Are You the Man Who Killed My Pah?
Are You the Man Who Killed My Pah?
It's nice to see marvel in an upswing again, it really is. They have been putting out some really good material lately. REALLY good. With the Ultimate titles, Marvel Knights, and the rising popularity of graphic novels, I've been in a comic book heaven. What I want to talk to you about today, however, is the 1602 series Marvel is currently doing. This incredible piece of comic literature is being written by none other than Neil Gaiman. This alone is enough to make me buy every single issue. I do not believe that will be enough for all of you, so let me tell you a little bit about it.
Imagine the marvel universe as you know it today. Now imagine it in *gasp* 1602. You would have characters like Sir Nicholas Fury, the head of Queen Elizabeth's security and spy network; Peter Parquagh, his young apprentice; and Dr. Strange, who is the Queen's physician and occult expert. Then there is Count Otto Von Doom, who seeks to gain a powerful artifact from the time of the Templars and use it to take over the world. He also keeps a dungeon full of mystery characters who have strange powers (I would tell you, but it would ruin the surprise). There are all sorts of familiar characters set in this peculiar time. We have Javier, leader and teacher of those who have special powers, known in this time as the Witchbreed. And how would this story be complete without Magneto, who claims that he and his children's powers were granted to them by God, and uses them to aid the Spanish inquisition? There is also a blind bard who shows no fear. There are also familiar historical figures from the time,
such as her grace the Queen of England and King James.
Ah, perhaps I should tell you why these heroes are set in this time? It seems that an event had been triggered that was not intended to happen for another 400 years. It is as though something punched through the fabric of space and time to trigger the event, and either the heroes are there simply because of that, or they are here to help protect the world from what may happen. The heroes' roles in this will become more defined as more issues are masterfully written by the talented Mr. Gaiman. This is the kind of quality storyline that got me so hooked on comics in the first place.
I highly recommend that you treat yourself to this series. It is only in its sixth issue, so it will not be hard to keep up. Hell, just ask me to borrow them, but if they come back damaged you will leave damaged. "Vault rules man, touch not less ye be touched."