His home is his castle
April 23, 2013 6:45 AM Subscribe
This St. George's Day sees news of the next attempt to redress Britain's superhero shortage: Englishman, who looks like Iron Man crossed with a mediaeval crusader.
The series promises “brand new, quintessentially English characters, including Greenbelt and Dry Stone Wall”.
Englishman is by no means the first attempt at a British superhero; Marvel attempted to transplant the Captain America formula across the Atlantic with Captain Britain, and later reprised this with the historical character of Union Jack and the John Lennon-imitating John the Skrull, and DC commissioned John Cleese to reimagine Superman as a Briton. What is new is a rejection of the idea of Britishness as a national identity, in favour of Englishness; on their blog page, the publishers explicitly state this, saying that “characters such as Captain Britain cannot be classed as patriotic: there is, of course, no such country as ‘Britain’.”
Englishman is by no means the first attempt at a British superhero; Marvel attempted to transplant the Captain America formula across the Atlantic with Captain Britain, and later reprised this with the historical character of Union Jack and the John Lennon-imitating John the Skrull, and DC commissioned John Cleese to reimagine Superman as a Briton. What is new is a rejection of the idea of Britishness as a national identity, in favour of Englishness; on their blog page, the publishers explicitly state this, saying that “characters such as Captain Britain cannot be classed as patriotic: there is, of course, no such country as ‘Britain’.”
David Starkey is never a good sign.
posted by aesop at 6:50 AM on April 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by aesop at 6:50 AM on April 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
Look for this guy on EDL posters within the month...
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:51 AM on April 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:51 AM on April 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
Is it true that Captain Britain and Captain America have a special relationship?
posted by octobersurprise at 6:51 AM on April 23, 2013 [27 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 6:51 AM on April 23, 2013 [27 favorites]
I'm not even going to begin to discuss how problematic it is to assume that Englishness > Britishness since I hope it's pretty bleedin' obvious.
Instead I'm going to tell everyone in this thread to go stop what you're doing and go read the Claremont/Davis run of Excalibur because it's amazing and includes a storyline where Captain Britain is turned into a duck. That is all.
posted by fight or flight at 6:54 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Instead I'm going to tell everyone in this thread to go stop what you're doing and go read the Claremont/Davis run of Excalibur because it's amazing and includes a storyline where Captain Britain is turned into a duck. That is all.
posted by fight or flight at 6:54 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Surely John Bull is the original superhero, with his superhuman ability to extend his stomach and bladder.
posted by Marlinspike at 6:57 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Marlinspike at 6:57 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Griphus I think you mean Lord Smoked Meat and Fishes.
posted by Twain Device at 7:00 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Twain Device at 7:00 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
But in spite of all temptations
To belong to other nations,
He remains an Englishman!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:01 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
To belong to other nations,
He remains an Englishman!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:01 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I suppose Big Ben: The man with no Time for Crime doesn't count.
posted by rmd1023 at 7:02 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 7:02 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Is it true that Captain Britain and Captain America have a special relationship?
Oh yes, and their constant drama keeps Neil Burnside awake at night.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:05 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh yes, and their constant drama keeps Neil Burnside awake at night.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:05 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Special Power: goes out in the mid-day sun.
posted by Segundus at 7:07 AM on April 23, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by Segundus at 7:07 AM on April 23, 2013 [10 favorites]
He's no Dan Dare.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:11 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 7:11 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
recent English Nationalist Facebook poster: "I'm sick and tired of all these bloody foreigners coming here! We ought to go to THEIR countries and put up the Union Jack and build some churches there and see how they like it!!!"
Me: "Well . . . um . . . you see . . . "
posted by jfwlucy at 7:12 AM on April 23, 2013 [37 favorites]
Me: "Well . . . um . . . you see . . . "
posted by jfwlucy at 7:12 AM on April 23, 2013 [37 favorites]
I confess, I am curious to find out what Dry Stone Wall's powers are. Perhaps he (she? it?) can block the lines of sight in rural areas....
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:12 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:12 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I confess, I am curious to find out what Dry Stone Wall's powers are. Perhaps he (she? it?) can block the lines of sight in rural areas....
I'm guessing he's like the Hulk, only more twee and cosy.
posted by acb at 7:17 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Dredd? Zombo?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:17 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:17 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
No discussion of Britishy superheroes is complete without mention of Paul Cornell's Knight and Squire.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:17 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:17 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
"I confess, I am curious to find out what Dry Stone Wall's powers are."
He's a villainous lickspittle, using his powers of enclosure to prop up the discredited regime of the League of Landed Gentry
posted by fatfrank at 7:21 AM on April 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
He's a villainous lickspittle, using his powers of enclosure to prop up the discredited regime of the League of Landed Gentry
posted by fatfrank at 7:21 AM on April 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
Dowager Countess all in tights, flying around the land in her cloud chariot, raining down justice with her Withering Glances.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:23 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:23 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Scotland has Super Gran, complete with awesome theme by no less than Billy Connolly, who is quite someone to live up to. Will Englishman have "more front than a row of houses" or "more bottle than united dairies"?
Also, in Scotland, drystone walls are called drystane dykes. I feel this would be a much, much better superhero than Dry Stone Wall. I'm now wondering if we can do a gritty reboot of Super Gran, with Drystane Dyke as a sidekick.
posted by Coobeastie at 7:23 AM on April 23, 2013 [11 favorites]
Also, in Scotland, drystone walls are called drystane dykes. I feel this would be a much, much better superhero than Dry Stone Wall. I'm now wondering if we can do a gritty reboot of Super Gran, with Drystane Dyke as a sidekick.
posted by Coobeastie at 7:23 AM on April 23, 2013 [11 favorites]
Englishman is, of course, a second-generation immigrant from Pakistan. Right?
posted by kavasa at 7:24 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by kavasa at 7:24 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dredd was nominally American, but modelled on fascism in Franco's Spain.
posted by acb at 7:26 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by acb at 7:26 AM on April 23, 2013
The Brits are far behind in the race for national superheroes, and their attempts to close the super gap are doomed to miserable failure, as we French have proudly demonstrated for 40 years our superiority with beret-baguette-Gauloises Superdupont.
posted by susuman at 7:26 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by susuman at 7:26 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Englishman is, of course, a second-generation immigrant from Pakistan. Right?
Otherwise this just seems like BNP fanfic!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:28 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Otherwise this just seems like BNP fanfic!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:28 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
No discussion of Britishy superheroes is complete without mention of Paul Cornell's Knight and Squire.
That whole Grant Morrison Batman storyline at the mansion with them was one of the most fun things I've read in a while. When Knight and Squire showed up later in RIP, I almost cheered.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:28 AM on April 23, 2013
That whole Grant Morrison Batman storyline at the mansion with them was one of the most fun things I've read in a while. When Knight and Squire showed up later in RIP, I almost cheered.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:28 AM on April 23, 2013
Can't wait to see his team-up with Storm Saxon!
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:31 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:31 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Englishman is, of course, a second-generation immigrant from Pakistan. Right?
It is a bit rubbish that the most famous British Asian superhero is Psylocke.
posted by Artw at 7:32 AM on April 23, 2013
It is a bit rubbish that the most famous British Asian superhero is Psylocke.
posted by Artw at 7:32 AM on April 23, 2013
It is a bit rubbish that the most famous British Asian superhero is Psylocke.
I'm disappointed that Faiza Hussain hasn't turned up again since the end of Captain Britain and MI:13. She was all kinds of brilliant.
posted by fight or flight at 7:35 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm disappointed that Faiza Hussain hasn't turned up again since the end of Captain Britain and MI:13. She was all kinds of brilliant.
posted by fight or flight at 7:35 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
While patriotic comic-book characters, led by Captain America, abound in the States, Britain has had a less comfortable relationship with flag-waving superheroes, perhaps because the national colours have so often been co-opted by right-wing organisations such as the National Front, the British National Party, and more recently the English Defence League.
Well, yes, that is why it's problematic. And it won't be long--if it hasn't happened already--before those same parties start using Englishman for their own rhetoric.
Also, count me in for Lord Bravery aka Lord Smoked Meat and Fishes.
posted by Kitteh at 7:36 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Well, yes, that is why it's problematic. And it won't be long--if it hasn't happened already--before those same parties start using Englishman for their own rhetoric.
Also, count me in for Lord Bravery aka Lord Smoked Meat and Fishes.
posted by Kitteh at 7:36 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Surely John Bull is the original superhero, with his superhuman ability to extend his stomach and bladder.
Plus he had a team-up with Kapitän Germany (1933-1945).
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:42 AM on April 23, 2013
Plus he had a team-up with Kapitän Germany (1933-1945).
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:42 AM on April 23, 2013
Also regarding Superdupont, more seriously, the authors decided to put an end to the series after Jean-Marie Le Pen's National Front started using the hero for its own nefarious chauvinistic purposes - a shame, of course, especially given the self-deprecating nature of the comic...
posted by susuman at 7:45 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by susuman at 7:45 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
In my jotted-out-in-googledocs notes for a superhero setting, my required Superman analog is English. Well, as English as a resurrected bog mummy with a powerset that's a blend of Poison Ivy, Storm, and Wonder Woman could be. If she's an Iceni, would she even be English? Or is she a Briton?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:50 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:50 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm now wondering if we can do a gritty reboot of Super Gran, with Drystane Dyke as a sidekick.
Isn't she already sidekicking with Lesbian Sheikh?
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:50 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Isn't she already sidekicking with Lesbian Sheikh?
posted by Strange Interlude at 7:50 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seems a little oxymoronic to me. "Super" and "English"?
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way!
posted by Meatbomb at 7:50 AM on April 23, 2013
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way!
posted by Meatbomb at 7:50 AM on April 23, 2013
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way!
And repelling bullets with one's stiff upper lip.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:53 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
And repelling bullets with one's stiff upper lip.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:53 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
stop what you're doing and go read the Claremont/Davis run of Excalibur
Yes yes yes. And then immediately read Paul Cornell's aforementioned Captain Britain and MI:13, which is glorious. And then read Warren Ellis's Nextwave, because I'm pretty sure that Elsa Bloodstone could kick EnglishMan's scrawny arse into the next century.
Also, from the EnglishMan link:
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:57 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yes yes yes. And then immediately read Paul Cornell's aforementioned Captain Britain and MI:13, which is glorious. And then read Warren Ellis's Nextwave, because I'm pretty sure that Elsa Bloodstone could kick EnglishMan's scrawny arse into the next century.
Also, from the EnglishMan link:
It seems that characters such as Captain Britain cannot be classed as patriotic: there is, of course, no such country as ‘Britain’.Really? Because I was pretty sure that 'Britain' in conventional usage was short for "Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland," which is definitely a country. I have a residence visa to remain in it, with a pretty stamp and everything.
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:57 AM on April 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
You"d need the kind of English people who have good bodies, get into fights, and will willingly wear gaudy costumes. I"m thinking Chav Man and Essex Girl.
posted by w0mbat at 8:02 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by w0mbat at 8:02 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
James Bond.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:03 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 8:03 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
“characters such as Captain Britain cannot be classed as patriotic: there is, of course, no such country as ‘Britain’.”Awesome. Hopefully Englishman will join up with Welshman and Scotsman to smash the British imperialists. I would buy that comic.
posted by Jehan at 8:05 AM on April 23, 2013
I was pretty sure that 'Britain' in conventional usage was short for "Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,"
The fabled land of Ukogbani
posted by Segundus at 8:06 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
The fabled land of Ukogbani
posted by Segundus at 8:06 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Pallas Athena: Yes yes yes. And then immediately read Paul Cornell's aforementioned Captain Britain and MI:13, which is glorious
That was a fantastic link, and got me really interested in that story, but then the final line of the article echoed something my wallet and my free time have been insisting for years now, which is:
posted by Rock Steady at 8:06 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
That was a fantastic link, and got me really interested in that story, but then the final line of the article echoed something my wallet and my free time have been insisting for years now, which is:
A lot of the time I find reading comics only leads to reading more comics, so my advice is to never read any of them ever.:(
posted by Rock Steady at 8:06 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Jehan: Hopefully Englishman will join up with Welshman and Scotsman to smash the British imperialists. I would buy that comic.
Bizarro World Scotsman is called No True Scotsman.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:07 AM on April 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
Bizarro World Scotsman is called No True Scotsman.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:07 AM on April 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
It seems that characters such as Captain Britain cannot be classed as patriotic: there is, of course, no such country as ‘Britain’.
Shh, the BNP might hear you and then they'll start to feel as stupid as they are!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:08 AM on April 23, 2013
Shh, the BNP might hear you and then they'll start to feel as stupid as they are!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:08 AM on April 23, 2013
A lot of the time I find reading comics only leads to reading more comics, so my advice is to never read any of them ever.
Too late! Too late!
posted by Artw at 8:08 AM on April 23, 2013
Too late! Too late!
posted by Artw at 8:08 AM on April 23, 2013
In order to reflect modern British policy, the next English superhero will be outsourced to the lowest bidder.
posted by The Whelk at 8:10 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 8:10 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, for serious, you want a UK Captain America? Just revive this property, it's perfect for renewal.
posted by The Whelk at 8:11 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:11 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Zenith, the great lost British superhero comic that isn't Marvelman, was fantastic.
posted by Artw at 8:12 AM on April 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:12 AM on April 23, 2013 [5 favorites]
In order to reflect modern British policy, the next English superhero will be outsourced to the lowest bidder.Sercoman and his trusty sidekick Captain Capita!
posted by Jehan at 8:14 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bah. Bring back Danger Mouse!
posted by Iosephus at 8:17 AM on April 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
posted by Iosephus at 8:17 AM on April 23, 2013 [6 favorites]
In order to reflect modern British policy, the next English superhero will be outsourced to the lowest bidder.
Wait, I thought this has been policy since the Romans started rounding up blue-faced serfs to push their chariots out of the mud?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:18 AM on April 23, 2013
Wait, I thought this has been policy since the Romans started rounding up blue-faced serfs to push their chariots out of the mud?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 8:18 AM on April 23, 2013
The series promises “brand new, quintessentially English characters, including Greenbelt and Dry Stone Wall”.
This is...a real thing? I mean, Greenbelt? Dry Stone Wall? Based on that sentence alone, I was thinking it was going to be parody, complete with other "quintessentially English" superheroes like Captain Nice Hot Cup of Tea and his junior sidekicks, Stale Crumpet Lad and Clotted Cream Girl.
Although in all honesty, if someone made a comic book character out of HP Sauce, I'd probably read it.
posted by infinitywaltz at 8:18 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
This is...a real thing? I mean, Greenbelt? Dry Stone Wall? Based on that sentence alone, I was thinking it was going to be parody, complete with other "quintessentially English" superheroes like Captain Nice Hot Cup of Tea and his junior sidekicks, Stale Crumpet Lad and Clotted Cream Girl.
Although in all honesty, if someone made a comic book character out of HP Sauce, I'd probably read it.
posted by infinitywaltz at 8:18 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Or one could argue that James Bond is Britain's answer to Superman.
posted by acb at 8:18 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by acb at 8:18 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
To the JessNevinsmobile!
posted by Artw at 8:26 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 8:26 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Really? Because I was pretty sure that 'Britain' in conventional usage was short for "Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland," which is definitely a country. I have a residence visa to remain in it, with a pretty stamp and everything.Strictly speaking "Britain" is short for "Great Britain" and thus cuts out Northern Ireland and all overseas territories. Britain is an island not a country. It is often said to mean "United Kingdom" but that really stems from the same place as calling the whole country "England": a kind of lazy self-centeredness coupled with a landlord's grasping. They don't know what "those places over there" are called but by god they know that they own them.
posted by Jehan at 8:31 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Cool- a superhero Cerne Abbas giant! ...would he be like a chalky Dr. Manhattan?
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 8:43 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 8:43 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I can't believe no one has mentioned John Constantine yet.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 8:47 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by Elementary Penguin at 8:47 AM on April 23, 2013
Also- that's an eponysterically placed cockel hat in the second link.
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 8:48 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by Esteemed Offendi at 8:48 AM on April 23, 2013
Britain's superhero shortage
John Constantine? (Who is not only British, but so are almost all his writers).
Jenny Sparks?
Psylocke?
Excalibur? Marvel's British superhero team.
Angle-grinder Man? (Non-fiction).
Plus plenty more already mentioned, and Dr Who who seems to have adopted Britain.
But seriously, we simply have most of the good superhero authors. Moore. Gaiman. Ellis. Ennis. Morrison. Millar. Furman (Transformers count, right?). Carey. (We can't quite claim Clairmont - he moved to America when he was three). And I'm amazed that they seem to be playing this whole thing straight. If they weren't I'd say from the names it was pure parody.
posted by Francis at 8:57 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
John Constantine? (Who is not only British, but so are almost all his writers).
Jenny Sparks?
Psylocke?
Excalibur? Marvel's British superhero team.
Angle-grinder Man? (Non-fiction).
Plus plenty more already mentioned, and Dr Who who seems to have adopted Britain.
But seriously, we simply have most of the good superhero authors. Moore. Gaiman. Ellis. Ennis. Morrison. Millar. Furman (Transformers count, right?). Carey. (We can't quite claim Clairmont - he moved to America when he was three). And I'm amazed that they seem to be playing this whole thing straight. If they weren't I'd say from the names it was pure parody.
posted by Francis at 8:57 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
"The fabled land of Ukogbani"
Oh why have I never thought of that before?! I'm so telling people I'm from Ukogbani from now on. Sounds so much more interesting than dreary old Britain. Plus, it come without that nagging undercurrent of barely suppressed imperial racism! Huzzah!
I am Fat Frank. I am a Ukogbanian.
posted by fatfrank at 9:14 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Oh why have I never thought of that before?! I'm so telling people I'm from Ukogbani from now on. Sounds so much more interesting than dreary old Britain. Plus, it come without that nagging undercurrent of barely suppressed imperial racism! Huzzah!
I am Fat Frank. I am a Ukogbanian.
posted by fatfrank at 9:14 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
Bah. Who needs new English superheroes when there's Superted?
Or Bananaman?
posted by MartinWisse at 9:19 AM on April 23, 2013
Or Bananaman?
posted by MartinWisse at 9:19 AM on April 23, 2013
This is...a real thing? I mean, Greenbelt? Dry Stone Wall? Based on that sentence alone, I was thinking it was going to be parody
I really, really don't understand why nobody hasn't done a series with a size-changing or dwarf superhero (ala Alpha Flight's Puck) called Little Englander.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:21 AM on April 23, 2013
I really, really don't understand why nobody hasn't done a series with a size-changing or dwarf superhero (ala Alpha Flight's Puck) called Little Englander.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:21 AM on April 23, 2013
You have no idea how happy it makes me to learn that John Cleese actually wrote a Superman story. That just seems so....perfect.
And The Doctor is totally the UK/English/British/Whatever superhero. Somewhat related: this post from the "Texts from Superheros" blog.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:24 AM on April 23, 2013
And The Doctor is totally the UK/English/British/Whatever superhero. Somewhat related: this post from the "Texts from Superheros" blog.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:24 AM on April 23, 2013
Everyone is watching Misfits, right?
posted by Artw at 9:26 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:26 AM on April 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
You might want to fix the link to this before the front page of the mohawk media blog updates.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:32 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by Navelgazer at 9:32 AM on April 23, 2013
"Zoot allors, 'tis I, Ze Howdoyousay Stereotypical Franchmahn! Fetch mah nemesis, Le Tweed or face ze wrath of mah stihnky cheeses! Marcel, Batroc, hose zees la chumps!"
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:32 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:32 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mary Poppins.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:38 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:38 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Strictly speaking "Britain" is short for "Great Britain" and thus cuts out Northern Ireland and all overseas territories. Britain is an island not a country. It is often said to mean "United Kingdom" but that really stems from the same place as calling the whole country "England": a kind of lazy self-centeredness coupled with a landlord's grasping. They don't know what "those places over there" are called but by god they know that they own them."
People use Britain, and British, because it is less of a mouthful, and flows better than the equivalents, in the same way people use American rather than USAian, or some other horrible construction. This sort of terminology is rarely logically consistent, and most people don't complain out of a sort of good natured tolerance for others. In exchange for not having to call themselves United Kingdomites, British people don't say anything about the inconsistency or lack of clarity between the terminology for the geographical island of Ireland, and the Irish Republic of Ireland, peopled by Irish citizens. It would certainly be rude to accuse the Irish, in refusing to adopt some awkward alternative terminology, of "a landlord's grasping"
posted by Marlinspike at 9:46 AM on April 23, 2013
People use Britain, and British, because it is less of a mouthful, and flows better than the equivalents, in the same way people use American rather than USAian, or some other horrible construction. This sort of terminology is rarely logically consistent, and most people don't complain out of a sort of good natured tolerance for others. In exchange for not having to call themselves United Kingdomites, British people don't say anything about the inconsistency or lack of clarity between the terminology for the geographical island of Ireland, and the Irish Republic of Ireland, peopled by Irish citizens. It would certainly be rude to accuse the Irish, in refusing to adopt some awkward alternative terminology, of "a landlord's grasping"
posted by Marlinspike at 9:46 AM on April 23, 2013
A sequence from Marshal Law that makes Keiron Gillen smile.
posted by Artw at 9:46 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by Artw at 9:46 AM on April 23, 2013
Everyone is watching Misfits, right?
I was, up until they decided to screw everything up with the weird time travel "romance" plot and effectively fridge/neuter the best characters.
Not that I'm bitter or anything.
posted by fight or flight at 9:46 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was, up until they decided to screw everything up with the weird time travel "romance" plot and effectively fridge/neuter the best characters.
Not that I'm bitter or anything.
posted by fight or flight at 9:46 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Will this character also represent syphilis with the same nobility as St. George did? Because that is important.
posted by srboisvert at 10:19 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by srboisvert at 10:19 AM on April 23, 2013
Well, let's be honest, the English are best.
posted by Decani at 10:52 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Decani at 10:52 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Zombo
Zombo can do anything he likes. Anything at all. The only limit is himself.
Thirding Lord Bravery. He only appeared in the first season of Freakazoid, and only had two shorts, but they were both highlights, and he was shaping up to become the Pinky And The Brain of that show, the standout side cartoon that takes on a life of its own -- and then management on the second season decreed an end to the side character cartoons. Here are both Lord Bravery shorts: Sewer Rescue. Office Visit.
Notice how that second one gets started. Lord Bravery gets on a crowded elevator. Notice the reaction he gets. That is how superheroes would get treated in real life.
posted by JHarris at 11:04 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Zombo can do anything he likes. Anything at all. The only limit is himself.
Thirding Lord Bravery. He only appeared in the first season of Freakazoid, and only had two shorts, but they were both highlights, and he was shaping up to become the Pinky And The Brain of that show, the standout side cartoon that takes on a life of its own -- and then management on the second season decreed an end to the side character cartoons. Here are both Lord Bravery shorts: Sewer Rescue. Office Visit.
Notice how that second one gets started. Lord Bravery gets on a crowded elevator. Notice the reaction he gets. That is how superheroes would get treated in real life.
posted by JHarris at 11:04 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Instead I'm going to tell everyone in this thread to go stop what you're doing and go read the Claremont/Davis run of Excalibur because it's amazing and includes a storyline where Captain Britain is turned into a duck.
Not interested unless the team includes Merlin and Arthur. I'm still not over the finale of the BBC series.
posted by fatehunter at 11:04 AM on April 23, 2013
Not interested unless the team includes Merlin and Arthur. I'm still not over the finale of the BBC series.
posted by fatehunter at 11:04 AM on April 23, 2013
Jenny Sparks?
Everyone in every Warren Ellis comic is British, regardless of what ethnicity or nationality the reader might be told they are. (I can't tell you how much cognitive dissonance it caused every time I was reminded that Jack Hawksmoor was supposed to be U.S. born and raised.)
posted by Zed at 11:21 AM on April 23, 2013
Everyone in every Warren Ellis comic is British, regardless of what ethnicity or nationality the reader might be told they are. (I can't tell you how much cognitive dissonance it caused every time I was reminded that Jack Hawksmoor was supposed to be U.S. born and raised.)
posted by Zed at 11:21 AM on April 23, 2013
In my jotted-out-in-googledocs notes for a superhero setting, my required Superman analog is English. Well, as English as a resurrected bog mummy with a powerset that's a blend of Poison Ivy, Storm, and Wonder Woman could be.
"shut up and take my money."
posted by Zed at 11:22 AM on April 23, 2013
"shut up and take my money."
posted by Zed at 11:22 AM on April 23, 2013
I seem to recall someone recently describing Doctor Who as "basically Superman, except British instead of American and clever instead of strong".
posted by baf at 11:22 AM on April 23, 2013
posted by baf at 11:22 AM on April 23, 2013
I'd like to see the Rolling English Drunkard get some props. He was present at the creation:
Before the Roman came to Rye, or out to Severn strode,
The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.
posted by jfuller at 11:24 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Before the Roman came to Rye, or out to Severn strode,
The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.
posted by jfuller at 11:24 AM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Everyone in every Warren Ellis comic is British
Everyone in every Warren Ellis comic is Warren Ellis.
But, yes, Nextwave is wonderful.
posted by Grangousier at 11:48 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Everyone in every Warren Ellis comic is Warren Ellis.
But, yes, Nextwave is wonderful.
posted by Grangousier at 11:48 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Everyone in every Warren Ellis comic is Warren Ellis.
Which is why generally the degree to which a Warren Ellis comic works for me is the degree to which I know the characters involved, unless of course the characters are supposed to sound like him... Constantine more or less gets a pass there.
posted by Artw at 12:10 PM on April 23, 2013
Which is why generally the degree to which a Warren Ellis comic works for me is the degree to which I know the characters involved, unless of course the characters are supposed to sound like him... Constantine more or less gets a pass there.
posted by Artw at 12:10 PM on April 23, 2013
Big Ben, the man with no time for crime is possibly my favourite superhero ever.
posted by sgt.serenity at 12:12 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sgt.serenity at 12:12 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm surprised that there never was an Iron Maiden comic book.
posted by Renoroc at 12:21 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by Renoroc at 12:21 PM on April 23, 2013
Well, there were the Iron Maiden "comic" style covers. And Marvel Comics has an Iron Maiden character, so I think a comic from the band would now be harder to set up.
I was looking for a handy list of super heroes and villains by country, and I'm surprised there's not a category or categories on Wikipedia for that. There's a fictional Russian people category, and fictional Russian people in video games, but no fictional Russian people in comics. Even the Super Hero Db doesn't have a field for country of origin.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:30 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was looking for a handy list of super heroes and villains by country, and I'm surprised there's not a category or categories on Wikipedia for that. There's a fictional Russian people category, and fictional Russian people in video games, but no fictional Russian people in comics. Even the Super Hero Db doesn't have a field for country of origin.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:30 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Fictional Russians written by Garth Ennis would be a good-sized subcategory.
posted by Artw at 12:44 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 12:44 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is it true that Captain Britain and Captain America have a special relationship?
Capt Britain thinks so.
Capt America likes the fact that CB speaks English so there's no need for a translator. And yeah, a hero is nice to those second tier powers still kicking around.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 1:14 PM on April 23, 2013
Capt Britain thinks so.
Capt America likes the fact that CB speaks English so there's no need for a translator. And yeah, a hero is nice to those second tier powers still kicking around.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 1:14 PM on April 23, 2013
Batman is a superhero, right?
OK, then:
Robin Hood
Sherlock Holmes
Actually I can do superhumans too:
Mary Poppins
Harry Potter
Matilda
Merlin
Wait a second: I'm doing LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, aren't I?
And yes, ZENITH was the most awesome superhero ever. Oh, I'm missing Book 2! Off to Amazon.
posted by alasdair at 2:35 PM on April 23, 2013
OK, then:
Robin Hood
Sherlock Holmes
Actually I can do superhumans too:
Mary Poppins
Harry Potter
Matilda
Merlin
Wait a second: I'm doing LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, aren't I?
And yes, ZENITH was the most awesome superhero ever. Oh, I'm missing Book 2! Off to Amazon.
posted by alasdair at 2:35 PM on April 23, 2013
Hmmm. ZENITH Book 2 appears to be £80. That's a bit much. Hang on, Book 4 appears to be £500. Second hand. I have Books 1, 3, 4, and 5.
How does one sell comic books?
posted by alasdair at 2:42 PM on April 23, 2013
How does one sell comic books?
posted by alasdair at 2:42 PM on April 23, 2013
BICYCLE REPAIRMAN
that is all.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 2:44 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
that is all.
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 2:44 PM on April 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Zenith is in a state of legal dispute, and likely to be so forever - hence the wacky prices for the collections which were printed. The only way to read the whole thing is in the individual Progs.
posted by Artw at 2:46 PM on April 23, 2013
posted by Artw at 2:46 PM on April 23, 2013
Keith Richards
posted by Ber at 2:46 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ber at 2:46 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ah! So I can't get Books 6+? How annoying.
OH NO! IT'S MR WHY!
posted by alasdair at 2:57 PM on April 23, 2013
OH NO! IT'S MR WHY!
posted by alasdair at 2:57 PM on April 23, 2013
> Keith Richards
Keef has been Undead Zombie Keef for twenty-odd years now. You think not? How would you tell?
posted by jfuller at 3:02 PM on April 23, 2013
Keef has been Undead Zombie Keef for twenty-odd years now. You think not? How would you tell?
posted by jfuller at 3:02 PM on April 23, 2013
Zenith Phase Three Scorecard
2000A.D.'s Zenith series was split into 4 main segments, Phase One through Four. During the epic third Phase, Zenith and his cast joined an array of other heroes from across the multiverse in a fight against the deadly Lloigor, who were terrorising some of the alternate Earths in the multiverse in host bodies stolen from other superheroes. Zenith Phase Three is a delight for fans of British superheroes, as there are dozens of them dotted around throughout the story, both as themselves (when copyright problems didn't get in the way) and under pseudonyms (when they did). Some of these characters are readily identifiable, but other are not. What we need is a scorecard!
posted by Artw at 4:04 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
2000A.D.'s Zenith series was split into 4 main segments, Phase One through Four. During the epic third Phase, Zenith and his cast joined an array of other heroes from across the multiverse in a fight against the deadly Lloigor, who were terrorising some of the alternate Earths in the multiverse in host bodies stolen from other superheroes. Zenith Phase Three is a delight for fans of British superheroes, as there are dozens of them dotted around throughout the story, both as themselves (when copyright problems didn't get in the way) and under pseudonyms (when they did). Some of these characters are readily identifiable, but other are not. What we need is a scorecard!
posted by Artw at 4:04 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Very disappointed in Cerne Abbas Giantman's pants in that picture.
*sadface*
I say pants but you know what I mean.
posted by glasseyes at 5:17 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
*sadface*
I say pants but you know what I mean.
posted by glasseyes at 5:17 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Alan Moore would never wimp out like that.
posted by Artw at 6:14 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 6:14 PM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
Everyone in every Warren Ellis comic is British, regardless of what ethnicity or nationality the reader might be told they are. (I can't tell you how much cognitive dissonance it caused every time I was reminded that Jack Hawksmoor was supposed to be U.S. born and raised.)
Which makes a huge change from most British comics characters sounding American, regardless of what nationality the reader is told they are. (That said, I almost added John Snow from Planetary to my list before I looked him up - I was certain he was British. Apparently not.)
posted by Francis at 3:02 AM on April 24, 2013
Which makes a huge change from most British comics characters sounding American, regardless of what nationality the reader is told they are. (That said, I almost added John Snow from Planetary to my list before I looked him up - I was certain he was British. Apparently not.)
posted by Francis at 3:02 AM on April 24, 2013
No Green Man?
Was the green man, that pagan spirit of nature, in fact England’s secret symbol of resistance to Norman oppression?
posted by homunculus at 12:29 AM on April 25, 2013
Was the green man, that pagan spirit of nature, in fact England’s secret symbol of resistance to Norman oppression?
posted by homunculus at 12:29 AM on April 25, 2013
Bah. Who needs new English superheroes when there's Superted?
Bah indeed. You can't nick one of the only Welsh super heroes from us like that!
(Does Shining Knight from Seven Soldiers count as another one? She spoke Welsh?)
posted by couch at 7:29 AM on April 25, 2013
Bah indeed. You can't nick one of the only Welsh super heroes from us like that!
(Does Shining Knight from Seven Soldiers count as another one? She spoke Welsh?)
posted by couch at 7:29 AM on April 25, 2013
If you liked M-13 you really need to check out Avengers Assemble 15U - I think the first appearance of those guys since the Cornell run. Yes Fazia is there. Yes it's part of Age of Ultron, but it works standalone.
posted by Artw at 12:59 PM on May 8, 2013
posted by Artw at 12:59 PM on May 8, 2013
The Post-Punk / New Wave Super Friends by Butcher Billy
posted by homunculus at 4:49 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 4:49 PM on May 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
FPP that, homunculus!
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:52 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:52 PM on May 15, 2013
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posted by acb at 6:46 AM on April 23, 2013 [1 favorite]