Name

Current Alias

Aliases

I amCaptain Avalon,Lady Saturnyne. Humble servant tomy family's kingdom. A role that means more to me now than any you could offer me.

Early Life[]

Brian Braddock was the youngest child ofLord James Braddock andLady Elizabeth Braddock, born just minutes after his twin sister,Elizabeth,^[39] atBraddock Manor inMaldon,Essex,England.^[18] He was the shyest and most studious of the three children and the only one who was born withoutmutant genes. Raised alongside the tomboy Elizabeth "Betsy" and his irresponsible older brother,James "Jamie" Braddock Jr., Brian's birth was part of a plan devised by the Omniversal GuardianMerlyn, who sentOtherworlder James Braddock toEarth-616 to father a champion.^[25] Although Brian and Elizabeth shared a close bond during childhood,^[40] their differences became more evident as they grew older. Brian, immersed in the studies of physics, often withdrew into his academic pursuits, while Elizabeth, with her love for adventure and mischief, embraced a contrasting path.^[41] This shift created feelings of jealousy in Brian as he observed the growing closeness between Elizabeth and Jamie.^[42]

Education[]

Brian eventually moved toLondon to pursue advanced physics atThames University, where he developed a close friendship withCourtney Ross, with whom he shared a mutual but unspoken attraction, while also enduring bullying fromJacko Tanner.^[43] During a visit home, tragedy struck whenMastermind, a computer created by his father, killed both of his parents and staged it as a lab accident. At the time, Brian was out on a date withValerie Campbell and was overwhelmed by guilt, feeling that he could have prevented their deaths if he had been there.^[44] Seeking refuge in his work, he took a summer position at theDarkmoor Energy Research Centre, working under his mentor,Dr. Travis. While there, the facility was raided by the mercenaryReaver and his team, who sought to kidnap the scientists. Brian attempted to escape on a motorbike to get help but was forcibly run off the road.^[4]

Becoming Captain Britain[]

As Brian bled out, Merlyn and his daughterRoma appeared, offering him a chance to survive by becoming Britain's next great champion.^[4] Faced with a choice between theAmulet of Right (wisdom) and theSword of Might (violence), Brian, identifying more as a scholar than a fighter, chose the Amulet. This decision transformed him intoCaptain Britain, granting him a new costume, superhuman abilities, and a staff,^[1] which Merlyn later replaced with theStar Sceptre, enabling him to fly.^[45] Shortly after, Reaver claimed the Sword of Might and was transformed into a formidable armored knight. Despite this, Captain Britain defeated him, proving his courage and skill in his first test as a hero.^[1]

Brian's first public appearance as a hero saw him battling the minions of the crime lordVixen in London.^[43] While Detective InspectorKate Fraser supported the rookie hero,Chief Inspector Dai Thomas ofScotland Yard was determined to capture and expose him.^[43][46] Throughout his early days, Brian confronted various villains, includingHurricane,^[47]Dr. Synne,^[48] and Mastermind, who revealed his involvement in the deaths of Brian's parents.^[49] Over the next few months, Brian teamed up withCaptain America to face off against theRed Skull, who was after the advanced computer Mastermind.^[50] He also fought numerous other threats, such asLord Hawk,^[51],Mind-Monster,^[52]Nykonn,^[53] theHighwayman and the exiled dictatorManipulator fromUmbazi,^[54] theLurker from Loch Ness,^[55] the undeadBlack Baron,^[56]Dr. Claw and his mutates,^[57] and the deadly assassinSlaymaster.^[58]

Adventures Abroad[]

While studying abroad inAmerica, Brian found himself sharing a room withPeter Parker atEmpire State University. Unknown to Brian, Peter was secretly "Spider-Man". The two eventually teamed up to take down the assassinArcade and began patrolling and training together. Although Peter quickly figured out that Brian was Captain Britain, Brian remained unaware of Peter's superhero identity.^[59] As Brian's dependence on alcohol grew, it began affecting both his academic performance and his heroic actions. This came to a head during a fight where he severely injured an opponent while drunk, leading him to quit drinking.^[31] Later, he joined other heroes in celebrating theHulk's pardon,^[60] took part in theGrandmaster'sContest of Champions,^[61] and battled the shapeshiftingDire Wraiths.^[62]

Otherworld Quest[]

While flying back to the U.K., Brian was struck by a psychic attack. In an effort to protect the other passengers, he jumped from the plane and plunged into the sea. As he fell, he briefly saw the resting place ofKing Arthur before washing up on the shores ofCornwall, suffering from amnesia.^[63] Living as a hermit for several months, he was eventually found by Merlyn's agents, theBlack Knight andVortigen.^[14] With his memories partially restored, Brian joined the Black Knight in a battle againstMordred the Evil and a search for the path to Otherworld.^[64][65] At theGates of Otherworld, Brian was slain by the spectralWhite Rider, but Merlyn brought him back to life and fully restored his memories.^[66] Tasked with savingCamelot from Mordred and theNethergodNecromon, Brian, armed with the knowledge of Arthur's location, was sent by Merlyn, alongside the Black Knight and theelfJackdaw, to awaken the King.^[67] After this mission was completed, Merlyn transported Brian and Jackdaw toEarth-238, revealing that they had another destiny to fulfill.^[68]

Crooked World[]

During their travels across dimensions, Merlyn altered both Brian's powers and his costume.^[69] On the regressive Earth-238, Brian and Jackdaw encountered a series of formidable foes, includingMad Jim Jaspers and hisCrazy Gang,^[69] theJunkheap that Walked Like a Man,^[70] and theStatus Crew.^[71] They learned thatLinda McQuillan, known as Captain U.K., had once defended this world,^[20] and they metSaturnyne fromEarth-9, a member of the Dimensional Development Court, who was working to elevate Earth-238 to a more acceptable standard.^[72] Brian and Jackdaw aided Saturnyne in her efforts, but as her mission neared success, Jaspers' reality-warping powers plunged the world into chaos.^[73][74] His destructive creation, theFury, killed Jackdaw and forced Saturnyne to retreat, before also claiming Brian's life.^[75] Merlyn and Roma later retrieved Brian's remains, revived him, and returned him to Earth-616.^[17]

Jaspers' Warp[]

After returning to Braddock Manor, Brian repaired the Mastermind computer.^[76] He reunited with Betsy, rescuing her from Slaymaster,^[77] and later joined Captain America in a battle againstModred the Mystic.^[78] Not long after, interdimensional mercenaries known as theSpecial Executive kidnapped Brian to force him to testify at Saturnyne's trial. Together, they rescued Saturnyne to prevent her execution and managed to escape back to Earth-616.^[79] Upon their return, Captain U.K., the last surviving hero of Earth-238, warned them that Earth-616's version ofJaspers was on a similar path of destruction. Before they could intervene, the Fury attacked, having survived the collapse of its reality and tracked Brian across dimensions. After temporarily neutralizing the cybiote, Brian and his allies fled.^[80]

Meanwhile, Jaspers took control of Britain, usingS.T.R.I.K.E.'sBeetles to imprison superhumans in concentration camps. Disturbed by the fascist regime, Brian confronted Jaspers but found himself powerless against his reality-warping abilities.^[81] The Fury, which had been relentlessly pursuing Brian, intervened and targeted Jaspers. Though it was programmed not to harm its creator, the Fury recognized Jaspers' Earth-616 counterpart as a different entity and attacked. After a fierce battle, the Fury killed Jaspers, but in doing so, it was severely weakened, allowing Brian and Captain U.K. to destroy it.^[82] Following the confrontation, Roma transported the heroes to Otherworld, where they attended Merlyn's funeral alongside theCaptain Britain Corps, a group of multiversal heroes Merlyn had founded to protect the Omniverse.^[83]

Britain's Best[]

As Britain slowly recovered, Brian encountered a were-creature namedMeggan Puceanu and, while pursuing her, accidentally caused the death ofMicky Scott. Ashamed, Brian threw himself into superhero work and later apologized to the Scotts, whereMickey's mother showed unexpected understanding. Brian invited Meggan Puceanu to stay at Braddock Manor, offering to help her locate her family.^[84] However, he was soon ensnared in an ambush set by Slaymaster, leading to a chaotic series of confrontations. Brian faced not only the assassin, but also Earth-616'sCrazy Gang, the Vixen,^[85] a monstrously deformed homeless man namedSidney Crumb,^[86]Gatecrasher'sTechnet, and even his counterpart fromEarth-794,Kaptain Briton. Briton, fleeing from his unstable loverSat-Yr-9, overpowered Brian and tricked the Technet into transporting Brian to Briton's own reality. Brian convinced the mercenaries to return him home, where he learned that Betsy had killed Briton in self-defense.^[87] Later that evening, Mastermind revealed their true Otherworldly heritage to the siblings, but the moment was interrupted when the government'sR.C.X. agency arrived.^[88] They intended to house theWarpies—children altered by Jaspers—at the Manor. Although Brian initially refused, Betsy agreed, overriding him. Seizing this opportunity, R.C.X. leaked information about their elder brother Jamie's criminal activities toDoctor Crocodile inMbangawi, resulting in Jamie's capture.^[89]

After Brian and Meggan, who had recently discovered her ability to transform her appearance to appeal to him, traveled to Mbangawi to rescue Jamie, Brian was forced to disown his brother upon learning of his crimes.^[90] Unwilling to return home, Brian and Meggan wandered the world, eventually growing closer and forming a romantic relationship. Upon their return to Braddock Manor, Brian was enraged to find that R.C.X. had persuaded Betsy to assume the mantle of Captain Britain. In response, he quit the role and withdrew with Meggan to live in seclusion.^[91] Months later, when Slaymaster blinded Betsy during a mission, Brian realized the gravity of his responsibility and came to her rescue, killing her attacker. With a renewed sense of duty, he resumed his position as Captain Britain.^[28] Shortly after, he reconciled with Chief Inspector Dai Thomas and helped capture arogue Warpie inGlasgow.^[92]

Excalibur[]

AfterMojo abducted Betsy, Brian joined forces with theNew Mutants to rescue her.^[93] Following the rescue, Betsy became a member of theX-Men as Psylocke, though the Braddocks remained unaware that Roma had orchestrated events to tie them to themutant team.^[94] After the X-Men, including Betsy, were thought to have perished, Brian and Meggan joined forces with former X-MenNightcrawler,Shadowcat, andPhoenix to establishExcalibur and continue the X-Men's legacy.^[34] However, Roma secretly placed a "jinx" on Brian to ensure his continued involvement with the team, which made it difficult for him to act independently.^[95] Excalibur often worked alongside figures like Dai Thomas,^[96] BrigadierAlysande Stuart ofW.H.O.,^[97] and her brotherAlistaire.^[98] During this time, Brian reconnected with Courtney Ross, unaware that her Earth-794 counterpart, Sat-Yr-9, had killed and replaced her.^[99] The team later followed Rachel Summers to a demon-possessedNew York, where Brian's costume was destroyed, and his powers were weakened.^[100]

After Excalibur returned to Britain, they faced theLightning Force, theirNazi counterparts fromEarth-597. During this confrontation, Brian's powers were restored.^[101] The team was soon thrown across various realities during theCross-Time Caper, includingEarth-1193, where Brian acquiredCaptain Marshall's costume.^[23] Brian grew jealous of Meggan's closeness with Nightcrawler, but their bond strengthened, especially with "Courtney" no longer interfering.^[102] Once back on Earth-616, Brian made a conscious decision to stop drinking, disapproving of how alcohol affected his control and behavior.^[103] Brian encountered numerous threats such asMesmero,^[104] theFenris twins,^[105]Doctor Doom,^[106] and theAir-Walker android,^[107] fighting both with Excalibur and alongside allies like Black Knight,Plasmer,Captain Kerosene, and theAvengers.^[108][109] During this period, he also discovered that Betsy was still alive.^[110]

Brian was called upon by W.H.O. to investigate a string of mysterious deaths linked to a fast-food chain, which led him to uncover theGreen Knight's vengeful assault on humanity, particularly targeting theOmni Corporation. When Dai Thomas, possessed by the Pendragon spirit ofGawain, refused to return to W.H.O., Brian was sent to find him. The two men clashed in a battle driven by their respective Pendragon spirits—Brian, now withLancelot's spirit, and Dai with Gawain's. In a berserker rage, Brian seemingly killed Dai, mirroring the tragic fate of Lancelot and Gawain. After Dai's return, now fully embodying Gawain, Brian, Dai, andKate McClellan confronted the Green Knight, who demanded a sacrifice to save humanity. Though Brian offered himself, the Green Knight rejected the offer, and Dai ultimately sacrificed himself, losing the Pendragon spirit in the process.^[111] Though no longer directly involved with the Pendragon conflict, Brian and Dai remained vigilant, assisting Kate and her team in the final battle against the evil of theBane and the Omni Corporation.^[112]

Amid rising tensions, Brian's jealousy of Nightcrawler's growing interest in Meggan led to a confrontation, which resulted in a trial by the Corps. Roma intervened, instructing the case to be dismissed.^[113] In a confrontation with Roma, Brian uncovered her manipulations, and she ultimately lifted the jinx.^[95] Returning home, Brian joined Excalibur in their final battle againstNecrom, their destined adversary. Afterward, Merlyn revealed that he had survived and continued to manipulate events in Brian's life.^[114]

Britanic and Marriage[]

During a mission, Brian recognized that his first instinct was violence, so he invited his sister, Psylocke, to come home, hoping to have someone to talk to.^[115] At a housewarming at Braddock Manor, "Courtney" revealed herself as Sat-Yr-9, and along with Jamie Braddock, they briefly captured Brian and Meggan.^[115] Sat-Yr-9 tried to brainwash Brian into serving her, but he resisted when she ordered him to kill Meggan. As Excalibur managed to break free, Sat-Yr-9 escaped, and Brian swore to track her down and avenge Courtney's death.^[116] Later, Brian proposed to Meggan,^[117] but the two were abducted by R.C.X.'sCherubim.^[118] Excalibur soon overthrew R.C.X.'s corrupt leadership.^[119] After helping Phoenix overthrowAhab and his Sentinel regime in herhome reality,^[120] Brian became lost in the timestream on the journey back.^[121] He was eventually rescued byDaytripper, who brought him home.^[7]

Transformed by his experiences, Brian becameBritanic, plagued by precognitive visions of doom that gradually faded as his old self reemerged.^[122] Encouraged by a dream, Brian enlisted Psylocke's aid in reaching their comatose brother Jamie atMoira MacTaggert'sResearch Center onMuir Island, which seemed to improve his status.^[40] One final prophetic dream warned him of a dystopian future, prompting him to infiltrate the London Branch of theHellfire Club. There, he uncovered the Club andBlack Air's plot to take control of the U.K., exposingMountjoy's conspiracy. Taking up the mantle of Captain Britain once more, Brian helped thwart their plans, averting the disastrous future he had foreseen.^[123] Afterward, he renewed his proposal to Meggan but was abducted by theDragons of the Crimson Dawn, who intended to use him to open a rift between their realm and Earth. Instead, he absorbed the rift's energy, closing it but losing his powers in the process.^[124] After taking a break from Excalibur, Brian returned to marry Meggan, and their wedding marked the disbandment of the team.^[125]

King of Otherworld[]

Brian resumed his research at Darkmoor but was ambushed by Warpies tracking Captain U.K. The attack was part of a plan orchestrated by the sentient computer Mastermind, who had taken control of Otherworld while disguised as Roma. After Brian and his allies, including Psylocke, successfully repelled the attackers, they pursued them back to the mystical realm.^[126] There, they discovered the shattered remains of the Captain Britain Corps. Teaming up withCrusader X and Captain U.K., they thwarted Mastermind's attempt to seize the Sword of Might and the Amulet of Right—artifacts capable of reshaping the universe.^[127] In a hidden shrine constructed by his father, Brian discovered a hologram of James Braddock, Sr., which revealed that Brian was the rightful ruler of Otherworld and Excalibur. Reawakening his powers, Brian claimed the sword and was marked with a fiery St. Andrew's Cross on his face.^[25] He confronted and defeated Mastermind, restored the Warpies and freed the true Roma, before being crowned the new ruler of Otherworld.^[25]

Lionheart of Avalon[]

When Brian uncoveredMorgan Le Fay's plot to sever his bond with Britain and use his injuries as a weapon against the nation, he entrusted the mantle of Captain Britain to the mortally woundedKelsey Leigh before being captured. Although his powers remained intact, Morgan's plan was foiled as Brian's connection to Britain was severed. Kelsey managed to defeat Morgan, but she was left disillusioned upon discovering that revealing her survival would put her children's lives in jeopardy.^[128] Brian and Meggan eventually returned to Earth briefly to lay Brian's sister, Psylocke, to rest after she was killed by the new foe,Vargas.^[129]

New Excalibur[]

When Earth-616 was engulfed by atrans-temporal storm caused by theScarlet Witch, Roma tasked Brian with repairing the damage, giving him a 48-hour deadline before she would erase the entire reality to safeguard the Omniverse. With assistance, Brian and Meggan managed to seal the dimensional rift, though Meggan was lost in the void and presumed dead.^[130] After the timeline was restored, Brian's memories of her were only faint. He found solace in the unexpected return of his sister, Psylocke, who offered him comfort following her mysterious resurrection. Seeking answers, he turned toJuggernaut andNocturne. Their journey soon led them to confront theShadow King and theShadow-X fromEarth-6141, who were drawn to the chaos. Government agentPete Wisdom urged them to reform Excalibur, but they initially hesitated.^[131] However, when Brian was barred from returning to Otherworld and attacked by Kelsey—now calling herself Lionheart—and the rogue Corps memberAlbion, he realized the necessity of a new team.^[132] Thus, Brian, Wisdom, Juggernaut, Nocturne,Dazzler, andSage came together to form the new Excalibur.^[131]

Excalibur quickly sprang into action after its formation, providing aid in the aftermath of theShepherd's Cross Station bombing and preventing Black Air from releasing the Shadow King. However, Shadow X managed to escape.^[133] The Shadow King later trapped Excalibur and Psylocke atCrossmore Prison, where Psylocke managed to defeat him, only to disappear, leaving Brian to believe she was lost.^[134] After attendingBlack Panther andStorm's wedding,^[135] Brian and the Black Knight traveled back to Arthurian times, where they successfully thwarted an attempt byMakluan dragons to destroy Camelot.^[136] In the present day, Brian offered his expertise on theSuperhuman Registration Act, choosing to work within the system despite his haunting memories of concentration camps in an effort to prevent further injustices.^[137] He later joinedMI-13 in repelling aMartian invasion.^[138] Brian, with the help of Excalibur, convinced Lionheart to turn against Albion, leading to Albion's defeat, the undoing of his destructive spell, and the reunification of Kelsey with her children after a final confrontation between the two versions of Brian.^[139]

Die by the Sword[]

Brian reunited with Psylocke, now part of the dimension-hopping teamExiles, but their reunion was abruptly interrupted. In Otherworld, a newly resurrected Mad Jim Jaspers, with Merlyn's assistance, launched an attack on Roma, fueled by Merlyn's resentment over her assuming his role as Omniversal Guardian. To further his plans, Merlyn sentRouge-Mort and her Janissaries to kill Brian.^[15] Though they succeeded in wounding him, Excalibur intervened before the situation escalated further. As the Exiles worked to heal Brian, Jaspers unleashed chaos, destroying the Captain Britain Corps and turning many of its members into Furies.^[140] During their confrontation, Jaspers was infected by the Fury, becoming its new host, but before he could regain his full strength, Brian, Albion, andBlink managed to destroy it. With Roma believed to be dead, Saturnyne appointed Albion to rebuild the Corps, declaring Brian's place to be on Earth-616.^[141] Soon after, an alternate version ofSlaymaster targeted Brian, aiming to hurt Psylocke. Brian chose not to intervene, allowing his twin sister to confront and defeat her tormentor.^[142]

Joining MI-13[]

When theSkrullsinvaded Earth, Brian joined MI-13 under Pete Wisdom's leadership. Although he died protecting Otherworld from the alien assault, as the Skrulls attempted to steal its magic, Merlyn quickly revived him, granting him enhanced powers. With Excalibur in hand, he played a key role in defeating the Skrulls.^[143] Captain Britain continued to serve with MI-13, assisting in capturing the demonPlokta^[144] and preventingDracula from turning Britain into a vampire nation. During this mission, he was joyfully reunited with Meggan, who had adopted the codename Gloriana after escaping fromHell.^[145] While on an official visit toWashington, D.C., Captain Britain was offered a position with the Avengers by Steve Rogers. Though Pete Wisdom reluctantly agreed, it was only on the condition of a timeshare arrangement.^[146]

The Trial of Fantomex[]

Brian re-established the Captain Britain Corps and was reunited with his brother Jamie Braddock, who, having overcome his past madness, had become a force for good across theOmniverse. Through their sibling connection, Brian experienced Psylocke's memories withX-Force, revealingFantomex's murder of theApocalypse child. Brian orchestrated Fantomex's capture to face trial, leading a commando team from the Corps.^[147] Additionally, he kidnapped Psylocke, bringing her back into the Corps to help defend Otherworld against the demonHoroam'ce, the Goat of Self-Propagation.^[148] When Brian discovered that the demon had possessed Jamie'sfuture self, Betsy took control of Brian's body, forcing him to kill Jamie in order to protect the Multiverse.^[42] This action, along with Psylocke's continued involvement with X-Force, created a rift between the siblings, but they eventually reconciled.^[149][150]

Secret Avengers[]

Balancing his roles as a husband, MI-13 agent, and Captain Britain, Brian eventually joined theAvengers' covert operations team underHawkeye's leadership. Early on, there was friction between them, as Brian had expected to lead the team himself. The two worked together to face theDescendants, an underground organization made up of cyborgs and androids.^[151] At the same time, Brian found himself entangled in a civil war in Otherworld, where the modernManchester Gods were in conflict with the legendary forces ofAvalon and Camelot. Despite the turmoil, Brian and King Arthur were ultimately compelled to relinquish control to the new gods of Britain.^[152] During the arrival of thePhoenix, Brian was part of a team tasked with preventing its catastrophic impact. While he was unable to halt the Phoenix entirely, he successfully delayed its destructive path just long enough to save theKree homeworld ofHala.^[153]

While investigating the Descendants, Brian discovered that his father, James Braddock, had played a significant role in their creation through theWeapon Plus program. James had used theOrb of Necromancy to animate the Descendants but soon regretted his actions when the leader of the research team, known as "Father," twisted their original purpose. Eventually, Brian entrusted the Orb to theAvengers ofEarth-666, assuming it wouldn't be necessary. However, the Orb became pivotal in the struggle against the undead Avengers, who sought to use it to spread undeath throughout themultiverse. Brian and Hawkeye faced off against the zombified versions of their teammates and ultimately used the Orb to restoreBrother Voodoo's ghost, rendering him vulnerable. Their success in halting the Descendants' bio-technological attack neutralized the immediate danger, but the Secret Avengers disbanded soon after.^[154]

Founding Braddock Academy[]

Captain Britain, alongside MI-13 and the British government, established theBraddock Academy to nurture the future heroes of the nation. Situated at Braddock Manor, the Academy was overseen by Brian and Meggan, withUnion Jack,Spitfire, andElsa Bloodstone serving as faculty members.^[155]

Revolutionary War[]

Brian later assisted other British heroes in thwarting the occult organizationMys-Tech, which sought to sacrifice Britain to the Hell-lordMephisto. During the battle, his allyKillpower was lost to Hell. Following this, Brian covertly joinedS.H.I.E.L.D.'sEuropean Division, keeping a watchful eye for any sign of Mys-Tech's return. While MI-13 and S.H.I.E.L.D. investigated the threat, Brian was captured byDeath's Head II in a ruse, discovering that thePsycho-Wraith planned to use him as one of six living batteries to open a portal to Hell for Mephisto's legions.^[156] With the help of other British heroes, Brian prevented Killpower and Jackdaw—two former allies now corrupted by demons—from launching their invasion of Earth.^[157]

Time Runs Out[]

In response to theIncursion crisis, where colliding Earths threatened the existence of both universes, Brian Braddock joined theIlluminati.^[30] Initially, the Captain Britain Corps downplayed the threat, but the situation became dire when nearly two dozen Corps members were lost. Roma and Saturnyne discovered aMapmaker, which triggered an invasion by theSidera Maris in Otherworld. During the attack, Brian lost an eye and his support system. He only survived after Saturnyne expelled him from theStarlight Citadel, granting him the knowledge of Otherworld.^[158] In the final months of their existence, the Illuminati became fugitives, facing the fury of an awakened Captain America, who sought revenge for his stolen memories. The group eventually sought peace with Steve Rogers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and several Avenger factions inSpain, but no resolution to the crisis was found. As the Incursion between Earth-616 andEarth-1610 loomed, Brian resigned himself to his fate, choosing not to be among the survivors.^{[159][160][161][162]}

Secret Empire[]

After the multiverse'srebirth and the resolution of the Incursion crisis, Brian assumed leadership of theChampions of Europe, a superhero group formed in response toSteve Rogers' revelation as aHydra sleeper agent and the subsequent rise of a Hydra-controlled United States.^[163] Brian's team, alongsideEnigma andSquirrel Girl, fought fiercely against the Hydra regime. Once Rogers was defeated, the Champions focused on dismantling the last remnants of Hydra's terror cells.^[164]

Parenthood[]

After Meggan became pregnant, she and Brian retired toBraddock Lighthouse, seeking a quiet life to raise their child. Their daughter,Margaret, amazed her parents with her rapid mastery of language and complex ideas. Brian, proud yet unintentionally condescending, often tried discussing advanced topics like physics with her as an infant. They chose Nightcrawler, Prestige, and Shadowcat to serve as her godparents.^[33] During a trip toParis, they encounteredScythian, a god from theNegative Zone, who sought revenge. Brian joined forces with the X-Men to banish him toLimbo.^[165] Later, Brian attended a super-summit inAntarctica as the representative of the UK's heroes^[166] and offered Braddock Academy as a sanctuary forCaptain Marvel'War Avengers duringMalekith'sinvasion.^[167] On a more personal note, Brian received a touching Christmas gift when his twin sister, Betsy, returned to her original form after having been in a different body for years.^[168]

Captain Britain No More[]

After the Incursion crisis, Brian witnessed the fragmentation of Otherworld, with Merlyn and Roma ruling separate domains. With the Captain Britain Corps gone, Saturnyne took full control of the Starlight Citadel. Meanwhile, the emergence ofKrakoa as a new mutant nation shifted the balance of power, and Brian's family became part of this new era. When Apocalypse sought to gain access to Avalon, Brian was manipulated by Morgan Le Fay in her conflict with Saturnyne, transforming him into her dark knight. Just before Morgan's enchantment fully overtook him, Brian transferred his powers to his sister, Betsy, who reclaimed the Captain Britain mantle.^[35] Betsy's attempts to save Brian were thwarted as Morgan forced him to battle her, and in the end, Betsy accidentally killed Brian during their fight. Jamie Braddock used his powers to revive Brian, breaking Morgan's control over him. However, Brian struggled with his sense of self-worth and the Captain Britain mantle. In his frustration, he chose the Sword of Might over the Amulet of Right and asked Betsy to assume the role of Captain Britain.^[13] Eventually, Brian distanced himself from both his sister and the sword, unable to escape the weight of his shame.^[169]

Becoming Captain Avalon[]

Brian became involved in theArakko conflict when he and Betsy were selected asSwordbearers in atournament set up by Saturnyne to ease tensions between Krakoa and Arakko. Initially, Brian sought to give up the Sword of Might and resume his role as Captain Britain, but Saturnyne's manipulation forced him into the position ofCaptain Avalon, the sworn protector of his brother, King Jamie. Despite Saturnyne's attempts to control him, including her advances and her offer of theStarlight Sword, Brian resisted, choosing instead to support Betsy as Captain Britain during the competition.^[170] The tournament soon spiraled into chaos, filled with fierce trials and betrayals. Despite Betsy's apparent death and the brutality of the event, Brian fought alongside the other Swordbearers, eventually leading to war withAmenth's forces. Saturnyne's plan to create a new Captain Britain Corps faltered when Betsy, not Brian, became the foundation for the Corps across the multiverse. The forces of Krakoa and the Captain Britain Corps managed to thwart the invasion, but the Earth-616 version of Betsy remained missing.^{[171][172][173][174][36]}

Brian distanced himself from Great Britain, avoiding theCoven Akkaba's attempts to install him as the rightful Captain Britain following Betsy's disappearance. Instead, he continued his role as Captain Avalon, standing by his brother Jamie in Otherworld. Meggan took on the mantle of Court Sorceress Gloriana, while their daughter Maggie displayed a natural aptitude for diplomacy and investigation.^[175] Excalibur eventually facilitated Betsy's return, allowing her to reclaim the Captain Britain title and preventing it from passing to Brian.^[176] Shortly after, Brian attended theHellfire Gala with Meggan.^[177]

Otherworld War[]

As tensions rose between Merlyn and Saturnyne, Brian and Jamie participated in a parliament where Merlyn's anti-mutant stance caused friction.^[178] Later, the Braddock family gathered at the Starlight Citadel during the trial of Jamie's false Captain Britain, a moment that sparked a civil war between Merlyn, aligned with King Arthur, and Saturnyne, supported by the Braddocks. Brian was stunned by King Arthur's return but pledged to defend mutants, as those he cherished were part of that community.^[179] As Captain Avalon, he fought alongside Excalibur against Merlyn's forces. Facing imminent defeat, Brian and his family retreated to the Braddock Lighthouse on Earth.^[180] After the war concluded and peace was reestablished, Brian offered to train King Arthur's son, Mordred, as his squire.^[181]

Teaching and Family Focus[]

Interdimensional Energy Conduit: Braddock's abilities are powered by interdimensional energies which are concentrated around the British Isles of each reality and also in Otherworld; moving too far away from the field will cause eventual power loss unless a power-enhancing costume is worn. After being lost in the timestream for a while, Brian briefly had precognitive flashes, though these eventually abated. For a time, all of his abilities were localized to Britain; if he went abroad for too long a time without wearing his costume, his powers eventually diminished to nothing. His costume acts as an antenna and battery, allowing him to retain his powers wherever he goes. When he and Meggan destroyed the Otherworld energy matrix at Roma's prompting, however, the energies that allowed him to retain his power within the UK without his costume were dissipated. Hence, to retain his powers anywhere on Earth, he must wear the costume at all times. Recently, Brian has gained the ability to use his powers even without his suit. They are now based on his confidence. With greater confidence comes more power, and he weakens as his confidence does.
Originally, his powers were linked to the Amulet of Right, worn around his neck, and he depended on a mace-like Star Scepter to fly. Later on, Merlyn changed his costume just before he entered an alternate Earth (Earth-238), removing the Amulet and the Scepter placing the powers in his new costume. Not long after that he was killed by the Fury and had his body remade by Merlyn, who chose this point to make his powers innate and stronger, with his costume merely serving as a "battery" and amplifier. Currently, Brian's powers are sustained by his own confidence and heritage as the son of a denizen of Otherworld. Thus, the more confident he is, the greater his powers are and vice versa.

• Superhuman Strength: While wearing his costume, Braddock's strength is increased to high superhuman levels. He originally possessed the strength of ten men and could lift 1,800 pounds^[185] but it rose to the point where he could lift 2 tons under normal circumstances.^[186] In recent years his strength dramatically increased to the point where he could lift 90 tons^[187] but it has now furtherly increased and at his peak, he's able to lift over 100 tons.^[3]
• Superhuman Stamina: Braddock's advanced musculature produces considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of a normal human. At his peak, he can exert himself physically for about 24 hours before the build-up of fatigue toxins in his blood begins to impair him.^[3]
• Superhuman Durability: While wearing his costume, Braddock's body is surrounded by an invisible force field that renders him highly resistant to physical injury. The field allows him to sustain powerful energy blasts, great impact forces such as bazooka shells or being repeatedly struck by superhumanly strong opponents, temperature extremes, and falls from great heights without being injured.^[187] However, repeated impacts from sufficiently powerful forces or weaponry will weaken and, eventually, penetrate the field. The field's density, however, is specially designed to allow oxygen and light to pass through it. This force field is now sustained by his own confidence.
• Superhuman Agility: Braddock's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.
• Superhuman Reflexes: Braddock's reflexes are similarly enhanced and are superior to those of the finest human athlete.^[3]
• Superhuman Senses: Braddock can purposely draw upon the energies that give him his other powers to temporarily increase the efficiency of his senses, enhancing them to superhuman levels. He can see objects with perfect clarity at much greater distances than a normal human can. His hearing is similarly enhanced, allowing him to hear further than a human and to detect sounds normal humans can't.^[3]
• Flight: Braddock can also channel these energies for the purpose of flying through the air at great speeds. At his peak, he is capable of surpassing the Speed of Sound, 770 miles per hour. The force field that grants him his superhuman durability enables him to withstand the rigors of traveling at such high velocities would have on human tissue without harm, as well as allowing him to breathe normally.^[3]
• Self-Sustenance: Brian can survive in space.^[3]
• Magic Visualization: Brian can visualize magical spells around him as words and physically break them.^[3]
• Telepathic Resistance: Brian has developed a resistance to his sisterBetsy's telepathy and has an implant made byMister Fantastic that prevents telepaths from locating him.^[3]

• Genius Intelligence: Braddock is brilliant scientist with expertise in physics, engineering^[39] and robotics.^[3]
• Acrobatics: He is an excellent acrobat.^[3]
• Hand-to-Hand Combat: Brian is an excellent combatant trained in the conventional fighting methods.^[188] He has also received additional training byNightcrawler.^[117]

• Confidence: Currently, Captain Britain's powers are based on his own confidence. The more he believes in himself and what he is doing, the stronger he is, and the less susceptible to damage he becomes.
• Gas Attacks: Also, though the force field protects him from conventional physical injury, it does leave him vulnerable to attack from "knock out" gases as they can pass through his force field as easily as oxygen can.

• Captain Britain's Uniform: stores interdimensional energies, acting as a battery for when he is away from the matrix which surrounds the British Isles. His costume has also at times been able to generate a protective force field (originally, this power came from his quarterstaff) and a more recent version is also able to adopt a 'stealth mode' which helps him operate more unobtrusively.

• Amulet of Right: Braddock originally possessed this amulet before it was destroyed by his sisterBetsy.^[170]

• Braddock currently wields theSword of Might asCaptain Avalon and one of theSwordbearers of Krakoa.^[170]
• Captain Britain originally wielded aQuarterstaff (which could produce a force field),^[4] and later theStar Sceptre (which allowed flight, as well as the force field).^[45] Merlyn eventually moved these powers into Brian's costume, and eventually into Brian himself.
• Brian temporarily wielded the swordExcalibur during the adventure which saw him ascend the throne of Otherworld.

• Brian Braddock made his first US appearance inMarvel Team-Up #65.

• Betsy and Brian Braddock have a subconscious psychic bond, allowing the twins to sense when the other is in crisis.^[190][28] Betsy once severed this bond before during a period of distance between the two, but eventually reconnected it.^[191]
• Brian's transformation into Britanic byExcalibur writerScott Lobdell was inspired by the chaotic nature of the series itself. He wanted to try something different with Brian, and at the same time have him undergo a drastic change in the same way his sisterBetsy did. The change was never meant to be permanent, and Lobdell additionally noted, "I also liked the idea that the barrel-chested stalwart of the group was going to be forced into the role of the kind of manic member for a bit — it felt fitfully undignified and something Brian might have felt mortified about later."^[192]
• Captain Britain was onceSpider-Man's roommate, although they were close in age, Peter served as a mentor in teaching him how to use his powers when he first became Captain Britain.^[59][31]
• Although they are on good terms now, Brian has had a falling out withNightcrawler, who was once romantically interested inMeggan. Tension between them escalated when Kurt had dreams about Meggan and spoke about her in his sleep, leading to a physical confrontation between the two.^[193]
• Captain Britain was often referred to as "Britain's first super-hero" in early issues of his own series, but he was actually predated byBlack Knight andUnion Jack.

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