Tag: deathtraps

Ben-Day Shots – Captain Britain #6

ben-day shots logo

Captain Britain #6

Week Ending Nov 17, 1976
Cover Price: 10 pence

Characters: Captain Britain / Brian Braddock, Hurricane, various Heathrow airport personnel and pilots

Content Note: violence at an airport and involving fuel, mention of 9/11 in my commentary, deathtrap involving a jet

The cover is concerning and (spoilers) a good teaser of what’s going to happen.

half the cover, showing Hurricane using his wind powels to throw a petrol tanker at Captain Britain who is jumping away. Text: Can even Captain Britain survive the peerless power of Hurricane? Learn the answer in Havoc at Heathrow!

Yeah, this is set at Heathrow airport. I expect it would go down very differently these days.

They did casually mention last issue that Hurricane’s base was at Heathrow, which I kinda skipped over, and didn’t realize that Heathrow isn’t, like, a neighborhood as well (I’m a Yank, cut me some slack). This time they’re clearer that the hideout is “on the fringe of Heathrow/London Airport”. And as one would expect from last issue’s cliffhanger, we jump straight to them fighting.

I feel like this being next to an airport deserves more attention from the get-go, but that may due to the changes caused by, well, today’s anniversary (9/11/2001, the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City). We’re not going to get into that, but the airport security theater that resulted seems relevant.

We do have a nice bit of nonsense technology in the background of the first and third panel.

part of a panel and a full one, showing blocky, but indistinct machinery of some kind behind the action. Narration: The scene is a hideout on the fringe of Heathrow/London Airport. Captain Britain's thoughts: It took me half the night to track down Hurricane, but now that I've found him, I've got to knock him out of action before he smashes me to a pulp. Second panel shows Hurricane using his wrist blaster and saying: ...but nothing can protect you from the power of Hurricane's wind-blasts!
Gonna assume those are two different machines, cuz they don’t match at all

As Cap is blown out of the warehouse, he thinks that Hurricane’s power is like nothing he’s felt. Which, uh, really? You’ve already fought him before and he just about destroyed the university.

We get an aerial shot that gives us an idea of the distance between the “North Field Factories” and the airport itself, plus some references to things, I’m assuming at least partially, happened in other Marvel comics.

Aerial view. An irregular pentagon with the airport in the middle surrounded by what's probably grass and roads. To the northeast are warehouses and two have explosions. Narration: Heathrow / London airport. It's seen its share of crises - from terrorist alerts to mad bombors to a martial arts battle on the main runway, but the airport's never seen anything quite like the free-for-all erupting out of the old North Field Factories

I guess having your base at an airport would cover a lot of weird noises? But I’d really expect them to vet who they rent to. Anyway, the cover happens and naturally the airport is now concerned. Cap is also concerned – Hurricane’s armor is invincible, but Cap is faster and more agile. He’s hoping to wear him down. He manages to get a hit to Hurricane’s backpack, which makes both Hurricane and his windblasts go wild.

Hurricane says it’s a momentary advantage, but thinks that he “must work fast – heat factors are already rising out of control.” Brian has figured out that the backpack is his weakness, but gets caught by surprised and blown around, dropping his quarterstaff.

And… he got blown onto an active runway, with a plane coming right at him to take off. Hurricane uses his suction blasts to pull the aircraft, under full power, down at Cap. Who decides, instead of, say, running to the side, to run underneath it.

Why do people always do things like that? You can turn a whole lot faster than the vehicle chasing you can. Run to the side! But I digress…

It works, but now Hurricane flies over him and uses his suction trick to pull all the air out from around Cap. Which I’m not sure would work as described? More air would just come fill the void?

three panels of Captain Britain being battered by Hurricane's wind. Thought bubbles: He's creating a suction around me, pulling the air up from the fround as a real hurricane would! The updraft is causing a vacuum. I can barely breathe and wherever I go, Hurricane follows. I'm running out of time... steel bands around chest... lungs starved... air! ...no... air. ...He's... beaten me... again...

Hurricane admits that Cap came close to winning as Heathrow’s fire brigade and security forces come to take care of the plane. Hurricane blasts them away and kidnaps Captain Britain. Dude may be a little obsessed with him at this point, or maybe it’s just that Cap’s name is on the cover.

We get a NASTY cliffhanger deathtrap. Holy Shades of Batman!

Two panels. First panel shows Captain Britain channed over an upright rectangular opening. Narration: and when the fallen superhero regains consciousness... Captain Britain's speech: I'm still alive- but my arms! I'm spread-eagled over some sort of opening. It must be Hurricane's doing. But... why?! Next panel shows a slick jet whose intake Cap is chained to. From on top of the wing Hurricane explains: The answer is simple, chum. You're chained over the air intake of a Concorde SST. I plan to start the engine, run them up to full throttle, until you snap free of your bonds! The Olympus turbojets will make mincemeat of you! Your death will be quick and spectacular! Good-bye Captain Britain! Laughter covers part of the panel. Narration: Next week: The Wind of Death!

Wow.

The problem with these weekly issues is that each story is short (7 pages). These had Fantastic Four and Nick Fury stories on top of these. That’s a lot of action for just 10 pence!

Credits: writer: Chris Claremont, artists: Herb Trimpe & Fred Kida, letterer: I. Watanabe, colorist: Marie Severin, editor: Larry Lieber. Cover credits (via the GCD): pencils: Ron Wilson, inks: Frank Giacola, letterer: Irving Watanabe

I will go back and add icons to this and the previous issue! I liveblogged issues 5-7 on Discord and want to get them up here before the thread gets buried.

Enjoy this post? Support me on Patreon or Ko-fi