Captain Canuck: Fool’s Gold (2014)

“Original Canadian-produced action-adventure animation, something that we haven’t really seen in this country since Rocket Robin Hood…”

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Several weeks ago was 2015’s Free Comic Book Day. Since then, I’ve tried in vain to locate the one free title of most interest to me: Captain Canuck #0.

I’ve checked in every comic book shop I’ve found, and nobody has it, free or otherwise. Apparently it was too low in supply and exceedingly high in demand.

Damn, missed it again!

First I missed the creators’ Ottawa expo appearance. Then I missed the Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for webisodes. Now this issue zero debacle . . . crazy! How hard is it for an avid fan to get ahold of Canadian content?

Fortunately there’s a Silver Snail comic shop in Toronto, where I discovered this video waiting at the counter. In fact it’s a compilation of the online webisodes, and worth the purchase if you want to see more of the same.

The story involves an updated Captain Canuck (voiced by Touch of Pink’s Kris Holden-Ried), captured by his nemesis, Mister Gold (Paul Amos of Degrassi Goes Hollywood). Gold, assisted by Bluefox (Laura Vandervoort, Smallville’s Supergirl) hopes to genetically transfer Canuck’s powers to himself. Also co-starring is Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) as a reimagined Redcoat.

The look of the animation is simple and clean, nice overall. This “heavyset anime” Captain will likely dispel any lingering confusion with Marvel Comics’ Canadian hero, Guardian. I must say, however, that I was slightly distracted by the design of Redcoat’s mouth, which always had me seeing a moustache.

In action, the animation feels like a sort of missing link between motion comics (for example, Iron Man: Extremis) and full-on animation, a Flash-like style in keeping with its webisode origins.

The voice cast is a homegrown A-Team, with everyone doing a solid job. I was especially surprised by Holden-Ried, whom I’d never have identified, apparently channelling Ryan Reynolds by way of Patrick Warburton.

Music aficionados may also appreciate the presence of music by Rush and an animated cameo by Platinum Blonde in concert.

Although I have a very soft spot in my heart for Rocket Robin Hood, it’s great to see Canada finally realizing a hero of our own, not simply interpreting others’ creations. It’s a decent start, I just want to see more, assuming I don’t overlook it. Again. And again. And yet again. Well, you know…

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Not Rated

26 minutes