Comic-book recommendation for DUers: "1602"

It's a miniseries written by Neil Gaiman, someone who is well-known among fans of smart comics. The whole thing is out in hardcover, and it's definitely worth checking out.

Anyone who's ever been a fan of Marvel Comics or 17th Century European history will enjoy the hell out of this comic. The premise is this: It's the year 1602, but it's also the Marvel universe. Peter Parker, Daredevil, The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Nick Fury, Dr. Strange, Victor Von Doom, and Magneto are all characters in the story, but they're all slightly different given the change in setting. Nicholas Fury is the head spy for Queen Elizabeth, and Peter Parquagh is his loyal assistant. Matthew Murdoch is a blind balladeer who sings of the crew of the ship The Fantastick and the strange circumstances surrounding their disappearance. Carlos Javier runs a school for "witchbreed", people who are persecuted by the Spanish Inquisition.

There's an extremely cool plot-twist at the end of the story that DUers should especially appreciate. I won't ruin it here, but it's really cool. The best thing about "1602" is that you don't need to have an encyclopedic knowledge of Marvel characters to enjoy it. Neil Gaiman is a good enough writer to craft a story that's accessible enough to casual comics readers, but with enough cool nods to satisfy hardcore fans. It's the most unique, seemingly gimmicky but actually not at all gimmicky comic I've read in a long time. It's beautifully written, beautifully drawn, and most importantly, it's really fun.

One of the most amazingly ant-corporate state comic book screeds I've ever read...

Garth Ennis can do no wrong.

And it is depressing as hell. Bush-era literature for sure.

Your loss...

Some of the best stories I've read in the past 15 years are his. I am particularly fond of his early Sandman issues. Thanks for the recommendation - I was looking for an excuse to get over to the shop.