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Secret origins revealed in upcoming issue of Defenders UK

By John Freeman on April 2, 2023

A new issue of the Marvel Comics, and, more importantly for many downthetubes readers, Marvel UK-inspired digital fanzine Defenders UK is heading fans way this week.

Issue Five of the not for profit zine, is written, drawn, lettered and designed by IzzY World, with a set of variant covers by Steve Andrew, who contributed to the current Vworp Vworp! Whozine.

The story is a homage to British football comic characters and strips, as well as delivering nods to VIZ, and featuring cameos from Doctor Who’s River Song and Sir James Jaspers from the 1980s Captain Britain strips.

Defender UK #5 Digital Fanzine - Sample Art by Izzy World

Issue 5, due for release on Friday – some Easter reading, then! – is set within the Captain Britain story “The Crooked World” – specifically, around the time of Sir James Jaspers anti-superhero speech, and the moments after where his powers are revealed, changing the type of wine he drinks and the days leading up to Sir James Jaspers warping reality to be in Number 10 Downing Street.

While the comic is a set against that backdrop, it centres around a charity football game, where the two teams are made of youths from care or foster homes. Among them, Billy Knight, who was the baby that was discovered at the end of Issue 4 of Defenders UK. Jim Jaspers features throughout.

If you’re a fan of Captain Britain, Marvel heroes and more, then do check out this continuity-threaded tale – particularly Defenders UK #3: “Have To Believe We Are Magic”, mashing the Braddocks with Bagpuss… sorry, Saggy Cat, Doctor Who and more. It’s a wonderful excursion through Marvel UK history, ingeniously delivered by the Avengers UK team.

These stories are all free to read on the Avengers UK Facebook page, along with all the inventive team’s range of Captain Britain/Marvel UK fan fiction comics.

• You can find all back issues of Defenders UK as albums on the Avengers UK page on Facebook

DEFENDERS UK – BACK ISSUES

• Defenders UK #1

• Defenders UK #2

• Defenders UK #3

• Defenders UK #4

• Defenders UK (Special Edition)

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.