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.

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.

Salvation Run #2 of 7

I am enjoying "Salvation Run". Bill Willingham is having fun playing with the villians of the DCU and it shows. In this issue he gets to play around with two big baddies, the Joker and Lex Luthor and he does a fine job of capturing both of these characters. I'm not up-to-speed on a lot of the bad guys and gals here but Willingham does a good job of providing introductions without slowing the story down. He puts enough twists and turns in the story to keep it moving. I'm loving Sean Chen's art as well. He knows how to capture action scenes with lots of different characters. The art has a very clean look and does not look rushed at all.

I did not have big expectations for this miniseries but it has been a good read so far. My only concern is where this all fits into DCU continuity. Other than that, I'm just enjoying Willingham's good story and Chen's great visuals.

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.

Salvation Run #1 of 7

I was debating whether to pick this miniseries up or wait for the TPB to come out. While I was at my local comics shop picking up my weekly pull I saw the front cover and just had to grab it. Sean Chen's cover really grabbed me. I missed out on the excellent Rogue comics when Geoff Johns was writing "The Flash", but I have since gone back and read all of Johns' "The Flash" TPBs. Johns brought a real depth of character to all of the Rogues. I especially liked his Captain Cold. So, seeing all of those Rogues on display I had to jump at picking up this mini.

Writer Bill Willingham provides a plausible set up where Checkmate and company are rounding up all the villians and depositing them on a planet far away to fend for themselves. The first group to be placed is a small group of the Flash's Rogues Gallery and they are immediately fighting for their lives. Even though the squabble quite a bit we see them work as a team. About half way through the issue quite a few of Batman's rogues and a few add ons show up. Willingham brings differing voices to each of the villians and does a good job of making the reader root for them. Sean Chen does an exceptional job on the art and is backed up nicely by inker Walden Wong and colorist John Kalisz. This is a very balanced issue with outstanding art and a great script.

This has been a good week for DC miniseries. This along with Suicide Squad top my list of must reads for this week.

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.