain’s powers have become tied to his own self-confidence and to the mood of the British nation, meaning that he’s stronger when his fellow countrymen are feeling patriotic, but weaker when he doubts himself. In addition to the standard superhuman strength, speed and agility that pretty much every Marvel character gets, Captain Britain is also sometimes able to fly, shoot energy beams, and project force fields, depending on the needs of the story. Having been mortally wounded in a motorbike crash as part of a supervillain attack on the nuclear facility at which he works, Brian Braddock is given special powers from Merlyn and his daughter Roma to become a superhero who defends Britain from evil – unlike Captain America, protecting his home country so very rarely involves punching Hitler.Ĭaptain Britain’s been through several iterations since his initial debut in the 1960s, often being updated by the lead writer of his comic to meet the needs of Britain at a particular time – a reboot of the character in the 1980s was shaped in large part by Alan Moore, of Watchmen and V for Vendetta fame, and Captain Britain saw another reworking in 2008 at the hands of Paul Cornell, who among other things has contributed several scripts to Doctor Who.Īs such, his powers often go through changes depending on his writer and the needs of the time. While the idea behind the character may have been to create someone that would resonate with readers of Marvel UK’s comic books, the approach that was taken with developing Captain Britain is very different – rather than being based on the New World ideals of an underdog rising up through the benefits of technology, Brian Braddock gains his super powers from the wizard Merlyn, and his abilities are tied to the legendary stories of myth and magic that exist in Britain’s history. Considering the similarity in name, it might seem obvious that Captain Britain is simply an attempt to copy Captain America, creating a patriotic superhero for an audience across the Pond from New York.
0 kommentar(er)
