By Chris Claremont & Dwayne Turner
Inkers Jerome K. Moore & Dwayne Turner
Letters Task Force 7 + 1
Colorist Gloria Vasquez
Color Separations Olyoptics
Cover Dated December 1995
This is the first and only issue of Sovereign Seven that I have own, and read. Luckily, this is written by Chris Claremont, so the characters are clearly defined and properly introduced.
Thanks to this great website –
I know a lot more about this series than I did prior to reading this issue. This series was created by Claremont and Turner, but Claremont is the one that owns these characters. That’s right, DC gave Claremont his very own creator-owned title, that exists in the Proper DC Universe.
I own this issue, for only two panels but we will get to that in a moment.
So I was reading this issue, trying to figure out how we got here. I got to the letters page, and I find a very helpful Previously box. The team works at a bar called, Crossroads, which is also the Nexus of Realities, for the DC Universe. So that is how the cameo that got me to buy this issue, happens. The team’s leader, Cascade, was investigating the basement and was taken over by an entity, now she is known as – Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory. Since she is a Clarmeont character, Nike likes to dress in very revealing outfits, as she is a bad girl.
Inside front cover ad is for Bon Jovi’s These Days, featuring the single, This Aint’ A Love Song.
The issue opens with Finale, falling off a cliff. To be honest, this issue is a pretty big fight issue of the Seven versus Nike, well, the six versus Nike. Nike throws Rampart towards a door.
Elsewhere. On the other side of the door, is Maitresse and Morgrin. Maitresses is Cascade’s mother, and they have a very dicy relationship. Morgrin is Maitresse’s advisory and oldest friend.
Meanwhile. Network and Indigo are watching over Cascade’s body, as Nike is her spirit – twisted and given form. Network is the team’s telepath, so she establishes a mind link to the rest of the team. Cruiser is the team’s muscle, he has to eat to maintain his strength, and his life. Reflex, the team’s speedster, tries to assist Cruiser, as he holds the team’s lives in his hands.
Zelus, a tiny little guy, punches Network and she goes over the edge that Finale did, but she is able to catch herself on the ledge.
There is an ad for Batman Forever trading cards, so that film must be coming out. I’m pretty sure I had a full set of these cards.
Meanwhile, back at Crossroads. The two ladies who run the place, Violet and Pansey, are upset with the Sovereign Seven. When the Seven came to Earth, they wrecked the bar and are now working off the damage. It worked for Doc Hollywood. It is this scene that I finally get what Cruiser is doing. He is on the main level, and is holding onto the team. Reflex is fast but he is also a giant of a man, so he isn’t able to go down to the cavern slash basement. Which reminds me of Excalibur’s Lighthouse.
Referring to Excalibur, Claremont used the nature of Crossroads to sneak in fun cameos. This issue gives us Kitty Pryde, Illyana and Lockheed! Lockheed orders a latte! Illyana and Kitty are worried about their homework.
Here is a higher quality of the cameo –
Conal Savoy, a waiter, delivers sandwiches to Reflex who gives them to Cruiser.
The rest of the issue isn’t as great as the cameo but let’s keep going. Everything reads and looks fine but my interest isn’t really there.
Network saves Finale, who was still falling! As the team tries to reunite, Nike is still whacking away at the door. Finale is back, and wants a fight and tackles Finale.
There is a two page ad for The Adventures of Batman & Robin, on Sega’s two systems – Game Gear & Genesis. I had a Genesis but I don’t think I owned this game.
Finale loses the sword fight with Nike, but Nike doesn’t kill Finale. Instead, she uses the sword to breach the door.
The team tricks Nike into re-entering Cascade’s body. Cascade doesn’t want her mother freed, so she closes the door again. Her mother, Maitresse, is a great evil force, so it is a good thing that she is locked behind a door again. Cruiser pulls the team back up.
There is an ad for The Adventures of Batman & Robin, with four villain spotlight VHS Tapes, each for $9.95! The Riddler, Two-Face, Joker and even Robin got his own tape.
The Letters Page, there is a contest to name it (classic comics!) has letters from – Michael Sheridan of Merchanicville, NY, John D’Ugo of Staten Island, NY, Joe Kucharski III of Haddon Heights, NJ, Andy Boudreau of Rose Bud, AR and James Hannum of Pleasantville, TN.
We also learn that Task Force 7 + 1 is the umbrella credit for Tom Orzechowski, L. Lois Buhalis and Clem Robins.
Next issue, team keeps getting use to Earth. There is a killer on his way, with a grudge against one of the seven.
. . .
We go back to Excalibur with issue 96!
Shadow and Flame with Magik 