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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Feb 24, 2021 0:16:56 GMT -5
Mighty World of Marvel #7"The Candlelight Dialogues"Cover Date: Dec, 1983 Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Alan Davis Feature Characters: Captain Britain Villain/s: Beetle Guards Special Guests: Meggan (1st Appearance of), Sue Parsons (1st Appearance of), & Victoria Bentley/(The Following in Flashback/Story Form Only) Betsy Braddock, Saturnyne, Tom Lennox, Allison Double, & Emma Collins Official Plot:Mad Jim Jaspers has conquered Britain, but rebellion is fomenting in the prison camps... Brodie's View:REPRINT STORIES ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE (But Not Reviewed): WOLVERINE #3 & a Night Raven Text Story No, we haven't started another run. We are still very much still covering the Alan Moore/Alan Davis CAPTAIN BRITAIN run. I guess running stories in a book mainly known for DAREDEVIL reprints just wasn't the massive success that Marvel UK thought it would be, so, that book was (or at least the non Daredevil parts of it) essentially folded into the pages of this book, which also reprinted stories from the Marvel on the other side of the pond. The focus of these stories will vary a lot more than they did on THE DAREDEVILS, but we're still a little ways away from the good Captain having his own book. Like with the last book jump that happened during the Moore/Davis CB run, Moore uses this story as kind of a bridge to what is going to happen in the stories following. In this case, it's a conversation between two characters (the shape changing Meggan, who makes her first appearance here, and Sue Parsons, a low grade psychic, who also makes her first appearance) in what appears to be just a dark room. Of course, we soon learn that the two have been imprisoned as part of "Mad" James Jaspers' scheme to get rid of all of the superhumans, much like the "Mad" Jim Jaspers did on Earth 238. This is through both STRIKE (Britain's SHIELD, which is secretly being controlled by crime lord, The Vixen) and through some sort of strange Beetle-like guards that Jaspers had most likely created, and between all that, Jaspers has quite quickly completely taken over Great Britain. At the very end of the story, we see this to be VERY and frighteningly true, as we see that Meggan and Sue have been imprisoned in a full on concentration camp, which one could only imagine would have quickly become a death camp, were things to continue on longer. The main focus of this story, other than showing how horrible things have gotten in such a short time, is showing what a hero Captain Britain has become to those in these concentration camps, as we see the two characters telling different stories about what could have happened to Brian Braddock and the other superhumans he brought with him to try and stop Jaspers and his plan. We first see a very realistic story depicting Brian springing into action against a group of Beetle guards who were trying to heard citizens into camps, and then quickly go into the realm of myths, as we then see Brian fighting a literal mountain of Beetle guards, being killed, and being tortured into giving up other superhumans. However, Meggan and Sue don't believe the last two stories, and hope that Captain Britain will come back like the grand hero they see him as, and set them all free. He will certainly try, as we see in the next few issues, which will be the grand finale' of this run...and it will most definitely be GRAND. In the next issue, we'll check in on our three most important characters in this run, to see where each are at during this particular point of the story. Of course, I'm not sure a nigh unstoppable killing machine really counts as a "character," but it is most definitely important to how things will play out once we reach our big climax. GRADE: A
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Feb 26, 2021 1:38:51 GMT -5
Mighty World of Marvel #8"The Twisted World (Reprise)"Cover Date: Jan, 1984 Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Alan Davis Feature Characters: Captain Britain Villain/s: James Jaspers, Beetle Guards, Vixen, & The Fury Special Guests: Betsy Braddock, Saturnyne, Tom Lennox, Allison Double, & Jennifer Official Plot:Captain Britain prepares to take the fight to Mad Jim Jaspers. Brodie's View:REPRINT STORIES ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE (But Not Reviewed): WOLVERINE #4 & a Night Raven Text Story We come back to our main story (as if we ever truly left it) with this issue, checking in on the three most pivotal characters in this entire storyline: Captain Britain (of course), "Mad" James Jaspers, and The Fury. The Fury we see first, as he happens across a group of STRIKE Beetle guards as they explore a series of caves, while talking about what a mess the world had become recently, as time has begun to kind of merge together. Of course, the second they happen upon the cyobite, who had been recovering from the last fight between it and Captain Britain and his allies, it's Game Over, and we then see the Fury rushing back off after its main target(s): Captain Britain and Captain U.K. (Linda McQuillan, who has been hanging with Brian and his friends since their last encounter with the Fury). We won't see it again for a few issues, but when it shows back up....Whoooo-Boy! We then see Brian Braddock himself, who is hiding out in a small apartment with his sister, Betsy Braddock, Tom Lennox, Saturnyne, Allison Double (who is sick), and Linda McQuillan (who is Off Screen, but still very much there). We see the characters freaking out over what is happening, with Brian and Saturnyne agreeing that it is following the exact pattern of the way things went on Earth 238. Alans Moore and Davis then do something interesting with Brian, making him momentarily refuse to go directly confront James Jaspers. He has to be convinced by the others that it is the only way, and that they would have his back. I love that they are willing to make him such a flawed character at times, as it's not something we had seen a lot at this point in superhero comics. Yeah, many of the Marvel characters had been flawed, which is why I've always preferred their characters over DC's, who up to that point had been pretty flawless, character wise, but some of the things that Alan Davis would do with Brian, even beyond Alan Moore leaving the book, were truly daring, especially for the time. Anyways, Brian ends up going outside to think, and seeing what a horror show his country has become in such a short time, as reality starts to crumble under the constant assault on it by "Mad" James Jaspers, decides that he will indeed risk it all to stop Jaspers. Speaking of Jaspers, that brings us to the best part of this issue, as things really do descend into straight horror showing how far things have gone as far as Jaspers' sanity goes. The Vixen and a couple of her men sneak into Jaspers' (who we learn has recently won an election to become Prime Minister of Great Britain) office, intent on trying to take him out as revenge for Jaspers doing the same to her (as he has taken control of STRIKE). What they find is that Jaspers has already progressed to the point where we had seen "Mad" Jim Jaspers in Earth 238, altering reality as much as he can, as his sanity circles the drain. Vixen makes the mistake of ordering Jaspers killed, which he responds to by making really horrible things happen to her two bodyguards (the first he expands out like a balloon, the other he makes break out in mini versions of himself, who seem to be trying to break free from his body) before transforming the Vixen into an actual one. Shocking, and definitely effective at showing how dangerous Jaspers has already become. In the next issue, things start to hit the fan for Brian's supporting cast, as the Good Captain makes his way towards the most dangerous battle he'll ever fight. GRADE: A
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 1, 2021 0:08:56 GMT -5
Mighty World of Marvel #9"Among These Dark, Satanic Mills"Cover Date: Feb, 1984 Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Alan Davis Feature Characters: Captain Britain Villain/s: James Jaspers & Beetle Guards Special Guests: Betsy Braddock, Saturnyne, Tom Lennox (Dies), Captain UK (Linda McQuillan), Allison Double, Roma, Merlyn, Vixen, & Jennifer Official Plot:Captain Britain and Company infiltrate Jaspers' stronghold. Brodie's View:REPRINT STORIES ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE (But Not Reviewed): CLOAK AND DAGGER #1, a Night Raven Text Story, and an unknown story called "Right Foot Backwards" As we see Brian Braddock head toward his battle with "Mad" James Jaspers, we see on a higher level that this battle is for the fate of the entire omniverse, as it is the chess game being played by Merlyn and his daughter, Roma. We do see the father/daughter duo at the very beginning of the story, as the more compassionate Roma (who is actually playing the "Dark Side" of the board....I guess that shows why she did so much for the X-Men and Excalibur once she fully took over Otherworld) tries to persuade her father to end the game, as he's been "messing up" with some of his plays (although, the reality is that we'll eventually find that he sacrificed them like pawns knowingly, as he did Jackdaw), and she knows the stake of the game they're playing, but Merlyn forces the game to continue. Once again, although Brian is oblivious to the larger stakes of his battle with Jaspers, as he sees the horror that Jaspers has already made, as reality starts to warp around him, mirroring his failing sanity. We see him heading to the same place The Vixen and her bodyguards did in the last story, seeing people literally merging into the wall of buildings as he enters. We see him mount the stairs to Jaspers' "office," and we actually see the Vixen in her vixen form, now catatonic and foaming at the mouth, as her mutated bodyguard floats aimlessly by. Undeterred by all of this, Brian enters Jaspers' office to see that Jaspers' ability has grown to the point that he's become part of reality itself. This is a threat that Brian Braddock must stop, as if he doesn't, Jaspers' insanity will spread throughout not only this reality, but all of the realities, turning it all into that Hellish sludge we saw that Earth 238 had been reduced to several issues ago. However, all of that being said; I've talked about what happens in the beginning and end parts of this issue, I'll now go back to what happens in the middle, as Brian unknowingly has his back up instantly halved as he travels to fight Jaspers. This happens when Betsy and the other happen across a group of STRIKE Beetle Guards, who go after the group once they know at least a few of them have powers. Tom Lennox tries to hold them off with telekinesis, but is blown away by one of the guards. This sends Betsy and Allison Double into a psychic shock that puts them out of things, as they most likely were captured right after this scene. We don't see the rest of it, as two of the characters that do go on, Saturnyne and Linda McQuillan, instantly flee the scene (well, Saturnyne chasing Linda, who is the first to run) manage to escape, and we see Saturnyne trying to egg Linda into action. It finally somewhat works, as Linda gets mad at Saturnyne's chiding, and socks her in the eye. This makes Saturnyne smile, despite the black eye, as it means that there still is an "Eye of the Tiger" that Saturnyne can bring out of McQuillan, and this is a good thing, as Captain U.K. will be the last resort if Brian Braddock falls. In the next issue....Brian Braddock falls...and falls....and falls. GRADE: A
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 2, 2021 1:29:20 GMT -5
Mighty World of Marvel #10"Anarchy in the UK"Cover Date: March, 1984 Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Alan Davis Feature Characters: Captain Britain Villain/s: "Mad" James Jaspers & The Fury Special Guests: Saturnyne & Captain UK (Linda McQuillan)/(In Illusion Only) Courtney Ross, "Mad" Jim Jaspers, & The Crazy Gang (Queen of Hearts, Coco, & Tweedledope) Official Plot:Captain Britain faces the godlike James Jaspers, who traps him in worlds of illusions. Cap eventually attacks him, but finds that his strongest blows don’t even faze Jaspers, whereas the godlike mutant leaves him close to death. Cap attempts to get up, determined not to give up, unaware of the fact that the Fury has found him and is getting ready to strike. Elsewhere, Saturnyne does her best to get the traumatized Captain UK ready for battle. Brodie's View:REPRINT STORIES ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE (But Not Reviewed): CLOAK AND DAGGER #2 & a Night Raven Text Story As Saturnyne continues her mission to try and fully find that "Eye of the Tiger" within the former Captain U.K, Linda McQuillan, Brian Braddock attempts to do battle with the insane, reality warping "Mad" James Jaspers. I say attempt to, as our poor Captain pretty much gets owned in a couple of minutes by the now Godlike Jaspers, who changes the entire reality in his "office" from second to second. Jaspers delves into Brian's memories, making him think that first most of this run never happened, and that he, Saturnyne, Jackdaw, and the others were still on Earth 238, fighting the more typical comic book threats he had faced in the comic Pre Alan Moore. Before he can figure things up, Brian finds himself waking in an alternate future where he had never become Captain Britain, and had married his long time love interest, Courtney Ross. Of course, this is all fantasy, as James Jaspers is just dissecting him mentally, while also showing off his abilities to Captain Britain, and how out of his league Brian is against someone that can mold reality itself into being whatever he wants it to be. Brian tries to kill what he thinks is Jaspers, once he appears to be back in a physical form, but it's another illusion, as the real Jaspers clowns Brian, and then throws him through a large thresher, leaving a bloodied and near broken Captain Britain lying in a puddle of his own blood as Jaspers skips away. Brian manages to reach his feet, unaware that things are about to get MUCH worse for him, as The Fury has found him. Other than the brief section at the beginning of the story, where Saturnyne, through a lot of struggle, manages to get Linda McQuillan to put on her full Captain U.K. costume, although, as we'll see, it'll take a little bit more to bring the tiger out of her, which doesn't bode well for the main "Captain" of this series. This is because Brian Braddock is about to find himself the meat in a James Jaspers and Fury sandwich, and most certainly not in a good way. First, I do want to give full credit to the two Alans (Moore and Davis) and the rest of their artistic team for this and the next few issues, as they very much are the highlights of this run, delivering on all of the awesomeness teased in the first few issues of it. We're coming up on the end of this run, but we still got a few more issues of greatness before we're done with Brian Braddock and his side of the Marvel Universe. In the next issue, we're about to see what happens when the person who can create almost anything meets the thing that can't be killed (or can it?). (Since I couldn't find a good piece of art from the actual issue, here is an alternate cover drawn by Alan Davis that sums things up quite well) GRADE: A+
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 3, 2021 0:04:50 GMT -5
Mighty World of Marvel #11"Dark Is My Love, and Deadly!"Cover Date: April, 1984 Writer: Alan Moore Artist: Alan Davis Feature Characters: Captain Britain Villain/s: "Mad" James Jaspers, The Fury, & The Crazy Gang (Earth 616) (Jester, Red Queen, Knave, Tweedledope, & Executioner---First Appearance of All) Special Guests: Saturnyne, Captain UK (Linda McQuillan), Roma, & Merlyn (Supposed Death) Official Plot:Mad Jim Jaspers takes on The Fury. Brodie's View:REPRINT STORIES ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE (But Not Reviewed): CLOAK AND DAGGER #3 & a Night Raven Text Story It's sad that even probably the biggest storyline Captain Britain had ever been part of didn't even warrant poor Brian the full cover of this issue. Yeah, they pop a small version of him on the cover to show that, yes, there is a Captain Britain story in there, but it's clear that Cloak and Dagger were meant to sell the issue, and I get that C&D were kind of hot characters at the time....but I can see why Alan Moore left the series shortly after this. What a diss. Especially because I can guarantee that, as good as the C&D story that was included probably was, this story destroys it. Speaking of the story, when last we left things, Brian Braddock was getting his clock cleaned by "Mad" James Jaspers, who merely toys with the hero before tossing him aside to go back to warping reality around him. It's at that moment that Brian is spotted by The Fury, who instantly charges the barely standing Captain Britain, messing him up on sight. Meanwhile, Jaspers, bored and lonely, decides to create what would become the 616 version of The Crazy Gang, who would go to become comedic foils for first Captain Britain, and later Exclaibur. He's bragging about how great he is to his new creations when the Fury chucks Brian into a giant rock. It's here that the tide of the battle completely changes, because we learn that the one person the Fury wanted to kill most back on its own world, and that was the person that created him, "Mad" Jim Jaspers, who put a failsafe within the Fury to keep the killing machine from taking him out. However, that Jaspers is dead, and once the Fury realizes that it might be able to kill his reality's version of Jaspers, it raises its arm canon....and fries "Mad" James Jaspers. ( ) However, Jaspers, in an awesome bit, basically recreates himself, and begins attacking the Fury. What starts here (and will continue into the next issue) is a battle between a mutant that can shape reality to be whatever he wants and a machine that has learned to adapt to the death of its own reality, so, we get panels of Jaspers turning into different things to attack the Fury, but the Fury transforming into things to counter Jaspers attacks and attack him. We then see Roma freaking out on Otherworld, as the Fury was the one Wild Card they didn't expect from all this. She begs her father for reassurance that their game is just that, and that the outcome to all of this won't destroy all of realities in the multi-verse....and Merlyn drops over dead to end the issue. (Double ) Sweet Christmas! What a crazy ass 8-10 pages, and we're not done yet. In the next issue, we'll see "Mad" James Jaspers vs. The Fury come to a great conclusion, and I can promise that one of these beings will not walk away from this. Of course, that does leave our beaten up hero having to fight the survivor...doesn't it? (Triple ) GRADE: A+
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