Five Comic Book Characters To Read On Bonfire Night

Remember, remember, the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason, and... comic book plot?

Tonight is bonfire night, and whether you want a light read before heading out to the celebrations, a heavier read as you stay in for the night, or something to try the day after before the autumnal mood leaves you, Hello, Robots! has you covered. Curl up with this selection of our favourites:

5. Pete Wisdom (Marvel)

Imagine if James Bond was: a) from Essex and b) a mutant with the power to create energy knives, and you have Pete Wisdom. I have a particular soft spot for the British super spy and reluctant bureaucrat: he enjoys blowing stuff up just like Guy Fawkes - I never said the bonfire night connections weren't going to be tenuous - and is a great in to British politics, at least in the Marvel universe.

What to read: Captain Britain and MI:13, written by Paul Cornell with art by Leonard Kirk. The definitive British Marvel comic book, there are three volumes to pick up. There's a lovely firework display (of sorts) towards the end of volume 3, too.

What else to read: Pete Wisdom turns up in a bunch of comics: the original Pryde & Wisdom miniseries featuring Kitty Pryde, and the most recent Gambit and X-Men Legacy series. Once you've read Captain Britain & MI:13, check out Pete's own miniseries Wisdom. It takes place before Captain Britain & MI:13, but it's not as strong.

4. Luci (The Wicked + The Divine)

For the uninitiated, The Wicked + The Divine is a comic about gods as pop stars and pop stars as gods. Luci - short for Lucifer - is one of the aforementioned gods and a heavily Bowie-inspired pop star, and she has a couple things in common with Guy Fawkes. Like Guy, Luci has some capital-T Thoughts about religion and a penchant for blowing stuff up, although Luci tends to opt for heads over parliament buildings. If you're not reading The Wicked + The Divine yet, now's the time to start.

What to read: The Wicked + The Divine, written by Kieron Gillen with art by Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson. Volume 1 collects issues 1-5, volume 2 collects issues 6-11. Issue 15 is out right now in all good comic book shops, or pick up any issue you fancy digitally at Comixology.

What else to read: Luci hasn't appeared in any other media, unless you count a sort of cameo in Image Comics stable-mate Sex Criminals. The Wicked + The Divine is set to be adapted into a TV series, however, so keep an eye out for that. If you want more by the same team, try Phonogram.

3. Citizen Jack (Citizen Jack)

Prefer your Bonfire Night shenanigans more focused on the politics than the explosions? Check out the brand new Citizen Jack for a look at American politics. Jack's running for President, and like most candidates he has a few skeletons in his closet - like that devil he worships! The brand new ongoing series is written by Sam Humphries, a favourite writer of mine, so I know we're in safe hands. And the first issue dropped only yesterday, so there's no catching up to do!

What to read: Citizen Jack! Pop into your local comic book store or buy digitally.

What else to read: Check out more of Sam Humphries's work: the infamous Our Love Is Real made Sam's name, and Sacrifice is a comic about time travel, Aztecs and Joy Division.

2. Jubilee (Marvel)

Jubilation Lee, one of my favourite characters in the Marvel universe! You might recognise the mall rat mutant from the 90s X-Men cartoon, where she became my instant fashion icon. Jubilee's mutant power was to "release plasmoids" and "detonate matter on the sub-atomic level", which basically amounted to fireworks! Jubilee was a member of the X-Men for years, initially just stunning her opponents with her fireworks before learning to cause actual damage, until an event known as "M-Day" resulted in Jubilee losing her powers. After some more adventures, Jubilee returned home to the X-Men as a vampire and adopted a baby boy called Shogo. Heart-warming stuff.

What to read: The 2011 Wolverine & Jubilee is my favourite Jubilee text, and you don't need to know anything going in to get the most out of it. It's set post-M-Day so you get minimal fireworks, but included in the back is Jubilee's 1989 debut issue which is a really enjoyable read.

What else to read: Check out Curse of the Mutants to find out how Jubilee became a vampire, or X-23 to see Jubilee as a supporting character being a vampire and making friends with Wolverine's female clone (it's complicated). Read the 2013 X-Men series and the Battle of the Atom crossover to see vamp Jubilee as a full member of the X-Men and a new parent. Heck, go back and watch the 90s X-Men cartoon on Netflix.

1. V (V for Vendetta)

Honestly, was it ever going to be anyone other than V? He's wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and is using fireworks a-plenty to take down corruption in a dystopian British government. His mask has become synonymous with civil disobedience. If you haven't read Alan Moore's 1988 masterpiece, tonight's the night to start fixing that. It can be a bit heavy - hey, it's like serious politics and philosphy stuff, it should be heavy - but it's damn fascinating and an absolute must-read.

What to read: V for Vendetta. Written by Alan Moore. Art by David Lloyd. That's it. Just read it.

What else to read: You want more Moore? Read the similarly politically-charged Watchmen and my favourite Moore outing The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Then watch the V for Vendetta film, but give the Watchmen and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen films a miss.

There we have it: that's what I'm going to be reading this bonfire night. What about you? Did I leave anyone out? Let me know in the comments below what your favourite bonfire night read is.