Marvel 1602

Marvel 1602

Neil Gaiman2009

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Reviews

Photo of Revna
Revna@revna

If you have it on your shelf, it's worth a read before the purge.

Photo of Ryan LaFerney
Ryan LaFerney@ryantlaferney
5 stars
Dec 15, 2022

Wow. I was surprised by how much I loved this. Seeing that I am a fan of Marvel comics, renaissance history, and Neil Gaiman, liking Marvel 1602 should be a no-brainer..but I had my hesitations before reading this. Would transplanting Marvel Characters into an Elizabethan England setting really work? The answer: Yes, it does. Marvel 1602 is a series of comic books published by Marvel in 2003 in 8 single issues which were later combined into one single volume. The premise of the story in essence is quite simple: A bunch of Superheroes and Villains from the Marvel Universe (The X Men, Captain America, Thor, Nicholas Fury, Spider Man, Dr Doom, Dr. Strange, etc) have been adapted to the 17th Century in Elizabethan times. Apparently, Neil Gaiman had always been a fan of Marvel (I mean, it is quite obvious isn't it?...He's talked extensively about his love of Thor) and editor Joe Quesada approached Gaiman to work on a project which eventually evolved into this brilliant comic. This is essentially a giant "what if?" story and I tend to be a sucker for those. (Perhaps this is why I like Star Wars Infinities?). The premise (without giving too much away) for this comic itself is quite brilliant: In the year 1602 in the Marvel Universe, for an unknown reason, superheroes have appeared about 400 years early. They were born and raised in this era and some hold important positions in high places (Doctor Strange for instance,is the master of the the Queen's medicines and Nick Fury is the intelligencer of the court for Queen Elizabeth). However, when the characters come to realize that something is wrong with the universe (Dr. Strange and Nick Fury in particular), the heroes must solve the mystery behind their own existence, while dealing with intrigue surrounding the courts of Elizabeth and James. Most of our favorite Marvel characters meet, battle, and (in typical Marvel fashion) form alliances and betray one another before the story is over. Gaiman, so adept at handling mythology in all its forms, knows that the super hero is a modern guise for character archetypes that have endured throughout human existence. As long as we have been telling stories, these archetypes have existed. By putting these Classic Marvel Characters in Renaissance England, Gaiman proves that these characters are elemental, even in different circumstances. Like usual, Gaiman is able to meld fictional fantasy and historical reality into a rich tapestry while examining religion, power, legends, and morality. Gaiman is great at showing just how vast but interrelated the Marvel universe truly is. Check this comic out!

Photo of Nelson Zagalo
Nelson Zagalo@nzagalo
4 stars
Sep 3, 2022

1602 is an highly instigating comic story, because starting from an alternative universe, that of Marvel heroes, we move in time, into an alternate possible world, made of real human history events, now mixed with Marvel heroes universe characteristics. Is a very pure imaginative exercise, that takes us into a long journey through human history and how it could have been, with this alternate elements. The book works very well because the atmosphere is drawn with fine detail, and own a peculiar setting of visual elements. Throughout the book, the date is credible, because visual atmosphere never betrays it. Neil Gaiman has made a relevant work, in imagining this alternate possible world, and helped some us, to revive a fine interest in all these characters from our childhood.

Photo of Natalia Hernandez
Natalia Hernandez@chubidubi
2 stars
Aug 2, 2022

I really liked the idea of this comic book, especially if it came out of Neil Gaiman's pen. The idea of superheroes going back in time, to 1602, and help history develop itself is fascinating, but for some reason the story didn't grab me. The art is wonderful and the writing is great, but the story as a unit didn't work for me. I might give it another shot though.

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Marie@adastra
5 stars
Jan 2, 2024
Photo of Heather Harrington
Heather Harrington@nerdybynatureblog
3 stars
Feb 22, 2023
Photo of Beth Bartholomew
Beth Bartholomew@BooksNest
3.5 stars
Feb 11, 2023
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bea@beafish
4 stars
Mar 17, 2024
Photo of James Dziemianzuk
James Dziemianzuk @jamesdz
5 stars
Mar 12, 2024
Photo of Melissa Railey
Melissa Railey@melrailey
4 stars
Jan 18, 2024
Photo of Andrea Pozo
Andrea Pozo@andrepora
3 stars
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of Kyle Curry
Kyle Curry@kcurry24
4 stars
Nov 22, 2023
Photo of Jade Warren
Jade Warren@jade286
5 stars
Oct 1, 2023
Photo of Michael Cowell
Michael Cowell@chaosweeper
4 stars
Sep 12, 2023
Photo of Dennis Jacob Rosenfeld
Dennis Jacob Rosenfeld@rosenfeld
3 stars
Aug 18, 2023
Photo of Erik Wallace
Erik Wallace@erikwallace
4 stars
Jul 26, 2023
Photo of Anthony
Anthony@amorriscode
3 stars
Mar 25, 2023
Photo of jaymie b
jaymie b@heck
4 stars
Mar 14, 2023
Photo of Jimmy Cerone
Jimmy Cerone@jrcii
5 stars
Feb 4, 2023
Photo of Nicolás Niño
Nicolás Niño @niconv
4 stars
Jan 20, 2023
Photo of Kayla Ndife
Kayla Ndife@vulpeculahex
5 stars
Jan 20, 2023
Photo of Tylar M
Tylar M@queenserenity
4 stars
Jan 9, 2023
Photo of Jeff James
Jeff James@unsquare
4 stars
Jan 3, 2023
Photo of Matt Leonard
Matt Leonard@matts_books
3 stars
Dec 30, 2022

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