Captain Britain and MI-13

[Dread]

Repost of my review of the latest issue, with spoilers:

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI-13 #11: Despite high critical praise and editorial assurances to the contrary, this is one of those unfortunate books that is excellently written and drawn that is selling amazingly bad. As of Jan. 2009, it was selling about 18k a month. Other ongoing titles, like SHE-HULK and NEW EXILES have been either cancelled or relaunched by the time they sold at that level. YOUNG X-MEN was canned before it hit that level. And ETERNALS doesn't look long for this world at that level, either. While the rumor of Marvel canceling the title, spread by one of their own reps over the internet, has proven false for now, the reality of the situation is that unless the first trade sold SUPER well, or unless U.K. sales are truly phenominal, this is not a series that Marvel will afford to keep going at it's current rate for long. At the very least, a relaunch with a new #1 issue seems inevitable. Sales have fallen for it about 52% over the last six months and is still dropping by over 10% a month on average, even some months where the per-issue drop is "mild" are at rates of 4-5% a month, which is high for a book that is nearly a year old. At this rate the book may be selling about where ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL was by the time this arc is finished, and Marvel rarely allows ongoings to dwindle that low. Some shake-up hopefully is down the line; Marvel editorial appears to like Cornell, and this book in a way is a continuation of his WISDOM series from a few years ago that tanked.

Frankly, I think bad timing is to blame for this; this is basically the third "Excalibur" type series Marvel has spat out over the last 4-5 years or so, and retailers may not have been willing to bite for a third time. The fact that it is better in every way has seemed irrelevant. Plus, it was a series that was riding on the coattails of an event, much as THE ORDER once did, and books that do that rarely last once the event is over.

Spoiler

This issue continues Cornell's most ambitious storyline of this book's run, at least since the SECRET INVASION launch. The lord of the vampires, Count Dracula, is declaring war against England for his secret "nation" of vampires that he is apparently leading now, and has struck out with terrorist attacks against Britain's leading superheroes. This is a bit of a new take for Dracula, who usually is more self motivated in many of his stories. This incarnation sees him as a worthy ally to Dr. Doom in a way, and a more grand scale "supervillain" in a way. While once upon a time Dracula was a worthy enemy to Dr. Strange, those times had long passed until now. Of course, there are personal connections to Dracula on this roster; Blade is part of the team, and Spitfire is a psuedo-vampire herself.

The team survives Dracula's attacks against them, albeit not for lack of trying; a pair of vampires with suicide-spells attached to them tries to blow up Wisdom & Brian, but only succeeds in wasting one of their dates. Faiza manages to concentrate all of her powers on allowing her and Dane to survive falling from a few thousand feet up after their plane was smashed by some "vampires as missles" projectiles. There's a one page splash that goes on about a thousand words explaining how she goes through the feat which is a bit clunky, but it works in it's own way. Faiza now has a codename, "Exaclibur" after her sword and Dane at least is keeping the armor for now, and hey, it looks a lot better than a leather jacket, doesn't it? The two have a very interesting dynamic together and one bit where they start to slaughter the vampires post-crash is very cool. Unfortunately, Dracula has personally mauled Faiza's mother and kidnapped her father, as well as issuing an "official" declaration of war against both Britain and Blade, who he is saving for last; which makes sense considering how long Blade has been after him.

A meeting of various cabinet members as well as other British superheroes, such as Joey "Union Jack" Chapman is held to address the threat of Dracula. It was good seeing Union Jack again as well as him naturally wanting to find Spitfire, who is missing, while also being willing to allow her to "date who she wants" in Blade. Wisdom builds Dracula as a leading strategist of their time with ages of experience, being immortal and all, who also wishes legitimate recognition of his "vampire nation", as well as a hopeless racist. It certainly is a very interesting way to paint Marvel's most infamous vampire.

Kenneth, Spitfire's vampire son, leads his mother out into some catacombs and essentially reveals that he is working with Dracula to provide his "people" a nation of their own. Spitfire refuses to willingly obey the figure who has plagued her family for so long, until the final page cliffhanger of Dracula appearing and using his power to make her kneel before him (like Zod). Naturally having Spitfire on his side, even against her will, adds to Dracula's influence and power, and I wonder if Cornell may truck out other infamous vampire figures. Deacon Frost, the vampire who created Blade, I believe is still alive; the cover to the next issue has one vampire whose mask looks a lot like Dr. Strange's vampire brother, although it could be Baron Blood for all we know, who would also make sense.

Kirk's art is reliable as always; Collin's art doesn't quite have the same flair but I found it effective. It is good seeing Faiza come into her own as a hero, while still having some of those novice reactions to some genre conventions; she is among one of the better heroines in recent years, especially among new ones. All of the other characters are well defined with a good mix of powers, and they are coming together to address perhaps the gravest threat of the series' run so far. The Immonen cover is also pretty good.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI-13 is simply a team comic written and drawn especially well. It is simply a shame that isn't enough to ensure good sales anymore. Still, at any rate, this title will survive past issue #12, and if Marvel editorial is behind Cornell, then he'll get a relaunch, and that may not be so bad. Maybe with better promotion, it'll do even better.

 

[The Englishman]

Broads.

The word is broads.

I prefer "skirts."

Dames.

Birds

 

[Brian Braddock]

Fanny?

 

[Manic]

Doll

 

[The Englishman]

Fanny?

Hahaha t:

 

[Brian Braddock]

I'm glad you caught that one.

 

[Anubis]

Yeah, I hear you Brits find that word hilarious for some reason.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

They're also fond of "pants." It means underwear for them.

 

[Anubis]

I see. And they call what we call pants "trousers" I believe.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yes. Yes, they do.

 

[Anubis]

Only time I've ever used the word trousers was when I was referring to my wang or "trouser snake".

 

[Eros]

Its sad how bad this comic is selling.

 

[Manic]

--EDIT--

Did you just go back and edit your post? It rendered my Run DMC joke useless.

 

[Anubis]

Its sad how bad this comic is selling.

Never mind.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Man, way to kill the buzz.

 

[Dread]

Its sad how bad this comic is selling.

A buzz-kill, but very true. It is a real damn shame. But it seems to be the same verse, same as the first; whatever determines sales in the direct market, it sure as hell isn't usually quality content.

At some 18k an issue, Marvel can deny cancellation rumors all they want, but unless U.K. sales or subscriptions (if any) are picking up some slack that we can't see, regardless of editorial support or quality, at the very least a relaunch is inevitable. Although I imagine Marvel won't outright say that, because that would make the sales drops on the last few issues of this volume even worse. Some might call it "being honest about the inevitable for goodwill", but if Marvel can make an extra few thousand sold copies in sales by omission, it will. After all, Marvel has more than shown it would sacrifice honesty to thousands for even the tiniest of profits.

Even an Obama cover would only spike sales for one issue.

Hopefully Cornell and his editors strongly get the relaunch right, so things can start off maybe at the end of 2009 on the right foot for more adventures.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I've made my peace with this series' impending demise. We've got at least to the end of this arc, maybe one more. Just enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[BrianWilly]

I'll make my peace when anyone not buying the book is lying DEAD AT MY FEET and not before!!

Sorry, a moment.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Wouldn't it work better if you convinced them to buy the comic instead? Lying dead at your feet = not buying any comics.

 

[Manic]

It'd make more sense to have the writers of every book selling above it lying dead at your feet.

 

[BrianWilly]

What. That's ridonkulous.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It'd make more sense to have the writers of every book selling above it lying dead at your feet.

I like where this idea is going.

 

[The Englishman]

Yeah Kill them all. Do you guys know what a Fanny is??

 

[Manic]

Yeah Kill them all. Do you guys know what a Fanny is??

I'm going to assume it's the same thing as a Bum.




That's "bum" as in "ass," not "homeless man or shiftless lazybones."

That's "ass" as in "buttocks."

 

[The Englishman]

Wrong!! No Gold star for you....