Written by Grant Morrison
Art by J.H. Williams III; Dave Stewart; & Todd Klein
Cover Art by J.H. Williams III
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for December 2006, 52-page “The Miser’s Coat,” concludes writer Grant Morrison’s epic 30-issue Seven Soldiers saga. A member of the bizarre Seven Men of Slaughter Swamp relates humanity’s bleak far distant future under Sheeda domination. The world’s distant past is glimpsed, as ancient super-hero, Aurakles (a product of New God technology) appears. The Sheeda’s true origin is finally revealed.
The Seven Soldiers (Guardian; Shining Knight Justina; Klarion; Zatanna Zatara; Frankenstein; Bulleteer; and Shilo Norman’s Mister Miracle) evidently play roles to varying degrees in toppling the Sheeda. The aftermath suggests what might come next for two Soldiers.
REVIEW:
Considering the uneven nature of this mammoth series, readers shouldn’t be surprised by this letdown. This conclusion’s sole asset is artist J.H. Williams’s moody visuals exuding the saga’s mind-warping ambiance. Leave it to writer Grant Morrison to sabotage his own series finale by cramming in far too much pretentious metaphysical garbage. All too predictably, Morrison’s creative hubris opts to further muddle his often-incoherent storyline.
One can readily sense a disjointed mess when these Seven Soldiers make little or no contribution (or even let it be shown how thwarting the formidable Sheeda occurs). Zatanna; the Guardian; Shilo Norman’s Mister Miracle; and Klarion get decent screen time, but their actual heroics are sketchy at best. Completing the seven-pack, Bulleteer and Frankenstein show up in cameos that essentially offer nothing.
An annoying reoccurrence is that Morrison conveniently drops in a Soldier (or a supporting player) from out of nowhere to intersect with an ongoing scene. Case in point: Guardian’s girlfriend/presumed wife, Carla, swerves her speeding car to avoid hitting Zatanna (and presumably, young Misty/Princess Rhiannon) in the middle of a New York street. Zatanna and her ex-protégé then evidently vanish, as their involvement abruptly ends (without explanation). These little irritants, much like fragments of basic logic, are merely ignored by Morrison. He also doesn’t bother hinting the fates of Frankenstein, Bulleteer, Guardian, and Klarion. The only satisfying finish is for Shining Knight Justina, leaving the door open for a potential spin-off series.
Coming full circle, at least Morrison allocates a shred of redemption for a psychopathic anti-hero from the Issue # 0 massacre. Beyond a few individual scenes exhibiting some coherency, DC Comics blundered by not exerting enough editorial control here over Morrison’s wonky storytelling. Seven Soldiers of Victory # 1 may be a thrill for some hardcore fans, but it’s likely a futile exercise in disappointment and sheer exasperation to most others.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
None.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars
