Captain Britain and MI-13

[TheCorpulent1]

Aragorn II is back. I suppose it's the second one. Anywho Valkyrie has been riding one lately.

Could just be an Asgardian winged steed she had. Asgard breeds flying horses like they're going out of style.

Either way, I choose to believe Dane's still got Strider, since Strider's awesome and can break the f***ing sound barrier.

Holy crap. I flipped open my issue as soon as I read that. I didn't even realize Faiza was wearing a costume, but there it is! I like it. It's all medieval squirey, which is just perfect for someone who's both Black Knight's steward AND the chosen owner of excalibur.

She's back in her normal clothes on the cover of the next issue, so the costume may have just been a formal thing for meeting a foreign dignitary, like Dane's full armor apparently was.

 

[Dread]

My review of the last Drac-tastic issue: http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=16434935&postcount=43

I do believe that Faiza and Dane were dressed in armor as a formal affair, as they were on a trip to meet the esteemed monarchs of Wakanda (Storm is the Queen of Wakanda by marriage), but I do wish they would keep it in battle. Armor protects from nasty injuries, after all. Dane in a leather jacket didn't inspire readers to order 100,000 copies of this from retailers, so he may as well return to full functional armor.

Al Kravenoff ate one of those white winged steeds in the last good arc of PUNISHER WAR JOURNAL last year, but Avalon gave him one, and Dane could easily grow another, or something. I still wouldn't mind knowing why he keeps returning to the "corrupt" swords of his when he got fully reasonable and noble sword & shield gear from Avalon in HEROES FOR HIRE, circa 1998 or so. I mean there could be a story there; is the Ebony Blade superior in quality, or is it akin to a drug, even if Dane isn't corrupted fully by the evil sword? Maybe giving it up is akin to a baseball player giving up HGH or steroids? Cornell's recalled so much about these characters' past that it seems daft he would omit this one detail of Dane's forever. I believe he still had the H4H gear during some rare guest appearances in the Busiek/Perez AVENGERS and Busiek didn't leave that title until the start of the Quesada/Jemas era.

At any rate, I am looking forward to this arc. Cornell wrote a very fun and maniacal Count Dracula, and I liked how Dr. Doom showed little if any respect for him.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Paul Cornell confirmed on his blog that Dane still has the Avalonian items and "may use them again."

I think Dane is presently using the Ebony Blade because if he just puts it aside, it inevitably finds its way into other, less trustworthy hands. His ancestral calling is to keep the Ebony Blade in his care and prevent people using it for evil, so he's basically throwing himself on the sword (heh, see what I did there?) for the sake of everyone else. The Ebony Blade is his burden and his alone.

 

[Dread]

Paul Cornell confirmed on his blog that Dane still has the Avalonian items and "may use them again."

I think Dane is presently using the Ebony Blade because if he just puts it aside, it inevitably finds its way into other, less trustworthy hands. His ancestral calling is to keep the Ebony Blade in his care and prevent people using it for evil, so he's basically throwing himself on the sword (heh, see what I did there?) for the sake of everyone else. The Ebony Blade is his burden and his alone.

Kind of like if Thor didn't allow Loki to reign in Asgard, he likely would just cause trouble for Midguard 24/7?

Kidding.

But, yeah, that makes some sense. Bloodwraith is still presumably trapped in the country he slaughtered with access to such an evil sword via being tied to the dead souls of his victims by Scarlet Witch's spell (chaos magic that doesn't exist, according to Bendis, or maybe does, according to anyone else). I could buy that Dane wants to take on the burden because no one else can cut the mustard with the cursed swords. Still, it is as Faiza said, "how many curses does he want?"

Granted, she said it, so the writer is aware of it.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, there also seems to be a bit of a self-destructive streak at work in Dane.

 

[Vanguard07]

He can keep the cursed swords. Hell he can dual wield cursed sword-chucks for all i care. I just want him back in armor.

Leather jacket and helmet is not a costume.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I have a feeling Dracula's gonna end up with the vampiric sword and Dane and/or Blade will have to fight him with their swords.

 

[Franklin Richards]

This mag is screaming for a Valkyrie guest appearance.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Different mythology, but I'd welcome it.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Dane and Val have too much history. Different myth or no. Plus I'd like to see her take Pete Wisdom down a peg or two.

Oh and of course there is the binge drinking. She'd kill those poncers.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I don't know, Dane goes out drinking with Hercules.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Yeah. But Val parties with the Warriors Three.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'd still say Herc puts the Warriors Three to shame. Except maybe Volstagg.

 

[Vanguard07]

I'm pretty sure Herc could outdrink the warriors three even if they were tag-teaming.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

The Comic Book Club guys call for fans to pre-emptively keep Captain Britain and MI-13 from being canceled by "tea-bagging Marvel":


(It's around 2:35 in the vid.)

 

[CaptainCanada]

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 #13
Written by PAUL CORNELL
Penciled by LEONARD KIRK
Cover by MICO SUAYAN
Betrayal runs rampant! Spitfire is offered a high rank in the vampire state—will she take it? Does she have a chance? A traitor is discovered in the ranks of British Intelligence. But what are the chances that he’s the only one. Pete Wisdom’s main concern is keeping his people alive, but with his track record and who they’re up against, it’s not looking good.
32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99

I have to say, I'm missing Hitch on covers.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I don't miss Hitch. Outside of Brian's face, that cover is actually quite good. Really, I wish Daniel Acuna stuck around to do more than just the one or two covers coming up.

 

[RockSP]

Sauyan is nice. Werewolf by Night, mofos.

 

[squeekness]

Blades a pimp can't believe he is gonna get his freak on with Lady J.
Looks like we are back to the old 70s Tomb Of Dracula Pimp Blade (long since forgotten).
Its weird to think that Blades over 100 years old and Spitfires atleat 80 years old.

Something tells me Kenneth ain't gonna like his mums new boyfriend still it must beat her dating one of his friends.

I still don't like the weird two lightning bolt tattoo or hair cut thing Blade is rocking. Good to see him loosen up and not just be like he has been in other comics all 'Kill All Vampires, Look Angery, Grrr'. Even Wolverine gets some happy time when his not being Mr Badass Stab Man.

Love Danes full armor costume and Faiza costume is cool too. Not too over the top. Danes got more Magic cursed swords than Scott Summers got children.

Its never a good thing to be a girlfriend Pete Wisdoms you will only end up in a body bag.

Dear BENDIS

This Is How Its Done!

I rather like the pairing of Lady J with Blade. Granted I don't know either character all that well, but it's working for me, just like I like Faiza with Dane. Overall a great issue and I really do hope the series continues. I really enjoy reading it and the art is wonderful.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I like how dysfunctional Dane and Faiza are just under the surface. On the surface, they're both perfectly normal, upbeat people. Under that, they've got so many obstacles and neuroses working against them (mostly Dane's, but Faiza's hero-worship may bring an awkward element to her romance with a veteran superhero).

 

[Anubis]

The Comic Book Club guys call for fans to pre-emptively keep Captain Britain and MI-13 from being canceled by "tea-bagging Marvel":


(It's around 2:35 in the vid.)

I'm totally gonna send tea-bag, but i'm gonna put my nuts on it first.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

You would.

I have a bunch of Lipton organic green tea that tasted kind of nasty when I tried it, so I'll probably send a couple of those in.

 

[Dread]

I have a feeling Dracula's gonna end up with the vampiric sword and Dane and/or Blade will have to fight him with their swords.

That sounds pretty good.

This mag is screaming for a Valkyrie guest appearance.

I'd probably prefer Psylocke than Valkyrie, actually, but if done well, I wouldn't mind.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

This is about the only comic I'd be excited to see Psylocke in. She's totally devoid of interest for me in everything else. Maybe because she's Claremont's poster girl, so I've conditioned myself to ignore anything she appears in.

 

[Dread]

It is very likely because she is Claremont's poster girl, besides Storm. He has clung to her for a while and ironically now would be the best time for her to return to her roots a bit and stop being a cliche. I mean, Cornell is having fun rehabilitating Blade.