Hub - Issue 65 - 14 September 2008

Sep 21, 2026

Issue 65 of Hub collects an editorial, fiction, reviews, a featured article on future cinema, and an interview. The editorial discusses Will Smith as Captain America and argues for changing artistic interpretation, linking the debate to ideas about race and storytelling. The issue also includes “Dracula’s Guest” by Bram Stoker, plus notes for FantasyCon (19–21 September) with event venue details and guest information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryComic

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time7 min

AccessFree to download

Editorial

Will Smith as Captain America

Fiction

Dracula’s Guest

Reviews

Orphanage

The Steel Remains

Feature

Big Screen Future: Aliens

Interview

Richard Morgan

Hub Issue 65 14 September 2008 Editors: Lee Harris, Alasdair Stuart and Trudi Topham. Published by The Right Hand. Contents Editorial: Will Smith as Captain America Fiction: Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker Reviews: Orphanage, The Steel Remains Feature: Big Screen Future: Aliens Interview: Richard Morgan Find us and buy us a drink at: September 19 – 21 : FantasyCon Held at the Britannia Hotel, Nottingham. Guests of Honour: Christopher Golden, James Barclay, Dave McKean Master of Ceremonies: Christopher Fowler [www.FantasyCon.org.uk](www.FantasyCon.org.uk) Editorial by Alasdair Stuart Will Smith as Captain America Two responses to that, the first is a scream of anguish, the second is 'Hmm…okay.' I appear to be alone in the second reaction. The rumour surfaced and was quelled, in under 24 hours this week. Smith apparently isn't in the frame, in the slightest, never has been, they never even talked to him etc. That sound you can hear, like unto a mighty wind? Fandom breathing sighs of relief. They're wrong. Here's why. The Truth is a superb mini-series published by Marvel and written and illustrated by Kyle Baker a few years ago that explored the idea that exposing Steve Rogers, a nice, middle-class white man, to the super soldier serum first was utterly counter intuitive for the time. Instead, it suggested that the first men who the serum was trialled on were black. Many of them died, a few made it into the field and of them only one, Isiah Bradley survived. He spent time in prison, his mind degenerated through long term exposure to the serum and when released, became a legend in the US Black community, culminating in Steve Rogers visiting and reconciling with him. A black Captain America. Historically accurate, with a fascinating back story and an unflinching look at the racial truths of the time. There's a chance to do something different with the character here and that word scares a certain stripe of fandom more than any other. These are the people who bemoaned Ultimate Spiderman as a direct threat to 'their' books, the people currently lobbying for Watchmen to have a minimum three hour runtime. These are the people for whom art is frozen in amber, forever exactly as it was the moment they saw it for the first time. And they're wrong. Art, in any form, whether it's sculpture or podcasting, oil paints or comics is different every time someone encounters it, regardless of whether they've seen it before. There are new details I still see in Blade Runner on a tenth or fourteenth viewing for example and I was amazed to see how ambivalent I was to Alien after having not seen it for a couple of years. Art isn't solid, isn't inviolable. It's a puzzle you spend your life solving, something you hold a dialogue with regardless of what genre it is or what other people think of it. Art is a mirror held up to show the viewer not only something new about it but something new about them. It's change personified. So embrace it, welcome it. Will Smith as Captain America. When we started for our drive the sun was shining brightly on Munich, and the air was full of the joyousness of early summer. Just as we were about to depart, Herr Delbrück (the maître d'hôtel of the Quatre Saisons, where I was staying) came down, bareheaded, to the carriage and, after wishing me a pleasant drive, said to the coachman, still holding his hand on the handle of the carriage door: 'Remember you are back by nightfall. The sky looks bright but there is a shiver in the north wind that says there may be a sudden storm. But I am sure you will not be late.' Here he smiled, and added, 'for you know what night it is.' Johann answered with an emphatic, 'Ja, mein Herr,' and, touching his hat, drove off quickly. When we had cleared the town, I said, after signalling to him to stop: 'Tell me, Johann, what is tonight?' He crossed himself, as he answered laconically:'Walpurgis nacht.' Then he took out his watch, a g

FAQs

What is the main topic of the editorial in this issue?

The editorial focuses on the idea of Will Smith as Captain America, responding to reactions and arguing why different portrayals matter.

Which fiction piece is included in this issue?

“Dracula’s Guest” by Bram Stoker is listed under Fiction.

What event details are provided for FantasyCon?

FantasyCon is scheduled for September 19–21 and held at the Britannia Hotel, Nottingham, with listed guests of honour and a master of ceremonies.

Sep 21, 2026

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