Paul Cornell, Captain Britain, Doctor Who and MI:13

These days, it seems as if writer Paul Cornell is involved with anything that's cool. From writing Captain Britain and MI:13 for Marvel Comics to his work on Doctor Who and other British television series, Cornell's writing is fun, entertaining and inspired. Paul was gracious enough to talk to Forces of Geek the week that the first Captain Britain and MI:13 collection hit stores.

GEEK: To the uninitiated or unfamiliar, who and what is Captain Britain and MI:13?

CORNELL: The intelligence organisation that deals with supernatural, alien and super heroic threats in the UK, comprising a super team led by Captain Britain (plus, for old time Marvel readers, Blade, Spitfire, the Black Knight, Pete Wisdom and our new character Dr. Faiza Hussain), with military and technological back-up. We're into the third story arc of our comic as we speak, starting with issue ten, which is out now, and a great jumping-on point.

Besides location, what makes a British superhero culturally different than an American one?

I don't think there is much of a difference. We're a supernatural espionage comic, and we're kind of hardcore.



You were a fan prior to actually writing Doctor Who. Do you feel that you have a stronger responsibility than a work-for-hire writer when adding to the legacy?

I don't think there has been a modern writer of Doctor Who who hasn't been a fan! And we all feel that responsibility hugely. Just typing the character name feels like heavy lifting. It's a dream come true, but with great joy comes great responsibility.

You have written in virtually every medium: television, novels, short stories, comics, radio plays and non fiction. Do you have a preference and when you initially have an idea how do you determine what medium is best to tell your story?

There's a few left: opera; Noh theatre; sock puppets.

I love writing prose, but comics are a close second. And sometimes I get the choice, sometimes it's just a case of what comes along. I'm spinning so many plates right now!

Among your work on British television is Doctor Who, Primeval, Robin Hood and your own creation, Wavelength. What shows have been an inspiration to you and do you have any interest in working in American television?

I'd love to experience a writers' room like Galactica's, but that's really out of the question without living over there. Obviously, I'd like to learn from Joss Whedon. I'm also a huge anime fan, and envy their vast range of subject matter. ('I've got this idea about a guy who can see micro-organisms and works at an agricultural college...') My favourite show of all time is the original Outer Limits.

Some of your future projects that have been mentioned in the past are the television pilot Super, and the new comic book series, Young Avengers: Dark Reign. What can you tell us about these and is there anything else in the works?

Super never made it. Young Avengers: Dark Reign is about the Young Avengers meeting a younger team who also call themselves that. Should they fight them, mentor them, fall in love with them? I hope it's kind of dark and troubling, but with the light of the Young Avengers shining into it. Apart from that, I'm currently working on a show for BBC3, there's lots of cool news TV and comics wise in the future, I'm in the midst of a novel, I have short stories in all three ongoing non-theme SF anthology series, and I have a Radio 4 adaptation of Iain Banks' 'The State of the Art' on in March. Busy!



What are you currently geeking out over?

The end of Galactica is just blowing me away. Roisin Murphy, The Secret Six, Fraction's Uncanny X-Men, Lost, David Louis Edelman, et cetera!


Captain Britain and MI:13 Volume 1: Secret Invasion by Paul Cornell and Leonard Kirk is available online through Amazon.com or at fine comic book stores everywhere or contact 1-888-COMIC-BOOK to find a location near you.

Visit Paul online at his site, House of Awkwardness.