Sovereign Seven #1 (1995)

Sovereign Seven #1 (July, 1995)
"It was a Dark and Stormy Night..."
Writer - Chris Claremont
Artist - Dwayne Turner
Letterer - Tom Orzechowski
Colorist - Gloria Vasquez
Color Separations - Olyoptics
Assistant Editors - Keri Kowalski & Chris Eades
Editor - Rob Simpson
Cover Price: $1.95

This one's a long time coming.

Anyone who has followed this blog for any amount of time will know that one of my earliest obsessions in comics were the Uncanny X-Men.  While the era that initially hooked me on X-Men was more...

this guy...

than...

this guy...

... the mark Claremont left on Marvel's mutants can never be denied.

In the years that followed, I've made it my mission to one day complete my collection of (Uncanny) X-Men... a feat, might I add... that would have been far more satisfying before Marvel decided to relaunch the damn thing every couple of years at #1... but, that's neither here nor there.

I'm down to about a hundred issues as of this writing, most from the first hundred, natch.  I don't plan on dying anytime soon, so I'm still hopeful that I'll one day finish my set.

I said all of that, so I can say this... I have a lot of experience with Chris Claremont's X-Men work.  I have long been aware of his DC work, including and especially Sovereign Seven.  I have never read this title.  While it was being published, the thought of reading a non-X Chris Claremont book just felt wrong.  Granted, this is teenage-Chris (from the pocket dimension?) wisdom speaking here... so, I guess I can give myself a pass.  The fact that I'm in my mid-thirties, and have been exposed to plenty of non-X Claremont in the interim... I really have no excuse not to check this one out.

Was it worth the wait?  Let's find out...

--

New Book... New Team!  Let's do a roll-call:

Cascade: Team Leader.  Can cascade (turn into bubbles) and teleport

Cruiser: Telekinetic, powered by food.  As a result is always hungry.

Reflex: Despite his enormous size, he is the Sovereign's resident speedster.

Network: Telepath.  When no minds are around to read, she becomes fully illiterate and aphasic.

Indigo: Tactician, can vanish into shadows.  Highly enigmatic.

Finale: Warrior woman, fears water.

Rampart: Can manifest force fields.








--

We open on a dark and stormy ni... Oh!

The Sovereign pop onto the scene, presumably from a boom-tube (if the BOOM sound effect is any indication).  They land knee deep in an altercation between a young man and a group of super powered beasties.  The young man is clutching a golden amulet with a large red stone.

Team leader, Cascade approaches the young man to find out what's going on when the beasts begin to open fire.  Cascade orders the Sovereign into combat and we are given something of a demonstration/exhibition of many of the team members' powers.

They successfully fight off the baddies, and proceed to interrogate the young man who faints at the sight of team member Finale.  While he is out, Network attempts to read his mind.  She comments that his thoughts are completely in chaos, save for the name Merlin.

She reads the minds of the antagonists, and finds it far easier... their minds reveal that they were born and bred to capture this man for a Dark Mistress.

Cascade decides it would be best to head to town to reconnoiter.  At that moment, we observe that Dark Mistress (Maitresse) in an exchange with one of her hand-maids, Morgrin.  She is upset that her daughter is gone, and is planning a way to get her back.  When Mogrin expresses concern over the methods she wishes to employ, she kisses him... which causes his body to turn to ash.

Back on Earth, the Sovereign arrive at Crossroads which is something of an inn/bar.  They burst through the door in search of medical assistance for Merlin.  This is where we meet Pansy Smith and Violet Jones who own the place.

Suddenly the team finds themselves under attack.  It appears the Female Furies (Lashina, Bernadeth, and Artemiz) have also decided to pop into Crossroads.  They are in search of Merlin as well, claiming that the amulet he holds belongs to them.  Further, they claim ownership of the beast-men the Sovereign defeated during the open.

A battle ensues, in which poor Pansy gets swallowed up by Malice Vundabar's shadow-monster Chessure.  Stompa and Mad Harriet join the fracas, and in pure Claremontian tone introduce themselves as they arrive on the scene.

Who did you say you were again?

As the battle rages on, Cascade finds that she is no longer able to perform her "cascade" transformation due to Lashina's whip.  Bernadeth uses this opportunity to plunge her blade straight through Cascade's heart.  Her blade shatters upon hitting Cascade's chest, and in all of the confusion the Sovereign gain the upper hand.

Finale and Network plan at retrieving Pansy from Chessure's gut/void/whatever is inside.  Finale forces the shadow beast's mouth open and Network whips her lariat down its "throat".  Pansy takes hold, and with the help of Cascade, Network is able to successfully pull her out.

Both teams take inventory before rushing back into battle.  Before the two groups can clash again, they are interrupted by the KRAKOW! of a boom tube.  On the scene enters... Darkseid... or is that Joe Fixit?  I always enjoy seeing Darkseid humanized... whether it's lounging in an easy chair, or wearing a hat and trench coat.  Stuff like this is always fun.

Darkseid has come for the amulet, however, Merlin is not too keen on handing it over.  Cascade asks him for the truth.  If the amulet is indeed his, the Sovereign will fight for him... even to the death.  However, if the amulet is not his, he'd best hand it over to its rightful owner.

 Merlin considers his options, and ultimately drops the amulet into Darkseid's massive mitt.

Darkseid indulges in a cup of coffee and alludes to knowing Cascade... and her mother.  Before she can get any more information out of him, Darkseid takes his leave... boom-tubing away.  Once gone, Pansy and Vi start busting the Sovereign's chops about the condition of the inn.  In lieu of paying for damages (which is difficult when you have no money), it is decided that the Sovereign will work off their debt to the Crossroads.

We close by rejoining the Maitresse, and it is revealed that she is in actuality Cascade's mother.

--

This was... alright.

I am mildly interested in coming back for the next chapter.  It's not bad by any stretch, however, there are moments where it feels as though I'm listening to a Chris Claremont tribute band... many of his well-trodden tropes are present.  The strong female lead, pages and pages of folks popping into panel to introduce themselves by name, the overly dramatic story title, ending this issue with "The Beginning" (I swear I was an S & M suit away from getting "bingo")... ehhh, just feels like I've been here before.

Like I said, there's really nothing overtly bad about it.  It was just unfortunately, at parts, something of a chore to "get through".  I'm a huge Chris Claremont fan, I may actually have more comics written by him in my collection than anyone else, and I really wanted to dig this more.  It would have opened up a whole new series for me to discover and enjoy.  Still may check out more, but it's not a priority

The art was about the same.  Nothing outright bad about it, but not a whole lot to draw me in and keep me interested visually... Mr. Darkseid Fixit notwithstanding.  The inking and coloring did the pencils no favors, as there is a very uneven and sometimes muddy feeling throughout this over-sized ad-free issue.

Is Sovereign Seven worth your time?  I have a hard time saying yes... yet, at the same time I have an ever harder time saying no.  It's Chris Claremont.  If you are a fan of his, you owe it to yourself to at least check it out.  If you dislike Claremontian writing, you should probably pass on this one.

--
Interesting Ads (slim-pickins edition):

Superman/Batman #1 (2003)

Superman/Batman #1 (October, 2003)
"The World's Finest"
Writes - Jeph Loeb
Pencils - Ed McGuinness
Inks - Dexter Vines
Colors - Dave Stewart
Letters - Richard Starkings
Associate Editor - Tom Palmer, Jr.
Editor - Eddie Berganza
Boy Wonder - Matt Idelson
Cover Price: $2.95

What's this I keep hearing about a movie coming out?  Superman and Batman are fighting over the Superhero Registration Act, you say?  Hmm... no?

All joking aside, I still haven't decided whether or not I'll see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.  The wife is pretty excited for it, which somewhat surprised me... but, I'm really not so much a "movie" guy.  I can't remember the last time I darkened a theater.  It all just seems like a giant hassle... the cost, the crowds... makes my teeth itch just thinking of it.  You know, my mother used to tell me that I was "born an old man", she just may be right!

Not helping at all is the fact that I really didn't enjoy the last superhero comic adaptation I checked out.  It was way back in the spring of 2002.  I was the manager for a larger call center in town, and worked the night shift.

One morning as I was readying to head home, I noticed a curious package in my work-mailbox.  This is going to sound like something out of a crappy noir movie, but it was wrapped in nondescript brown paper... like someone took a lunch bag and made a package out of it.

I opened it up, and found inside two DVD-R discs and a post-it note that just read "enjoy!"

I asked around, and nobody knew anything about the discs.  I was curious, and honestly had no idea what these could be... Being the manager of a whole lot of late-adolescents and young adults I figured that maybe I pissed one of them off, and they were getting my back by giving me some sort of extreme pornography.

I did not have a DVD player that could play DVD-R discs, I only had my PlayStation 2 at this point.  I gave the discs to a buddy, and asked if he could check them out.  He told me he'd call me later on that day with the dirt.

Hours go by, and I haven't heard from my friend.  Finally, as I'm about to go to sleep for the day my phone rings.  I'll never forget the first thing he said...

"It's Spider-Man!"

This was about two-weeks before the movie was to hit theaters.

So, I jumped into a pair of pants... then into the car, and headed across town to his house to watch Spider-Man... and well, I hated it.  From then on, I've ignored every superhero movie that has been released.  So, if you head out to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice this weekend, I sincerely hope you enjoy it... If the wife can somehow drag my old ass out of the house to check it out, I'll letcha know.

Here's the humble blog's official-unofficial Batman v Superman tie-in, Superman/Batman #1 from 2003.

... never did find out who left those discs in my mailbox...

--

We open with a bit of a revisit of both Superman's and Batman's origins.  They are juxtaposed in such a way so that we may appreciate both their congruity and opposition to one another.  This is all well-trodden ground, featuring Superman being rocketed off Krypton and finding the light in his family, and Batman finding the dark when his family is taken from him.

Superman is conducting a patrol of the Metropolis skies when he observes a thick plume of black smoke emanating from S.T.A.R. Labs.  As he makes his approach to see what's up he is launched across the city to the "Times Square" looking part of Metropolis where he crashes into a large antenna.  On the video screens, we see sitting United States President, Lex Luthor officially announce his candidacy for re-election.

Whoa, like... death from above... bummer.

Superman expresses that he actually felt the shot that sent him flying.  As he heads back to S.T.A.R. he finds himself running straight into his Kryptonite-hearted foe, Metallo.  Superman wallops him into a nearby wall, exposing his more robotic facial features.  Metallo expresses that he means no harm.  He is not there to hurt or kill anybody.  He exposes his Kryptonite Heart and lays Superman out before taking his leave.

Perhaps Metallo would be interested in some of the fine products from todays "Interesting Ads"...

That night in a Gotham City cemetery, we join Batman as he does a little crime scene investigation work in regard to some very recent grave-robberies.  Superman swoops in and tells him of his recent run-in with Metallo.  This is the graveyard where John Corben (Metallo)'s human body was buried, and he feels there's a connection.

Moments later, Corben shows up with a coffin in tow.  Batman leaps into action before running afoul of one of Metallo's telescoping arms.  Superman steps in to save his partner, when Metallo fires a Kryptonite bullet into his chest.  Superman falls backwards into an open grave where he lay prone.

Batman drops into the grave to attempt to remove the bullet from his buddy's chest when Metallo transforms his arm into a scoop shovel and buries the World's Finest team alive.  Satisfied with a job well done, Metallo leaves with the coffin.

This is the kind of banter Superman and Batman should have!

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C. Lex Luthor has received intel in regard to an asteroid being on a collision course with Earth.  The asteroid is believed to have been a chunk of the planet Krypton that had traveled millions of miles into our galaxy.  He has assembled a team of heroes to deal with the threat, with the understanding that Superman is not to be informed.

The team of heroes is partially revealed, and includes Major Force and Captain Atom.  Five heroes remain in shadow, however, two are clearly Black Lightning and Green Lantern (John Stewart).  We are... [to be continued...]

--

You ever get the feeling like you're reading a modern classic?  That's how I felt (and feel) about this opening chapter of Superman/Batman.  You just get the feeling that something important is looming just out of view, and you can't wait to get there.

This is some of the best Loeb/McGuinness collaboration out there, and definitely worthy of a look.  This features a more cordial Clark and Bruce than I feel we're in for in the film.  These two are old friends, who perhaps never saw eye to eye as it pertains to their methodology, yet they have a bond and an incredibly respect for one another.  This is the "World's Finest" team that I like most.  I don't think they should ever come to blows.  Even if Batman can be a blowhard from time to time, I have a problem with a (non-mind controlled) Superman ever raising a fist to an ally... a friend.

Loeb's writing is wonderful here, minus the somewhat nonplussed "Uh... Guys... Death... From Above...!" we overheard from a civilian as the antenna fell.  Bruce and Clark's playful jabs at one another were a lot of fun, you get the feeling that they are always kind of trying to one-up one another.  It's fun, it's entertaining, and... it makes sense.

McGuinness' art, as always, is a treat.  Since his work on Superman (vol.2) he seems to have toned down his exaggeration of Supes' proportions, which... while I never had a problem with his "larger than life" rendition, I'll admit this looks a lot nicer.

Perhaps the only complaint I have about this issue is how quickly I was able to go through it.  I can't outright blame this on "decompression" as, although the book flew... it felt as though a lot of stuff happened.

Definitely recommended.  Even as a "single issue" guy, I'd urge interested folks toward the collected edition.  This was a huge story for its time, and its ramifications were felt long after its conclusion.  It feels as though the last several years of Superman titles were building toward this story in one way or another.  It's a satisfying read in single-issue format, though I'd imagine most would rather have the whole story (which is, definitely worth reading).

This issue is currently (March, 25) available to read digitally FOR FREE from DC's digital site.  No reason not to check this one out.  The entire collected edition is currently available digitally at a deep discount as well.  As always, if digital comics ain't yo thing... InStockTrades has both the trade paperback and the combo hardcover/blu-ray edition available for your convenience.

--

Interesting Ads (for your oily T-Zone):

Enjoy Dawn of Justice if you're going to see it, hopefully it was worth the wait!

Super Powers #1 (1984)

Super Powers #1 (July, 1984)
"Power Beyond Price!"
Plot - Jack Kirby
Script - Joey Cavalieri
Pencils - Adrian Gonzales
Inks - Pablo Marcos
Letters - Ben Oda
Colors - Carl Gafford
Editor - Andrew Helfer
Cover Price: $0.75

You ever have that one set that just screams at you to rescue it from the cheap-o bins?  That one little set, that nobody seems to want.  Months, nay, years go by and still it remains.  For me, it's Super Powers.  I know little about this series other than it was a toy-tie-in.  I suppose that may have caused me to lump this in with Marvel's Secret Wars.  The covers were interesting enough, I guess.  I just never got urge to pull the trigger.  Well, that all changed this past weekend.  I saw the same sad little dog-eared copy of Super Powers #1 that I'd seen at the Mesa, Arizona Bookman's and that I've gently moved out of the way time and time again in my pursuit of coveted Superman issues... and for whatever reason, I was compelled to rescue it from cheap-o purgatory.

Was this a wise decision?  Let's find out...

--

We open in the Colosseum of Darkseid (who is sitting in the shadows, but it is clearly him).  Two warriors are locked in combat, attempting to impress their their ruler.  He however, is not pleased.  Once the battle is ended, Darkseid orders both killed.  Turning his attention to his Emissaries of Doom, Darkseid orders them to find and test themselves against the superheroes of Earth.

Our first (yellow) Emissary comes across Lex Luthor who is clinging to an asteroid, which was presumably part of a destroyed planet.  He is despondent over the loss of his wife and son, and blames Superman for the destruction of the planet they'd inhabited together.

Yellow decides to test Luthor's mettle by siccing parasitic leech spores unto him.  Lex struggles, considering the danger he now finds himself in... ultimately using his War Suit's electrical charge to eradicate the threat.  The Emissary informs Luthor that he is deemed worthy and endows him with "Power Beyond Imagining", which in this case is time manipulation.

Meanwhile, in Metropolis, Superman and the Flash are readying for their annual race for charity.  As they take off, the heroes find that their surrounding appear to be moving at incredible speeds.  Lex Luthor swoops in and announces that he now has the power of TMDSTN!... er, Time Distortion!

It is revealed that Luthor did not speed up the world, he simply slowed the heroes down to a crawl.  He takes this opportunity to blast them both.

We now join the Penguin, who is being transported to a Gotham City prison via helicopter.  These must be the most inept transporters ever to graduate transporter school, as they fail to notice one of the Penguin's umbrellas being on board.  It comes to the surprise of absolutely nobody (transporters excluded) when they are engulfed in a cloud of gas that the parasol produced.

Penguin hops out of the chopper and when his umbrella fails to act as a parachute, begins plummeting toward the ground.  He is saved by Darkseid's (gold) Emissary.  He decides he likes the cut of Cobblepot's jib, and bestows upon him incredible powers (ability to talk to birds, apparently).

Later on, Aquaman receives a telepathic alert from a dolphin.  Upon rising to the surface he observes a sky lousy with birds.  The Penguin has unleashed the fury of thousands of birds upon the country in his latest bid toward world domination.

All the way on the other side of the country, Hal Jordan is dealing with the bird plague.  He rushes off and becomes Green Lantern.  He transports himself to Gotham to face the Penguin.  Cobblepot exhibits that his mental control powers are not limited to birds by giving Hal a zap of his own!

Meanwhile, in deepest space we join Brainiac on board his skull ship.  He endeavors to be the first to pilot through a black hole.  As he readies his approach, he finds himself joined by Darkseid's (purple) Emissary.  He offers Brainiac the... power to stir "racial memories", that he may use to cause havoc for Wonder Woman and her fellow Amazons.  Okay...

At that same time, in a charming hou... wait, that's Arkham?  Not quite Arkham Asylum, instead the Arkham Home for the Criminally Insane.  How quaint!

Inside, the Joker is undergoing a bit of psychoanalysis with his therapist.  Suddenly the (blue) Emissary pops in and offers Mr. J the power to create his own psychoactive dimension.  He gleefully accepts and... well, I want to say escapes... but from the looks of it, I think you could probably just check yourself out of this place.

A bit later, we join Batman and Robin as they pursue Retrorocket.  He appears to have stolen a... purple box of some sort.  Retrorocket takes flight and runs directly into Hawkman.  Once Retrorocket is in police custody, the three heroes pop out of existence.

Moments later, they find themselves in a bizarre dimensional void.  The Joker serves a flaming corndog to a young girl, and announces his new found power to our men.  He drops them into a bottomless pit, and we are... [to be continued...]

--

Well... it's better than Secret Wars... and Contest of Champions while we're at it.  So, it's got that going for it...

I do so dislike being negative on the blog... but, yeah... this wasn't all that great.  It looked pretty nice, but overall... this probably isn't a series I'll continue reading.  What's worse, it's a Jack Kirby story.  I hate harshing on anything with the King's fingerprints on it... but, I really cannot recommend this one to anybody who isn't already a Kirby Kompletionist... and if that's what you are, you likely already have this one in your collection.

With a heavy heart, I'm gonna have to give this one a pass.  If you somehow come across any of the Super Powers action figures, however... snap those babies up!

--

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Hey Maw, Grandpa's makin' flyin' saucers again!

Can't believe I haven't reviewed an issue of Blue Devil yet.
Gonna have to do something about that...