Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis. All things change, and we change with them.
Neil Gaiman was in the country a few weeks ago, and for the first time since he started coming here for signings and whatnots, I wasn't able to (stalk him) attend because I had to WORK. GAH.
Anyway, a couple of days before the event my friend C called me up and told me that she knew someone who could get Neil to sign a book for me. I chose 1602, since this is one of my favorite graphic novels outside the Sandman universe.
What I liked about this book was that one did not need to be thoroughly familiar with the whole Marvel universe to appreciate the story. Sure, a knowledge of the different heroes and villains would help especially since the reader is just thrust into the story without any introductory remarks about the characters, but it's not necessary. After all this is a retelling of the whole Marvel universe, set in Elizabethan England.
I'm also a fan of historical fiction, and to see the likes of Doctor Strange and Peter Parquah/Parker hobnobbing with Queen Elizabeth amused me to no end. And as with all great historical fiction, there is great drama in this work, complete with political intrigues, assassination plots, hostage takings, and even some jealous lovers to spice things up even more. And not to worry, none of the characters spoke in Shakespearean English, so they were all perfectly intelligible.
As with other stories with heroes and villains in it, the plot is simple and predictable: evil villain schemes to gain more power, the world is at the brink of destruction, and the heroes band together to save the day. However this is where the genius that is Neil Gaiman comes in, as he weaves together a complex yet entertaining story that just draws the reader in, compelling him to continue reading until the end is reached.
The themes underlying the book are also far from simple, and while the story is set in the 17th century, the message is undeniably timely. We live in a continually changing world where we are all forced to change and adapt in order to survive. And true, the world is growing darker and scarier, but we as a race have always shown that it is in the darkest times that we become even greater by reaching out to others. Indeed, there is no challenge that we cannot overcome, so long as we work together. And it is truly in the darkest hours of history that people - not necessarily superheroes - emerge to give us hope and show us that not everything is lost.
Carlos Javier (Charles Xavier) was right: from those who have much to give, much is demanded.
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