Shining Knight #4

The Last Stand of Don Vincenzo

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Simone Bianchi & Dave Stewart

Summary:Sir Justin finds himself in the clutches of the Sheeda Queen, Gloriana Tenebrae, facing off against his one time friend Galahad who has been mutated by the Sheeda. Meanwhile, Don Vincenzo bathes in the Inexhaustible Cauldron which the Sheeda seek. Vincenzo and his men battle the Sheeda but are not able to stop them. In the clutches of Galahad and Gloriana we learn that Sir Justin is actually a girl. Gloriana leaves the battle with her guards as word comes of her husband, Dark Melmoth, is alive. In their absence Justin uses two swords to slay Galahad. The mini series ends with a glimpse back at when Galahad knighted Justin, unaware that she was a girl.

Sir Justin, a young soldier from a primal Camelot, a globe-spanning kingdom before the Flood, 10, 000 years in our past. When the Sheeda plunder Arthur's realm and set up in the great king's place, an Empire of Death and Evil, Justin is spun through time in a Sheeda castle only to find himself in 21st century Los Angeles, centuries after everyone he knew lies dead. And what's worse, the annihilating Sheeda are back, this time to harvest OUR world. Justin's a commando, a guerrilla fighter in strange and savage enemy territory.

Noteworthy Items:

Mister Melmoth (Dark Melmoth to Gloriana) from Klarion is the husband of the Sheeda Queen.

Gloriana a reference to the Fairy Queen of Edmund Spenser? Apperently in the poem Gloriaina refers to Queen Elizabeth. More on the poem at www.sparksnotes.com/poetry/fqueen/

Don Vincenzo mentions Silencio’s boys. Silencio appeared in Klarion #3.

I, Spyder could have been working as a traitor amongst the heroes in Seven Soldiers #0 much like how his grandfather(?) Spider betrayed the original team in a much earlier story.

Sheeda speak? Glad you asked.

	Page 8: I bring news of your husband mistress.
	Page 11 Part 1: In Heaven there is no beer.
	Page 11 Part 2: Which is why we drink it here.
	Page 13: Always after me lucky charms.

Strato is saying the following on page 15: Loyal True Righteous Courage.

The following stolen from LITG at LITG, under archives for September, from an annotations list.
"This is ____ing mythology calling." - Don Vincenzo prefers the wonder of myth to reality - a common theme among the Newsboy Army - Gimmix clings to faded youth, Baby Brain to the illusion of being a normal adult, and Ali-Ka-Zoom to still being alive...

Neh-Buh-Loh crushes the fantasy and mythology of Don Vicenzo, describing it as "just blood and mud and heat leaving meat." - another blood reference, and also one to the mention in Guardian of clay being the link between organic and inorganic matter. This is also perhaps how a celestial and possibly divine being like Neh-Buh-Loh might regard humanity, in the most simple terms.

Sir Justin is both a 'falsebeard' and a 'no-beard'.

This issue takes place before the events in Zatanna #3.