Marvel 1602 (Quill Award Edition)

by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author), Andy Kubert Richard Isanove

book data

2,652 ratings, 3.81 average rating, 183 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		25%
4		40%
3		27%
2		6%
1		1%

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published

March 8th 2006 (first published 2004) by Marvel Comics

binding

Paperback, 248 pages

isbn

0785123113 (isbn13: 9780785123118)

description

All's not well in the Marvel Universe in the year 1602 as strange storms are brewing and strange new powers are emerging! Spider-Man, the X-Men, Nick ...more

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08/20/07

Steve rated it:

Read in January, 2007

American comics seem to go for alternative futures (various potential futures) or parallel universes in the present - anyone who has read Superman comics from the 1960s knows what I mean.
British comics, on the other hand, often tend to lean more towards addressing alternate pasts - something I found more enjoyable, since it's grounded in something (history) rather than being an imaginitive free-for-all (hence, the camp of the 1960s, which American comics are still recovering from). While A...more

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08/27/08

Nicholas rated it:

Read in August, 2008

Really? A Quill Award? I don't know about that. 1602 places the Marvel Universe squarely in the year....well, 1602 and uses the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition and the mysterious disappearance of the colony of Roanoke to tell the story of the multiverse in crisis, again...this time involving a time traveling Captain America who upsets the balance of the world. There are some clever adaptations to the characters to suit the time period. Mutants are Witches persecuted by the church, the K...more

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07/10/08

Chris rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Some things in life are just cool. Leather jackets, for example, also laser beams. Sometimes Charles Nelson Reilly, but only if he's being impersonated by Alec Baldwin. Scientists aren't completely sure, but they believe coolness comes from some ineffable, perhaps quantum, relationship between the observed and the observer. Are laser beams cool if no one witnesses their awesome powers of destruction? Do cows share our appreciation for the kick-assedness of a finely cut leather jacket?
...more Some things in life are just cool. Leather jackets, for example, also laser beams. Sometimes Charles Nelson Reilly, but only if he's being impersonated by Alec Baldwin. Scientists aren't completely sure, but they believe coolness comes from some ineffable, perhaps quantum, relationship between the observed and the observer. Are laser beams cool if no one witnesses their awesome powers of destruction? Do cows share our appreciation for the kick-assedness of a finely cut leather jacket?

Gaiman's Marvel 1602 reimagines the Marvel universe as it might have been had it been born not in mid-twentieth century America, but instead at the dawn of the seventeenth century in Elizabethan England. The X-Men, the Brotherhood, they all appear, and part of the fun comes from that uncanny moment of recognition when you spot an old friend or villain dressed in strange but familiar garb, living their lives in strange but somehow fitting ways. Matthew Murdoch is a blind bard singing songs of the four lost heroes that sailed the ship Fantastik. Sir Nicholas Fury runs Elizabeth's spy network. A bald, crippled man by the name of Carlos Javier is gathering a group of super-powered individuals, named ‘witchbreed’ by the Inquisition among others, together at a secret school. All in all, there’s twenty some characters here, and Gaiman attempts to juggle page space for each of them at the same time he tries to weave together a plot that includes another of Doom’s attempts at world domination, the combined efforts of King James and the Inquisition to wipe out the witchbreed, plus a rip in space and time that might very well end the existence of every universe, ever.

It may sound all a bit too cute, and maybe if Gaiman were a lesser writer, that’s all this would have been. But he’s not a lesser writer, he is in fact a very awesome writer, and by inserting these characters, so long stuck in one place and time or role, into a completely new universe, as a group just learning of their powers and how to interact with the world, Gaiman resurrects a bit of the fun I’m sure readers had in the 60s reading and watching as Lee, Ditko, and Kirby brought these icons to life the first time around. What could have just been another meaningless exploitative stunt (dear god, they've killed Superman), becomes instead an entertaining, sometimes touching, not altogether unrealistic, or even uncanonical (by Marvel standards), exploitative stunt. It is to put it simply, very, very, cool.
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07/24/07

Mikey rated it:

(review of isbn 0785125698)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in June, 2007

recommends it for: marvel comics lovers

Marvel 1602 is a fun, engaging bit of pulp comic work. Neil Gaiman re-imagines the classic Marvel heroes and villains as having appeared 400 years earlier, and it's pretty effective. As for as writing and content go, the vast majority of the joy in this book - which is far from trivial - comes from recognizing the characters and appreciating how they've been worked into the narrative. As such, Marvel novices are unlikely to enjoy the story very much. Also, the opportunity to further explore t...more

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01/30/09

Melvin rated it:

I've got to say, this book made me feel Marvel characters could actually be subtle and nuanced. Gaiman's handling of these heroes is (in my opinion, anyway) a welcome breath of fresh air. Almost DC-like. (And no, I'm not trying to start a fight.)

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02/16/09

Peter rated it:

bookshelves: comic-graphic-novel, library

Read in February, 2009

recommends it for: Gaiman fans, Marvel fans

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Neil Gaiman ventures into Alan Moore territory for Marvel. Oddly, it's not a very exciting expedition.

Gaiman may be the victim of expectations. I was a huge fan of Sandman and The Books of Magic. Frankly, nothing he's done since has impressed me half as much.

In 1602, he takes a clever idea - what if all the Marvel superheroes were alive in the time of Queen Elizabeth? - and does less with it than I would have expected.

But I'll admit that in part, that's becaus...more

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02/09/09

Kenneth rated it:

Read in January, 2009

As a boy I loved comic books. My first choice was DC Comics. Marvel comics came later. During that time I also discovered comics that presented illustrated biographies and histories. One that still stands out in my mind from that time was the biography of St. Francis of Assisi.

As an older adult I once in a while will look at some comic book but I find them on the whole disappointing as they try to re-invent stories in so many ways that they lose any fabric. The female heroes are...more

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01/23/09

Eric rated it:

This book got a lot of mixed reviews in the comic book world, and I can understand both views, but I definately liked it. I really wonder if I didn't "really like it" (four stars people) because I expected it to be "amazing" (five stars). I expected that with such a versatile writer (they got an actual writer, who after writing a very successful comic book went on to write memoir, plays, novels), and with the same artists who did the Origin artwork (which I thoroughly enjoy...more

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12/12/08

Su Mon rated it:

Read in August, 2008

A very interesting AU featuring a whole slew of famous comic book characters living life with their superhuman powers in the year 1602. Written by Neil Gaiman, the dialogue is crisp and sounds correct for the time period. The artwork is also very beautiful (though the cover artwork is a bit better than what you get inside--at least, in the edition I had (not the one pictured here); "John" Grey especially looks fantastic on my cover and rather convincingly cross-dressed!)). Speaking of ...more

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02/22/09

Ben Gold rated it:

Read in January, 2007

Gaiman wrote this (according to a friend of mine) to help fund some copyright issue or another, and it's pretty clear throughout the writing that this isn't one of those typically incredibly well polished Gaiman masterpieces. And frankly, I'm okay with that. A lot of Gaiman works are things that you should prepare a ritual to during reading, maybe do some heavy meditation before hand to clear your mind.

1602 is not that. Don't come in looking for the bite. This is wear your black ...more

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01/09/09

Mike rated it:

This book had a very cool premise. It featured Marvel characters in Europe about 400 years ago. Magneto running the inquisition? Xavier accused of witchcraft? Fury as the queen's personal spy? All very cool, and rich with possibilities. And Gaiman goes some interesting places to begin with, but then he feels the need to explain a rift in the space-time continuum and make the book all about getting the displaced characters back in order to save the universe. Why? Why not just take the sto...more

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02/07/09

Vincent rated it:

(review of isbn 2809400709)

bookshelves: comics-bd-manga, in-english

Read in December, 2008

N'y connaissant pas grand chose en Comics, mais adorant Neil Gaiman, j'attendais beaucoup de ce livre, avec un scénario vraiment alléchant.
Au final c'est pas mal, mais pas transcendant non plus. Certains pans de l'histoire sont vraiment trop survolés, et la fin est vraiment bâclée. De plus, je pense qu'on apprécie encore plus "1602" lorsque l'on connaît bien les héros Marvel et qu'on peut comprendre les (sans doute) nombreuses références.
La lecture du comics reste...more

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01/13/09

DDog rated it:

bookshelves: -from-library, british, graphic-novel

Read in January, 2009

I think I would have rated this book higher if I were more familiar with the superheros that populate its pages. I do love me a Neil Gaiman graphic novel, and the art is excellent and interesting. But I've never read the original comics where these characters appeared, so I was a little vague on those which haven't recently inspired Hollywood movies. I think I missed some of the subtleties therefore. I should probably fix that. I still found the story entertaining and masterful even without that...more

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02/01/09

earthy rated it:

bookshelves: comics, fantasy, historical

Read in January, 2009

Gorgeous artwork and a clever story idea. The reimagininigs of Marvel characters are fun (though I question why Gaiman bothered with the Hulk, who has very little to do, plotwise), and the setting is intriguing (Britain and the US, 1602). The conclusion was a bit weak, but it's charming to see the mythology of these characters still intact no matter what time period they emerge in. I probably would've enjoyed this more if I were more of a dedicated Marvel reader, but as it was, I knew enough ...more

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02/15/09

Travis rated it:

(review of isbn 0785110704)

bookshelves: comic-books

A alternate earth story where Gaiman takes the original marvel universe heroes and moves them to England in the year 1602.
The X-men operate out of a monastary and live in fear of being burned as witches.
Nick Fury is a servant of the Queen, as is Dr. Stephen Strange.
The Fantastic Four gained their powers on a trip on a sailing ship, rather than a rocket.

As these heroes cross paths and get dragged into the politics a bigger story emerges.

What is the templ...more

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03/14/09

Nyssa Kebler rated it:

Read in March, 2009

recommended to Nyssa by: Timothy David

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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06/05/09

Epouvante rated it:

bookshelves: love-forever, re-reads

I love this. The Elseworlds line in DC is one of my favorite things ever (even if individual titles might suck) and seeing the idea applied to Marvel (as opposed to a one-shot "what if?") is totally awesome in 1602. It's a good story for a new reader, and has totally awesome references/cameos for people who are familiar with Marvel. The plot basically centers around Nick Fury and Steve Rogers being awesome, which would be pretty hard to fuck up in the first place, but Neil Gaiman obvio...more

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10/14/08

Shaphron rated it:

bookshelves: comics, fantasy, i-own-it

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Shaphron by: Matt
recommends it for: Anyone who knows Marvel Superheors

I really enjoyed this book - it takes the iconic Marvel heros including Dr Strange, Nick Fury, Spider Man, Dare Devil, The X Men, and the Fantastic Four (including a few others) and investigates how they would be different and yet still the same if they first appeared in the year of 1602 in England, with Elizabeth still on the throne. The storey is detailed and clever, with the odd twist in it, and if you know the heros involved you have a great deal of fun working out who is who - not all of th...more

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08/09/08

Rhea rated it:

bookshelves: comic-books

Read in March, 2007

Ever wonder what it was like in the past for super heroes? The graphic novel Marvel 1602 goes back in history with Queen Elizabeth, the Inquisition, Spain’s utmost jealousy and the mixing of political decisions with mysticism. It answers the simple question What if…

“All’s not well in the year 1602 as strange storms are brewing and strange new powers are emerging! 1602 features both historical figures and many of the original Marvel superheroes and villains. Spider-Man, th...more

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08/03/08

Brandon rated it:

(review of isbn 0785110739)

bookshelves: own

Read in August, 2008

recommends it for: Fans of Marvel comics or the writing of Neil Gaiman, Fans of historical fiction

I have become a fan of Marvel's alternate universes, in which our familiar heroes/villains are thrown into an odd new scenario (see Marvel Zombies). Neil Gaiman (of Sandman fame) gives it a shot here, placing the Marvel characters four hundred years in the past. The story develops during a tumultuous period in Europe's history, when Queen Elizabeth I of England was approaching the end of her life and King James VI of Scotland was poised and eager to assume her role. In addition, strange weath...more I have become a fan of Marvel's alternate universes, in which our familiar heroes/villains are thrown into an odd new scenario (see Marvel Zombies). Neil Gaiman (of Sandman fame) gives it a shot here, placing the Marvel characters four hundred years in the past. The story develops during a tumultuous period in Europe's history, when Queen Elizabeth I of England was approaching the end of her life and King James VI of Scotland was poised and eager to assume her role. In addition, strange weather phenomena has enveloped the world and causes panic in the population; some believe the end of the world is nearing. As the story begins, young Virginia Dare, the firstborn from Roanoke Colony in the New World, is returning to England with her mysterious Native American protector Rojhaz to seek financial assistance from the Queen.

Gaiman scatters the iconic superheroes/villains throughout this new era: Sir Nicholas Fury is the Queen's primary intelligencer with his assistant Peter Parquargh, Doctor Stephen Strange is the court physician (and magician), Carlos Javier runs a safe haven for witchbreed (mutants) in Warwick, etc. I would say my favorite character in Gaiman's version was Matthew Murdoch, a blind Irish balladeer/mercenary who is entrusted to bring the Templar's treasure to England. It's fun to discover what roles each character has taken up and to see them interact under the unusual circumstances. Thankfully, the novelty of the concept isn't left to carry the story on it's own.

Aside from the creative concept, 1602 has a great story to boot. Throughout the course of the eight issues, there was always a great deal going on, whether it be the Spanish Grand Inquisitor's true intentions towards the witchbreed he prosecutes or the fate of the Fantastik's crew. Gaiman filled the story with so much activity, subplots, and backstories that it's almost tough to keep up with at times. There were a few moments that felt drawn out but the story rarely lagged. Unlike Robert Kirkman's Marvel Zombies which had stretches where it felt as if the author was wondering where to go next, Gaiman's series is focused and continues moving at a strong pace pretty consistently. Overall, the series was certainly entertaining enough for me to want to follow the continuing tales of Gaiman's 1602 universe.(less)

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