Salvation Run #4 of 7

As the cover for this issue shows, things turn very violent. The showdown between Gorrilla Grodd and Monsieur Mallah is very brutal. Sean Chen's art is extremely good here with the fight sequence being very easy to follow. Matthew Sturges characterizations of each of the villains is very good as well. We now have three camps with Lex Luthor, the Joker, and Vandal Savage in charge. With Martian Manhunter hanging around and reporting back to Batman, you can see where the intersection with Dwayne McDuffie's "Justice League of America" is headed. Matthew Sturges took over for Bill Willingham last issue and does a fine job getting through the halfway point of this miniseries.

Even though DC had to replace the writer midstream, this mini has not missed a beat and is still an entertaining read.

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.

Salvation Run #3 of 7

I didn't realize that a lot of what is happening in "Salvation Run" was hinted at in the "Countdown" teaser posters until I went to the some of the forums and started reading peoples theories. You can really dissect those posters from what has happened both in "Countdown to Final Crisis" and its spinoff titles. One of the big hints that the online forums picked up on happens in this book. Even though I had read those prognostications, I was surprised when it happened in the book. This issue focuses on the split engineered between the villains who support the Joker and those who side with Lex Luthor. Writer Matthew Sturges is great at keeping the pacing up and moving the plot forward and is supported quite well by Sean Chen's art. Sean Chen's art is perfectly suited to this book as he does a great job laying out the action and giving detail to even the smallest villain in the background.

DC should really get out and beat the bushes to get people to buy this series as it looks pivotal in what is going on in the "Countdown" line. It does a fine jog go standing on its own with no requirement to read the other "Countdown" books and is really a good "Lost"-type book with villains as the lostees.

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.