Countdown to Mystery #4 of 8

"Countdown to Mystery" flips the stories in this issue bringing the Eclipso story to the front and relegating Dr. Fate's story as backup. A word of caution, read "Countdown to Final Crisis" 17 before reading this as the Eclipso/Mary Marvel fight plays out better in there. The Spectre comes into the Eclipso story and I really enjoyed the story for the first time. Stephen Jorge Segovia's art, backed up my excellent coloring from Dan Brown, provides an excellent window into the Spectre's world. For the first time, I'm looking forward to this story finishing out.

Dr. Fate serves as backup this issue and rightly so. There's not a lot happening in this issue as Kent Nelson basically goes into self pity mode. The art is very good and the story is quite depressing providing a look into an alcoholics addled mind.

I hope the next issue brings the Dr. Fate story back to prominence as that is the primary reason for this miniseries.

Countdown to Mystery #3 of 8

Both my son and I are enjoying the miniseries starring the new Dr. Fate. I like that writer Steve Gerber chose not only a descendant of the original Dr. Fate but a psychiatrist for this incarnation. Kent V. Nelson makes a visit to a mystic book store and starts to come to peace with himself in this issue. Of course, being Dr. Fate, Kent can't just go to a therapist. Gerber puts Kent through his own kind of therapy while having him learn more about being Dr. Fate. I disagree with the shop keeper that Kent isn't very talented and it is all in the helmet. Gerber has Kent picking things up fast while questioning the reality of it all. Justiniano and Wong are in fine form bringing a fluidity to the art and panel layouts.

The backup story continues to progress with the Spectre, the Creeper, and Batman entering the story. I'm not sure where Sturges is taking this story but I'm along for the ride. I like Segovia's character art but his Plastic Man is off. This may have to do with the muted coloring of Dan Brown.

While the backup story is mild interesting, the lead story is a keeper. Dr. Fate is back and I'm hoping that Steve Gerber can get healthy and turn this miniseries into a monthly.

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.

Countdown to Mystery #1 of 8

While the first 20 or so issues of the weekly "Countdown" have not moved me to write a review, the spin off series have shown sparks of creativity. The most recent one that I have read is "Countdown to Mystery" which stars Dr. Fate in the primary story and Eclipso in the backup story. I have always been a Dr. Fate fan back to the 70s when I enjoyed the character as part of Earth-2's Justice Society of America. I have read many of his different incarnations but always preferred the Kent Nelson Dr. Fate the most. The premiere issue of "Countdown to Mystery" has the helmet of Dr. Fate finding a bum in a dumpster who happens to be failed psychiatrist, Dr. Kent Nelson. Writer Steve Gerber weaves an interesting tale giving Kent Nelson a suitably tortued background and catching all of us up on the happenings with the helmet of Dr. Fate over the past few years. I liked Justiniano's art and his interpreation of the new Dr. Fate. This is quite the setup issue for Dr. Fate and I'm looking forward to seeing where Gerber and company will take him.

The backup story by writer Matthew Sturges and art by Stephen Jorge Segovia involves Eclipso's return. I'm not sure I really care for the Jean Loring Eclipso. I do like her fight and attempted seduciton of Plastic Man. With the Spectre and Darkseid both making appearances, I drawn into Sturges' interpreation of Eclipso. Segovia's art was suitably dark and his versions of Plastic Man, Darkseid, and the Spectre showed a range of emotion and depth. Eclipso looks to play a large part in the final chapters of Coundown due to "The Seduction of the Innoncent" tagline and I'm ready to get the action moving.