I love Neil Gaiman.
His creativity, the way he plays with original and fun concepts and ideas.
For a long time already, I really wanted to try to read MARVEL 1602, his original all-new take on the Marvel Universe during "simpler times". A sort of "What if.." story, if the Marvel Universe stories took place in the 1600s.
But. For some reason I never got to read it.
I've always been a big fan of these "alternate universe", where things seem and look familiar, but the big picture throws out the window all our usual references.
So, like Marvel's 2099 universe, I decided to start with a similar character I'm used to. I used Spider-man as entry point back in the 90s for the "2099".
I finally 'got me the trade paperback collecting 1602's Spider-man's spinoff (not written by Neil Gaiman, but using a very similar narration and structure!)
Comic title: Marvel 1602: Spider-Man
Art by Michael Golden & Ramon Rosanas
Story by Jeff Parker
From 2010
Lineup Spider-man
Format: Trade paperback collecting Spider-Man 1602 #1-5.
Spider-man 1602's book is a spinoff from Gaiman's Marvel 1602 universe but it still is pretty reader-friendly in case you missed or don't know that earlier series.
(it takes place after Gaiman's series)
The story starts from how Spidey's plot in that mini-series ended up, right at that moment.
But everything's nicely introduced and presented so you won't be confused.
It's pretty self-contained and the overall plot starts and ends over the course of these 5 issues.
The costume and character look familiar...but everything feels as fresh as when Stan Lee created all of this.
The book opens up in the new world, America.
We're introduced to this young man who goes by the name of Peter Parquagh.
Peter hides a secret to everybody...super powers.. for you see he was bitten by a spider and has become The Spider recently.
Many others have been given powers as well, mostly by birth (Marvel's usual mutants).
Those end up outcasts of society, called the witchbreed.
After some character exposition and introduction, Peter defeats and proves Norman Osbourne a criminel and guilty of severe crimes..
Osbourne is finally arrested and deported to the old continent.
They ask Peter Parquagh to help escort the criminal to the old England to be judged and executed for his crimes there.
Different places, different times...yet some things never change!
The mini-series is mostly composed of two big arcs.
In the first part, Peter escorts Norman across the sea, then in Europe. And after that, he travels a bit until he meets Marion Jane Watson, falls in love and decide to stay with her family, playing pieces of theatre on the road.
Meanwhile a nefarious plot is introduced to us.
Doctor Octavius, a former scientist and rich man, seem to be working on an answer for all these super-powered witchbreeds.
With the (forced) help of Henri Le Pym who's trying to bring his size-reduced wife Janette back to a normal human form.
Both plots interconnect when Peter brings "dinosaur" eggs from the new world to Henri.
Norman is able to meet Octavius and Henri, and reveal Peter's secret to those man of sciences.
Mutant based Spider-villains for all sort of fans!
The second arc leaves the development and introductions for an epic closing act.
Basically, it's mostly fighting and all that.
After spending the first issues hiding his power and trying to appear normal, Peter embraces his heritage and confronts Octavius and his monsters.
They all end up in Venice. (author's note: which, taking count of the era this takes place in, sort of made me think of Asssassin's Creed, specially with the Spider running across roofs and edifices)
And the story reaches its climax in the last pages of the last issue.
It's a great story, well constructed and that uses classic Marvel elements in a different unusual setting.
Overall, I was quite frankly surprised how good this book was!
Rosanas' artwork is beautiful to look at! Simply gorgeous!
It really defines this universe.
A perfect entry point for the 1602 universe or a great epilogue/end to Neil Gaiman's story.
Going into this, knowing what Gaiman is known for, I knew it would be a great surprise!
Gaiman as always seen the Marvel universe as a sort of magical universe, compared to DC's. (quote)
So it's great to see Marvel fully embrace this magical/fantasy aspect in 1602.
The references to our classic Marvel characters are many and discrete, not interfering with the story.
Finally, just a little comment on the ending.
I like when people use what if.. and alternate universe stories to play with concepts or make us think a bit. But I don't really like when they revert back to the established original universe suddenly or make us doubt about what we just read was really necessary. (see Superman True Brit or Superman: Red Son endings)
I doesn't make me hate the whole story, but I always find these endings not as fun as the "exploration" the story was until that point.
Spider-man 1602 has this sort of so-so ending, when we see the consequences of these witchbreed in the 1600s, the studies that came after that, the years passing by, the 1900s, the wars, and...gasp...is that the super soldier serum...???
I don't find this ending to have been really necessary..
But at least it still is sort of open to discussions and interpretations.
Anyway, fantastic story!
Read it if you have or want to read Marvel 1602! If you're fan of Spider-man or just fantasy tales!
I give it:
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