Countdown to Final Crisis #9

I didn't think Dini and company could top the Earth-51 battle, but they come close this issue. They have a lot happening here as the various groups join forces against Brother Eye, Apokolips. The growth of Red Robin continues and he is becoming a decent character. If they would just get rid of his Donna obsession then he would be so much better. Piper is here and is as confused as always. I guess Desaad used him all along because he can summon the anti-life equation with is piping skills...who knew? I thought that was out of left field, but they must have planned this from the beginning because why else has he been in the story. Ray Palmer finally stops being a whiny pussy and suits up. For some reason he's really scared about "Morticoccus" which is in Karate Kid. Now I can't bring myself to get to hyped up about a disease - I just can't seem to see this being that action filled if they have to fight the virus' spread.

As this series winds down, Dini's crew has put out some good issues. I would put this issue up there as a good read with good art by Derenick and Faucher (get these guys a monthly to work on). If you missed out on the first 2/3 of this series, you didn't miss much. From about 18 on, this has become a decent series and a fun weekly read.

Countdown to Final Crisis #10

Finally, the action heats back up in "Countdown to Final Crisis". I thought Paul Dini may have let it all out for the battle over Earth-51 and the rest of the series would be a let down. Well, after a couple of lackluster issues we get a decent, action packed read. I apologize for the spoiler but it was good to see Mary Marvel back. This series has put the character through the wringer and I was hoping for this ending. With the body count in this series it was never a given that Mary would be back in white. The growth of Jason Todd continues as well. He may make it out of this series as a likable character. Even with all of the action, the cliffhanger ending sets the stage for another huge battle. Scot Kolins does a good job with the art as well.

While I wasn't completely satisfied - Pied Piper's arc ending so quickly - I did enjoy this read.

Countdown to Final Crisis #12

With Earth-51 blown to hell in the last issue, this issue, aptly named "Convergence", catches us up with all of the other players from this series. Apokolips is the rally point for all and this issue shows how each member gets there. With twelve issues left it is about time that we get to see why the series has focused on certain players. The pacing of this issue was a bit uneven, but it did provide updates on all of the players and, in most cases, gave a reason for all of the going to Apokolips. The art was decent but not spectacular.

After a few good weeks, this issue looks to be a pause before the final confrontation. With "Countdown to Final Crisis" being the spine of the DCU, one would hope that something comes from all of this.

Countdown to Final Crisis #13

The fight between Prime and Monarch continues in issue #13 with the excellent line from Prime of "I'll kill you! I'll kill you to death!" One can only hope that Dini and company were going for a good joke here as it comes across very funny. Prime is really an idiot. Prime also gets to shout out "I am not a boy! I'm a man! Man!" If that were only followed by "Baby". Are the writers poking fun at the Superboy issue here? Probably so and it is funny. We stay on Earth-51 for this issue and by the explosive ending we probably won't be coming back too soon. It looks like Apokolips is the current destination and with that a return to Jimmy Olsen and the Amazon/Granny Goodness connection I would think.

This issue doesn't advance the story much but does provide some good visuals. If you're tired of death in the DCU, then bypass this one. Jason Todd keeps the Red Robin uniform as the traveling four Ray, Kyle, Donna, and Jason head off to the Source. No other story lines are updated here.

Not the best issue of the series but no where near the bottom of the bunch either.

The Pull List - January 23, 2008

Looks like a DC week with no Marvel or Image books on my pull list coming out:

ACTION COMICS #861
BATMAN #673
BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #6 (OF 6)
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #6 (OF 8)
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 13
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #5 (OF 8)
GREEN LANTERN #27

Lots of good stuff here with "Green Lantern" and "Action Comics" topping the list. Both books written by Geoff Johns have been very good lately. I'm also looking forward to the conclusion of Peter Tomasi's Black Adam miniseries. What is the magic word? Maybe will find out this issue. Will Grant Morrison keep my attention with "Batman"? His "Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" didn't thrill me. The final three are all Countdown related. As we near the beginning of "Final Crisis" the Countdown books have been getting better. We'll see if Starlin can build some more excitement in regarding the demise of Kirby's New Gods.

I'd really like to know when Kirkman is going to get over his holiday hangover and get some of his books back out. January was a Kirkaverse dry month and I'm itching for some new "Invincible", "Brit", "Astounding Wolfman", and "The Walking Dead". The pages over on his website Kirkmania for these titles just makes me want to get them in my hands more.

Countdown to Mystery #5 of 8

The Eclispo story stays front and center in this issue and I really enjoyed it. Now that the story is focusing on Spectre and Bruce Gordon, I have to say that the it is way more interesting. Bruce Gordon is a bit nuts and the Spectre has a hard time dealing with his insanity. Chad Hardin takes over the penciling duties for this story and does a fine job here. I think Dan Brown's coloring really makes the story pop and provides just the right mood.

Over in the backup story, Dr. Kent Nelson continues to loose his mind as he deals with the death of Inza and his dealings with Dr. Fate's helmet. I like how writer Steve Gerber takes a side trip with the "KillHead" comic by Inza Fox. I'm hoping that spending this time on Inza means that she will be returning to Dr. Fate's side. This story continues to be interesting and I like how Gerber has setup the character of Dr. Nelson.

I like what DC is doing with both Dr. Fate and Eclipso. Both of the characters have been rebooted as interesting, conflicted individuals. I think both will go a long way to upping the readability of DC's magic stories if used properly.

Countdown to Final Crisis #14

"Countdown to Final Crisis" is getting better as we wind down. While a few threads have been left alone - Jimmy Olsen, Holly & Harley, Mary Marvel, and, thankfully, Piper & Trickster, this issue continues to focus on Earth-51 and the battle raging there. This is an action packed issue as all of the players on Earth-51 are involved in one battle or another. The Earth-51 Batman/Jason Todd thread was very interesting providing the best splash page of the series. I don't much care for the Jason Todd character but the costume that he wears on Earth-51 is quite nice. Dini and company keep the pace up and move the Earth-51 story along. However, the Ray Palmer story seems to be petering out. The art is very good here. My only quibble is still the sudden aging of Prime. He looks a bit older than he was just six months ago. I guess maiming and killing will do that to you.

While this story is moving a head at full speed, the other threads of Countdown are hanging in the breeze. It will be interesting to see how Dini ties all this up in just 13 more issues.

Countdown to Final Crisis #15

I believe this marks four weeks in a row where I have actually enjoyed "Countdown to Final Crisis" enough not to be totally disgusted with it. Writer Paul Dini and company stay with the Earth-51 story providing a few answers to some of the questions brought up over the last 36+ issues of this series. We now have Mary Marvel crossing over into the Harley & Holly story, which deals with the ramifications of "Amazon Attacks" and the New Gods. We have Karate Kid intersecting with the New Gods in Bludhaven as well. I liked the interaction between Jason Todd and Earth-51's Batman. Dini and company may be using this as a method of evolving Jason Todd past his Red Hood Punisher-style ways. I'm not sure I like what they've done with the Ray Palmer character as he really comes across as rather spineless. In all my years of reading stories about Ray - spineless really doesn't fit him. The art team does a fine job this issue but it isn't anything spectacular.

Now in reading over at Newsrama that "Final Crisis" scribe Grant Morrision states that "Countdown to Final Crisis" doesn't really play into "Final Crisis", I must say I'm surprised about that. Dan Didio likes to say that the "beats" from this mini are carried into the next. I sure hope this hasn't been a big waist of time and money.

Countdown to Final Crisis #16

Earth-51 takes in in the shorts in this outing of the weekly "Countdown to Final Crisis" series. While the battle rages some issues get explained a little - the Monitors situation, Jimmy Olsen's problems, where the Earth-51 Batman has been, etc. Dini and company keep the pace fast in this issue by providing a lot of action. We basically stick with Earth-51 through the entire issue with a foray over to New Earth's Metropilis to catch up with Jimmy Olsen.

You can see the pace of the "Countdown" books picking up since Ray Palmer was discovered on Earth-51 and it is a welcome change. The art team does a decent job in in this issue as well. All in all, "Countdown to Final Crisis" is starting to show more promise.

Countdown to Final Crisis #17

Dini and Company finally have the ball rolling in DC's weekly series. Issue #17 is one fast paced issue with story lines beginning to dovetail and other items being explained. It was finally nice to catch up with Ray Palmer last issue after a three year absence from the DCU. This issue stayed with the focus groups of last issue while connecting the dots to the Monitors, Monarch and his army, and the Amazons. Finally we may be seeing the culmination of 35+ weeks of building this story (or should I say stretching it). This marks two issues in a row of "Countdown to Final Crisis" that I have found interesting. Here's hoping that the Countdown crew can keep up the momentum as this series heads into the final quarter turn.

Countdown to Final Crisis #18

I'm not giving anything away by saying that we finally catch up with Ray Palmer in this issue. It is on the cover. This issue focuses on two groups - the Challengers and the Mary Marvel crew. This may just be that pivotal book that I've been looking for. Things are explained. Issues are put in motion. Stuff happens. If you were looking for a jumping on point, this might be it. I'll hold my final judgement to see how the next few weeks of issues play out, but this issue was gold - I just hope it wasn't fool's gold.

Countdown: Arena #4 of 4

If I treat "Countdown: Arena" like a summer popcorn flick like "I, Robot" or "Armageddon" then I can say that it was a fun read. If, on the other hand, this is supposed to be a pivotal miniseries in the, as Dan Didio puts it, "Countdown" line of comics then I have to say, "huh?" Everything that happened here (and in sister series like "The Search for Ray Palmer") could have taken place in the main "Countdown to Final Crisis" weekly. Heck, if that had happened that book might even be better. Now, it was a fun mindless read. I'll give DC that, but it did not accomplish very much.

In the final analysis, I have to say that while this mini had a lot of action, it was much like eating sushi - good going down but I'm hunger ten minutes later.

Countdown to Adventure #5 of 8

I'm a little worried about Buddy after this issue. More to the point, I'm worried about his marriage. I know in TV shows, soap operas, and comic books people aren't supposed to be happily married because no one is right?....wrong. One of Buddy's strengths as a character is his devotion to his family. It is on display in this issue, but writer Adam Beechen shows us the pain in Buddy's wife. She's not happy with Buddy with regards to Kory and I can't say that I blame here. Stuff like this, though, can make a marriage stronger. I'm hoping Buddy realizes that he's being very insensitive to his wife, Ellen, and this gets all sorted out. Beechen has the story moving along at a good clip as all of the heroes now beginning to realize the circumstances of the "disease". The art team of Allan Goldman and Julio Ferreira does an decent job of putting the visuals to Beechen's story.

The only complaint I have about this book is that the page count for the primary story is not enough. I wish they would have made this a six issue series and just had one story because the backup "Forerunner" story is a snoozer. I've lost interest. I could not care less what is going on in those waisted 16 pages. DC could have also reduced the page count, left it at eight issues, and saved me a buck an issue.

Buy this book for the Animal Man, Starfire, & Adam Strange story.

Dan Didio's End of 2007 Newsrama Interview

Newsrama has a two-part interview with DC's Dan Didio. If you have heard him do a Q&A at a convention, it is pretty much the same type of interview. Part 1 can be found here. There are a few spoilers in the interview, but I was most interested in his responses to how the company felt "Countdown" went as compared to "The Sinestro Corps Wars". I felt the latter was the direction that the company should go in - big events that cover a family of titles vice the whole line. Geoff Johns stepped in during Part 2 and reaffirmed that this would be DC's direction for the Superman Family of titles. The story has quite a bit of art to go along with the words and I grab a couple that I thought were exciting.

I really hope that DC can pull it together with "Countdown to Final Crisis". Didio states that "Final Crisis" will be seven issues ending in December 2008 with two other miniseries in support. He also said this will not be impacting the monthlies. I'm not sure how they are going to accomplish that. After "Final Crisis" I'd like to see DC move away from DCU spanning crossovers and focus on strengthening their family of books. Geoff Johns struck a perfect note this year with the Green Lantern family and I'm looking forward to see what he does with the Superman titles.

Dan mentions that he really cares about the opinions of the fans that go to the LCS every Wednesday (or once a month) and purchase their books. I'm one of those guys. I go every Thursday or Friday and pick up my pull list - mostly DC. I want DC to succeed. I want Dan Didio to succeed. Yep, I want Dan Didio to succeed - as he goes so goes the DCU.

Here's looking forward to a strong year at DC.

Countdown Arena #3 of 4

Saving the best for last, my "Countdown" reading continues with "Countdown Arena". As compared to what is going on in "Justice League of America" issue #16 from this month, I'm not sure where "Countdown Arena" fits into the timeline. I say this because Tangent Flash shows up here and in "Justice League of America". If she's in the arena, then how is she over with the JLA. Once again, I'm not a continuity nut but stuff like this on an editorial driven story drives me nuts. The first two issues I would have the Wiki list of the 52 Earths up and cross reference who's who. I have given up hope of keeping track of all of the Earths and I just go with the story presented. Keith Champagne is presenting and interesting story and imbues each varying hereo with a unique personality. Although, the back and forth between the two Supermen gets a bit tedious. I do like the Zen-version of Superman, though. The fights are almost an afterthought as plot points are put into motion that should culminate in a wham bang finish to the miniseries. Scott McDaniel's art falls off a bit more this issue as it looks like he's rushing to get the issues completed.

With the exception of the continuity error and the rushed art, this was a decent read that provided some fun moments and a decent setup for the final chapter.

Countdown to Final Crisis #19

Continuing on with dredging through the "Countdown" books this week, "Countdown to Final Crisis" #19 actually manages to move a couple of stories along. Too bad I find both the Jimmy Olsen and Holly Robinson stories boring. My son has given up on this series and relies on me for a synopsis each week. This issue bounces between Jimmy, Holly, and Piper stories. Even in death Piper and Trickster continue with the gay banter - not funny. While it is nice to see the new information given in the other two plot lines, it almost comes across as too little too late.

Paul Dini and crew are "cramming" 12 issues worth of story into 52 issues of comics - drawing out every subplot to its breaking point along the way. They need to pick the pace up and fast.

Countdown Presents: The Search for Ray Palmer: Superwoman/Batwoman

So I got my stack of comics this week and decided to jump into "Countdown" first just to get it over with. For "The Search for Ray Palmer" series, the synopsis remains the same. I don't think it is any spoiler to note that the didn't find Ray here. Artistically this issue is a mess with a hodge podge of pencillers and inkers. I liked the cover and wished that that artist had done the interiors. Justin Gray and Jimmy Palimiotti's story pokes fun at DC's failed "Amazons Attack" story line with Wonderman and the male Amazons attacking the rest of the world. The Challengers are given even less to do in this issue as they sit around as spectators to what's going on.

No real information is given out in this issue about Ray Palmer. Just another symbol left behind that he was there and no direction as to where he was going and what he was up to. Over in "Countdown" Bob seems to have an idea where Ray is but that hasn't flowed over to these books. If the editors are going to dictate these story lines then they need to ensure continuity across the titles.

Countdown Presents The Search for Ray Palmer: Red Son

So, I've got the plot down for these one-shots.

Challengers pop into Earth-##
Challengers have conflict with that Earth's Superman/Batman/whatever
Challengers don't find Ray Palmer
Challengers leave

I didn't read the original "Superman: Red Son" Elseworlds title but I got the gist from this issue. I liked this Earth's Ray Palmer and Batman, but I couldn't figure out if Batman was a Russian or was Bruce Wayne acting in guerrilla warfare mode. Other than that the issue followed the above formula.

Is this going somewhere?

Black Adam #5 of 6

"Black Adam" continues to impress me. Peter J. Tomasi captures both the world spanning scale and the personal tone of this tale. I like his take on Black Adam as it is very consistent to what was portrayed in "52". While this issue slows down on the action a bit in exchange for character building, you can feel the tension build throughout. Artist Douglas Mahnke does an excellent jog of capturing both the power of Black Adam and the strength of Teth Adam. Rob Leigh's coloring is also outstanding.

While this issue gave the reader a chance to catch their breath, the next issue looks to be an explosive conclusion to an excellent miniseries.

Countdown to Final Crisis #20

It all really doesn't seem to be going anywhere. The only story line here that truly advances it the Omac/Brother Eye bit at the beginning. Although, haven't we seen all of this before. I keep thinking of "Battlestar Galactica" that all that is happening, has happened before and will happen again. It is all a bit of a retread. All of the usual "Countdown" players are here with Jimmy Olsen, the Challengers, et. al. covered. A few pages are given to each and none of the story lines move much. Jimmy's still whining, Mary Marvel's still emo, the Challengers are still lost, Brother Eye is still bad, Karate Kid is still sick, and Piper is still attached to Trickster.

DC let's kick this in gear and move the story along.