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Underground > Comic Books >

Neil Gaiman's 1602

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19:46 / 29.06.03

I could swear someone already posted this but I couldn't find it anywhere so maybe I was suffering from delusions again. This from Comics Continuum:

"1602 is an 8-issue mini, set in a Marvel Universe in which, for reasons which will take a while to uncover, the whole Marvel Universe is starting to occur 500 years early: Sir Nicholas Fury is head of the Queen's Intelligence, Dr Stephen Strange is her court physician (and magician), the Inquisition is torturing "witchbreed", many of whom have taken sanctuary in England under the wing of Carlos Javier, and now a mysterious treasure -- which may be a weapon of some kind -- is being sent from Jerusalem to England by the last of the Templars. Something that may save the world, or destroy it, which has already attracted the attention of such people as Count Otto Von Doom (known as "The Handsome")...

"It's a race against time in a world in which time is the enemy --

"It's not a What If or an Elseworlds. And it's really fun..."

The mini-series, which debuts on Aug. 13, has art by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove and cardstock covers by Scott McKowen. The first issue is 40 pages, with all subsequent issues 32 pages.

During the press conference, Gaiman reiterated that profits from the book will go toward regaining the rights to Miracleman. He said that the mini-series grew from six issues to eight while he was working on the second issue and that he'll probably work on something with Marvel after 1602.

"I'm having a wonderful time," Gaiman said. "The joy of writing this stuff and seeing Andy draw it is really cool. It takes everything in interesting directions. It took us about an issue to get comfortable with each other. And once I saw what he could do I sort of wrote to let him let loose."

Three pages of preview can be found here, here, and here.

Personally I've never been a huge fan of the Kubert brothers (except maybe their Ghost Rider run) but I'll probably pick this up just for Gaiman's storytelling ability alone. Plus anything that goes towards getting Miracleman back into print is guaranteed my dime.

20:07 / 29.06.03

God's belly! It be Kulan Gath, by my troth.

Solitaire Rose as Tom Servo

20:18 / 29.06.03

I jate to say it, but I am so happy that Neil is liking working at Marvel. For all the love I have for DC, the Marvel Universe is my favorite playground to read about, and I wish more Really Good Writers would play in their sandbox.

Yep, it's pure nostalgia, but I like Nick Fury and Spider-Man more than Superman and Batman.

21:18 / 29.06.03

Though I'm elated to see what will no doubt be a delightfully fun, nostalgic Neil Gaiman comic on the market, and I've got nothing but affection for the House That Jack Built, I have to say taht in many ways continuing the "marvel universe" without the original founders seems to me bizzare and pointless. Unlike the major DC characters, who have a feeling of American folklore about them, the marvel heroes are very much individual characters (which was really their point), created by two artists to reflect their times. the concept of having a whole company based around copying the styles and creations of these two seems somewhat inane. Spiderman should have been brought to a conclusion when Stan finished writing it, as should have the Fantastic Four. That said, I'm really enjoying New X-Men, and to that degree i'm happy Marvel's still kicking, but it seems to me its really mired in the sixties characters and thus sensibilities, as to be completely irrelevant.

Our Lady of The Two Towers

21:42 / 29.06.03

I can't help but feel that, despite what is said, rather than a truly novel story/idea this is Elseworlds/What If..? wankery by a different name. Despite what Haus may feel about Neverwhere, being Gaiman I will be buying it regardless, because I'm an idiot and probably, barring Jemas deciding to take it over from issue 4, will be buying all issues, but I can't help but think that if you buy only one Gaiman related thing this years it'll be Endless Nights and not this stuff.

Props (whatever they are) to them for putting money towards regaining the Miracleman rights tho'.

22:14 / 29.06.03

Oooohhoooo baby..............

Like the Dr. Stephen Strange/ Dr. John Dee comparison.

While my love for the MU has waned in recent years, my hard-on for Gaiman remains.

Me buy this! Merrily!

14:05 / 30.06.03

I trust Gaiman to make this more than a silly Elseworlds-type thing. I'm sure he'll bring a lot more layers to it than the basic description.

16:28 / 30.06.03

this is Elseworlds/What If..? wankery by a different name

Oh, come on. Everybody likes a good wank.

ONLY NICE THINGS

18:07 / 30.06.03

Good lord - don't comics writers *read* comics anymore? Marvel did this with the "Avatars" mini a couple of years ago - the Avengers and various other people in a medieval context.

19:06 / 30.06.03

I think there's a good chance that Gaiman does not, in fact, read comics much any more.

19:14 / 30.06.03

Haus, do you think you could write a witty comment on this in iambic pentameter? I've been trying for two days, but I'm really bad at it.

Solitaire Rose as Tom Servo

03:00 / 01.07.03

And, from what I read, it's not an Elseworlds, but seems that way at first. It will impact the Marvel Univrse...whatever the hell that means.

Buying it as a trade.

12:14 / 01.07.03

>> Good lord - don't comics writers *read* comics anymore? Marvel did this with the "Avatars" mini a couple of years ago - the Avengers and various other people in a medieval context.

Except that thing seemed like it sucked and very few remember it. Whereas this will at least be pretty good if not very good, as written by Gaiman.

I saw similar "this has been done before" sentiments (heck, I thought it too) about the ZERO HOUR issue of SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL years back where you see many versions of BATMAN and the new Warren Ellis/John Cassaday PLANETARY/BATMAN: NIGHT ON EARTH one-shot. But both are great in their own way.

ONLY NICE THINGS

18:04 / 01.07.03

Except that thing seemed like it sucked and very few remember it. Whereas this will at least be pretty good if not very good, as written by Gaiman.

Oh, such a treat for those who Neil adore,
Transporting Marvel to the reign of Bess,
A painted cover, pages twenty-four,
Four ninety-five a shot, nor penny less.

He's the new old Warren Ellis, you know.

18:40 / 01.07.03

Aaahhhhh... thanks Haus. You always know how to scratch right where it itches.

23:52 / 01.07.03

Dear god the league of extraordinary gentlemen meme is in DA HIZZOUSE!!!

I know! let's make superheroes QUAINT!

hm.

m.

I'm Rick Jones, bitch

10:58 / 02.07.03

Am I the only person who thinks Neil Giaman should have his fingers broken lest he ever write shit goth comics again? Am I?

10:59 / 02.07.03

Yep.

The Natural Way

11:07 / 02.07.03

Yes, Sandman's goth angle was embarassing, but I suppose it was kind of chaos magicky and, looking back, it was good fun.

As I expect this will be.

Really looking forward to it, in fact.

Regrettable Juvenilia

11:21 / 02.07.03

Bastard bastard Gaiman, stealing my Epic pitch.

Except in mine you had Dr Jane Dee, "the B'dazzler".

I'll withhold judgment until I read it in the shop, but I'm pretty staggered by how predictable this looks in a "what's the most obvious thing Neil Gaiman would do with Marvel characters?" way - almost to the point of parody.

"So if she weighs the same as a duck... She must be a mutant?"

11:31 / 02.07.03

I'm not too excited.

As its been pointed out its all been done before - as flyboy says its almost self-parody at this point.

Its sure i will also be overpriced and prestige formatted, but at least the money goes to a good cause...

15:37 / 02.07.03

Jane Dee as the 'B'dazzler' is fucking AWESOME!!! FLyboy, do you have any accompanying script and art to go with that very cool idea?

15:48 / 02.07.03

I eagerly anticipate the Neanderthal Marvel reboot.

Wolveruunh: Bad man come! Me hit!
Xaviuungh: No Wolveruunh! No hit! Hit...with rock!
Wolveruunh: You smart.

18:43 / 02.07.03

Ok so I've never posted to a message board before so bear with me. That said I think Gaiman is a goddamn genius. And I can't freaking wait to see what he does with this.

Regrettable Juvenilia

18:51 / 02.07.03

HunterWolf: I was taking the piss. I made that up on the spot. If it's equally easy for Gaiman to toss off ideas of that, ah, quality - "the Count Antoine de la Stark is the Man in the Iron Mask - do you see???" - then I really resent the piles of lovely, lovely cheddar he will no doubt stack as a result of 1602.

06:52 / 04.07.03

aw, don't be so hard-arsed, guys... it takes a lot of effort to think up new costumes that look just like the old costumes but with more ruffles.

rather play dressups than tell stories anytime.

m.

08:06 / 04.07.03

well yeah neanderthal ur-analogues of kirby's major contributions to the marvel u is where i was going with my devil dinosaur pitch to epic. it's alright tho, they all get eaten within an issue by our big red hero

08:10 / 04.07.03

Neil Gaiman? Such beautiful hair!

Beautiful, beautiful hair.

08:25 / 04.07.03

and he only wears black because hey, it's the coolest colour right?

i seem to remember him being credited as the translator of princess mononoke. any confirmation on that confirmation gang?

09:18 / 04.07.03

Neil Gaiman did translate it.

There are interviews and such that say so, such as on this
website.

10:39 / 04.07.03

thanks confirmation gang, knew you wouldn't let me down.

10:20 / 19.07.03

No you're not Girl In the Radiator.

Mister Six, whom all the girls

21:15 / 19.07.03

"Am I the only person who thinks Neil Giaman should have his fingers broken lest he ever write shit goth comics again? Am I? "

Girl, I love love love you. Lovely bitter sentiments. I adore bitterness.

Not to stir up trouble, but I urge everyone here who can to not buy this comic without checking it out in the store first, at least. I mean, if you're at the slightest of the mind, "sounds like a shit idea, but I like Neal," I urge you to check it out in the shop rather than at home.

I'm on no high horse here. I am very much a person who usually buys whatver it is on judgement of the creative team (well, fuck, it is an Ant Man story but ______ did it, I'll check it out, I like his stuff). I think Marvel is banking on all Neal fans just automatically buying it no matter what, getting invested in buying the entire series and making loads of dosh off it. That just turns my stomach. Am I alone on this?

This is just a suggestion. I don't want to squash anyone's opinion (though I do adore Girl's sentiment), but it would be an exercise in showing Marvel that they can't just serve up whatever they want to and expect sales on names alone.

Regrettable Juvenilia

09:28 / 23.07.03

There are six preview pages up at Comics Continuum. A word of warning: they're not very good. As some have suggested, this appears to be Gaiman on show-me-the-money-and-hot-Goth-chicks autopilot.

"Who does this thing, Stephen? What is its significance?"

"Would that I knew..."

Sorry, but that's just shit. Wannabe spoooooky, heavy-handed foreshadowing that's made redundant by the very premise of the series - okay, so maybe there'll be some kind of additional 'significance' in plot terms, but we all know what the real 'significance' of this is: they're burning mutants at the stake! You know, like they did with witches! Do you see? The "brief glimpses of other characters to be introduced later, whom you may or may not recognise as variants of people from superhero comics" thing - God, it's so OLD...

Agh. It genuinely pains me to read Gaiman writing like a really bad Neil Gaiman fan. It's possible that the rest of it won't be so bad, but... We'll see.

11:31 / 23.07.03

sounds like age of apocalpse in the Elizabethan era.

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