The girl on the Virginia Maid is based on a real person: Virginia Dare, who was the first child born in the colonies at Roanoke. Since the colony up and vanished nobody knows what happened to her. I don't know if Gaiman will translate her to an existing character or if she will be a wholly new character. (As an on-topic aside, one of the stories in the Tales of the Slayers short story collection (volume 1) imagines Virginia Dare as a Slayer.)

I wonder about her companion.

Anne, who is Foggy Nelson ? I'm new to the Marvelverse and didn't get this reference.

I loved "The Ballad of the Fantasik".

Overall fun read. I immediately handed it to DH and said "Read this. Now."

ETA: Sister Wanda and Petros are definitely the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. I'm not sure who the Inquisitor is.

Teppy: Dr. Strange is a major figure in the Marvelverse, the magical hero, and Clea was his girlfriend.

justkim: Foggy is Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil's, law partner and best friend.

Thanks Hec. I don't have the Marvel Masterworks Daredevil yet.

I figured that Sister Wanda was the Scarlet Witch-- the red habit was my first hint. And Petros has the same hair as in the latest cartoon incarnation .

I didn't think of Virginia Dare being Storm, though-- that's an interesting idea.

1602 was a great read. It was fun spotting all the Marvel in-jokes (I especially loved Matt and Foggy's appearance, although I agree that the Peter Parker character is kind of a twit so far) and Gaiman has done a very good job creating this alternate version of history. Mainly it's just great to have him writing comics again. His novels were decent, but they're nowhere near as interesting and unique as Sandman or Signal to Noise. Can't wait to read his next Sandman anthology Endless Nights.

Speaking of Sandman did anyone else expect to see Hob Gadling turn up somewhere in 1602?

SFMARTY: There are, what, 8 of them? Go for it, & let me know how much. Or, let me know how much, & then go for it. Either way works.

Gandalfe, look up my e-mail addy and we can talk. Meanwhile I will go and get them tomorrow.

I have the new Marvel and left it in the car. Will read it too.

Gandalfe, if you want that one as well, e me and I will pick it up too. Can't make more than one trip tho. Really busy week.

1602 Thoughts

First about the overall story: Supposedly, this is not a what-if story. What does that mean, I'm not sure...

And about one set of characters: I don't think Virginia Dare is Storm, since that would tie up her story with the witchbreed. Though her Native American protector would make sense to be Steve Rogers AKA Captain America. Could Virginia be some sort of Bucky analogue? Though I suspect she may be an original character.

And a question about one of the characters: The man with wings is Angel, aka Warren Worthington III, a founding member of the X-men. His mutant ability? Umm, wings that allow him to fly, mostly.

My co-worker is an artist and a comic-book geek, and he's grooving on my copy of 1602. He took one look at the pages and said "It isn't inked -- it was penciled and scanned."

I have to take his word on that, because even though he explained to me how he can tell, I don't see it.

And he says that the Virginia Maid and the Indian bodyguard are from Alpha Flight.

t edit Dude, co-worker is identifying *all* the characters. Impressive.

I have only the barest knowledge of the Marvel comics and I thought it a great read, the artwork was not so great to me, but a good read.

You all have filled in some blanks that make it more interesting. Peter Parker looks like a goob, agreed. However, Fury and Daredevil are very un-gooblike and I want to see more.

edited: whitefont, just in case