REVIEW: ‘1776’ Issue 1

1776 Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, with pencils by Sean Damien Hill, inks by Jay Leisten, colors by Alex Sinclair and letters by Joe Caramagna.

In 1776 Issue 1, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are sent to the Revolutionary War to stop a villain from wiping America from history. The bizarre crossover issue takes place in two places at once. There is a selection of heroes in the present day, brought together by Doctor Strange.

In the past, the evil and immortal sorceress Morgan Le Fay has been interfering with the most important figures in American history. It’s an intriguing beginning, actively threatening the lives of those who founded the nation. The concept is ridiculous, and Straczynski is aware of it, employing a comical and exciting tone.

The pacing of 1776 Issue 1 is also odd because the jumping between the points in time is so important in setting the stage. But then the heroes are in the past, and the story streamlines. The heroes are well and truly integrated into the world and spread out, not providing them with a moment to get their bearings before the time period throws a curveball.

The characters are combined with history in 1776 Issue 1. Those recruited by Strange are asking the most famous figures in Marvel Comics. Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America and Iron Man are a great team, and their voices are very quickly added to the mixture of personalities.

Straczynski’s writing style in these team-up-style comics is very comedic, building rapport and chemistry between the characters. They bicker, take shots at each other and have conversations that build their personalities rather than solely moving the plot. Not all of them land, but it always makes the dialogue fascinating. There are the typical conversations about meddling with time, especially at a point that is so fractious and potentially calamitous.

There are even discussions on whether the British loss is such a devastating consequence after all. For Americans, it’s an interesting topic that completely alters everything about their lives. Those historical characters are also key to the effectiveness of the story. Benjamin Franklin, John Burgoyne, and others pivotal to the war feature in this opening issue.

It’s not historically accurate at all, but that’s not the point, as a seductive and sadistic witch and another wizard enter their midst. Captain America is perhaps the most enjoyable character featured in 1776 Issue 1, as he embodies the nation. Not only is he a fierce protector of his country, but he also has a fantastic knowledge of the history that created it.

The art has a mixture of impressive and disturbing features. The design of many of the Marvel characters is terrific. Iron Man, Spider-Man and Le Fay all look marvellous. There’s a wonderful blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements with the historical settings. There is literally a transition from mind-boggling visuals often found in Doctor Strange comics into the relative mundanity of 1776.

The attention to detail on the costumes and the Revolutionary War uniforms is tremendous. The heroes are given disguises when they enter 1776 Issue 1, beautifully designed. There are even moments when these old costumes come alive alongside their superhero outfits, which is especially cool. However, some faces, particularly on regular people, can be misshapen and peculiar. And the design of the Hulk isn’t quite right.

The colors are phenomenal. Period stories can often be dark and gloomy, given the lack of natural light. But there is a vibrancy to 1776 Issue 1, largely stemming from the scarlet color of the Redcoats and the shades that the heroes bring with them. The gathering of superheroes is all intensely bright, but even Morgan Le Fay has purple hair and a green dress that really stands out. The lettering of the word balloons is very easy to read.

1776 Issue 1 is a fun fusion of history and heroics. Straczynski creates a playful and exciting story that is both entertaining and somewhat educational. It’s got a lot of humor in the dialogue with some curious conversations about the alternative history that could have happened, whilst still mixing in Marvel’s greatest heroes. There are moments where the art struggles, and the jokes can become tiresome, but the overall strength of 1776 Issue 1 remains firm.

1776 Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.