Does the idea of Marvel heroes being displayed in a 17th century Elizabethan setting interest you? If your answer is yes, you will like Marvel 1602. If your answer is no, then this probably isn’t the book for you.
It is rare that I pick up a comic book these days, but I did find myself somewhat intrigued by the idea of Marvel heroes running around Elizabethan England. The book is also written by Neil Gaiman, a heavy in the world of comic book writers. I must admit I’ve never read his Sandman stories or anything else written by the man, but I know he is highly thought of so I thought this would be a good buy.
I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
Marvel 1602 was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It was not by any means groundbreaking or extravagantly brilliant, but it told a good, solid story (although it lost a little bit of it toward the end, in my opinion).
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Let’s set the stage: the year is 1602 (of course). We are in England. Elizabeth I is Queen. Sir Nicholas Fury (aka Nick Fury) is master of her intelligence. Her royal physician is none other than Dr. Stephen Strage (aka Dr. Strange).
Here Gaiman’s biases show, as these two characters, Nick Fury and Dr.
Strange are the pivotal characters in the story. Certainly not major figures in the silver age comics that he is drawing as his inspiration, Gaiman makes these two the focal points of his Elizabethan world. Perhaps this is so because they are the characters that most easily translate to this new setting. The mystical Dr. Strange fits in perfectly in the superstitious world of 17th century England, and Nick Fury is a character that really would fit in any time period.
Gaiman also seems most at home writing Dr. Strange. With some of the Dr. Strange sequences I think Gaiman is almost in ...
