During the 1980s, Marvel Comics UK introduced readers to a shapeshifting elemental whose popularity made her a strong force within the Marvel Universe. Not only did this character work alongside Captain Britain, but she was also a founding member of Excalibur. How much do you know about this formidable heroine?
Meggan Puceanu, created by Alan Moore and Alan Davis, made her debut in Mighty World of Marvel #7 in 1983. She later made her first appearance in American Marvel in New Mutants Annual #2 in 1986. Meggan received her powers when she was born, which unfortunately happened during a blizzard. Her powers include shapeshifting, power mimicry, reactive evolution, empathy, seeing auras, animal communication, flight, energy-absorption and discharging, control of natural elements, healing, superhuman strength, and durability. Her natural response to the cold was to grow fur over her entire body, much to her family’s horror. Sadly, as an empathic metamorph, the more people imagined her as a monster, the more monstrous she became.
She grew webbing on her hands and feet, an antennae on her head, claws, and wings. Confined to her family’s camper, Meggan immersed herself in the fantasy of the various British TV shows. In her late teens, Great Britain was hit by a reality-warping wave that separated Meggan from her family. While living in an abandoned warehouse, Meggan had her first meeting with Captain Britain. Unfortunately, this meeting occurred during a full moon, which cause Meggan to take on a werewolf-like appearance. Assuming she was a villain, Captain Britain fought Meggan, only to discover later that she was not a villain and invite her to stay at his mansion. Meggan soon developed a crush on Captain Britain and subconsciously changed her looks to those of his ideal woman.
The pair soon fell in love and had a long and stormy courtship. Meggan and Captain Britain later formed the group Excalibur, alongside Nightcrawler, Phoenix, and Shadowcat. In Excalibur #125, Captain Britain and Meggan were finally married. After which, Captain Britain became the Omniversal Guardian of the Otherworld and Meggan ruled beside him and helped him to rebuild the Captain Britain Corps.
