Countdown to Mystery #2 of 8

"Countdown to Mystery" #2 picks up right where issue #1 left off. The newly helmeted Dr. Fate is up against Negal of Charn, the Devourer of Souls, and he is in deep. Writer Stephen Gerber handles the action very well with Kent Nelson having issues with the helmet communicating with him while taking in this other worldly confrontation. I like how Gerber uses Kent Nelson's psychiatric background to analyze the proceedings. I found it humorous that Kent would hock both Negal's axe and his own helmet. In the end we see that Kent is coming to terms with having this helmet follow him around and that his mind is slowly getting right as he deals with this situation. Justiniano and Walden Wong's art is top notch matching the tone set forth by Gerber. I haven't enjoyed a Dr. Fate story in years and Gerber and company are hitting the mark here.

I usually don't care for the backup stories in the Countdown miniseries, but Eclipso's story brought to you by writer Matthew Sturges and artist Stephen Jorge Segovia is quite good. I especially like Segovia's depiction of the seduction of Plastic Man. I was initially put off by Sturges having Plas beat his son but given what is going on in this story it fit right in.

This countdown mini is highly recommended.