The reason that the last panel surprised me was that I did not know that Gaiman was that willing to futz with the known historical timeline. Allowing the Roanoake colony to survive was pretty small beans in terms of historical impact as compared to the results of Doom's little toy.
My comics buff co-worker read 1602 #3 at lunch, and pointed out that, from the last panel, we
don't actually know if Queen Elizabeth is *dead.* It seems like it, but she could be unconscious, in a coma,
whatever.
So is Jean hiding her gender because even Javier wouldn't have women boarders openly in 1602?
That's my guess. What I want to know is whether or not 1602!Cyclops knows about Jean/John's gender.
I think yes to both.
Your co-worker has a good point, Teppy. Still doesn't diminish the HSQ, however. I am resolutely remaining unspoiled for this series, since I have learned from experience that Gaiman is a Clever Bastard and that the thrill of being misled, deceived, and lulled into a false sense of security is well worth putting up with suspense and unsatiated curiosity.
In my dearest dreams, I would love for Neil Gaiman and Tim Minear to collaborate on a sequence of episodes for AtS.
I went back and white fonted some stuff in Anne's and Steph's posts. Some of it was speculation, but some was spoilery for people who haven't seen the issue yet.
I didn't realize it, either -- thanks, DX!
In my dearest dreams, I would love for Neil Gaiman and Tim Minear to collaborate on a sequence of episodes for AtS.
Not enough "yes" in the world.
And also agree with your statement about Peter.
It may happen. I mean, Neil did an episode for Babylon 5. It would require some severe dancing about though...
Maybe whatever caused the X-Men and the other heroes to appear 400 years early also pulled her in early?
Possibly, it's just they seem to be treating her as if she's a not particularly unusual companion to Dr. Strange. And I don't think this version of him is capable enough to have gone to the Dark Dimension and brought her back. (If the effort he had to put into astrally projecting in issue #2 is anything to go by...) I think revamping an alien character into an earthborn human being is a bit bigger a change than altering their national origin, which is what seems to have happened with most everyone else.
One thing I rather liked in 1602.3 was the fact that the X-Men
regularly got together for chapel. Religious observance was such a part of day-to-day life back then that it makes total sense that they'd do something like that. What was interesting was the attention given to the characters' poses. John/Jean looking guilty, Scotius glaring at John/Jean, Hank appearing to be reasonably devout, Robert looking way bored, Werner appearing mildly uncomfortable (unsurprising, given his last experience with organized religion).
