Final Crisis #1 of 7

After reading "Final Crisis" #1, I skimmed around the net looking at some reviews. Over at Rokk's site he had a very detailed review of the issue and Val over at Occasional Superheroine was not impressed. I come into "Final Crisis" having read "Infinite Crisis", "52", "Countdown", "Salvation Run", and the big guns (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, JLA) books for the past few years. So, I have a pretty good understanding of current DC continuity. To my surprise, writer Grant Morrison pretty much throws a boat load of it out the window. The first casualty is the awful "Countdown". Morrison, in the hopes to inform the reader, almost completely ignores that 52 -week mess. As I guy who bought and ready every issue hoping for it to get better, I'm happy that this choice was made. Somewhere along the line DC Editorial realized that "Countdown" was a dud, even though it sold well. It was a big failure as a story. "Final Crisis" #1 begins to clean that mess up.

Art: 4 out of 4
Story: 4 out of 4
Overall: 4 out of 4

There isn't really any big "Wow!" moment like Marvel gave readers in there current crossover's first issue. Morrison gives the reader a constantly building tension filled issue. The pacing is solid and provides an excellent jumping on point for the series. I think if you skipped "Countdown" and all of its tie-ins, you will be right at home in "Final Crisis". Morrison lays down a story that starts literally at the beginning and starts the path down to what could be New Earth's destruction. The stakes are high and the players are many. J.G. Jones nails the art. He provides the mood to Morrison's excellent script. I get the feeling that these are universe shattering events going on and the stakes are high.

You don't need a scorecard to read this book. Morrison allows the characters to bring the reader up to speed. You'll know who's who as you move along and you will be sucked in. I'm looking forward to see how this series plays out. I have faith that Morrison can bring it home.