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7 Soldiers: Klarion, the Witch-Boy

 
  

Page: 12(3)45678

 
 
Mario
13:07 / 28.04.05
I doubt Klarion's father was Kirby-Klarion, simply because the implication is that he left as an adult (after fathering Morrison-Klarion).

Oh, and another annotation to use or ignore. Judah mentions the "septic mire". And "mire" is another word for "swamp". More fuel for the Slaughter Swamp speculation?
 
 
Hallo, Paper Spaceboy
22:06 / 28.04.05
Got this yesterday, read it. Whee!

As far as the septic mire goes, I -think- the idea might be that properties of Slaughter Swamp resurrect the dead as Grundies (like Cyrus Gold to Solomon), which might even be why the witches decided to set up there in the first place; they just hex and bind the grundies for work purposes after the swamp brings them back. Solomon never got bound, so he wandered off and became a supervillain. Gads.

Like the art for the most part - EXCEPT for Klarion himself. I don't like the upwards commas of his hair.

Also, Submissionary Judah - he looks like a lot like V, eh-wot? The Man in Room 5?
 
 
Triplets
22:31 / 28.04.05
He has a big foot though. I reckon he could kick lots of heretic arse with that thing. Or play pro-football.
 
 
Hallo, Paper Spaceboy
22:47 / 28.04.05
I'd like to see more of Beulah and the secrets that witch-women know; seems even though they've been exiled from Puritan society for witching ways, Morrison's still got the women working for the men, even with their power. Beulah showed some viciousness that seemed absent from most of the women in the comic so far, which was appealing.

As, good bit in Klarion looking through Teekl's eyes; the phantom Klarion face held it together, but I think that bit of magic's best simply because Irving's got Klarion's hands over his eyes and that panel looks beautiful.
 
 
The Falcon
00:15 / 29.04.05
Also, Submissionary Judah - he looks like a lot like V, eh-wot? The Man in Room 5?

Hah! Good shout. Just about every issue has managed to sandwich some Moore/Kirby dialectic in it somewhere. Hadn't thoughta that, though.
 
 
Hallo, Paper Spaceboy
02:09 / 29.04.05
Oddly, I noticed it because of the least (in my mind) Fawkes-like element of Judah's face: his mouth, which seemed so weirdly designed compared to the rest of the face - and then the comparison shuffled forward. I really like Judah's mouth.
 
 
FinderWolf
22:27 / 30.04.05
yeah, Judah's mouth is cool.

The colors in this book really are extraordinary.

And I love that the KitKat bar is described as a 'cake of light.'
 
 
FinderWolf
12:50 / 02.05.05
also, "Blue Rafters" = our world/blue skies?
 
 
Mario
12:54 / 02.05.05
That's what I said on the first page.
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
18:21 / 25.05.05
Never got round to commenting on this, which is odd 'cos it's probably my favourite Soldier so far... The colours, the teenage angst, just the consistency of feel it had: Morrison often likes to smush lots of different tones and ideas together, so it's nice to see something a bit more... sustained? Contained? No doubt that might change a bit once Klarion gets outta town, but for now I'm digging it. Digging. Do you see?

One thing that did strike me: that Sheeda that the cat catches and Judah crushes looked oddly beautiful (I was reminded of this by the Sheeda in the belljar in the preview of Zatanna #2). Given Morrison's record on such things, I can't help but wonder if some of the Sheeda might not turn out to be less than entirely evil. Not sure it'll happen, just a thought.

PS. On a related note, I really liked the idea of occult beliefs assuming the form of a puritanical organised religion: Salem if it was the witches doing the persecuting, not vice versa. Neat.
 
 
Aertho
19:55 / 25.05.05
Do you see?

Sure do:

One thing: The pacing seems more slow, more calculated. More New X-Menish in the dialogue.

The solidity of tone and pace of ideas and plot is what struck me the most with Klarion as well.

Good point about the pretty little Sheeda. Think Cottingsly's photos got sumthin to do with all this? Could be ovbvious, but think GM will make mention?
 
 
The Falcon
13:18 / 08.06.05
Deux - Preveux.

Goes up to the bit in Guardian #2.
 
 
Hallo, Paper Spaceboy
23:34 / 14.06.05
#2 is out tomorrow, right? Right? Can't wait.
 
 
Aertho
01:46 / 16.06.05
What? No reactions?

and so...

Michael Jackson rendered as a comic supervillian! How timely! And how pimp, as well.

Anyone else?
 
 
Hallo, Paper Spaceboy
03:17 / 16.06.05
Liked it quite a lot. Irving's version of Klarion sits better with me this time around, although I was a bit shocked to find Teekl described as a "he." I kind of miss the idea of him having a female cat, although I really love Teekl's communication with him during the cat's fight with the rat king, and the way he referred to Klarion as his "brother." More bits and pieces about Limbo Town are revealed.

I need to reread Guardian #2 and Klarion as well before I can comment on the helmet and the train, but it was a nice nod. I'm not sure about the timing of all this; is the die that Klarion finds going to be the die that Misty has, or was it the fake die left over from Guardian while Misty got the real one before? The timeline of 7S bothers me a little.

Like how Limbo Towners are described as having the "Sheeda look" to their faces. Probably quite a black market for fairy children--
 
 
Mario
11:37 / 16.06.05
I believe the die Klarion found was the one from Guardian #2. If you look, I think you can see bits of All-Beard & No-Beard in the Croatan lair, and Misty's die has Roman numerals, not dots.

Is Melmoth also one of the 7 Unknown Men?
 
 
Haus of Mystery
16:17 / 16.06.05
Klarion's reaction to 'A Leviathan made of fierce children' was priceless. This is a really strong title. Kind of keeps eeking towards being my favourite. Irving's art is lovely, pure and simple. Fresh and bold, I can't imagine anyone else doing this title.

Yup, another fucking dinner comic.
 
 
Planet B
19:31 / 16.06.05
My favorite Seven Soldiers title easily... and I have zero background with these characters before GM's mega-series, so it's all from what I'm reading in these issues.

Personally, I like the pacing better than some of the others. And I have a feeling we're just beginning to see how the series will connect to each other.
 
 
Essential Dazzler
19:41 / 16.06.05
I loved this. Klarion's wide-eyed excitement made everything seem shine, even the murkiest of sewers.

Not my favourite Soldier, but definitely the best art-wise, I just adore that look of contentment on Teekl and Klarion's face as Leviathan attacks Badde and the others.
 
 
Haus of Mystery
20:07 / 16.06.05
Agreed. Just a boy and his pet, having a little cuddle...while a bloodthirsty pack of moppets tear a man apart. Poifect.
 
 
STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK
19:15 / 17.06.05
"Ebeneezer Badde"- priceless.
I too have to re-read Guardian #2 to fully get the crossovers, but so far this is ace.
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
19:28 / 17.06.05
When you read Guardian again, get ready for Poopie Pants!

It's really so intricately woven together. At first, I wasn't sure because Leviathanette makes reference to trading for the helmet and there's no sign of that in Guardian, but it does cut away quickly. And it makes a lot of sense that Leviathanette was watching the whole thing from the shadows and saw that Jake did indeed leave the helmet in exchange for the ride. That's how I like to read it anyways. And the fate of Horigal is perfectly intertwined with Guardian #2.

And, visually, the dice hole was rendered just like it was in Guardian. I'm really curious how all this was maintained visually. Especially since Fraze colored this himself. God damn I'd hate to be editor on this monster. But, really, they are doing an excellent job holding all this together, not just in the writing, but in the visual detail. And that is so not easy with all the different styles on display here.
 
 
Aertho
23:32 / 17.06.05
"Remember that Newsboy Army murder case? Ali cracked up pretty bad after that."

Who wants to bet that we've got a past event linking the first four books?

Ali is found by Justin, and soon to be joined by Zatanna and Misty. Ali cracked up after a confrontation with Melmoth, the Newsboy Army killer?
 
 
RadJose
03:48 / 18.06.05
My favorite bit is that upon rereading the Guardian #2 is seeing All-Beard asking "Where is my god in vast irons?" while in the chain room that Badde showed Klarion and said "Coatoan is an absent god". As if there WAS supposed to be a god trapped in that room. Or something god-like? Gwydion or the "new supreme architect" he serves?
 
 
Hallo, Paper Spaceboy
03:49 / 18.06.05
The pacing on Klarion is brilliant. I thought about the idea of Klarion getting up to Blue Rafters sooner, to get "into the action" quicker, but realized if that had happened I'd also be complaining that not enough time was spent in Limbo Town. So, over all, I'm going to say the pacing is the best on this one; Zatanna feels a little slow, even episodic; Shining Knight also has a pretty balls-to-the-wall pace; and the Manhattan Guardian feels a little wheels-spinning.

Speculation about the Newsboy Army Murder case - well, these guys are Seven Soldiers with no army - no communal spirit, no connection to each other. Maybe the Newsboys were a previous attempt by Ali-Ka-Zoom at organizing something? Having these soldiers with no direct connection, no face-to-face interaction, might be a way of saving them - get them in one place and they can all be taken out.

So far, the Soldiers are all playing the "Strangers in a Strange Land" game:

-Klarion is moving Upward into Blue Rafters.
-Ystin (gawd, I love that spelling) is moving Forward through time.
-Jake Jordan is moving Downward into the Underground.
-Zatanna is skipping Sideways into the Ra-Realm and other places.

Of them, Zee has the hubris (rather than a clearly heroic spirit like Ystin and Jake, or explorer's eye like Klarion, and gets punished for it - she's all about reprioritizing) and gets punished.

Back on Klarion, love the second cover far more than the first one. I like our boy's opportunistic / vicious side, the way he doesn't really have a problem dealing with Badde betraying him; he sort of expects it, it seems. Works in out in one panel, once Teekl brings the intel. I really enjoy the psychic connection between boy and cat, and I really want more on the weird "brotherhood" aspect.

This makes...two Soldiers with talking animal sidekicks, Ystin and Klarion. And Zatanna has Misty - who's Jake got?
 
 
Mario
12:18 / 18.06.05
Ed?
 
 
The Falcon
13:41 / 18.06.05
Oh, by the way, K and Misty are definitely siblings. Their names are antonyms and they both have magic dice. 'Nuff said, I think.

I mentioned the Newsboy murder on the WIKI; I think it may have been Jake's manslaughter case with the kid from Guardian #1's flashback, but only 'cos there's no better options (re: children getting killed) right now.

After all the strong second issues, it's getting a lot harder to pick faves, eh readers? Thought Guardian and this book improved on middling initial showings immensely, and were best this round.
 
 
Warewullf
10:44 / 19.06.05
Just read this and not much to add except to say this is by far my favourite S7 series. It's just so much fun! Every scene was brilliant and I LOVED the look on Klarion's face throughout. Fantastic.
 
 
Panic
15:13 / 19.06.05
"Where is my god in vast irons?" while in the chain room that Badde showed Klarion and said "Coatoan is an absent god". As if there WAS supposed to be a god trapped in that room. Or something god-like?


Well, one of the later 7S series will feature a God (a bit Newish, tho) who has a habit of escaping from chains....

Eh? Eh?
 
 
Quimper
16:29 / 19.06.05
There is def a MM parallel here. Twas the first thing I thought of.
 
 
Aertho
19:55 / 19.06.05
I should change my ficsuit to Bad News Cassie.

From the Guardian thread:
Also... a god in shackles may be Mister Milo

I wonder if Croatoan is in fact the original shape of MM.
 
 
DaveBCooper
13:26 / 20.06.05
I enjoyed this, but I find Irving’s compositions a bit confusing – which is a bit of a shame, as I really like his linework. An example would be the page which we view from above, with the chains hanging down – I found myself having to look at the panel twice to figure out what was going on, which rather broke the flow of reading.

Is there a connection between the Harlan Ellison short story ‘Croatoan’ and this book? They both feature sewer-dwelling alligators which people ride, I think… though this may be so painfully obvious no-one else has mentioned it. As is my feeling that Badde might be Klarion’s father?
 
 
DaveBCooper
13:36 / 20.06.05
Oh, and speaking of things that may be so obvious I’m almost embarrassed to pretend it’s any kind of insight or revelation:
Ystin / mistY?
 
 
Aertho
13:43 / 20.06.05
As is my feeling that Badde might be Klarion’s father

A pox on our Star Wars™ infected rationales! 'Tis too heavy.
 
 
The Falcon
14:05 / 20.06.05
There are certain referents:

'your own flesh and blood', and his interest in Ezekiel's sleeping arrangements.

Seems odd to me to name one issue of the series after him otherwise.
 
  

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