Pendragon Comics - The Pendragons

The Pendragons

Issue # 75

Brought together in defense of Avalon and the British Isles, the Pendragons are the officially-sanctioned heroes of Great Britain. Originally led by the Black Knight, the group is composed of surviving members of the old Knights of Pendragon group, as well as several other heroes. Willing to die for their beliefs, the Pendragons stand united as Britain's best defense against threats of a superhuman nature.

Special "Silver Anniversary" Pendragons logo created by Kell Carpenter, inspired by the logo created by Des Davies!

Pendragons Roll-Call: Captain UK, Polaris, Spitfire, Union Jack

Written by Barry Reese

I: Pre-20th Century

Before Man had risen to establish dominance over the world, there was the Green and there was the Bane. Two warring forces, one dedicated to light and growth, the other to darkness and death. They were evenly matched, forever locked in a battle that neither could win.

But then Man entered the fray. They were plentiful and easily swayed by the Bane, who offered quick power and the means to expand Man's control over their domain.

The Green grew frightened, but an idea was formed amongst its many components. The Green went forth, sending its power out to men and women who met its criteria. A bargain was forged: the Green would empower these humans to act as its agents in repelling the Bane and in return the Green would not lash out at humanity, using all the power of Nature to destroy them.

The number of these agents, called Pendragons, varied. In eras in which the Green was at peace and unafraid, there were few Pendragons. But in other times, when the Bane were active and Man was losing sight of his connection to nature, the number of Pendragons increased greatly.

During the reign of Arthur, the Green took on the form of the Green Knight so that he might better interact with humanity. A portion of its power was also given over to the creation of Avalon, a mystical realm that could serve both as a headquarters for the Green and its agents and also as a source of inspiration for future Pendragons.

Empowering the Knights of the Round Table, the Green scored a major victory, driving the Bane into hiding. For a time it looked as if the war was over, but evil never dies... it only slumbers.

The Bane went underground, hiding beneath a series of deceptive facades. They emerged as industrialists and polluters of all types, befouling the Green in every way possible. They also seeded Albion with doubt, slowly but surely drawing man away from the legends and mysticism of the past. Its poison was named Science and the Bane seeded the land with it, far and wide.

II: Paul, 21st Century

Paul Lam stood beside a pink-colored girl with dark hair. She was dressed like a Catholic schoolgirl, but a pin on her blouse identified her as part of the Albion cult. Paul wondered how she reconciled the blatantly pagan leanings of the Albion cult with whatever crap the nuns were shoveling at her in school. He started to broach the subject with her but thought better of it. It'd only cause a stink and he'd had enough conflict for today.

When the transit car came to a stop, he exited with the crowd and made his way up and out of the underground. He was dying for a fag, but he was trying to quit. The patch had never worked for him, but one of those Internet sorcerers had hooked him up with something called Otherdust that he could mix with tea. It took the edge off, but he'd forgotten to have a cup this morning before leaving his flat.

He stepped into his editor's office, winking at the secretary. She'd been a pretty girl with a slightly big arse before the Barrier'd gone up, just the way Paul liked them. But she'd been changed, like so many others had. Now she had fangs that protruded out past her lips and an odor that clung to her like overripe cherries.

Still, she put out if you gave her half a pint and Paul thought that overruled the odor problem.

"Where the bloody hell have you been?" Myers bellowed, sitting behind his desk like a fat toad on a lily-pad. At least he looked the same as he had pre-Barrier, Paul thought. Ugly. "I cancelled a meeting with Guy Chambers for this and you come in an hour late? I'm not at your beck and call, you know."

"Guy Chambers is a hack," Paul replied. "If he was so bloody talented, he would have sung the songs himself, wouldn't he?"

"Not much," Paul admitted, sprawling down into a chair. "Six months ago, there's a bunch of weirdness. People see funny colored skies and a lot of blokes start thinking they're seeing things that aren't there. The Pendragons disappear for a few days, come back a few members shy of what they had when they left... reports of some private vigils being held on their island. Then Spitfire holds a press conference and announces the group's taking a hiatus. Six months later, no sign of the Pendragons, save for a few that are still operating on their own."

Myers made a terrible face. "We need more than this, Paul. We're coming up on the anniversary of the Barrier and I want a major feature on the Pendragons. What you're telling me is that we've got nothing -- absolutely nothing -- that hasn't been reported by every major outlet in Europe? I knew I should have given this assignment to Jenkins...."

"It's not as bad as all that now," Paul countered. He knew that Myers was yanking his chain, especially considering how much Paul hated Jenkins, but he still felt the need to defend himself and his work. "I've got a lead."

Myers grunted, looking towards the window. Several pseudo-dragons were up in the air, chasing around a flock of terrified birds. The dragons were drastically reducing the bird population in Britain, leading to a lot of concerns about what should be done. Myers was on the bird-lovers' side, if only because bird poop on your windshield was a pain, but dragon shit was a disaster. It peeled paint and sometimes ate through metal. "What sort of lead do you have, mate? And please god tell me it's a good one."

Paul waited a moment, watching as Myers dug a bottle of aspirin from a desk drawer. The heavy-set man popped two of the white tablets and chewed them, wincing at the bitter taste. "I found one of 'em. I think she'll talk."

"Which one is that?" Myers asked, leaning forward. "You get permission to talk to Lady Crichton?"

"Lady Chapman, I think she calls herself now. And no, not here. Lorna Dane. Polaris. Joined up just before everything went to hell for 'em."

"You better come through on this one, Paul. I'm finished covering for you with your missed deadlines and half-arsed jobs. You come back with the truth about the Pendragons, about why they went belly up -- and I mean all the juicy details -- or you're out the door."

III: 1940-1963

In response, new Pendragons were needed. Powerful men and women, part of the increasing number of 'mystery-men' who dominated the headlines of the era, were called into service. For the first time since the days of Arthur, they came together as a unified force. Dubbed the Knights of Pendragon by the press, they appeared publicly for the first time during the London Blitz.

Peter Hunter, Albion. After defending Britain during the first World War, Albion returned to active duty to repel the Axis powers. He was the leader of the group and often their spiritual compass.

Jacqueline Falsworth, Spitfire. Daughter of the aristocratic Lord Montgomery Falsworth, Jacqueline gained her powers after a blood transfusion from the original Human Torch. Spitfire served a brief stint alongside the Torch's teammates in the Invaders before finding her true home amongst the Pendragons.

Brian Falsworth, Union Jack. Spitfire's brother, Brian carried on the family tradition as Union Jack. Just as his father had done during the first World War, Brian managed to turn Union Jack into a national icon. Despite being part of the gentry, he held an undeniable appeal to the common man.

Peter Noble, the Fin. A former member of the United States Navy, Peter Noble became the ruler and protector of an undersea nation called Neptunia. His place in the Pendragons was proof that nationality was not as important as a dedication to preserving Nature.

Robert Parkinson, Thunderfist. Originally becoming a hero when a Nazi agent named Alfie duped several Brits into forming the Crusaders, Thunderfist eventually became a Pendragon. He inspired a legacy that continues in the form of two modern-day Thunderfists.

Ghost Girl. One of the two 1940s Pendragons whose identities were never made public, Ghost Girl was another former Crusader who earned a second chance with the Pendragons. She carried on a brief romance with Albion before dying in the latter days of the War.

British Bulldog. A mysterious wrestler with uncertain ties to the World War I-era hero known as the Squire, the British Bulldog claimed to be the living embodiment of the British spirit. This claim is echoed by modern-day hero Lionheart. The Bulldog's young partner, Susie Brighton, frequently accompanied the Knights of Pendragon on their adventures.

Those seven became just as illustrious as their American counterparts, the Invaders and the Liberty Legion. When the war ended, some of these men and women remained active for some time, but they eventually retired from public life. In their wake came the Miracles, a trio of youths with powers that seemed to come from the Gods. Though the Miracles -- Miracleman, Young Miracleman and Kid Miracleman -- did not actively serve as Pendragons during this period, they frequently fought on the side of Nature and two of their number would one day become Pendragons themselves.

IV: Lorna, 21st Century

Lorna Dane leaned farther over the sink, letting the water run through her emerald-tinted hair. She'd been enjoying herself lately, relaxing like she hadn't in years. The disappointment of six months ago had finally begun to fade and she'd recently had several papers on geophysics accepted by leading journals.

All in all, she was feeling quite pleased with life, the universe and everything. Just keep telling yourself that, she thought to herself with a smile. And eventually it'll be true.

As she was standing in her flat's kitchen drying her hair, she heard knocking at the door. It was too early for Joey and Jackie... they weren't due for dinner until around six.

Curious, she stepped over to the door and peered out through the peep-hole. The man on the other side was scroungy, with some sort of stain on his tie and an almost feral look in his eye. "A goddamned reporter," she whispered.

The man seemed to hear her. He plastered on the fakest smile Lorna had ever seen. "Ms. Dane? My name's Paul Lam. I'm a journalist and I'd love to ask you a few questions, if you have the time."

"Well, about your time with the X-Men... what it's like to be a scientist who's also a superhero... and maybe something about the Pendragons."

"Mr. Lam, Spitfire's statement gave you all the details you need. The Pendragons saved the world -- again. We were all quite tired and upset afterwards. Several of our friends died, after all."

"I understand that. I really do." Paul sighed, letting his false smile drift away. "I'll be honest with you, Ms. Dane. My life these past six months has been pure hell. I can't sleep properly, I drink too much... and it's all because of my dreams." A desperate note crept into the man's voice, something that was almost akin to madness. Lorna recognized it very well... she'd heard it in her own words from time to time. "Something's not right with the world, is it? And you know what it is. You and the rest of the Pendragons. I could see it in your faces when Spitfire read her statement. You know what's wrong with the world, don't you?"

Lorna hesitated, but she found herself unlocking the door and pulling it open. She felt cold and not just from the dampness of her hair. "Want something to drink?"

V: Recent History

For many years, there was no organized group of Pendragons. That changed when Union Jack, Albion, Kate McClellan, Ben Gallagher and others came together to repel the Bane. They became the Knights of Pendragon, adopting the mantle of the World War II group. Many came and went during this heady period, including Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), the Black Knight, Adam Crown, Breeze James, Dai Thomas and others.

But like their predecessors, there was in-fighting and distrust amongst some of the members. They splintered, going their separate ways. They were alone when the Bane re-grouped under the leadership of Mordred, the son of Arthur and Morgan Le Fey. The Bane attacked the Knights when they were at their weakest, disposing of Breeze, Dai and the robotic Gawain. It took the combined efforts of Albion and the Black Knight to bring together the remaining Pendragons, forging them into a new, more dedicated group. Their power was great, these new Pendragons: in addition to Albion and the Black Knight, Spitfire returned to the group, along with the newest Union Jack. Augmenting these heroes were Sersi and Wynter, whose great powers were instrumental in turning back Mordred's attack on the heart of Avalon.

Soon after, the group became aware of a growing darkness in the land. Clive Winthrop ascended to the position of British Prime Minister, instituting policies of hate and deception. He would eventually be revealed as the demonic Blackheart, whose attempts at creating something called the Black Mass would lead to Europe's imprisonment and the rise of magic throughout the land. He was aided in this endeavor by the Hellfire Club of London and the demon Zarathos, but he was foiled in the end by the Pendragons. The team's lineup had adjusted by this time, as well, setting the tone for the future. The Black Knight and Sersi left the group, while a rebuilt Gawain and Albion both perished in battle with Blackheart. Their ranks were replenished by Grace, Dark Angel, Adam Crown, Miracleman, the second Albion (Cam McClellan) and the new Captain Britain (Betsy Braddock). The Pendragons became Britain's premier group of champions, battling a wide range of foes in this new post-Barrier world: the time-destroying Infinitus, the mercenary Jack O'Lantern, the necromancer Nekros and the vile Emissaries of the Dark would become frequent foes during this time.

The group's success was briefly interrupted by a trip through time, which cost them three months in the real world. They were replaced during this time by a 'replacement team' which consisted of Kate McClellan, the Angel (later revealed to be an amnesiac Mimic), Tangerine, the new Thunderfist and Shamrock. The replacements scored a series of successes against the criminal mastermind known as the Vixen but disbanded upon the return of the original group.

Months passed and the group experienced both great highs and tremendous lows. A scheme concocted by Roma, former ruler of Otherworld, put the Black Knight at odds with his former teammates. In the end, Jamie Braddock -- the mad brother of Brian and Betsy -- was dead and both Dane Whitman and Sersi were banished from the Pendragons for all time. The great dragon Rathoon reawakened and added greatly to the team's strength, though it was barely enough when Mad Jim Jaspers returned, twisting reality to suit his needs. He restored Breeze to life, but Union Jack was briefly wiped from existence.

Old foes continued to return, as the Emissaries came under the leadership of Lady Mandarin, who sought the destruction of Captain Britain. The Pendragons also crossed paths with a reborn Slaymaster, the same man who had once blinded Betsy Braddock. Through it all, however, the Pendragons persevered -- they were more than teammates. They were friends and family to one another. When Dark Angel's father returned from the grave, she handled the stress thanks to her teammates' support; when Captain Kerosene faced certain death, he was reborn as a holographic lifeform thanks to the Pendragons; and when the Incredible Hulk's mind was usurped by the Leader, he was freed by his friends and teammates.

The group's power level increased to an all-time high when Shamrock was transformed into the Celtic Phoenix. With her power augmenting them, the Pendragons journeyed outside the Black Mass Barrier with the help of time-traveling Avengers. They learned that the world outside the Barrier had been assaulted by the Martian fleet, decimating many of the world's greatest cities. The Pendragons struck a terrible blow to the Martians before returning to Britain, but it cost them Dark Angel, Breeze and Android Andy, all of whom remained outside the Barrier.

The future seemed bright, for the Bane were on the run and the Pendragons were extremely powerful....

VI: Lorna and Paul, 21st Century

"I stood there, in the center of everything that ever happened or could have happened, and I was faced with a choice. Wish everything back the way it was... or make changes." Lorna's voice trembled a bit as she spoke, holding a cup of tea in her hands.

Paul sat across from her in the living room, his own eyes wide and unblinking. He'd been listening to this gorgeous woman tell her story for the past half hour, but he had barely noticed her beauty since entering the room -- which was a major shift from his usual behavior around women. "You recreated the world? Why didn't get rid of world hunger or bring about peace in the middle east? What about Hitler or the Black Mass Barrier or--?"

"I saw what would have happened," she whispered. "When I stood there, I could see all the possible results of all my actions. Change too much and the whole apple cart is turned over... You don't know how hard it's been for me. One of my teammates -- Captain UK -- won't speak to me now. She can't believe I left her lover dead. How do you look someone like that in the eyes and say "sorry, but I did what was best?" You can't." Lorna closed her eyes and was silent for a moment. When she continued her voice was even more quiet than before and Paul had to strain to hear her. "And I still screwed it up. I tossed away the chance to get my one true love back, to change the world for the better, to bring back my dead teammates... and things got screwed up anyway."

Paul swallowed but found his mouth was suddenly dry. He realized suddenly that he hadn't taken a single note during all of this, that he was screwing up his only chance to get this story done right. "Bollocks," he whispered. "Go on."

"Something didn't turn out right," she admitted, looking towards the window. The sun was shining but there was a pink haze in the air, indicating that night was coming. The pinkish-red moon was a common sight now, ever since the Barrier had gone up. "Union Jack thought that maybe I didn't act fast enough or that my will was too weak... whatever happened, some of the weird time fluctuations we had experienced stuck around. I don't remember what they were, not really. Some things don't feel quite right but for all I know, I'm imagining it."

"There wasn't any Pendragons group in the 1940s," Paul murmured. "Not originally. That's one of the things that feels wrong to me."

"I... Since the Barrier, I sometimes feel things. It used to help me get stories, leads. Now, though... Now I just lay awake at night. I smoke too much, drink too much, shag too much." He smiled wanly. "Sorry to be crude."

Paul stared at her for a moment and they both felt a connection. They'd seen through the veil of reality, into the truth of it all. That life was so fragile that a single person, with a single wish, could cause it all to become undone. At any time they could be erased from existence or have their personal histories rewritten, all at the whim of some unseen author. It was terrifying.

Lorna rose from her chair and crossed the room towards him. He allowed himself to be pushed backwards on the couch and she straddled his legs. "I'm not your type."

VII: The Spine of the World

During the recent golden period for the Pendragons, it had been this incarnation of the Green that had handled most of Avalon's interactions with the team. But upon her death, it was Dane Whitman who ascended to her lofty perch. Dubbed the Lord of the Lake, he immediately set about trying to consolidate power and smooth out relations with the Pendragons. The latter proved most difficult, however, and the group began turning their attentions back to the Green Knight once more. The group also suffered a terrible loss when Captain Britain was rendered comatose following a horrific battle with the Phoenix Force, which nearly consumed Shamrock.

Roma, convinced that both Brian Braddock and Dane Whitman were unworthy of their posts, created her own Captain Britain -- Kelsey Leigh -- and fed her a series of lies to gain her trust. Leigh was able to turn on Roma at the end, stopping an attempt to poison Avalon, but she soon discovered the depths of Roma's deceptions and was nearly lost. This coincided with the Lord of the Lake's decision to form his own team of agents -- his own personal Pendragons. These Knights of Avalon take part in the darker adventures, the ones that the Pendragons never touch. Dane also contacted a newcomer to Britain, the mutant heroine Polaris, and offered her the chance to experience the glory of Avalon. She accepted, agreeing to serve as Dane's spy within the Pendragons.

Almost immediately afterwards, the Pendragons became embroiled in a time-spanning adventure that sent them to World War II, into the far future and elsewhere. They were joined by the heroes of another universe, but they found themselves hard-pressed to stop the strange merger that was occurring between worlds. Learning that a trio of villains (including their old foe Mordred) was intent on gaining control of reality, several surviving Pendragons journeyed into the Causal Nexus in an attempt to stop the destruction of the universe. In the end, Dane's agent -- Lorna Dane -- remade the universe and the day was saved, but at great cost. The Pendragons lost Micromax, Young Miracleman, a time-displaced version of the Black Knight and Grace.

Upon returning to their proper time and place, Spitfire made the decision to disband the group. Since succeeding Captain Britain as leader of the team, she'd made a series of poor choices, all of which gnawed away at her confidence.

The team's castle on the island of Lyonesse grew still and quiet, with even their support staff -- including the holographic version of Captain Kerosene and part-time superhero Cybermancer -- leaving for other homes.

It seemed that the Pendragons were done for, but if history shows us nothing else it is that the Green always finds new champions and always finds a way to keep itself defended.

VIII: Betsy, 21st Century

Captain Britain ran a gloved hand over the surface of the team's meeting room table. It came away covered with a fine sheen of dust. "I can't believe they did this. What was Jackie thinking?"

Gray Poldark -- Nocturne -- moved up beside her. He'd spent months in Otherworld, waiting patiently at the side of the woman he loved. Waiting for her injuries to heal and for her mind to reassert itself. Both had finally taken place, for which Nocturne would be forever grateful. "I'm sure she thought it was for the best."

"Disbanding the team?!" she asked incredulously. She took a deep breath, taking in the whole scene around her. With Gully gone, the island's security system was mostly off-line, though the inhabitants of the place -- the owls, the pseudo-dragons and more -- were enough to keep away most pillagers. "It's going to take a lot of work getting the group back on its feet."

"Are you sure it's something we should even try? Maybe it's time to let it go... serve Avalon in some other way."

Betsy turned to him, reaching up to remove the helmet she wore. Her purple hair cascaded about her shoulders and Gray felt an almost irresistible urge to take her in his arms. She smiled, sensing his thoughts with her telepathy. "The Pendragons are still needed. You know that. It's been hell around here for awhile, from what I've gathered... but the X-Men went through dark days, too. We never abandoned Xavier's dream. And I don't plan to abandon what we've come to stand for here, either."

They kissed, standing in the middle of the empty and barren castle. When they pulled away, Gray whispered "Will you marry me?"

Betsy blinked in surprise. She hadn't seen that one coming, though she'd known it had been in his thoughts for awhile, lying there unspoken. "That mask of yours gives you precognition... so what do you think I'll say?"

Betsy licked her lips, drawing out the moment. "Yes. A thousand times over, yes."

IX: Paul, 21st Century

Myers tossed the paper down on his desk, turning blood-rimmed eyes on Paul. "What the hell is this?"

"It's the truth about the Pendragons," Paul replied. He was clean for the first time in months, having gone without a drink for nearly four days -- a personal record since the Barrier went up. He looked like a new man, Myers thought. "From their origins up til the recent break-up."

"This is shite. Where's the backstabbing? Where's the romance? Didn't you find any paparazzi shots of Jackie Chapman with her kit off??" Myers stood up, nearly shaking with frustration. "I can't run this!" He plucked the paper back up and read from it. "'Its poison was named Science and the Bane seeded the land with it, far and wide'... you think this is some bloody essay contest or something?"

"What do you think's so funny? You think I won't fire you for this? Wasting my time and money...."

"You're hilarious, Myers. I give you a story brimming with history and heroism, and you bitch about it." He rose to his feet and Myers noticed that he seemed taller somehow. "I don't need you."

Myers stared at Paul's back as the journalist strode from the office, walking right past the shocked secretary. "Go to hell, you bastard!" Myers bellowed. "You'll be back here on your knees, begging for another chance! No one will hire you! No one!"

Paul stepped out into the sunlight, taking a moment to watch the crowds of people. There was a druid on one corner, selling salvation with his rune stones. Just down from him, a kid and his pet unicorn were sharing an ice cream cone. And the girl from the underground -- the catholic school girl with pagan leanings -- was french-kissing some bloke with a mohawk. Her school uniform was absent today, having been passed over in favor of jeans and a t-shirt depicting the current Albion.

A shadow fell over him and he looked up to see Polaris hovering there. A small roar went up from around him as people began to notice her. Even as one of the more obscure Pendragons, she was still seen as a hero. "How did it go?" she asked him, ignoring the onlookers staring up at her.

"Lyonesse. Betsy's back and she's called a meeting. Everyone's going to be there."

Paul smiled. "Good luck to you, Lorna." He gazed about himself, at this world full of magic and endless possibilities. "You did good, I think."

Polaris didn't answer, though her laughter rang out clear and loud as she soared upwards towards the sun.

It's been almost six years since I wrote the first issue of Black Knight: Destiny Walk, which eventually spawned the entire Pendragons Universe. If you accept the Marvel Volume One Black Knight series as part of our continuity (and it technically is, as longtime readers know) then the Pendragons Universe dates back to 1998, making this year our 7th anniversary.

Seven years is a long time, isn't it? I like to think that we've given some focus to characters who have been mostly ignored by Marvel, which was my intent -- along with telling some entertaining stories, as well. This issue was meant to summarize much of the series' history (for newer readers) while giving some clues as to where I'm going. Next issue introduces the Young Pendragons, a new group inspired by Marvel's own Young Avengers -- but with ties to the Pendragons that will be surprising to some of you. Also keep in mind that Betsy saw the means to bring down the Barrier, just prior to entering her coma. What will it take for her to accomplish that task? You'll find out next issue.