Thoughts on Marvel 1602 Trade Paperback

When Neil Gaiman came up with the idea of Marvel 1602, it was shortly after the events on 9/11. Gaiman did not want to make a story that involved guns or war, he figured there would be enough of that already. Instead he made a comic that takes place in a different time. I think he felt this would take people out of that takes that mindset. Marvel 1602 has the benefit of being one of the most engaging retellings of heroes I have ever read. The idea of Daredevil, Nick Fury, and Spider-Man in the 1600's is a fascinating premise. I honestly could not put the book down.

Cover art is amazing by the way

I don't want to give any of the story away, but it does have a great plot. Doom is involved, so you know the world is probably ending which is pretty usual for a Marvel short series. however, there will be many inferences and interpretations making it stand out. There will be many twists which keep the story fresh, but the real strength is the writing. Neil Gaiman is best known for his work on The Sandman, but he has helped to write many essential stories for Marvel and DC. There are a lot of provocative ideas like having mutants be branded as "witch breed" and being burned by the Inquisition. Thor comes into the story which this brings up a question of too about the strength of the Catholic Church. Instead of being planted in our time and our problems, it deals with issues of the time. The message, however, is something to take away. All the characters in the story have to sacrifice a lot to save the world. There are many things that will happen that are plan awful. While this is true, it shows that even the most noble of efforts are the hardest to attain.

The use of the Marvel characters is profound. I love seeing them in the 1602's interpretation. Daredevil is a blind bard who is also a very skilled agent of Fury's. The Fantastic Four were a group of explorers headed to the new world when they were hit with a mystical force making them the embodiments of earth, air, water, and fire. The X-Men are "witch breed' and like their future counterparts, they are shunned for their appearance and abilities. It's nice to see how everything translates. There will be many times you find a name you recognize and smile when you make the connection. This is why multiverse books are so great. As a reader, you get the same characters you love; they just get a new perspective.

Marvel 1602 is a rich and imaginative universe to read about. While Neil Gaiman only wrote this series, there are plenty of other spin-offs like Marvel 1602: The New World and Marvel 1602 Witch Hunter Angela. The universe is ripe with intrigue and even though Gaiman leaves many new things unfinished on that last panel, hopefully a spin-off series will give more answers to those questions. With that said, this book is an amazing read if you love comics and you appreciate history. Check out Marvel 1602, it will be worth the afternoon you read it in. I give it eight ships headed to the new world out of ten.

Good review, now I won't have to kill the writer