Marvel 1602

Marvel 1602
Cover to 1602 #8, featuring: Matthew Murdoch (with the red bandage over his eyes); Virginia Dare (in the white dress); Rojhaz (the blond-haired Indian); Sir Nicholas Fury (in the hat, beard and eyepatch); and "Master John" Grey (on the far right). Art by Scott McKowen — based on a famous sketch of the men involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 against King James .
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Format	Limited series
Publication date	2003
No. of issues	8
Creative team
Written by	Neil Gaiman
Artist(s)	Andy Kubert Scot McKowen (covers)
Inker(s)	Richard Isanove

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.

Synopsis

The story takes place in the year 1602 in the Marvel Universe, where superheroes have appeared about 350 years early, not that they are aware of this. When they do come to realise that something is wrong with the universe, the main characters must solve the mystery behind their own existence, while dealing with intrigue at the courts of Elizabeth and James.

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. Dr. 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 known as "Otto the Handsome".

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, disguised as a walking stick, 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 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 (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.

James sends his advisor David Banner to America with orders to kill Fury. Also along for the journey, albeit reluctantly, is Fury's former assistant Peter Parquagh.

All these various characters end up at Roanoke where the rift is found and examined. They also examine themselves, their relationships and their futures. Donal turns to alcohol, devastated at the fact that he has brought about a god who, according to Donal's religion, should not even exist.

Fury confronts the expedition led by Banner and kills all its members aside from him and Peter. In spite of this, Fury has almost lost the will to live: he failed to protect his Queen, he has been made a traitor to his country and all his wealth and property has been seized and taken over by James and his favourites.

Enrique and his followers are captured by Javier and his students, but it is the former Inquisitor who dictates terms since they need him in order to repair the rift.

Rojhaz, looking more and more like Captain America, refuses to go back through the rift in order to repair the damage. He believes that he can build a better world than the America he left behind. Sir Nicholas Fury plays on the fact that Steve Rogers trusted the Nick Fury from his own time to get close to him and knock him unconscious: "I am not he" he mutters, in reference to the Fury that Rogers knew.

Nicholas Fury carries the body of Rogers back through the rift, thus going into the future himself. Donal, having transformed into Thor, opens the rift with his lightning, and Enrique controls it with his magnetic powers, based on the theories of Sir Richard Reed. The rift and 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.

Characters

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 means he is cast as something of a villain. His loathing of the witchbreed mirrors the real-life James' view of Catholics. When Javier criticizes Fury for smoking a pipe, Fury remarks that James once made similar reproaches. James was indeed critical of smoking and even wrote A Counterblaste to Tobacco on the subject [1]. On the other hand he was also a heavy drinker , and he is seldom shown without a cup of wine in his hand. There are also hints towards his homosexuality in this timeline, as there was some suggestion that he was in real life.

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, save for Snowbird of the Canadian band of heroes known as Alpha Flight.

Gaiman has denied that Snowbird of Alpha Flight was the inspiration for Virginia. Gaiman has also stated that the 1602 characters were based on Marvel characters who debuted during the Silver Age of comic books, a sentiment shared by comic book critic Peter Sanderson in his brief introduction to the hardcover collection. 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.

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.

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 (which he calls mutantur or changing ones) and normal humans (the mondani). In what may be a nod to the Sandman, 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 also 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 — though Werner is unaware of "John's" true sex.

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. Unlike her counterpart in the regular Marvel Universe, this version of Sue is permanently invisible.

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.

Villains

Grand Inquisitor 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. Unable to reunite with his family, he is psychologically scarred. As an adult he leads the Spanish Inquisition, which he oversees from Domdaniel. Although ordered to execute the witchbreed, he hides those whom he can pass off as normal. Secretly a witchbreed himself, he uses his activities as a cover to form a "Brotherhood Of Those Who Will Inherit The Earth". The society's name is a biblical allusion: "those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." (King James Bible Psalm 37:9). Enrique is the 1602 world's analogue to Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr).

Sister Wanda and Petros, the Inquisitor's assistants. They are also his children, a fact he has kept from them. 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. They are this world's Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver (Wanda and Pietro Maximoff).

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 cold-blooded 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). Banner is probably more of an anti-hero, even a villain, in this world.

Natasha, a freelance spy and "the most dangerous woman in Europe". She is partnered with Murdoch by Sir Nicholas, but betrays 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; and he is indeed a good-looking man. 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), though his face-scarring injuries come after rather than before the Four acquire their powers.

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 S.H.I.E.L.D. 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 — his face is much darker compared to the other characters seen in flashback. It's worth noting that his facial features are similar to George W. Bush, the president of the United States of America 2000-2008.

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.

Hardcover edition

The hardbound edition depicts the main characters whispering discreetly to each other on the cover. According to the book's illustrator Scott McKowen, the image was inspired by a depiction of the masterminds behind the "Gunpowder Plot", an attempt to blow up 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.

Awards

1602 won the Quill Book Award for Graphic Novels. The first issue was awarded the 2003 Diamond Distributors Gem Award as Comic of the Year. Time Magazine listed it as the worst comic of 2003, although the list's composer later stated "he didn't actually mean it was the worst comic of the year." Entertainment Weekly also posted a positive review.

Inspirations

The artwork and setting of Elizabethan England were influenced by Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth, and the brief scenes in Jerusalem on Monty Python's Life of Brian. The arrangement of the comics panels was influenced by Watchmen. Gaiman stated that while he did not want costumes, the clothing of the characters would hint at their 'future' uniforms.

The cover artwork was influenced by the work of real-life 'contemporary' artists such as Hans von Klumbach, Jacques Callot, and Stefano della Bella.

Spin-Offs

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 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), are 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 (Daily Bugle), run by the "lovable" Jonah Jameson (J. 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 (Green Goblin) being often at the scenes of the worst English-Native situations.

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. They all arrive at the city of Bensaylum, after the edge of the world (depicted as a giant waterfall), ruled over by Numenor (Namor), and his cousin Rita (Namorita).

External links

• Annotations to Marvel 1602
• 1602: Fantastick Four on Marvel.com