Marvel is preparing to introduce a new all-British superhero team called “The Union” – with a Scottish character called “Kelpie”.
The comic books giant is promising a five-issue series spinning out of the “Empyre” comics storyline, with the “fledgling crew” set to battle alongside the Avengers and Fantastic Four
The five-strong team each represent a different part of the UK, led by “Union Jack aka Joseph Chapman”, an existing Marvel comic superhero from England.
Scotland is represented by Kelpie, and while it is unclear what her powers are, the character was introduced on social media with the tagline: “In Scotland, it’s not the monsters you have to worry about. It’s the loch.”
In Scotland, it’s not the monsters you have to worry about. See Kelpie in action in “The Union” #1, out in May. #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/q2jBcdWL9O
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) February 19, 2020
He’s fought for Queen and Country.
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) February 19, 2020
Creative team @mistergrist, @Andrea_Di_Vito, and @RB_Silva take you inside the creation of UK's newest super team 🇬🇧: https://t.co/GXezkmuxXj #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/wmS8SZLsea
Readers are told to “beware” of knife-wielding Welsh superhero “The Choir” and her voice, while Ireland’s representative is called “Snakes”.
According to legend… Snakes joins Brittania on a new UK super team in "The Union" #1. #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/XLBTri2pc4
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) February 18, 2020
The hills of Wales echoes with song. Beware of The Choir when “The Union” #1 hits comic shelves in May! #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/wpG74kO0cb
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) February 19, 2020
Completing the set is “Brittania”, representing Great Britain as a whole, who has a union jack-themed outfit and a lion on her shield.
They wanted her to give them heroes. Meet Brittania in "The Union" #1, coming in May. #MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/EFpW956OBH
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) February 18, 2020
Written by Paul Grist, the British writer of Judge Dredd, the first issue of “The Union” is out in May.
Mr Grist said: “This is the comic I’ve been waiting 40 years to write!
“New heroes! New adventures! And a team that’s falling apart before it’s even begun!”
Character designer R.B. Silva said: “With Brittania and Kelpie, I wanted them to look like medieval warriors and I just simplified and modernised it from there.
“For Snakes, I thought of the visual for the Executioner. Someone the enemy will fear from just a look.
“And for the Choir, more of a light visual, something that can enable quick movements.
“On her knife I put three dragon’s heads. I know on Wales’ flag they have a dragon with only one head but I thought, why not three?”
Response on social media has been at times bemused, with one critic saying: “You genuinely made a comic in the year 2020 about THE UNION when our countries are more divided than ever…”
But defending the project on Twitter, another said: “Everyone attempting to dunk on Marvel for The Union is just showing themselves up as someone that doesn’t know a thing about Paul Grist’s work.”