Solomon Grundy #7 - DC

I have to say . . this story didn't go anywhere near as I expected. Maybe it was the anarchy and chaos of the whole thing that kept me guessing. Basically, we learn that Solomon Grundy's character comes from a cursed criminal that died in Slaughter Swamp . . Cyrus Gold. Somehow his death activated some arcane energies that were already present there. The combined result was Solomon Grundy. The curse was that he would die and be reborn again . . and again, and again, and again . . week after week after week . . . anyways, you get the idea . . . 'Born on a Monday . . Died on a Saturday'. The difference with this story . . over previous adventures, is that Alan Scott and the Phantom Stranger are convinced that if Cyrus confronts his killer . . and forgives him, that the curse will be broken. And the world will be free of Solomon Grundy. That's what they've been trying to accomplish this whole storyline. However, during this issue, when Cyrus finally figures out who it was that killed him . . Etrigan shows up to try to throw a wrench into the whole thing. Apparently he . . or whatever powers of hell . . they don't want Solomon Grundy to be extinguished. So . . Cyrus figures out that he killed himself. He wrestles with that realization, and is almost to the forgiving stage, as the sun sets . . another stipulation of the curse . . when the words of Etrigan start running through his head. Especially the phrase . . "Never Forgive!" But Alan and the Stranger have to realize that they could lead Cyrus along the path, but in the end it was his choice. However, in the end . . his soul is taken from the Earth. Etrigan has taken him down to hell where he'll be punished for his crimes. But what about Grundy? "If Solomon Grundy has regrown under that dead swamp . . it is but an empty husk. Cyrus Gold is gone . . the cycle is ended. There is nothing I can see that will animate that monster." And the world goes back to normal. That is until . . a Black Lantern ring comes looking for him. "Solomon Grundy of Earth . . RISE!!" This creates a whole new problem. Apparently Grundy is going to play a role in Blackest Night. And we're going to see him in Superman/Batman #66 & #67. Which Scott Kolins will be doing also. With the Faces of Evil books they took criminals that were sometimes underrated and turned them into major league players. I'm assuming this is what they're doing with Grundy also. There was some stuff I didn't understand in the middle, but . . on a whole, I enjoyed this series. It may be important someday as the series that changed Solomon Grundy. I guess we'll have to wait and see.