posted
Okay, this was the one post I remembered from before the crash. Or at least what number I was on when I started the thread originally. I don't know if we need spoiler space since the issue is two weeks old but I put spoiler in the title so don't read any further if you haven't read it. Its not like a real review anyway and I don't give much away.
I picked up my comics this week and my issue of 1602 was there. I did take some time to read it last night and, while I wasn't disappointed, I didn't find it as good as it could have been.
The art was good but not consistent. And there was something missing to the story. I can't quite put my finger on it but it was off.
Things I did like, and can remember:
Matthew, the blind minstrel: I liked the depiction of him and loved the Ballad of the Fantastic he began to sing.
Doctor Stephen Strange: Being the Queen's physician was a good choice. And when he said something about going home to the village of Greenwich, I laughed.
Warren (did they give a name?): His story of what happened to his mother and his thoughts as he waited to be burned were well written. But he was the only one of the 'witchbreed' I cared for in this first issue.
Sir Nicholas Fury, the Queen's intelligencer: Liked his title and he was portrayed as a good Machiavellian archetype.
What I didn't like:
Peter Parquagh: Eh. A kid fascinated with spiders. But there must be a reason Fury keeps him around. And I hope it isn't for special 'favors'.
"John" Grey: Badly drawn unless 'he' is supposed to be so obviously Jean that it was intentional.
The Inquisitor: Is that really supposed to be Magneto? Eww!
The "Witchbreed": Scotius and Robert (I don't remember the last names). I'm also assuming that Pietro and Sister Wanda are also witchbreed and the Inquisitor doesn't know or overlooks it. Maybe these characters just need some more fleshing out in the coming issues.
Queen Elizabeth: Shouldn't she be using the Royal 'we' when she speaks? Either this is a Gaiman red herring or he screwed up since she does use personal pronouns in some of her appearances.
Unless this epic event gets better it'll be another Marvel title that doesn't live up to the hype. Not saying it isn't good just not what was hyped.
posted
Well, deja vu and all ... from the "preboot" version of this thread, I remember saying that it kinda reminds me of that X-Men issue where New York was remade by Kulan Gath as a barbaric city and the heroes stuck there were altered but maintained some of their interpersonal relationships and powers. Gaiman has stated that this is NOT an Elseworlds, so I'll stick around to see if they get into what has happened to the Marvel Universe (I suspect the Cosmic Cube, but we'll see (I just hope it's not another "made by Franklin Richards" reality)). That fact and Gaiman's past accomplishments will keep me coming back for at least one or two more issues.
Btw, Comics Continuum has an article with an annotated 1602. It mentions some of Gaiman's historical references, and his oblique (and not so oblique) references to the Marvel U. One thing I completely missed was the Native *American* blonde character "Rojhaz" was Steve *Rogers*, Captain America.
From: New York, NY | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I totally missed that connection. I was trying to figure out who a blonde Native American was supposed to be. And what about the little girl? That one went over my head as well. Plus her look was a little to manga (sp?) for me.
And I remember you mentioning the Kulan Gath story Drake. I was wanting to dig it out and read it again as it was one of my favorite X stories but all my X books, with the exception of the current Ultimate series and Exiles, are in storage.
From: Utah | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I only skimmed 1602 at the shop yesterday, but I couldn't bring myself to buy it. I like Gaiman's work, but it wasn't quite "on" enough for me to say "I've gotta have this".
Plus I can't really afford another book in my budget right now, without dropping another at this point (and that includes minis).
Maybe when its a TPB?
[ August 24, 2003, 12:21 AM: Message edited by: Omni Craig ]
-------------------- Craig C.
- Time travel stories are told in chronillogical order.
From: Santa Ana, CA | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Lightning Lad: I totally missed that connection. I was trying to figure out who a blonde Native American was supposed to be. And what about the little girl?
Considering the white hair and the odd weather, it might be Storm ?(there was also an actual historically similar mission where a native-born colonial child was sent back to England as an envoy of some kind -- the specifics are on that comicscontinuum page I mentioned).
From: New York, NY | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Just bought 1601 #1. I must say that I'm not overly impresses. The writings good, the art consistent but somehow it just doesn't connect with me. As far as i can tell it's supposed to be "in continuity" and not an elseworlds type story. Personally it looks like an excuse to see how many Marvel characters Gaiman can fit into Elizabethan times. I'll keep buying it as its only a mini-series. I'm hoping it'll go some place over the remaining issues.
From: Kernow | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Lightning Lad: Queen Elizabeth: Shouldn't she be using the Royal 'we' when she speaks? Either this is a Gaiman red herring or he screwed up since she does use personal pronouns in some of her appearances.
If I remember correctly the 'royal we' is actually quite a modern affectation brought in by the Hanoverians. I might be wrong about that but Gaimen is pretty good at checking things like that for historical accuracy (and he certainly knows the Elizabethan period very well and the probable way people spoke) so I think it's unlikely to be a mistake, unless of course it was a mistake made by the letteres or something.
-------------------- Truth and Justice shall Prevail! (Unless Tamper Lad Screws it up...)
From: Manchester, UK | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Kid Prime: Is there any historical documentation to her "We are not amused" line, or is that apocryphal?
I believe the "We are not amused" Line is attributed to Queen Victoria, not Liz. I have also heard/read that the anti-homosexuallaws in England from Victoria's time don't mention lesbians because Victoria insisted that there weren't any such women.
-------------------- Five billion years from now the Sun will go nova and obliterate the Earth. Don't sweat the small stuff!
From: Boston | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
The 'we are not amused' line is completely apocryphal although Victoria certainly used the royal We.
I've heard the same story about her not believing that there were lesbians (or even that women got pleasure from sex) but I don't know whether it's true or not. It's certainly true that the UK sex laws have never mentioned lesbian sex though so it could be true. Then again it might just be a made up explanation for why there are no laws to do with it.
-------------------- Truth and Justice shall Prevail! (Unless Tamper Lad Screws it up...)
From: Manchester, UK | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Lightning Lad: And what about the little girl?
Considering the white hair and the odd weather, it might be Storm ?
After reading it again, she says something about being afraid of "changing" and hurting others -- so, I have no idea who this could be. I remember Gaiman saying something to the effect that he was using older Marvel characters for some reason (only those who appeared before 1962?) so there's no Wolverine and no modern characters to choose from.
From: New York, NY | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I finally read it! Since her name is Virginia, I think she's She-Hulk. I know Virginia isn't quite the same as Jennifer, but it's damn close. And Rojahz (Sp?) is definitely Cap (Steve Rogers.)
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From: Birmingham, AL | Registered: Jul 2003
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