Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Andy Kubert

Those of you who are familiar with Neil Gaiman’s work were probably as surprised as I was when I discovered that he partnered with Marvel to tell this story.

After all, The Sandman Series was put out by DC.

As far as I’m concerned, Sandman is the best comic ever. It manages to be a fabulous comic, a stunning work of art, and an epic tale.

Sandman redefined what comics could be. For once, people were really seeing that a comic could also be great literature. Gaiman continues this tradition in 1602 by turning the Marvel universe topsy-turvy.

1602 combines the stories of Virginia Dare, the first child born in the New World in the Roanoke Colony, the origins of the X-Men and their persecution by the Inquisition, and the capture of the Fantastic Four by Otto von Doom. Oh, and their subsequent rescue by Virginia, the X-Men, Daredevil, and Thor.

Sounds complicated, but this is Neil Gaiman we’re talking about.

It all comes together beautifully.

And if it took me far longer to realize the true identity of Virginia’s faithful guardian Rojhaz, well, that’s just part of the fun!

As to precisely how long…

That shall remain my own rather embarrassing secret.