Mighty World of Marvel (Vol. 2) #9

"Among These Dark, Satanic Mills"
Published February 1984
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Alan Davis
Inker: Alan Davis

What's Going On?
Captain Britain makes his way through the surreal world that is Jim Jasper's London on his way to confront the villain.  Meanwhile, his friends fall under attack from Jaspers' Beetle enforcers, despite their best efforts.

Sub-Plots, oh the Sub-Plots!
- Despite his wounded hands (from protecting Captain UK in Daredevils #10), Merlin refuses to quit his chess game.  Roma comments that it looks inevitable that he will lose.  Since Captain Britain is Merlin's chosen champion, that bodes poorly for his upcoming battle.

- Elizabeth Braddock and Alison Double are captured by the Beetles

- On the run from the Beetles, Saturnyne harasses Captain UK until she responds with violence.  Saturnyne seems to think this will lead to UK doing more than whining in the battle to come.

Writing!
While I can't say that nothing happens in this issue, it felt a little like Moore was treading water here.  It was nice to see Captain UK take her first step toward redemption, and Tom Lennox's death may have repercussions (or maybe not), but the main story did not progress.  Captain Britain went from leaving to confront Jaspers to...continuing on his way to confront Jaspers.  

Art!
For an issue where it felt like not much was happening, Alan Davis had a few pretty cool panels.  I especially liked how he indicated Elizabeth's premonition. 

Nothing spectacular, but I like how the blending of panels implied a connection.  He also did a pretty good job with the last panel.  Davis is so good when he gets to have fun with the characters.  Also, what artist chooses to draw feet?

Retrospectively Amusing:
-Despite all the craziness swirling around him, Jim Jaspers is still found in his office.

- I find it astonishing that none of the events in this title are ever recapped when Psylocke reflects on her history.  Her lover was murdered!  And yet, I am fairly certain that his name never comes up in any of Claremont's 80's or 90's issues.

Worth Noting:
- The title of this issue is taken from a poem by William Blake.  Since the mills in the poem seem (to me; I'm not a poetry major) to reference the industrial revolution, I'm not entirely sure what the relevance is here.

- Thomas Lennox dies in this issue.  Despite having died in the middle of a story with reality being warped, Lennox has never come back to life.  (Yet.)