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CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 4:14 am
by Col_Fury
CAPTAIN UNIVERSE, the hero who could be YOU!

We have some strange things going on with our Captain Universe listings, so let’s clean them up.

First, Captain Universe is the hero who could be you, so this listing:

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE
CAPU/H-FB
{MICRO 3}
MICRO 4
MICRO 5
MICRO 6
MICRO 7
MICRO 8
MICRO 12
M/SPT2 9
M/SPT2 10
M/SPT2 11
AMAZFAN2 13/2-FB
AMAZFAN2 13/2
AMAZFAN2 14/2
CAPU/H
CAPU/DD
CAPU/X23
CAPU/IW
CAPU/SS
ANNIC:SL 1
ANNIC:SL 2
ANNIC:SL 3
ANNIC:SL 4

needs to deleted; this is not one character but rather several different characters.

The Uni-Power (an extension of the Enigma Force, but they’re basically the same thing, and it’s sometimes called the “Uni-Force”) is what powers each Captain Universe and is almost always seen as a flash of energy (or whatever) whenever a new character becomes Captain Universe (and sometimes it talks!). Our Uni-Power listing is incomplete, but a lot of those missing appearances were given to the above Captain Universe listing, so let’s add those in:

*UNI-POWER/ENIGMA FORCE/”UNI-FORCE” (filling out the name)
*CAPU/H-FB
*{MICRO 3}
*MICRO 4
*MICRO 5
*MICRO 6
*MICRO 7
MICRO 8
*MICRO 12
M/SPT2 9
M/SPT2 10
M/SPT2 11
MICRO 35
H@ 10
COC 1
M/FAN 25/2
WOSM@ 5/2
PPTSS 158
WOSM 59-BTS
ASM 327-BTS
PPTSS 159-BTS
WOSM 60-BTS
ASM 328-BTS
PPTSS 160-BTS
WOSM 61-BTS
Q 7-BTS
ASM 329
WOSM@ 6/2
WI?2 31
*[GOTG 30] (add brackets; these comics aren’t fully in the MCP yet)
*[GOTG 31]
*[GOTG 32]
*[GOTG 33]
M/CP 148/2
*CPU 5/2 (this second story is missing from the MCP)
*AMAZFAN2 13/2-FB
*AMAZFAN2 13/2
*AMAZFAN2 14/2
*CAPU/H
*CAPU/DD
*CAPU/X23
*CAPU/IW
*CAPU/SS
*ANNIC:SL 1
*ANNIC:SL 2
*ANNIC:SL 3
*ANNIC:SL 4
*[ASM 627] (not in the MCP yet)
*[ASM 628]
*[ASM 629]
*[X-23 vol. 4 #14] (not in the MCP yet)
*[X-23 vol. 4 #15]
*[X-23 vol. 4 #16]
*[A5 1] (not in the MCP yet)

Now, the whole point of Captain Universe is that he’s a different character each time (the hero who could be YOU!), so let’s put together some listings for the various Captain Universes:

*WILES, DR. GILBERT (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE/DR. GILBERT WILES)
CAPU/H-FB
CAPU/H
CAPU/DD

*COFFIN, RAYMOND (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE II/RAYMOND COFFIN)
MICRO 3


*COFFIN, STEVE (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE III/STEVE COFFIN)

M/SPT2 9
*CPU 5/2 (here it is again!)

*DODGSON, CLARE (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE IV/CLARE DODGSON)
M/SPT2 10

*STANFORD, ANN DODGSON (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE V/ANN DODGSON STANFORD)
M/SPT2 10

^(these two were Captain Universe at the same time, but as separate Captain Universes)

*WALSH, MONTY (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE VI/MONTY WALSH)
M/SPT2 11

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE VII/ARCTURUS RANN & STEPHEN STRANGE
See Cmdr. Arcturus Rann & Doctor Strange

^(these two were merged into one Captain Universe)

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE VIII/DR. BRUCE BANNER
See Hulk

^(Bruce was separated from the Hulk, and Bruce became Captain Universe)

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE IX/
COC 1

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE X/DELAYNE MASTERS
M/FAN 25/2

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XI/DR. EVAN SWANN
See Dr. Evan Swann

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XII/PETER PARKER
See Spider-Man

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XIII/EDDIE PRICE
WOSM@ 6/2

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XIV/CASEY [DOG]
WI?2 31

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XV/L’MATTO [BADOON]
[GOTG 30]

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XVI/ELIJAH JACKSON
M/CP 148/2

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XVII/ROLAND TAYLOR
CPU 5/2 (that's the last of it)

SIMMONS, TED (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XVIII/TED SIMMONS)
AMAZFAN2 13/2-FB
AMAZFAN2 13/2

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XIX/HULK
See Hulk

^(this time, Hulk became Captain Universe)

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XX/MATT MURDOCK
See Daredevil

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXI/LAURA KINNEY
See X-23

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXII/SUSAN RICHARDS
See Invisible Woman

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXIII/KALLARK [STRONTIAN]
See Gladiator II

*KROSAKIS (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXIV/KROSAKIS)
CAPU/IW-VO
CAPU/SS

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXV/NORRIN RADD
See Silver Surfer

*VARGAS, GABRIEL (change name to CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXVI/GABRIEL VARGAS)
AMAZFAN2 14/2


CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXVII/ [PHALANX]
ANNIC:SL 4

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXVIII/WILLIAM NGUYEN
[ASM 627]

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXIX/CAIN MARKO
See Juggernaut

CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXX/TAMARA DEVOUX
[A5 1]

And there it is!

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 8:02 am
by Somebody
Didn't we discuss most of this before? I'm sure I put together a Uni-Power listing...

Ah, yes. Archive #86, thread 13 :)

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 2:06 pm
by Leoparis
Allow me to disagree. This is wrong. There aren't 30 Captain Universes, only one inhabiting different people. So it was accurate before.

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 2:49 pm
by Russ Chappell
Leoparis wrote:There aren't 30 Captain Universes, only one inhabiting different people.
Let's go to the Handbooks. Stuart?

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 5:54 pm
by Col_Fury
From the most recent Handbook entry on Captain Universe, which is in the recently released "Captain Universe: the Hero Who Could be YOU!" collection, the very first line of text:
the Handbooks wrote:Captain Universe is the identity assumed by each of the hundreds of beings who have been empowered by the Uni-Power, a mysterious energy source originiating…
Later in the same entry:
the Handbooks wrote:The first known human to wield the Uni-Power was Gilbert Wiles,
And then:
the Handbooks wrote:An unidentitified female Captain Universe was among the heroes of Earth assembled by the Grandmaster to serve as potential participants in his games against Death,
And then:
the Handbooks wrote:Another Captain Universe was a toddler named Eddie Price,
And then:
the Handbooks wrote:An unusual Captain Universe was Roland Taylor, a schizophrenic writer.
etc.

And there it is! :D

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 11:37 pm
by JephYork
Leoparis wrote:Allow me to disagree. This is wrong. There aren't 30 Captain Universes, only one inhabiting different people. So it was accurate before.
I think you're missing the distinction between the Uni-Power and the identity of "Captain Universe."

There aren't 30 Uni-Powers. There's only one, inhabiting different people. But each of those people, prompted by the Uni-Power, briefly takes on the codename "Captain Universe."

One listing for the Uni-Power. One listing for each person who takes on the codename.

-Jeph!

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 4:58 pm
by Lonewolf36
One that is missing between Elijah Jackson and Roland Taylor from the promo book X-Men and Captain Universe: Sleeping Giants #1 (December, 1994). You could send info in and the book had you as Captain Universe fighting alongside the X-Men. The handbook entry "Though accounts vary, perhaps due to reality distortion, a University of Tennessee veterinary student became Captain Universe to aid the X-Men against the mutant Roger Fieldston, who was using his power to mutate others." The Captain Universe referred to in the handbook entry was writer Jeff Christiansen though unnamed. It's canon though and should simply be Captain Universe XVII/

Captain Universe (XVI) (Elijah Jackson)

Captain Universe (XVII)/
X-Men and Captain Universe: Sleeping Giants #1 (December, 1994)

Captain Universe (XVIII) (Roland Taylor)

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:22 am
by Leoparis
JephYork wrote:
Leoparis wrote:Allow me to disagree. This is wrong. There aren't 30 Captain Universes, only one inhabiting different people. So it was accurate before.
I think you're missing the distinction between the Uni-Power and the identity of "Captain Universe."

There aren't 30 Uni-Powers. There's only one, inhabiting different people. But each of those people, prompted by the Uni-Power, briefly takes on the codename "Captain Universe."

One listing for the Uni-Power. One listing for each person who takes on the codename.

-Jeph!
Still not convinced. To start with, the Uni-power isn't an identity so there is no reason to list it, no more than I would list the cosmic awareness of Captain Mar-Vell and later Quasar.
In the case of multiple identities we have different entities assuming the same codename: Hank Pym, Scott Lang, Eric O'Grady
In the case of Captain universe we have an identity (known as Captain Universe) assuming different hosts.

So the mistakes are wrong analogy (Captain Universe isn't a costumed codename but an actual entity), wrong identification (this entity is Captain Universe not Uni Power)

This is not unlike Venom and we don't list each single person which bonded with the symbiote. We have one listing for Venom i.e. the symbiote.

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 3:27 am
by Col_Fury
Leoparis wrote:the Uni-power isn't an identity
Nope.

The Uni-Power is sentient. It talks to its hosts.
Leoparis wrote:In the case of Captain universe we have an identity (known as Captain Universe) assuming different hosts.
No, the Uni-Power empowers different hosts; the hosts assume the name Captain Universe while they're empowered. The Uni-Power is doing the empowering, the hosts are performing the actions.
Leoparis wrote:So the mistakes are wrong analogy (Captain Universe isn't a costumed codename but an actual entity), wrong identification (this entity is Captain Universe not Uni Power)
You have it backwards. The Uni-Power is an entity, it is sentient, it talks. The costumed code name that each host assumes is Captain Universe.

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:06 am
by Leoparis
So we don't agree on whether the entity is Uni Power or Captain Universe.

But that still doesn't argue in favor of 30 Captain Universe listings. (Or you have to change your mind on the Venom listing)

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 9:05 am
by loki
Russ Chappell wrote:
Leoparis wrote:There aren't 30 Captain Universes, only one inhabiting different people.
Let's go to the Handbooks. Stuart?
I concur with Jeph and Col. Fury - there's one Uni-Power, which is sentient so needs its own listing. If the Uni-Power was taking over the hosts' bodies and controlling them, then there might be a case for saying it was a single Captain Universe, a.k.a. the Uni-Power, but since the hosts retain their free will and own personalities, each Captain Universe is a separate individual. The Uni-Power empowers Captain Universe, but is not, itself, Captain Universe. The situation is similar to the various Squadron Sinister Doctor Spectrums who got their powers via Krimonn, the Skrull who had been transformed into their power crystal. They all get listed individually.

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 4:04 pm
by Paul Bourcier
Yup, that sounds right to me, too.

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:25 pm
by Somebody
I'm slightly torn. Not on the Uni-Power bit - I was the one who argued for it to be listed as such originally, and see attached Leoparis - but on the "listing EVERYONE who's ever bonded with it as Captain Universe" part AS Captain Universe, particularly after the Captain Universe/(team-up) series of one-shots where it "broke" and started talking rather than just wordlessly downloading what the marks needed to know.

Straight off, the Phalanx Scientist you have down as "CAPTAIN UNIVERSE XXVII" never used the name, for instance. Neither did the Hulk in Captain Universe/Hulk.

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 6:43 pm
by Col_Fury
But they're both empowered by the Uni-Force and are wearing the Captain Universe colors; they don't need to call themselves Captain Universe.

Some of the Ghost Riders didn't call themselves "Ghost Rider," and yet they're bonded to a Spirit of Vengeance and they're walking around as a flaming skeleton. They might have called themselves "Hellbilly" or "Undead G-Man" but they're still Ghost Riders.

Re: CAPTAIN UNIVERSE!

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 7:48 pm
by Somebody
Col_Fury wrote:But they're both empowered by the Uni-Force and are wearing the Captain Universe colors; they don't need to call themselves Captain Universe.
I disagree. If someone doesn't use a codename, we shouldn't list them under it. (And going back to that mini, several of the superheroes involved barely even got the costume - Hulk was just Blue Hulk!)
Col_Fury wrote:Some of the Ghost Riders didn't call themselves "Ghost Rider," and yet they're bonded to a Spirit of Vengeance and they're walking around as a flaming skeleton. They might have called themselves "Hellbilly" or "Undead G-Man" but they're still Ghost Riders.
Did I mention I *ALSO* disagree with calling every flame-headed Spirit of Vengeance "Ghost Rider" regardless of whether they used the name? Even if they're ghost riders, they're only Ghost Rider if they call themselves that.