LONDON - The British prime minister's dull-as-dishwater image is getting a revamp from an unlikely source: U.S.-based comic book publisher Marvel.
Gordon Brown, who has been in the political doldrums of late and is often described as buttoned down, is depicted in a heroic light in "Captain Britain and MI13," a new comic that shows the prime minister helping stave off an attack of evil, green-skinned aliens.
The space invaders, known as the Skrulls, have even managed to penetrate the British cabinet, impersonating at least three cabinet ministers, but Brown manages to co-ordinate the ultimately successful efforts to fight them off.
To do so, he works with a fictional intelligence agency known as MI13 that seems closely modelled on MI5, the real British domestic agency, and MI6, the overseas intelligence agency that is the home base of fictional spy James Bond.
It is all quite a makeover for Brown, who has been tumbling in national opinion polls since taking over for the more charismatic Tony Blair less than a year ago.
Saving the world from alien domination, even in a comic book, can only burnish your reputation. So it is no surprise to find that the comic was written by a Brown fan, Paul Cornell, a successful novelist and television writer who has penned episodes of the popular show "Doctor Who."
"I do admire the prime minister," Cornell said Tuesday.
Cornell said Marvel comics often have real-life politicians as characters, but he said the Brown cameo is not likely to be repeated.
He said he was happy to portray Brown as an effective leader.
"He's marshalling the troops, showing leadership and acting heroically," he said of the alien-busting Brown.
Cornell wanted to make sure that readers understood he was basing the fictional character on the real prime minister.
He told the artists drawing the comic to make sure the character actually looked like Brown, who is shown in the comic wearing his customary dark business suit and tie rather than the formfitting bodysuits often worn by comic book stars.
The comic book went on sale in the U.S. last month but it was not immediately clear Tuesday whether it was on the shelves in Britain.
In real life, Brown is under intense criticism from Labour party backbenchers who fear he is likely to lead the party to a landslide defeat when the next general election is called. He has suffered a number of reversals in recent weeks, sparking rumours that he may soon face a challenge for the party leadership.
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