Writer: Neil Gaiman
Artist: Andy Kubert
Publisher: Marvel
Before I start, I just want to let you know that just because Neil Gaiman's writing this, and Marvel hails this as the event of the year, I don't think it has a divine right to get my top rating. Although it won't get five bullets, I was very surprised and pleased with how good 1602 was.
The plot is delightfully complex. This is set in an "Elseworlds" tone, in the year 1602, as basically an Ultimate Marvel Universe set in that time period. There is an object of great importance en route to England from the Holy Land, and it is up to the Queen's advisors, Nick Fury and Stephen Strange, to see that it arrives safely. Darkness is sweeping the land, and very odd supernatural happenings are occurring, thus setting the scene for the ensuing chapters.
I love fantasy with complex plots and endless wonder, and Mr. Gaiman has not failed to deliver what I would expect. He ingeniously uses the characterization of the modern heroes as a foil to their 1602 counterparts; it is easily followed by new readers and old ones alike because of this. I also like the way things were tweaked for the time period, with the Fantastic Four being told as a ship in a ballad, and Stephen Strange being a magician in the Queen's court. Everything falls into place really well, and this will certainly go down as one of the better Marvel tales. This story is told in third person captions as well as first person, clearly demonstrating the ability of Mr. Gaiman to craft a story on multiple levels. The approach described is certainly beneficial in such an original concept---setting and character establishments are crucial to the execution.
One thing that didn't sit very well with me was the fact that this appears to be X-Men (or "Witchbreed") centered. For all the surprises Mr. Gaiman has in store, I have the feeling that the X-Men related parts will be rather predicatable in their course, as I found these aspects least appealing. While the X-Men basically mirror their modern day counterparts, Magneto appears to be in a religious setting, with Quicksilver being a page, and the Scarlet Witch being a nun.
Andy Kubert provides the pictures, and while some of his caricatures don't look very real, I was impressed with how well he rendered the story's elements. The superb coloring by Richard Isanove deserves mention, as shadow and light play key elements in the story, and Mr. Isanove exploits these qualities well. The art has a very unique grandeur to it, and in a story of this nature, that is all that is needed.
I'm very pleased at Mr. Gaiman's ability to distribute such a grand story in the utmost detail. And what more, it's 32 pages of story for $3.50, unlike Born and Thor: Vikings, which are only 22 for that same price. Definitely worth picking up, but you'll probably have trouble finding it by now.
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