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 #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.