Written by Grant Morrison
Art by J.H. Williams III; Dave Stewart; & Todd Klein
Cover Art by J.H. Williams III & Dave Stewart
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Weird Adventures, Part One: Shelly and the Super-Cowboys,” this 48-page issue was published by DC Comics for April 2005. It’s the opening book-end of Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldiers mega epic (seven four-issue mini-series) before concluding with the other book-end: 2006’s Seven Soldiers # 1.
A motley D-List of heroes is recruited to New Mexico by a grizzled and aging Greg Saunders (aka DC’s Golden Age Vigilante of the original Seven Soldiers of Victory). His dubious squad consists of: a blonde female Whip (the original’s granddaughter); a glowing ‘Boy Blue;’ Gimmix (the snotty daughter of Merry — The Girl of 1000 Gimmicks); couch potato ‘Dyno-Mite Dan,’ who supposedly has acquired the explosive rings once worn by the late TNT and his teenage sidekick; and mercenary archer ‘I, Spyder,’ a son of the former same-named Golden Age hero. An unidentified recruit declines to show up.
Freelance journalist Shelly Gaynor’s (the new Whip) backstory is explored, as is a murky sci-fi sequence re: I, Spyder’s encounter with the bizarre Seven Men of Slaughter Swamp. Utilizing the Vigilante’s jet cycles, this makeshift team hunts an ominous ‘Ghost Spider’ that has resurfaced in the same desert hunting ground it once used in 1875. It’s chillingly deduced that the extradimensional spider isn’t alone. Its monstrous collective is ‘The Sheeda.’ The Seven Men of Slaughter Swamp’s contingency plan must now be set in motion.
Note: Gimmix cameos in a scene of Seven Soldiers: Zatanna # 1 that pre-dates her appearance in this issue.
REVIEW:
Writer Grant Morrison’s ghoulish first salvo in his massive Seven Soldiers saga is replete with Vertigo Comics-style fantasy and horror elements. In addition to a plausibly decrepit Vigilante, Morrison does terrific work setting up backstories for the likable Whip and the not-so-much ‘I, Spyder.’ Yet, as much credit as Morrison is due, artist J.H. Williams IIII delivers the necessary visuals this ghastly tale requires. In a bleak homage to DC’s Golden Age and Silver Age eras, Seven Soldiers # 0 is a shocking opener to expand upon.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s is a classy single-page tribute to the late Will Eisner. The last page provides a release schedule for the complete Seven Soldiers saga, as well as thumbnail cover reveals for Shining Knight # 1 and Guardian # 1.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
