Captain Britain #1
Launch issue · first appearance and origin of Brian Braddock / Captain Britain · original 1976 issue · original unpunched mask present
13 October 1976 · ★ Gold Star object
The launch issue of Captain Britain, published for the British market on 13 October 1976, introducing and originating Brian Braddock as Captain Britain. It is a foundational Marvel UK object: Grand Comics Database identifies it as the first Marvel UK book with original content, rather than a publication built solely from reprinted American material.
Read the catalogue note →- Issue
- #1
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics International Ltd. / Marvel Comics Group
- State
- Raw · ungraded
- Condition
- Very Good / Fine appearance, provisional and ungraded. Comic remains structurally sound with strong colour but shows age-related edge/spine wear, small creases and minor edge nicks. Interior paper is age-toned. Original mask is present and unused with eyeholes still unpunched; the mask itself shows age/handling wear and some edge creasing.
- Completeness
- Complete with the original free Captain Britain mask premium. The mask is unused and the eyeholes remain intact/unpunched. Front cover, rear cover and an interior Captain Britain pin-up are documented. Full page-by-page, coupon and puzzle-page collation has not been independently verified.
- Rarity
- Issue itself is collectible but not inherently rare; complete copies retaining the original loose mask are materially scarcer, and unpunched/unused masks are especially desirable.
Catalogue note
The launch issue of Captain Britain, published for the British market on 13 October 1976, introducing and originating Brian Braddock as Captain Britain. It is a foundational Marvel UK object: Grand Comics Database identifies it as the first Marvel UK book with original content, rather than a publication built solely from reprinted American material. This copy is notably complete with its original loose Captain Britain mask, preserved unused with the eyeholes still unpunched.
Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: Herb Trimpe; Fred Kida; Marie Severin; Irv Watanabe
Cover: Larry Lieber; Frank Giacoia
Edition: Original 1976 launch issue · 10p UK edition · original free Captain Britain mask present, unused with eyeholes unpunched
Why this object matters
Captain Britain's original launch and Brian Braddock origin are foundational Marvel UK evidence, materially strengthened by the documented unused unpunched mask. Retain near-apex Gold alongside the first English-language Akira publication. The mask's survival is established; full interior puzzle/coupon collation is not, so this is not asserted to be an exhaustively verified complete publication.
Evidence limits: Unused mask is documented. Interior puzzle/coupon and page-by-page collation remain unverified.
Score and assessment method
Archive Importance: 9.8 / 10 · Gold Star.
This is a curatorial judgement, not a measurement accurate to one tenth or a market valuation. Read the explanation and its evidence limits together.
How Archive Importance is assessed →Use this record
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Recorded contributions · 7
- Chris ClaremontWritingCatalogue credit
Writing credit: Chris Claremont Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Herb TrimpeArtworkCatalogue credit
Artwork credit: Herb Trimpe; Fred Kida; Marie Severin; Irv Watanabe Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Fred KidaArtworkCatalogue credit
Artwork credit: Herb Trimpe; Fred Kida; Marie Severin; Irv Watanabe Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Marie SeverinArtworkCatalogue credit
Artwork credit: Herb Trimpe; Fred Kida; Marie Severin; Irv Watanabe Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Irv WatanabeArtworkCatalogue credit
Artwork credit: Herb Trimpe; Fred Kida; Marie Severin; Irv Watanabe Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Larry LieberCover artworkCatalogue credit
Cover artwork credit: Larry Lieber; Frank Giacoia Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Frank GiacoiaCover artworkCatalogue credit
Cover artwork credit: Larry Lieber; Frank Giacoia Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution →