The scope of the Marvel Multiverse allows for many distinct approaches to Marvel's assorted characters. Sometimes, these alternate timelines can introduce bleak versions of classic heroes and villains, while others could hint at unlikely romances and bonds. It can even set up some pretty fun pairings that deserve further exploration and reinvent some classic character concepts.
The reality introduced in 1602 (by Neil Gaiman, Andy Kubert, Richard Isanove, and Todd Klein) introduced some fun reinventions of numerous Marvel heroes and villains. One of the wildest -- and most compelling -- was the bond created between Nick Fury and this timeline's Peter Parker. This is how 1602 turned Spider-Man into Nick Fury's Robin.
1602 Brought Spider-Man and Nick Fury Together
Due to a multiversal deviation from Earth-616's history, the world of 1602 was one where Marvel's heroes and villains existed centuries earlier than their counterparts. In the year 1602, figures like Carlos Javier worked to protect the Witchbreed, the crew of the Fantastik Four gained their powers while sailing through a vortex of light, and a mysterious character named Donal protected a walking stick that could turn him into a god. One of the story's primary movers and shakers was Nicolas Fury, a loyal agent of the English Crown. Initially serving Queen Elizabeth until her assassination, Fury is one of the story's most important characters. Traveling the globe while fighting, Fury ends up ensuring the restoration of Earth-616 and inadvertently saves the rest of his universe in the process, kept as a unique pocket dimension within the multiverse.
Throughout his travels, Fury isn't alone. He's accompanied throughout 1602 by Peter Parquagh, the Spider-Man of this timeline. The orphaned son of Fury's two most skilled agents, Peter was eventually approached by Fury with a position by his side. Through this role, Peter became an invaluable ally to Fury's machinations, learning about the art of being a spy from his mentor. He served as a strong mentor to the young man and tried his best to protect Peter when he became a potential target of the English Crown. Throughout, Peter remained a curious young man and at the end, he was exposed to an empowered spider that granted him new powers. It's a fun dynamic between the two and one that feels more than a little indebted to the kind of rapport that exists between Batman and Robin.
1602's Spider-Man is Marvel's Robin
The Peter Parker of 1602 is a younger and more innocent figure than he is in most timelines. It's suggested this Peter's Uncle Ben was still alive when he teamed up with Fury, hinting that this Peter wasn't as defined as much by tragedy as many of his other variants. Fury also took on a fatherly role, similar to Batman's role as a surrogate father to his sidekicks. Like Dick Grayson's eventual transformation into Nightwing, Peter took on his own superhero mantle, the Spider.
It was an interesting idea to pair Nick Fury and Spider-Man together, and it's an idea that other stories and timelines could consider exploring. Peter Parker's connections to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s history makes it a solid concept, particularly in an alternate reality story that could recast Peter in a more supportive role. It's something that has been briefly touched upon in the Ultimate Universe and the MCU, but going deeper into this relationship could open the door to a whole new world of storytelling possibilities.