Union Jack (2002) by Ben Raab and John Cassaday
A three-issue jaunt about England versus the remnants of Baron Blood’s followers… it’s not bad, though it gets some jeers for going to a Holy Grail plot. Being fairly outclassed in his genre and vaguely foreign, Union Jack has long been a curious character to me.
The series hangs on the dynastic line of the Falsworths, one of those Marvel family trees that just seeps trouble. The original Union Jack, Spitfire, Baron Blood … obviously, you do not date a Falsworth.
Raab plays around with class-struggles and social stratification a bit with the newest Union Jack, a dockworker’s son, but doesn’t really come up with anything too biting.
I could have probably read an ongoing Union Jack if they’d use these three issues as a launching pad. It’s fun to go back and watch John Cassady as he develops. He’s definitely got a stronger cartooning vibe going on in this one but you can still see some trademark elements.
So yeah, for 12 bucks, it’s a little too pricey for the three issues. For real awesome Brit-Marvel be sure to check out Captain Britain and MI-13 volumes one – three: Secret Invasion, Hell Comes to Birmingham and Vampire State all on Amazon or at your LCS.
Grade: B-
