Shakespeare and Witchcraft in Neil Gaiman’s Marvel 1602

Abstract

Representing the cultural phenomenon of witchcraft and showcasing liminal existence was of great importance in the literature of 16-17 -century England. From political pamphlets to Shakespearean stage plays, the character of the witch and the marginalized have become a central topic of conversation in early modern texts. The primary goal of this research paper is to examine how Neil Gaiman’s comic book series, Marvel 1602 adapts aspects of certain early modern English works to create a graphic narrative that explains liminality and the modern ‘witchcraze.’