Lionheart (comics)

Lionheart
Lionheart. Art by Olivier Coipel.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Avengers vol. 3, #77 (March, 2004)
Created by	Chuck Austen (Writer) Olivier Coipel (Artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Kelsey Leigh Kirkland
Team affiliations	The Avengers Captain Britain Corps New Excalibur
Notable aliases	Captain Britain, Lionheart of Avalon
Abilities	Sword of Might grants: Superhuman physical attributes, Force field generation, Energy bolts

Lionheart (Kelsey Leigh Kirkland), formerly called Captain Britain, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Creators Chuck Austen and Olivier Coipel first featured her in Avengers #77-81 (March-June 2004); in the story she sacrifices her life to protect Captain America, only to be resurrected as the new Captain Britain, but with the condition that she does not reveal her identity to her children. She went on to appear in Austen and Scott Kolins' Avengers #82-84 (July-August 2004) and Austen, Allan Jacobsen and C.P. Smith's New Invaders #0 (August 2004); in a story-line which begins with her getting angry at her own funeral causing her new teammates to begin to suspect her true identity. She made a brief supporting appearance in Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch's The Avengers #500-501 (September-October 2004); in which she is hospitalized in critical condition following the initial battle. Bendis and Michael Gaydos concluded her run in the Avengers with a brief appearance in Avengers Finale (January 2005); in which she announces her intention to return home.

Kelsey Leigh was a single mother with two young children who lived in South-East England. She was a schoolteacher who taught English literature and history. Back when she was married, thugs invaded her home, robbing her family and gang-raping her. She fought back, hurting one of her rapists, and he cut her face with a broken bottle in revenge, scarring her permanently. Meanwhile, her husband, Richard, was too paralyzed with fear to help her. His guilt over that incident led to the dissolution of the marriage.

One fateful day, her family found themselves on the front line of a battle between the Avengers and the Wrecking Crew. Thunderball rendered Captain America unconscious and Kelsey selflessly put herself between the fallen Captain and the Wasp and their attacker, using the downed hero's shield. While the shield was indestructible, Kelsey wasn't, and the shock from the blows inflicted terrible injuries; she died en route to receiving medical attention.