Gaiman/Marvel finally spill the goods on Gaiman’s upcoming 1602.

“So, ‘1602!’ Although it will look at first glance kind of like an Elseworlds or a ‘What if’ or one of those things, it actually isn’t. It’s set 400 years ago in the Marvel Universe, but in a version of the Marvel Universe in which the mighty world of Marvel has started coming into existence 400 years early, for reasons that will become apparent as the series progresses. We are dealing with analogues of characters that we know and love. We’re in a world in which Sir Nicholas Fury is the head of Queen Elizabeth’s intelligence organization. In which Dr. Steven Strange is her court physician and court magician. In which young people with remarkable powers known as the Witch Breed are being persecuted by the inquisition. Most have fled to England where they have taken sanctuary with Karloff Javier, an exiled Spaniard with some remarkable mental powers.

“Into this world, as issue one kicks off, there is some very strange stuff going down. Peculiar weather. People are starting to talk about the end of the world. The mysterious thing that may be a weapon and may be a treasure is being sent to England from the Last of the Templars. We’re not quite sure what it is, we’re not even sure they know what it is, but Nicholas Fury sends his top agent, a blind Irish ballad singer named Matthew Murdock, off to bring it back safely. That’s where everything begins.”

V. v. cool.

ooo...ooo....oooo...
can't wait to read this stuff...
it sure sounds yummy.

The article also mentions Baron Otto von Doom, "The Handsome". :)

Heh.

Hmm, you know, my only reason for not picking up the series as it's released is that I /know/ I'd be jonesing for the next one immediately after reading one. Think I'll wait until it gets released in collected format.

Strange. Since it's Gaiman I should be looking forward to it but I'm not. Anticipating an erratic schedule? Early cancellation? Yeah, that's it. It's the same feeling I get from imagining a cool new SF show on Fox, or when the next issue of LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN or GIRL GENIUS will come out.

...still
it does sound bitchin' cool.

Eh. Gaiman's always been reliable on his releases -- the only things he's had that have come out late are usually due to waiting on the artist (that's what's been going on with his last project -- the guy took 16 months to do 14 pages).

Don't confuse the writing speed of Brust and Gaiman :)

I agree with Doyce -- Gaiman is pretty good at cranking stuff out, and the press release mentioned that Issue 6 is already done (with writing, art in progress). Andy Kubert is pretty solid, too. So they have a bit of cushion there.

But, yes, just the other day I was lamenting to myself the glacial pace of LoEG and Girl Genius.