Is Countdown entirely a fan creation?

[CodeGuy]

I've seen lots of people refer to an upcoming weekly comic named Countdown. Some say that it will start the week after 52 ends, and it's supposed to start at 51 and go backwards to number 0.

Has any of this been stated by anyone in DC? I've seen a lot of people talk about it as if it was fact, but I haven't noticed anything about it from writers, editors, or anyone else in the industry.

Can anyone give me a link to where someone from DC mentioned this?

[Lord Ice]

No actual confirmations, just rumors. We'll find out for sure when the next solicitations come out in a couple of weeks. ;)

[CodeGuy]

If it's never been mentioned by anyone at DC, then the answer seems pretty clear already.

[JT Skywalker]

If it's never been mentioned by anyone at DC, then the answer seems pretty clear already.

Infinite Crisis. was hinted at but never mentioned by anyone at DC prior to the full title of Countdown to IC being released. 52 was never mentioned by anyone until near the end of IC.

Management has to keep some surprises from the public. No one knows yet what the next big event is going to be, all we keep hearing is "look to the skies".

We'll get more info soon, just have to be patient. And a lot of the rumors out there, especially from LitG and ATR, are just that--rumors. But many times they are true.

~JTS

[KSChris]

If it's never been mentioned by anyone at DC, then the answer seems pretty clear already.
People were talking about Crisis 2 a full year or more before an announcement was even made for it. Rumors happen.

I'm pretty sure LiTG marked it as a green light rumor, which means it's got great odds of being true.

[CodeGuy]

Infinite Crisis. was hinted at but never mentioned by anyone at DC prior to the full title of Countdown to IC being released. 52 was never mentioned by anyone until near the end of IC.

Well, yes. *Everything* was never mentioned until it was mentioned. That's not the point.

The point is, there is no reason to believe there's a project called Countdown. Sure, it *could* exist. A Captain Carrot comic *could* be in production right now, a new Blue Beetle series staring Dan Garret could be in the initial stages, and DC could be planning a big crossover event with Richie Rich.

But there's no reason to believe that any of these things are actually happening. I find it very odd that people are talking about Countdown as if it was something that Didio had spoken about.

[CodeGuy]

People were talking about Crisis 2 a full year or more before an announcement was even made for it. Rumors happen.

People have been saying "they're going to do another weekly" for awhile. That's fine. But 2 years before Infinite Crisis nobody was saying that it would be named Infinite Crisis and it would have 7 issues. I've actually seen threads where people talk about the *cast* of Countdown.

I'm pretty sure LiTG marked it as a green light rumor, which means it's got great odds of being true.

Link, please?

[KSChris]

Well, yes. *Everything* was never mentioned until it was mentioned. That's not the point.

The point is, there is no reason to believe there's a project called Countdown. Sure, it *could* exist. A Captain Carrot comic *could* be in production right now, a new Blue Beetle series staring Dan Garret could be in the initial stages, and DC could be planning a big crossover event with Richie Rich.

But there's no reason to believe that any of these things are actually happening. I find it very odd that people are talking about Countdown as if it was something that Didio had spoken about.
Well, believe what you will, and the people talking about it will believe what they will.

Personally, I think it's stupid to not think DC isn't planning a followup considering 52's enormous success. And it's not like the rumors all come from one place, they've been buzzing around for a while now.

[KSChris]

People have been saying "they're going to do another weekly" for awhile. That's fine. But 2 years before Infinite Crisis nobody was saying that it would be named Infinite Crisis and it would have 7 issues. I've actually seen threads where people talk about the *cast* of Countdown.



Link, please?
Expect official confirmation and plenty of news on that previously LITG-rumoured 52 weekly sequel "Countdown," the DC Universe book being "showrun" by Paul Dini, in about a month.

One little titbit I've discovered is that, befitting the title, the issue numbering system will start at #51 (shipping the week after "52" #52) and, week by week, count down to #0. Instantly grabbing the considerable audience from "52" and getting them to commit for another year - albeit one that runs alongside current DC continuity.

Another titbit is that newly-DC-exclusive Sean McKeever will be one of the writers on the title.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=13

And people talking about the cast is just that.. people talking about who will be the cast.

[CodeGuy]

Well, believe what you will, and the people talking about it will believe what they will.

Personally, I think it's stupid to not think DC isn't planning a followup considering 52's enormous success. And it's not like the rumors all come from one place, they've been buzzing around for a while now.

Like I said, people saying, "I think they'll do another weekly," is a reasonable guess. It's the exactness of this rumor that strikes me as humorous.

[God-Man]

Well, yes. *Everything* was never mentioned until it was mentioned. That's not the point.

The point is, there is no reason to believe there's a project called Countdown. Sure, it *could* exist. A Captain Carrot comic *could* be in production right now, a new Blue Beetle series staring Dan Garret could be in the initial stages, and DC could be planning a big crossover event with Richie Rich.

But there's no reason to believe that any of these things are actually happening. I find it very odd that people are talking about Countdown as if it was something that Didio had spoken about.

How is it odd? Fans love to speculate about what projects could be coming up. And I think there is a reason to believe that a Countdown series is coming up. LITG has been very reliable in the past when it comes to huge events like this.

[CodeGuy]

That LiTG bit was pretty much what I was asking for in my first post. Thanks for the link.

[ColourMan]

I'm assuming the new DC Solicitations will come out nex Monday, the 12th, so I'd expect an announcement on Countdown anytime between now and then...

[TheGrayHulk]

I don't remember his words exactly, but Didio made a comment in an interview here (one of his annoying secret clues), saying something like "We'll be counting 52 backwards in the future" or something in that nature...

[Kal*el]

I don't remember his words exactly, but Didio made a comment in an interview here (one of his annoying secret clues), saying something like "We'll be counting 52 backwards in the future" or something in that nature...

Yeah, between hints dropped by Didio, and LITG (which I hate to admit, is pretty reliable) there is definitely a weekly series spinning out of 52. It will almost certainly be called Countdown with reverse numbering, and Dini is definitely involved.

[God-Man]

I don't remember his words exactly, but Didio made a comment in an interview here (one of his annoying secret clues), saying something like "We'll be counting 52 backwards in the future" or something in that nature...

I knew I recognized that from a DC Nation Column. Mike Marts, in a DC nation column, said that he would resolve to learn how to count to 52...frontwards and backwards.

[Kidcanuck]

and DC could be planning a big crossover event with Richie Rich.



Richie Rich!!!! Cool!!!
I can't wait for this! This is awesome! Gloria Glad vs Catwoman! Krypto vs Dollar. Irona's programming screwed with by Luthor turning her into a mad killing machine. And only Professor Keenbean can help. Too bad he's been kidnapped by the Riddler (and his new henchman Reginald Van Dough). Quick! Somebody call Batman!

[RichJohnston]

Yeah, between hints dropped by Didio, and LITG (which I hate to admit, is pretty reliable) there is definitely a weekly series spinning out of 52. It will almost certainly be called Countdown with reverse numbering, and Dini is definitely involved.

Admit it, admit it!

LITG first ran the Countdown story last year, the numbering was a recent addition. The column also mentioned Infinite Crisis, 52 and all the IC spinoff titles the year before they were published. Not too bad a record...

[Juisarian]

^^ Listen to this guy. He knows people who know what's going on. Well, except for that bit about Captain America being in Omega Flight (but I don't think that was a "green" story anyway).

[JohnLynch]

So if its counting down to something, what is it counting down to?

[Juisarian]

WILDSTORM VS DC (I hope not)

[KoozyK]

So if its counting down to something, what is it counting down to?
zero.

we'll get an announcement at nycc, i guarantee you! if not, it will just confirm itself with the may solicits a few weeks later.

[JohnLynch]

zero.
:p

I meant what happens when it reaches 0? I doubt they'll countdown to 0 and have nothing big happen.

[KSChris]

:p

I meant what happens when it reaches 0? I doubt they'll countdown to 0 and have nothing big happen.
Crisis 3: This Time It's For Keeps

[KoozyK]

:p

I meant what happens when it reaches 0? I doubt they'll countdown to 0 and have nothing big happen.
yeah, i know.

i'm betting (if it does happen) it'll be a year long war with new gods and zero will be some cataclysmic event that will lead into the new event book (a la countdown minis leading to ic proper)

[Comic-Reader]

Also, when I posted it on the main page and put a poll as to whether people would buy it or not, Sean McKeever, one of the rumored writers of the new 52, voted that he would.

[greenman]

I dont think the "counting down from 52 to 0" refers to a new Countdown series, since something like that is already happening in the pages of 52 itself. Rip Hunter begins counting down from 52 as he and Booster Gold escape from Skeets in the Fortress of Solitude. The prevailing theory on the boards here seems to be that Rip Hunter has somehow "stolen" the missing 52 seconds refered to by Dr. Tyme, and is using the stolen time for some as-yet-unrevealed purpose ( maybe just to stay a few steps ahead of Skeets?)

Of course, that doesn't mean there ISN'T a new Countdown series in some type of format coming up. The question is... counting down to what?

[TheGrayHulk]

So is it going to keep going and going and going and going...

and event after event after event after event...

(People who are expecting an end to 52 or whatever are crazy). ;)

[Drcharles]

I don't think there will be another weekly comic coming out from DC in the next 12 mths or so, this 52 weekly has taken too much out of the regular bks as it is.
and I'm glad; if another weekly did come out I think it would be a disaster !

[Mithel]

With 52 selling about 100 000 copies every week, I think it's very likely that DC might try to continue with the formula.

[nafannataz]

Biggest hint of the Countdown series:

NYCC info


February 23
DC Nation
7:30-8:30pm
The call for the NATION to gather has gone out again! Don’t miss the special unveiling of what will sure to be the most talked about event of the coming year! Moderated by Senior VP – Executive Editor DCU Dan DiDio, and featuring VP – Sales Bob Wayne, Senior Editor Mike Marts, Coordinating Editor Jann Jones, writer Paul Dini and writer/artist Keith Giffen.

Dini is the rumored head writer of Countdown and Giffen of course did the breakdowns for 52 and might be doing something similar here

[The Phazer]

So if its counting down to something, what is it counting down to?

Hal Jordan going evil again and being replaced.

:D

Phazer

[Wright Blan]

:p

I meant what happens when it reaches 0? I doubt they'll countdown to 0 and have nothing big happen.

Hmmmm...2008 will be Superman's 70th anniversary. I wonder if there will be some kind of connection. Mabye a clearing up of Supes' now conviluted continunity.

2008 will also be, by the way, the 30th anniversary of the DC Implosion.