DCU Comic Book Reviews

COUNTDOWN #28 (17-October-2007)

Now, Forager

Written by Paul Dini with Tony Bedard

Breakdowns by Keith Giffen

Pencils by Al Barrionuevo

Inks by Bit

Cover by Ian Churchill and Norm Rapmund

Synopsis

In Metropolis, the Forager searches for and finds Jimmy Olsen.  Forager wants Jimmy’s help in finding the New Gods.  In Rhode Island, Trickster and Pied Piper are talking to Double Down when Trickster recognizes the Suicide Squad coming after them.  Using a small invisibility field, Trickster and Pied Piper are able to avoid capture.  Trickster, however, thinks it would be best to follow the Squad to rescue the others that have been captured.  Meanwhile, Brother Eye is angry at Karate Kid, but Buddy Blank’s grandson calms the satellite down long enough to learn that whatever is effecting Karate Kid is possibly contained in the ruins of Blüdhaven.  Elsewhere, Mary Marvel continues her sadistic perversion of justice.  Witnessing Mary’s actions, Madam Xanadu calls in Shadowpact to capture her.  On Earth 8, Monarch tries to get the Challengers from Beyond to join his cause.  This irritates Lord Havok, who attacks the Monarch.  Then the Justice League from Earth 3 join the battle followed by Forerunner, who manages to knock Donna Troy unconscious and wants to know who wants more...

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I am not going to write much about this issue because it is typical of Countdown, in which we get a short check-in for the plots but nothing really happens. 

Occasionally, and I do mean occasionally, a DC book will provide an “ah-ha” moment that suggests that editorial is aware of the larger plot going on in the DC universe.  Of course, this doesn’t translate to good stories, but it does show that an overall plan has been mapped out and we are slowly but surely seeing that unfurl.  In this issue, it is the reference to Blüdhaven, which may go back to the events at the end of the Battle for Blüdhaven mini-series.  The ending to that series saw the return of the Monarch that has been appearing in this book as well.  This would suggest that somehow whatever happened in that series is much greater than I had originally thought.

Of course, I may also been giving DC editorial too much credit.  Because the very next scene features Shadowpact, with Blue Devil has part of the team.  Except, in the Shadowpact book Blue Devil is taking part on a series of trials and has been replaced by Zauriel.  Granted, the replacement is temporary and these scenes with Mary Marvel could occur before or after Blue Devil’s trials, but seeing the team members differently in different books is disconcerting, and a sign that DC editorial still does not have their act together.  

THE ORIGIN OF...Trickster and Pied Piper

Written by Scott Beatty

Art by Ethan Van Sciver

Review

Two things........ When I first saw the two pages, I thought it was a good move to do the origins together because they have been “together” since the first issues of this series.  But, reading the origins, there are a lot of things skipped over.  I think the one page does a disservice to the characters.  Plus, I think it is a disservice to include Countdown as an “essential” storyline.  Isn’t their something else that would’ve worked better. 

Essential Storylines

The Flash: Rogue War

Flash, issues #212, 218, and 220-225

The Flash:  Fastest Man Alive, issue #13

The Flash:  Iron Heights

Countdown Special:  The Flash 80-Page Giants

 

 

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