Countdown
From DC Database
Countdown is the name of a multi-day series of inter-related events, culminating in something referred to as Final Crisis.
It involves the confluence of dissent among the Monitors' ranks, Jimmy Olsen developing super-powers, Mary Marvel being tempted by Eclipso, and Darkseid manipulating events behind the scenes.
History
Darkseid orchestrated events to his liking, observing what was happening across the universe as the death of the Fourth World drew near, plotting to remake the universe in his own image. As New Gods were killed across the galaxy, Darkseid marshaled his forces on Apokolips, even resurrecting Virman Vundabar despite his earlier attempt to assassinate Darkseid--notably putting his forces in defensive deployments. In conversation with Metron, he then indicated that he knew more than his fellow New Gods about what was transpiring with the mysterious God-killer, which he refused to share, content in knowing more than Metron for once. It has since been revealed that Darkseid appears to be manipulating almost all the key characters in Countdown to Final Crisis on a giant cosmic chess board. He has given his protection to Jimmy Olsen, vaporizing a parademon for attacking him, and he has ensured that Karate Kid, carrier of the Morticoccus virus, survives. His reasons for both these are unknown. Later he attempts to recruit Mary Marvel as his sorceress using his pawn Eclipso, but she turns on him and escapes. He has also assigned Desaad to ensure the "Great Disaster" comes about, and assigned Granny Goodness to recruit new Female Furies from Earth in the guise of Athena. It has been indicated Darkseid seeks the rise of the "Fifth World", possibly on Earth, and is harnessing the Great Disaster and the Death of the New Gods to bring this about. Additionally, Darkseid has been manipulating the monitor Solomon to bring about a war between the Monitors and Monarch for the fate of the Multiverse.
It is later revealed that Darkseid had turned Jimmy Olsen into a container for the powers of the New Gods. He sends Mary Marvel, whom he had coerced into taking back her dark powers, to capture him. Superman comes to Jimmy's aid, only for Darkseid to take control of Jimmy's powers, making him radiate Kryptonite. Ray Palmer manages to shut off Darkseid's control, and the villain is confronted by a gigantic turtle-like Jimmy. After battling Jimmy across the Metropolis landscape, Darkseid moves in for the kill only to witness The Atom emerge from Jimmy's head. Palmer quickly destroys the vessel of the New Gods' powers freeing them into the void. Enraged, Darkseid is taken by surprise when a Boom Tube opens above the skies of Metropolis. His scion and son Orion emerges from the tube, having managed to escape being murdered by the Infinity Man. Orion and Darkseid battle, and after a furious exchange, at the end of it all, Darkseid realizes it was not meant to be and his heart is ripped from his chest by his own son.
Look To The Skies
It is revealed that a group of Monitors are responsible for safeguarding the Multiverse when one of them kills Duela Dent in front of Jason Todd. Mary Marvel discovers she is alone and without her powers. The Flash's Rogues assemble. The Source Wall reveals that Ray Palmer is the solution to the "Great Disaster".
Last Laugh
Jimmy Olsen begins investigating the death of Duela Dent by interviewing Jason Todd and the Joker. Mary Marvel consults Madame Xanadu, who says she will soon be tested. The Rogues require a test of loyalty from Pied Piper and Trickster.
Stretching The Truth
Attacked by Killer Croc while in Arkham, Jimmy manifests the ability to stretch. The Monitors consider Dent's killer a rogue. Pied Piper and Trickster fake their loyalty to the Rogues. Wandering into an old building, Mary encounters Black Adam (and a pile of dead bodies).
Death From Above
Mary speaks with Black Adam. Jason Todd attends Duela Dent's funeral. Starman mentions a female Dr. Impossible to the imprisoned Karate Kid. Jimmy witnesses the apparent death of New God, Lightray in Metropolis -- his last word "Infinite".
Bricks In The Wall
Jimmy Olsen wakes up from a dream where he is trapped in The Source Wall, along with Lightray. Holly Robinson arrives in Metropolis, attempting to find a fresh start for herself. Mary Marvel and Black Adam finish their conversation, with Black Adam giving Mary his powers (his magic word once more is "Shazam"). The Monitors vote to continue to hunt down those that are universe jumpers. The Trickster and The Pied Piper bond as they reveal their intentions behind rejoining the Flash's Rogues Gallery. The issue ends as Amazons Attack.
Weapon of War
Jimmy investigates a tenement in Suicide Slum, finding Apokoliptian refugee, Sleez who tells Jimmy he wants revenge on Darkseid - just before being struck down by a blast from above. Mary battles and defeats a demon - Pharyngula, Harvester of Stillborn Souls. The Rogues bicker. The Red Hood and Donna Troy are attacked by Forerunner, an agent of the Monitors.
Monitor Duty
Donna Troy and Jason Todd fight Forerunner at the National Mall. A monitor intervenes and takes Donna and Jason out of the fight. He brings them away with him for a special mission. Jimmy continues to work on his story in Suicide Slum - a story that has become even stranger with the apparent death of the Apokoliptian refugee Sleez. Holly Robinson meets a mysterious stranger on the streets of Metropolis, and Doctor Mid-Nite interviews the time-lost Legion of Super-Heroes on board the Justice League satellite.
Change of Address
Mary Marvel goes to the Rock of Eterntiy and finds that Billy Batson is now the resevoir for the Power of Shazam. Forerunner meets Monarch who offers her a chance for redemption. Jimmy Olsen is assaulted by a group of street thugs and manages to repel them when he spontaneously generates sharpened projectiles. Holly Robinson meets Athena who invites her to stay at a halfway house patterned after an ancient Greek temple.
The Funeral
Funeral services are held for Bart Allen, the Flash, who had been murdered by the Rogues Gallery. Wonder Girl vows to hunt down his killers. Pied Piper and the Trickster are captured by Deadshot and Multiplex and taken away. Holly Robinson makes herself comfortable at Athena's shelter and meets Harleen Quinzel. Monarch makes Forerunner the commander of his armies.
Shock to the System
Mary Marvel patrols Gotham City and enters into a temporary alliance with the Riddler. Together they face and defeat Clayface. Donna Troy, Jason Todd and a Monitor go to Ivy Town on their quest to find Ray Palmer. They meet Palmer's successor Ryan Choi who uses the Bio-Belt to transport them to the Palmerverse. The Trickster and the Pied Piper manage to escape from Deadshot. Meanwhile, Holly Robinson bonds with Harley Quinn.
Another Fine Mess
The Pied Piper and Trickster escape from Deadshot and fall into Gotham Harbor. Jimmy Olsen becomes the costumed adventurer known as Mr. Action. Jason Todd, Donna Troy, the Atom and a Monitor explore the Nanoverse in search of Ray Palmer. Eclipso keeps his eye on Mary Marvel. Harleen Quinzel tries to break up a group of protestors in front of the Athenian Women's shelter. Karate Kid is reunited with Triplicate Girl.
Small Wonders
The Atom, Donna Troy, Jason Todd and the Monitor arrive in the Palmerverse and begin fighting up against a tribe of ape-men. The ape-men know of Ray Palmer and reveal that he has been seen recently. Mr. Action debuts as Metropolis' newest hero. Jimmy Olsen struggles to maintain his secret identity. Mary Marvel, seeking a mentor, turns to Zatanna. Darkseid creates a new legion of Parademons. The Trickster and the Pied Piper seek shelter in the Penguin's Iceberg Lounge.
Do Not Pass Go
Karate Kid and Una break into Dalten Towers to find Oracle. The Challengers from Beyond continue to explore the Multiverse. Jimmy Olsen saves a young woman from a mugger as Mr. Action. Holly Robinson questions Athena about how she runs the shelter. The Penguin offers Trickster and Piper shelter at the Iceberg Lounge, then calls the Suicide Squad on them. While fleeing, they run into Batwoman and the Question.
All Hell!
Mary Marvel and Zatanna battle Deep Six at sea, while Eclipso watches Mary with interest. Karate Kid finds Oracle. The Question and Batwoman decide not to arrest the Trickster and Pied Piper. Jimmy is rejected as a Teen Titan. Darkseid schemes to create his own Multiversal destiny.
Forbidden Fruit
Oracle is unable to determine the source of Karate Kid's illness and refers him to a specialist. Zatanna invites Mary Marvel to her home at Shadowcrest and offers to teach her the ways of magic. Donna Troy, the Atom, Jason Todd and Bob the Monitor continue to travel the Nanoverse in the search for Ray Palmer. They encounter a mystic coven called the Sacred Wizards of the Arionite Temple. Pied Piper and Trickster try to hide out in a greenhouse, but run afoul of Poison Ivy. Holly Robinson and Harleen Quinzel continue to bond. Jimmy Olsen discovers that Clark Kent is Superman.
Magical Mystery Tour
The Atom, Donna, Bob and Jason continue their tour of the Palmerverse and run afoul of a colony of aggressive insectoid aliens. Mary Marvel begins training under the tutelage of Zatanna, but loses her temper and rebels against her teacher. Mr. Action applies for membership in the Justice League of America. Karate Kid and Una try to find Elias Orr, but end up encountering a monster named Equus instead. Poison Ivy interrogates the Trickster and Pied Piper and Deathstroke arrives in Gotham City.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
The Atom, Donna, Bob and Jason continue their tour of the Palmerverse and are captured by Queen Belthera. Belthera mind controls Bob the Monitor and captures the others. Zatanna kicks Mary Marvel out of her home, and Mary falls deeper under Eclipso's influence. Jimmy Olsen's membership application to the JLA is turned down. Harley Quinn and Holly Robinson partake in a purification ceremony that involves gladiatorial combat. Karate Kid and Una fight Equus and meet Elias Orr.
Searching for Answers
Deathstroke hangs the Trickster and Piper out to dry, but the Flash finds them and interogates them as to the death of Bart Allen. Jimmy Olsen goes to the Steelworks to have John Henry Irons run him through a series of tests. Jimmy's body reacts unpredictably to the examinations. Donna and Jason Todd break free of their shackles and fight against Queen Belthera and the mind-controlled Bob the Monitor. Mary Marvel goes to China where she meets Klarion the Witch Boy. After defeating Equus, Karate Kid and Una finally get an audience with Elias Orr. He tells them that the Karate Kid's illness is somehow related to the OMAC project. Orr is secretly working for DeSaad.
Let's Make a Deal
Pied Piper and Trickster make a deal with the Flash, and Flash agrees to protect them. Donna and Jason free the Atom and Bob the Monitor and defeat Belthera. Kyle Rayner arrives in the Palmerverse to give them a hand. They continue to track the missing Ray Palmer. Mary Marvel barters with Klarion the Witch Boy. Klarion wants a portion of Mary's power. Jimmy Olsen meets with agents of Cadmus Labs and agrees to go with them. Piper and Trickster encounter a mummy.
Girls Gone Wild
Klarion tries to steal Mary Marvel's power and the two fight. Zatanna's pet mummy keeps Piper and Trickster under safe protection. The staff of Project Cadmus run Jimmy Olsen through a battery of tests. Piper and Trickster sneak away and crash Black Canary's bachelorette party. Donna, Jason, Bob and Kyle make pit-stops at Earth-30 and Earth-3. Mary Marvel goes to Turkey where she finds Eclipso.
New Frontiers
On Earth-3, Donna, Jason and Kyle team-up with the Jokester to fight the Crime Society. Harley Quinn and Holly Robinson embark upon a pilgrimage to Paradise Island for special training. Mister Mxyzptlk disappears from the 5th dimension. Mary Marvel falls deeper under Eclipso's influence and murders some soldiers. Karate Kid and Una meet Buddy Blank and ask him about Brother Eye. Jimmy Olsen continues his tests at Cadmus Labs and his body begins transforming into a hideous monster. Monarch comes to Earth-3 and recruits the Crime Society to his cause.
Family Feud
Buddy Blank brings the Karate Kid to see Brother Eye. A massive group of villains crash the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary. The Challengers from Beyond go to Earth-15 where they meet that world's version of the Justice League. Athena brings Holly and Harley on a cruise to Themyscira, but first they must fight through an ocean of sea monsters.
Another Country Heard From
The Earth-hopping team of Donna Troy, Kyle Rayner, Jason Todd and "Bob" continue to explore the new Multiverse finding out who they really are and what it is that they want to do. Back on New Earth, Jimmy Olsen with the help of the New Newsboy Legion, finds out what it is that he can do, as Mary Marvel with the help of Eclipso finds out what it is that she can do.
Now, Forager!
Forager comes to Earth to see Jimmy Olsen. The Suicide Squad track Piper and Trickster to Rhode Island, but they manage to elude capture. Mary Marvel becomes even more malevolent and begins exacting justice across the globe. The Challengers from Beyond fight Lord Havok's Extremists as well as the Crime Society of Earth-3.
Disasters Great & Otherwise
On Earth-8, the Challengers from Beyond fight the Crime Society as well as Lord Havok's Extremists. Jason Todd kills Barracuda. He decides to join Monarch and betrays the Challengers by shooting Donna Troy. Jimmy Olsen agrees to help Forager find the lost souls of the deceased New Gods. Mary Marvel and Eclipso fight the Shadowpact at the Oblivion Bar. On Themyscira, Holly and Harley are attacked by packs of wild dogs. Piper and Trickster sneak into a Checkmate facility and enlist the aid of Two-Face.
Halfway to Hell
TBD
Bedlam Below!
Trickster and Piper escape from Deadshot, Jimmy is captured on Apokolips, Eclipso offers Mary Marvel up to Darkseid, Karate Kid et al break into an underground bunker in Bludhaven.
Prime Example
TBD
Issues
Issues in event are unknown.
Paraphernalia
Items: None known.
Vehicles: None known.
Weapons: None known.
Notes
- Countdown is a fifty-two issue limited series published by DC Comics from May of 2007 to May of 2008. The series is shipped on a weekly publishing schedule and is numbered in reverse order, beginning with issue #51, and counting backwards to issue #0.
- In early 2007, DC Comics began promoting the Countdown event with this double-page teaser spread that ran through many DC Comics.
The spread revealed a gathering of heroes standing amidst the ruins of New York City. The severed head of the Statue of Liberty is displayed prominently in the foreground. At the feet of the heroes lie the bodies of noteworthy characters who had died in the previous year (included are Maxwell Lord, Blue Beetle, Jade and the Question). An analysis of the teaser by Dan Didio is presented here.
- DC also promoted the title with a series of one-page ads, spotlighting different characters wearing pins. The pins read, "Jimmy Olsen Must Die!", "Darkseid Rules!", "WWMMD?" (What Would Mary Marvel Do?) and "I Found Ray Palmer".
- A second teaser image for the series was also released, showing Luthor on the ground in front of large head of a Darkseid statue.
Introductions
Bob the Monitor, Crime Society (Earth-3), Forager II, Forerunner, Jokester
Deaths
Harlequin (Duela Dent), Jokester, Lightray, Sleez
Trivia
- Countdown is the fifth DC Comics series published on a weekly shipping schedule. The first was Action Comics, which changed to a weekly format from issues #601-647 before resuming it's regular publishing schedule. The second was Millennium, an eight-issue limited series. The third was Final Night, a four-issue limited series, and the fourth was 52.
Recommended Reading
- 52
- Countdown
- Countdown Crossovers
- Countdown: Arena
- Countdown: Lord Havok and the Extremists
- Countdown: The Search for Ray Palmer
- Countdown to Adventure
- Countdown to Mystery
- Salvation Run
- Death of the New Gods
- Countdown Specials
Links and References
- Countdown article at Wikipedia
- Countdown series index at Comicbookdb.com
- Countdown series index at the Grand Comics Database
- Countdown article at Newsarama
- Silverbullet Comics's Countdown Counselling
|  |
|
