Captain Universe (British comics)

Arnold Miller was the son of publisher Len Miller, and originally worked for him at L. Miller & Son, Ltd. before founding his own Arnold Book Company in 1948. Despite its name, the company primarily produced comics rather than books, particularly reprints of Fawcett and EC Comics stories imported from America. For new material ABC turned to Mick Anglo's Gower Street studios, who already worked with his father's company. Anglo produced two successful science fiction titles for ABC, Ace Molloy of the Special Squadron (1952 - 1954) and Space Comics (1953 - 1954) before being commissioned to create a superhero title to compete with the successful Marvelman and Young Marvelman titles.[1]

Anglo's response was Captain Universe, heavily based on the same Captain Marvel template as Marvelman.[1][2][3][4] A slight twist was added to better tie the strip into science fiction rather than fantasy; instead of possessing the attributes of six mythical elders, Captain Universe's powers were derived from real-life scientific figures Galileo, Archimedes, Leonardo da Vinci, Aristotle and Pythagoras. This led to the character calling out "Galap" to change form. Captain Universe's alter ego was also made a scientist - Jim Logan of the United Nations Interplanetary Division. It has been suggested this background was influenced by the hugely popular BBC television series The Quatermass Experiment.[1]

Captain Universe headlined his own monthly comic, which also featured other strips featuring detective Mike Miller and cowboy Rocky Colt. The title was short lived; many sources state it only ran for a single issue in 1954[5][2] but a second issue has surfaced.[6] The title's cancellation has been attributed to legal action,[7] though it is unclear who this was from.[6] Arnold Miller subsequently wound down the company following a press outcry over the horror content of his EC reprint titles,[8] ending most of the comics by 1955 and folding the company entirely in 1958.[9] Anglo meanwhile would mine the Captain Marvel archetype further for Super Hombre in 1958 and Captain Miracle in 1961.[4][10][2]

Subsequently, the character languished in obscurity for decades and lapsed into the public domain. As a result, Captain Universe was selected by Alan Moore for an appearance in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume IV: The Tempest in 2018.[11] Captain Universe was featured as part of the Seven Stars, a team of public domain superheroes active in Britain in the fifties, alongside Marsman, Zom of the Zodiac, Satin Astro, Captain Zenith, Electro Girl and Vull the Invisible.[12] The series also portrayed him as the brother of Amalgamated Press character Jet-Ace Logan.[5]

Despite being in the public domain like the rest of the characters in the The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series, Mick Anglo's role as Captain Universe's creator was uniquely acknowledged in the issue's credits, Moore having sought out his permission before his death.[13]

United Nations Interplanetary Division scientist Jim Logan devises an electrical treatment that draws power from the far reaches of space, giving him the ability to turn into the superhuman Captain Universe when he calls out "galap". He is able to draw on the galactic knowledge of Galileo, Archimedes' physics expertise, Da Vinci's inventing skills, Aristotle's mastery of philosophy and Pythagorus' [sic][lower-alpha 1] geometry talents. He also has super-strength and is capable of flight, and defends Earth from galactic threats.[1]