Seven Soldiers: Klarion # 1 2005 NM-

Seven Soldiers: Klarion # 1, released on April 20, 2005, is the first issue of a four-part miniseries written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Frazer Irving. It is a key component of the larger Seven Soldiers of Victory mega-series, reinventing the classic Jack Kirby character for the modern DC Universe. 

"From This World To That Which Is To Come" 

The story introduces Limbo Town, a subterranean village located beneath New York City's subway system, inhabited by the Puritan-like descendants of the lost Roanoke colony. 

• The Society: Limbo Town is a rigid, religious community that practices dark magic and necromancy. Residents work until they die, at which point they are resurrected as "Grundies"—mindless zombie workers—to serve the colony in the afterlife.
• The Dissenter: Klarion Bleak, a rebellious teenager, chafes under the strict doctrines of the Submissionary Order, led by the imposing Submissionary Judah.
• The Catalyst: While his peers prepare for a life of submission, Klarion longs to see the "world beyond". The status quo is shattered when Klarion’s cat familiar, Teekl, finds a "spine-rider" (a parasite of the invading Sheeda) in its mouth.
• The Conflict: The discovery causes panic, as the town believes an extermination is imminent. Submissionary Judah and other leaders transform into a Horigal—a monstrous, fused gestalt form of themselves and their familiars—to purge the town of dissenters, including Klarion's stepfather.
• The Escape: The issue ends with Klarion fleeing the carnage of Limbo Town and venturing into the unknown subway tunnels of the surface world. 

Key Characters 

• Klarion Bleak (The Witch Boy): A powerful young magic user whose rebellious nature drives him to escape his oppressive society.
• Teekl: Klarion’s familiar, an intelligent cat who can transform and communicate with him.
• Submissionary Judah: The terrifying religious leader of Limbo Town who enforces order through fear and necromancy.
• The Grundies: The undead labor force of Limbo Town, revealed here to be versions of the classic DC villain Solomon Grundy. 

Creative Team and Significance 

• Creators: Written by Grant Morrison with distinctive, moody digital art by Frazer Irving.
• Context: This series is one of seven interweaving miniseries that together tell the story of a global threat from the Sheeda warriors. The characters never actually meet as a team, making it a "team book" where the members are independent.
• Legacy: Morrison's version established several permanent traits for Klarion, including his blue skin and the specific lore of Limbo Town.