Posted on 06/30/2013 8:44:13 AM PDT by rickmichaels
Comic book fans can easily rhyme off names like Superman and The Avengers, but a Canadian team is hoping a new revamp will put Captain Canuck back in the mix.
The Canadian hero, who debuted on comic book shelves almost 40 years ago, is making a comeback in a new animated web series debuting — fittingly — on Canada Day at captaincanuck.com.
Back in the early 1970s, as industry leaders Marvel and DC Comics were putting out stories about Spider-Man, Batman and Superman, Winnipeg-based artist Richard Comely and his artist friend Ron Leishman were wondering why there wasn't yet a Canadian counterpart.
"We would talk and he said 'There should be a Canadian superhero.' I said 'Duh! Yeah! Why isn't there [one]?'" Comely recalled to CBC News.
In 1975, the self-published indie comic Captain Canuck made its debut.
"It was really big, much more than I expected," Comely said. "Canadian media certainly was very interested and so was American media. And it sold very well … it just sold out everywhere."
Though the title eventually lapsed, a new group of creators — with the approval of Comely — is reviving Captain Canuck in an online series, featuring the voice of actor Kris Holden-Ried, best known for TV hits Lost Girl and The Tudors. Laura Vandervoort, Tatiana Maslany and Paul Amos are also taking on voice roles for the initial five-episode run.
In the video above, Richard Comely tells CBC's Eli Glasner about the early days of Captain Canuck.
Marvel favourite Wolverine aside, comic book heroes hailing from Canada have largely been overshadowed by the likes of Spider-Man, The X-Men or Batman. In the photo gallery above, CBC News takes a quick look at more Canadian comic heroes.
Tune in to the July 1 edition of The National as Eli Glasner reports on the super fans propelling the homegrown hero from the comics to the web.
There's a whole day put aside for Canada?
Canada ping - Ping du Canada
Canada already has superheroes - Doug and Bob McKenzie.
Is the “Disco Beaver from Outer Space” once of his villains?
I wonder if the 1975 version of Canuck was as PC and progressive as the modern version.
Kirk is from Iowa.
Shatner is Canadian.
IF it were the re-incarnation of an American Super-Hero, he would be Black and a faggot......
I know that. Crikey, it was just a joke.
Canadian superhero
Captain Canuck has been an epic FAIL in comic stores for years and years...
Photo didn’t appear. Who was pictured in it?
Canadian superheroes? They’re already here. Marvel had ‘em YEARS ago.
Do a search on “Alpha Flight”.
Canada Ping!
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