Marvel 1602
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Marvel 1602 is an eight-issue Marvel comic limited series, published in 2003, written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Andy Kubert, and digitally painted by Richard Isanove. Scott McKowen illustrated the covers.
Gaiman wrote the series to help fund his Marvels and Miracles LLC company, which is fighting for the rights to Marvelman.
The story takes place in the year 1602 in the Marvel Universe, where superheroes have appeared four hundred years early. The main characters must solve the mystery behind their own existence, while dealing with intrigue at the courts of Elizabeth and James.
New World and Fantastick Four are spin-offs from the initial series.
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[edit] Plot
All over seventeenth-century Europe, catastrophes are taking place. Strange natural conditions, such as blood-red skies and even earthquakes in York, are provoking panic in England, and reports show that the phenomena are happening all over the Earth. Many believe it is the beginning of the Apocalypse. Sir Stephen Strange, the court magician of Queen Elizabeth I, senses that there are unnatural forces at work. He thinks that it is somehow linked to the "Virginia Maid", a ship that carries Virginia Dare and her hulking native American bodyguard Rojhaz (who is strangely pale-skinned and blonde-haired). Virginia is the first child born in the English colony of Roanoke. She has strange shapeshifting powers, and Strange suspects she is the cause of the disastrous weather.
At the same time, there is a race for the legendary treasure of the Knights Templar, thought to be a weapon of unlimited power. The Queen's head of intelligence, Sir Nicholas Fury, finds himself pitted against the powerful Otto von Doom, the sinister Count of Latveria.
James VI of Scotland lusts after the Queen's throne. He collaborates with Spanish High Inquisitor Enrique and Count Doom to assassinate Queen Elizabeth and blame the "witchbreed" of Carlos Javier for the crime. The murder succeeds and James of Scotland becomes King of England.
Sir Stephen then finds himself on the moon where he meets the Watcher, who tells him that the strange events are due to an anomaly he calls the Forerunner. The Forerunner is from the future and his presence in the past has disrupted reality to the point of impending multi-universal annihilation. Despite telling Sir Stephen of his own free will, the Watcher forces Stephen to enter a pact that will not allow him to repeat what he has learned for as long as he lives.
Sir Stephen, Sir Nicholas and Javier betray King James to save the universe. Fury, Javier and his "witchbreed" launch a successful attack on Count Doom's fortress, retrieve the Templars' treasure (Thor's Hammer, wielded by a pilgrim called Donal) and liberate Otto's captives, the superpowered quartet known as the Four from the Fantastick. They then flee to the New World.
Meanwhile, in Spain, Enrique the Grand Inquisitor is betrayed along with his young acolytes, Petros and Sister Wanda. All three of them are "witchbreed" themselves and have only killed those that could not pass off as human. At the moment of execution, however, they turn the tide on their enemies and escape on board a ship bound for America.
Sir Stephen Strange is executed by James, and his head put on a pike. With his magic his spirit can still communicate in a telepathic way. His wife Clea takes his head from the pike and sets off for America with Virginia and Rojhaz. Clea believes that it is not Virginia who is the Forerunner but her muscle-bound, white-skinned, blond-haired, blue-eyed "Native American" companion.
"Rojhaz" is none other than Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, who was atomized by a fascist US government in a dystopian future. His "destruction" (i.e. he disappeared from the normal timeline, but reappeared in this timeline) caused the rift that is destroying the universe. It also meant that a lot of the heroes and villains who were not due to appear for another 350 years have turned up early in order, so the Watcher believes, to counter the Forerunner's negative effects.
In order to close the rift, Rogers is sent back, along with Sir Nicholas Fury. Donal opens the rift with his lightning, and Enrique controls it with his magnetic powers, based on the theories of Sir Richard Reed. The universe restores itself, and Uatu the Watcher, is granted a "pocket universe" in which the 1602 timeline remains intact.
The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes designates the version of the 1602 setting that remains once Earth-616 has reverted to normal as Earth-311.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Historical figures
Elizabeth I of England, essentially unchanged from the real-world version. She is assassinated by Count Otto von Doom (see below), a year before she should have died.
James VI of Scotland and I of England, also largely unchanged. His firm belief in the divine right of kings and strong views on witchcraft (including the witchbreed) mean he is cast as something of a villain.
Virginia Dare, the daughter of Ananias Dare, and the first English child born in the Americas. In this world, the Roanoke Colony did not disappear in the 1580s. Inspired by a legend that Virginia was killed in the shape of a white deer, Gaiman gives his version shapeshifting powers. She is able to become any real animal, including the Dinosaurs that in this timeline still survive in America, as well as a griffin-like form. She has no obvious counterpart in the Marvel Universe.
Gaiman has denied that Snowbird of Alpha Flight was the inspiration for Virginia.[citation needed] Gaiman has also stated that the 1602 characters were based on Marvel characters who debuted during the Silver Age of comic books,[citation needed] a sentiment shared by comic book critic Peter Sanderson in his brief introduction to the hardcover collection. However, on another occasion, Gaiman has remarked that he created Virginia Dare without a previous Marvel character basis in order to provide a unique and fully American character in the 1602 universe.[citation needed]
[edit] Uatu
Uatu, the Watcher who knows this shouldn't be happening, and is tempted to break the rules of the Watchers and interfere (albeit not for the first time). Though he interfered, his actions are seen by the other Watchers as being for the greater good, and so he is rewarded with a gift; the Seed of a New Universe that never was, or otherwise, this universe itself.
[edit] Heroes
Sir Nicholas Fury, the Queen's Intelligencer. The 1602 world's version of Nick Fury, in the position of Sir Francis Walsingham. His adjutant, and the field leader of his troops, is a man named Dougan, with a large moustache (this world's Dum-Dum Dugan).
Doctor Stephen Strange, the Queen's Physician. Also an alchemist and magician. (Strange's interests and skills mirror some of those of the Queen's contemporary John Dee, a mathematician, astrologer, and geographer who was also interested in conjuring.) Strange works from a mansion in "the village of Greenwich", outside London (a play on the "real" Doctor Strange's mansion in Greenwich Village, New York City).
Peter Parquagh, Sir Nicholas' apprentice. This world's Spider-Man (Peter Parker), although without the powers. A running gag involves Peter repeatedly almost getting bitten by unusual spiders; something that finally occurs at the very end. At one point where Rojhaz climbs up a tower to fetch Virginia, Peter timidly and ironically says "I can't climb."
Matthew Murdoch, a blind Irish minstrel and freelance agent, who occasionally works for Sir Nicholas. Matthew acquired heightened senses from a mysterious substance he encountered as a child, and is this world's Daredevil (aka Matt Murdock).
Clea Strange, Dr Strange's wife and assistant. Clea comes from another dimension, in which she used to be a Queen, and is herself a sorceress. She is this world's version of Clea.
Rojhaz, Virginia's blonde-haired, blue-eyed Native American bodyguard. The colonists assume him to be a product of congress between Indians and Welsh traders (see Welsh Indians). In fact, he is actually Steve Rogers, Captain America. Assumed dead in a dystopian future, ruled by President Zebidiah Killgrave, and sent back in time, Rogers, and the hole his passage left in time, served as the trigger for the warping of history to introduce the other Marvels. He also changed history more directly, by helping the Roanoke Colony through the winter. (Although "Rojhaz" fills the Captain America role, he also reflects elements of the Ka-Zar character. In one scene, Virginia proposes that she could transform into a giant cat and storm a prison with Rojhaz on her back, much as Ka-Zar rode on the back of his sabre-toothed tiger, Zabu.)
Captain Nelson, a seaman who regularly takes Matthew Murdoch across the English Channel. He is suspicious of the blind minstrel, who suggests, with a smile, that he should keep his thoughts to himself. Nelson is this world's Foggy Nelson.
Carlos Javier, a Spaniard living in England, where he runs a College for the Sons of Gentlefolk. He is a witchbreed, a being born with special powers (i.e. mutants), but unlike the Inquisitor (see below) he believes in a future of peace between witchbreed and normal humans (the mondani). In what may be a nod to the Sandman ("Omnia mutantur, nihil interit": "Everything changes, but nothing is truly lost"), a plaque near the school's entrance reads "Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis" ("All things change, and we change with them"). He is this world's Professor X (Charles Xavier).
Javier's students, this world's version of the original X-Men. They are:
- Roberto Trefusis (Robert "Bobby" Drake, Iceman), a nephew of Sir Francis Drake;
- Scotius Summerisle (Scott Summers, Cyclops), wears a visor made of rubies, and has a branded X on his shoulder which was put there when he was found to be a witchbreed in Scotland;
- Hal McCoy (Hank McCoy, the Beast) who escaped from James' Scotland;
- "John" Grey (Jean Grey), the traditional Shakespearean girl disguised as a boy.
- Werner (Warren Worthington III, the Angel), who was rescued from the Inquisition. His friendship with "Master John" causes jealous resentment on the part of Scotius Summerisle.
Dougan, the second-in-command of Fury's armies. Is very loyal to Fury and went with him to Count Otto Von Doom's castle and the new world, where he stayed after Fury was killed, as seen in 1602: New World. Is this world's Dum Dum Dugan.
The Four from the Fantastick, a famous group of heroes, who feature in Murdoch's favourite ballad (which Gaiman has written a full version of, although only snippets appear in the comic). They consist of Captain Benjamin Grimm (Thing), Sir Richard Reed (Mister Fantastic - Reed Richards), Susan Storm (Invisible Woman), and John Storm (Human Torch), all of whom were transformed when their sailing ship, the Fantastick, encountered a wave of energy from the Sargasso Sea (the Bermuda Triangle); their bodies were reshaped into the four elements: Reed's flesh became pliable like water, Grimm's body became solid rock, Susan's body became weightless and invisible like air and John's body became living fire. Trapped under the castle of Count Otto von Doom, they remain in imprisonment until rescued by Sir Nicholas Fury and Carlos Javier. They are this world's Fantastic Four. Gaiman suggests that their powers are based on the Alchemical elements.
Donal, the Ancient One, a Knight Templar, who was entrusted with bringing the "Templar Treasure" to Sir Nicholas. This proved to be the hammer Mjolnir, disguised as a simple walking stick. Donal, although believing it was blasphemy, was forced to use the hammer to be transformed to the pagan god Thor. He is this world's version of Donald Blake, a.k.a. The Mighty Thor, and is also identified with Marvel's the Ancient One, Dr. Strange's mentor. (In a clever conceit, while the Marvel Universe Thor has Shakespearean speech patterns, the 1602 version speaks in Anglo-Saxon alliterative verse. The calligraphy-style lettering in his speech bubbles is replaced by lettering designed to look like runes.)
[edit] Villains
The Grand Inquisitor, real name Enrique. Born a Jew, he was taken in by a Christian priest and baptised. The Christians later refused to let him be returned to his Jewish family, saying that giving him back to the 'Christ-killers' would damn his soul to Hell. Being unable to be reunited with his family left him psychologically scarred. When he grew up he became the leader of the Spanish Inquisition, and oversaw the Inquisition from Domdaniel. He was ordered to execute the witchbreed, but hid those who could pass off as normal. Secretly a witchbreed himself, he used his activities as a cover for forming a Brotherhood which will inherit the Earth. He is this world's Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr).
Sister Wanda and Petros, the Inquisitor's assistants. They are also his children, a fact he has kept from them. They are this world's Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver (Wanda and Pietro Maximoff). At the end of the series Enrique entrusts Petros and Wanda to Javier, asking his former friend to look over and teach them but not to tell them that he is their father.
Toad is Enrique's spy in the Vatican. Though his long tongue and ability for climbing walls are plainly visible, he manages to hide for an undisclosed, but lengthy amount of time. Gaiman also plays with other reptilian abilities, such as a pronounced sleepiness at low temperatures.
It was initially Toad who betrayed Enrique to the authorities, under pain of torture. In what may be a nod to The Sandman, when Enrique is freed and Toad tries to make an excuse, Enrique silences him with a simple 'Shh', as The Sandman himself did in a similar situation with his former captor, Alex Burgess.
David Banner, an advisor to King James, who replaces Sir Nicholas Fury when James takes the English throne. He is then sent to Roanoke in order to kill Fury. Towards the end of the story he is caught in the energies of the Anomaly and becomes a brutish monster. He is this world's Incredible Hulk (Robert Bruce Banner). The choice of the name David instead of Bruce is most likely a reference to the Hulk TV series in which the name Robert Bruce Banner was changed to David Bruce Banner. Banner is probably more of an anti-hero, even a villain, in this world. A clever nod to the 616 Hulk's real name is that he tells Peter Parquagh the legend of Robert the Bruce and the spider, referring to him as 'The Bruce' (though it is quite common, even in Scotland, to refer to Robert I as 'The Bruce').
Natasha, a freelance spy and "the most dangerous woman in Europe". She was partnered with Murdoch by Sir Nicholas, but betrayed him and Donal to Count Otto. She is this world's Black Widow (Natalia "Natasha" Romanova).
- Note: in the normal continuity, Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch and the Black Widow are all former villains who became heroes.
Count Otto von Doom, the ruler of Latveria, known as Otto the Handsome. A long time enemy of Sir Richard, he is responsible for the Four from the Fantastick's disappearance by the story's start. He is this world's version of Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom).
The Vultures are Count Otto's flying warriors, based on the Spider-Man villain the Vulture.
The Assassins were sent by Doom to murder Sir Nicholas Fury, Virginia Dare, and Queen Elizabeth:
- the first assassin does not appear to have a definitive counterpart in the regular Marvel Universe. Speculation varies between a wingless Vulture, the Vanisher, the Green Goblin, and a man from HYDRA. (HYDRA agents do wear green costumes with cowls and are the sworn enemies of Nick Fury and his SHIELD force.)
- the second is a Vulture (it is never explained why Virginia is a target);
- the third is a booby-trapped musical machine.
The future President-For-Life comes into frequent conflict with Captain America, and is responsible for shunting him into the past. His dark-purple face on a poster implies that he is the Purple Man at the summit of his powers of persuasion.
[edit] Continuity
Gaiman originally intended this story to be set in the past of the mainstream Marvel Universe, in which the "Age of Heroes" was artificially started centuries earlier because of "Rojhaz's" presence. This is born out in the original mini-series when Uatu tells Strange that he and the other watchers refer to this reality as Earth-616, which is the official designation of the "main" Marvel Universe. At the end of the original series, the world is righted, but the Watcher is granted a 'copy' of the 1602 universe.
In the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 this enduring "1602" universe is designated as Earth-311. This could be the 'copy' that the Watcher has kept.
[edit] Hardcover edition
The hardbound edition depicts the main characters whispering discreetly to each other on the cover. According to the book's illustrator, the image was inspired by a depiction of the masterminds behind the "Gunpowder Plot".[citation needed] (The plot was an attempt to blow up the Parliament during the reign of King James.) Since the characters of the story are all traitors in the eyes of King James, they were drawn in a similar fashion.
They are (from left to right):
- Peter Parquagh, Fury's assistant (Peter Parker, Spider-man).
- Sir Richard Reed, leader of the Four (Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic).
- Dr. Stephen Strange, Master of the Queen's Medicines (Dr. Stephen Strange, Dr. Strange)
- Professor Carlos Javier, founder of the School for the Sons of Gentlefolk (Charles Xavier, Professor X).
- Matthew Murdoch, balladeer and mercenary (Matt Murdock, Daredevil).
- Virginia Dare, first child born in the colony of Roanoke.
- Rojhaz, Indian bodyguard of Virginia (Steve Rogers, Captain America).
- Sir Nicholas Fury, Her Majesty's Intelligencer (Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. Leader).
- Jean "John" Grey, Carlos Javier's page (Jean Grey, X-Men).
[edit] Awards
1602 won the 2005 Quill Book Award for Graphic Novels
The first issue was awarded the 2003 Diamond Distributors Gem Award as Comic of the Year. [1]
[edit] New World
1602: New World is the first limited series published as a sequel to 1602. It takes place after the conclusion of the original series, with the heroes discovering and settling down in America. The series is written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Greg Tocchini. The first issue was published in August, 2005. The comic introduces a handful of "new" Marvel characters. David Banner and Peter Parquagh were introduced in the original 1602, but their powers had not yet developed. In the New World, the loose ends are being tied together. There are many different storytelling techniques used in the original 1602 that are discarded; among them are the symbolic use of Ribbons, and the fact that, unlike the original, we see Virginia transforming into a wolf.
Lord Iron (Iron Man) and his Moorish assistant, Rhodes (a reference to James Rupert Rhodes, the War Machine) is sent by King James to the Roanoke colony to locate David Banner, who is now classed a traitor. Banner is struggling with the beast within (The Hulk) as well as the beasts without, as Roanoke colony is overrun by the "Thunder Lizards". Peter Parquagh is discovering his capabilities, both as a writer for the town broadsheet (aptly named "The Daily Trumpet", run by the "lovable" Jonah Jameson), as well as a few spider-like abilities. Virginia Dare, as ever, regrets her abilities. The colony itself is not only continuing to deal with the issues of the "Witchbreed", but also the conflict created by co-existing with the native Roanoke colony, Mr. Osborne being often at the scenes of the worst English-Native situations.
[edit] Fantastick Four
Marvel 1602: Fantastick Four is the second sequel to 1602, another limited series. It is written by Peter David and pencilled by Pascal Alixe. The story involves the Fantastick Four's adventures in London, the return of Otto Von Doom and the 'Four Who Are Frightful'. William Shakespeare appears as one of the characters. Doom hires the Frightful Four, kidnaps William Shakespeare and takes them on a voyage to the "end of the world". The Fantastick Four, alerted by Ben Grimm, who was working as an actor in Shakespeare's company, follow in hot pursuit.
