1602

1602 can refer to the year in the Gregorian calendar or to a Marvel Comics miniseries of the same name. In historical terms, 1602 falls in the early 17th century and is notable for the founding of the Dutch East India Company in the Dutch Republic, a milestone in the development of global trade and corporate organization. The year sits within the broader context of the Dutch Golden Age, characterized by maritime expansion, financial innovation, and cultural exchange.

In popular culture, 1602 is the title of an eight-issue Marvel Comics miniseries written by Neil Gaiman and published in 2003–2004. The story reimagines the Marvel Universe as an alternate history set in the early modern era, with characters adapted to 17th-century England and Europe—such as Peter Parquagh, a stand-in for Spider-Man, and Sir Nicholas Fury. The work blends fantasy, mystery, and political intrigue, and has been collected in trade paperbacks. It has spawned additional titles and spin-offs exploring the 1602 universe within Marvel’s multiverse.