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_____As I stated in my piece on the Goodwin-Simonson Manhunter, the great thing about collecting short stories together is just how much story you get. The Trade Paperback contaning the Alan David run of Captain Britain has the same benefit. You truly feel as though you've gotten your monies worth.
_____The characters of Captain Britain and Meggan were familiar to me from Excalibur, although the Psylocke we've got here is nothing like the Betsy of the current X-books.
_____Captain Britain is a jerk in much of Excalibur, as well as a borderline alcoholic. Much of the time, he was here too, to be frank. But we get to see a different side of him as well. His interaction with the family of the boy he failed to save, or his reaction to the revelation about his brother, or his moment of insight about the creature he has just killed in "Sid's Story", all show that he is actually a very decent man.
_____That's the preamble. Here's the breakdown.
_____The book compiles an era, not a particular story arc, although certain ungoing sub-plots give it a coherency. In particular, the sub-plots in question are the appearance and evolution of Meggan and the love that blooms between her and Brian, the appearance of the organization RCX in Captain Britain's life, and the fall-out from the major story arc that preceded the stories collected here. It's a pity that that story, concerning a being called the Fury and the "Jasper Warp", is not available, as it sets up such major elements of the book as the "Warpies", mutated children, and the displacement of Captain UK from an alternate Earth to the main Marvel one.
_____Along the way are such tales as the dramatic examination of the evil in "African Nightmare", and a truly gut wrenching tale of a man whose horrible last hours are spent in pain and misery. The latter was almost painful to read.
_____Oh, and of course there is the Slaymaster's battle with Betsy Braddock, a shocking scene to say the least. Actually, Besty doesn't fare too well throughout this book, as at one point an alternate Earth version of her own brother tries to assault her sexually.
_____In addition to Slaymaster, the Crazy Gang, Technet, and Vixen (all old Captain Britain foes, who would later make appearances in Excalibur) contribute stories to this volume.
_____There is also a very nice little scene where Brian visits the family of a boy who he failed to save. Their reaction is refreshing in an era when the old "hated and feared by a world they've sworn to protect" line is getting very tiring.
_____I'm quite fond of a supporting character named Dai Thomas, a policeman whose attitude towards Captain Britain shifts as the book progresses.
_____All in all, very good value for the money.