Ye Olde Iowa
05-10-2007, 12:50 PM
Countdown # 51
“Look to the Skies”
Written by Paul Dini
Pencils by Jesus Saiz
Inks by Jimmy Palmiotti
Colors by Tom Chu
Letters by Travis Lanham
Cover by Andy Kubert
With 52 concluding last week with one of the title’s strongest issues, I had very high hopes for DC’s new weekly series, Countdown. Given that it has had a lot of lead time, is tied directly to the greater DCU at large, is being overseen by the ever-amazing Paul Dini, and is being written by one writer at a time, I figured that it would start with a bang and continue on successfully from there. While the first issue, number 51, is a good comic, it doesn’t quite meet my expectations and sets a relatively low standard for the issues to follow.
The issue opens with Darkseid, who returned in the final issue of Firestorm, plotting something nefarious involving the end of the world and its subsequent reconstruction, with himself as the “architect.” Elsewhere, Duela Dent, aka Joker’s Daughter, returns to a life of crime by holding a wealthy singer hostage, but is thwarted by the Red Hood, who wants her to avoid bloodshed and seems to hope that Duela will rejoin the side of good. While this may seem out of place for Jason Todd, who has been ultra violent since return form the dead, this change of heart is nowhere near as shock as Duela’s new claim, that she is displaced from an alternate universe. Meanwhile, Mary Marvel awakens from her coma (see Trials of Shazam! #1, only to find that she has been left behind by Billy (the new Shazam, formerly Captain Marvel) and Freddy (the new Captain Marvel, formerly Captain Marvel Junior). Incidentally, she is also powerless. Elsewhere, the Flash’s rogues are up to no good and planning a get together, which the Trickster wants to be a part of. He tries to crash the party and is being spied on by the Pied Piper, who seems unhappy with what the Trickster is up to. Again, Duela is being pursued by the Red Hood, but before much can come of it, she is murdered by a rogue Monitor who believes she is an anomaly that will help destroy the multiverse. As the issue closes, we find another Monitor at the Source Wall, now separating the multiple universes. He learns that a “Great Disaster” is coming and that the secret to stopping it is the missing Ray Palmer, the former Atom.
While one of the best things about 52 is that, despite being chock full of obscure DC characters, it was relatively accessible to new and casual readers. If you could find a summary of the Infinite Crisis, the rest of the story was filled in from there, with few nods here and there to continuity, but it wasn’t exactly hard to follow. Countdown, on the other hand, is a whole different beast altogether. The Mary Marvel scene makes no sense whatsoever unless you have read the first issue of Trials of Shazam! And have at least passing knowledge of the events that have taken place in the book since that issue. The history of the Trickster and Pied Piper is explained somewhat, though a good understanding of their shifting allegiances would definitely pave the way for a better understanding of the issue. Most importantly, however, is the fact that readers must have knowledge of who the Monitor was, what the Source Wall is, and why there are multiple Monitors now. Without this knowledge, which is not given up in any of the major DC titles recently, nor in 52, Countdown #1 is not going to make much sense, so casual readers and new readers are going to need to start Googling from the outset. However, as a committed and somewhat knowledgeable DC fan, this issue works for me. For you folks, however, results will vary.
I must say, however, that I loved the idea that Duela is now claiming to be from a different reality. While she may not have the explicit knowledge of the return of the multiverse, articles from 52theComic.com shortly after the close of Infinite Crisis detailed the fact that there were now historical inconsistencies that have been attributed to the collapsing of the multiple Earths that were clearly visible to all of New Earth’s inhabitants. For someone as unstable as Duela, claiming to be a remnant of one of those Earth’s is wholly in character. I find it even more interesting that one of the Monitors believes her to be right. Under normal circumstances, I would say that she could have been. After all, she does appear to be a lot like the Joker and with her last name being Dent, she could be from some Earth where Two Face is a woman who bred with the Joker and out popped Duela. Then again, she’s been pulling this stuff since she first appeared, so we, as readers, seem to know better. Additionally, she appeared during the One Year Gap as a member of the Teen Titans before shacking up with Titans East, so she seems to have been around prior to the creation of non-identical multiple Earths. So, it would seem that the Monitor was wrong. However, given that the Monitors’ jobs are to watch over the multiverse, you’d think that they wouldn’t exactly be privy to being fooled by Duela Dent. More importantly, though, I think that is an extreme waste of a character. Her recent revamp and updated design make the character much more intriguing and I think that here time with Titans East could have revitalized the character. No, she’ll never be a major selling point, but I think there are plenty of good stories that could be told with her.
However, there is the possibility that her death did not take place on New Earth. After all, Red Hood does seem relatively calm and less crazy than usual in this issue. Given that the guy has been murdering his way through the criminal element, to see him shocked at Duela’s murder after he was angry at her own violence, I’m seeing a soft-side that is inconsistent with his other appearances (although, as he have shown by killing drug dealers that deal to children and his assistance with the Outsiders, he does have the desire to do good). Regardless, something strange is definitely afoot here and I hope that it is more complex and fulfilling than it is in this issue.
The other sections, though less intriguing were handled a bit better. Darkseid’s DCU “chess” set was very awesome, as was his forewarning that is echoed by the final scene. Something bad is coming and I suspect a confrontation between the Monitors and the New Gods will be a major part of whatever it is. At this point, the Trickster/Pied Piper plot doesn’t appear to have much direction, but the characterization is fairly spot-on. The Mary Marvel scenes were my favorite, as I’ve always liked the character and thrusting her in the mystery of being abandoned by her friends (which we know Eclipso has a part of from the solicits and previews) only makes her all the more interesting.
My biggest problem? No Jimmy Olsen. You can’t make promise like “Jimmy Olsen Must Die!” and then have him not show up yet. Lame!
Jesus Saiz is an interesting choice for the art chores here. While he is one of my favorite artists in the DC stable, he hasn’t done anything very high-profile since The OMAC Project preceeding the Infinite Crisis (for those of you interested, he also did some great work on Manhunter and Checkmate, books you should be reading!). Normally I would be extraordinarily pleased with this choice, as his line work is impecible and his use of shadows—provided he has the right inker—is wonderful. Jimmy Palmiotti, one of the most underrated inkers in the business (besides being a great writer), does a wonderful job working with Saiz and the duo create some art that would look great in black and white. Unfortunately, the colors by Tom Chu don’t work as well with me. Saiz’s art looks best with earth tones or dark greys and blues, but Chu uses a much bolder pallet, using brighter colors that do not mesh well with the art otherwise. While it certainly doesn’t ruin the art, fans of Saiz and Palmiotti will feel let down by the end result.
Normally I don’t have much to say about the covers in my review (outside of a blurb in the wrap-up), but I simply cannot go without commenting on this one. First of all, gatefold covers can be really, really cool…if done correctly. Likewise, jam-packed hero covers can also be really, really cool…if done correctly. Unfortunately, despite his desire to come across like George Perez, Andy Kubert totally disappoints me here. His anatomy is terrible inconsistent, as are his details. Its clear that some heroes got a good amount of time spent on them, while others were left in the dust. The result is uneven, inconsistent, and poorly spaced. Much like everything the Kuberts have done since jumping ship to DC, I’m finding myself tremendously disappointed here.
Story: B/B+ There are some cool things here and some great concepts are being set up, but unfortunately, it feels rushed and the characterizations are not always as strong as I would like. In the end, this just doesn't feel like the first issue of an event comic.
Art: B This is proof that art is best done as a team, with pencilers, inkers, and colorists that compliment one another.
Cover: C The concept is clichéd and the execution is disappointing. You know who does look cool on this cover, though? Aquaman. I think that says something right there.
“Look to the Skies”
Written by Paul Dini
Pencils by Jesus Saiz
Inks by Jimmy Palmiotti
Colors by Tom Chu
Letters by Travis Lanham
Cover by Andy Kubert
With 52 concluding last week with one of the title’s strongest issues, I had very high hopes for DC’s new weekly series, Countdown. Given that it has had a lot of lead time, is tied directly to the greater DCU at large, is being overseen by the ever-amazing Paul Dini, and is being written by one writer at a time, I figured that it would start with a bang and continue on successfully from there. While the first issue, number 51, is a good comic, it doesn’t quite meet my expectations and sets a relatively low standard for the issues to follow.
The issue opens with Darkseid, who returned in the final issue of Firestorm, plotting something nefarious involving the end of the world and its subsequent reconstruction, with himself as the “architect.” Elsewhere, Duela Dent, aka Joker’s Daughter, returns to a life of crime by holding a wealthy singer hostage, but is thwarted by the Red Hood, who wants her to avoid bloodshed and seems to hope that Duela will rejoin the side of good. While this may seem out of place for Jason Todd, who has been ultra violent since return form the dead, this change of heart is nowhere near as shock as Duela’s new claim, that she is displaced from an alternate universe. Meanwhile, Mary Marvel awakens from her coma (see Trials of Shazam! #1, only to find that she has been left behind by Billy (the new Shazam, formerly Captain Marvel) and Freddy (the new Captain Marvel, formerly Captain Marvel Junior). Incidentally, she is also powerless. Elsewhere, the Flash’s rogues are up to no good and planning a get together, which the Trickster wants to be a part of. He tries to crash the party and is being spied on by the Pied Piper, who seems unhappy with what the Trickster is up to. Again, Duela is being pursued by the Red Hood, but before much can come of it, she is murdered by a rogue Monitor who believes she is an anomaly that will help destroy the multiverse. As the issue closes, we find another Monitor at the Source Wall, now separating the multiple universes. He learns that a “Great Disaster” is coming and that the secret to stopping it is the missing Ray Palmer, the former Atom.
While one of the best things about 52 is that, despite being chock full of obscure DC characters, it was relatively accessible to new and casual readers. If you could find a summary of the Infinite Crisis, the rest of the story was filled in from there, with few nods here and there to continuity, but it wasn’t exactly hard to follow. Countdown, on the other hand, is a whole different beast altogether. The Mary Marvel scene makes no sense whatsoever unless you have read the first issue of Trials of Shazam! And have at least passing knowledge of the events that have taken place in the book since that issue. The history of the Trickster and Pied Piper is explained somewhat, though a good understanding of their shifting allegiances would definitely pave the way for a better understanding of the issue. Most importantly, however, is the fact that readers must have knowledge of who the Monitor was, what the Source Wall is, and why there are multiple Monitors now. Without this knowledge, which is not given up in any of the major DC titles recently, nor in 52, Countdown #1 is not going to make much sense, so casual readers and new readers are going to need to start Googling from the outset. However, as a committed and somewhat knowledgeable DC fan, this issue works for me. For you folks, however, results will vary.
I must say, however, that I loved the idea that Duela is now claiming to be from a different reality. While she may not have the explicit knowledge of the return of the multiverse, articles from 52theComic.com shortly after the close of Infinite Crisis detailed the fact that there were now historical inconsistencies that have been attributed to the collapsing of the multiple Earths that were clearly visible to all of New Earth’s inhabitants. For someone as unstable as Duela, claiming to be a remnant of one of those Earth’s is wholly in character. I find it even more interesting that one of the Monitors believes her to be right. Under normal circumstances, I would say that she could have been. After all, she does appear to be a lot like the Joker and with her last name being Dent, she could be from some Earth where Two Face is a woman who bred with the Joker and out popped Duela. Then again, she’s been pulling this stuff since she first appeared, so we, as readers, seem to know better. Additionally, she appeared during the One Year Gap as a member of the Teen Titans before shacking up with Titans East, so she seems to have been around prior to the creation of non-identical multiple Earths. So, it would seem that the Monitor was wrong. However, given that the Monitors’ jobs are to watch over the multiverse, you’d think that they wouldn’t exactly be privy to being fooled by Duela Dent. More importantly, though, I think that is an extreme waste of a character. Her recent revamp and updated design make the character much more intriguing and I think that here time with Titans East could have revitalized the character. No, she’ll never be a major selling point, but I think there are plenty of good stories that could be told with her.
However, there is the possibility that her death did not take place on New Earth. After all, Red Hood does seem relatively calm and less crazy than usual in this issue. Given that the guy has been murdering his way through the criminal element, to see him shocked at Duela’s murder after he was angry at her own violence, I’m seeing a soft-side that is inconsistent with his other appearances (although, as he have shown by killing drug dealers that deal to children and his assistance with the Outsiders, he does have the desire to do good). Regardless, something strange is definitely afoot here and I hope that it is more complex and fulfilling than it is in this issue.
The other sections, though less intriguing were handled a bit better. Darkseid’s DCU “chess” set was very awesome, as was his forewarning that is echoed by the final scene. Something bad is coming and I suspect a confrontation between the Monitors and the New Gods will be a major part of whatever it is. At this point, the Trickster/Pied Piper plot doesn’t appear to have much direction, but the characterization is fairly spot-on. The Mary Marvel scenes were my favorite, as I’ve always liked the character and thrusting her in the mystery of being abandoned by her friends (which we know Eclipso has a part of from the solicits and previews) only makes her all the more interesting.
My biggest problem? No Jimmy Olsen. You can’t make promise like “Jimmy Olsen Must Die!” and then have him not show up yet. Lame!
Jesus Saiz is an interesting choice for the art chores here. While he is one of my favorite artists in the DC stable, he hasn’t done anything very high-profile since The OMAC Project preceeding the Infinite Crisis (for those of you interested, he also did some great work on Manhunter and Checkmate, books you should be reading!). Normally I would be extraordinarily pleased with this choice, as his line work is impecible and his use of shadows—provided he has the right inker—is wonderful. Jimmy Palmiotti, one of the most underrated inkers in the business (besides being a great writer), does a wonderful job working with Saiz and the duo create some art that would look great in black and white. Unfortunately, the colors by Tom Chu don’t work as well with me. Saiz’s art looks best with earth tones or dark greys and blues, but Chu uses a much bolder pallet, using brighter colors that do not mesh well with the art otherwise. While it certainly doesn’t ruin the art, fans of Saiz and Palmiotti will feel let down by the end result.
Normally I don’t have much to say about the covers in my review (outside of a blurb in the wrap-up), but I simply cannot go without commenting on this one. First of all, gatefold covers can be really, really cool…if done correctly. Likewise, jam-packed hero covers can also be really, really cool…if done correctly. Unfortunately, despite his desire to come across like George Perez, Andy Kubert totally disappoints me here. His anatomy is terrible inconsistent, as are his details. Its clear that some heroes got a good amount of time spent on them, while others were left in the dust. The result is uneven, inconsistent, and poorly spaced. Much like everything the Kuberts have done since jumping ship to DC, I’m finding myself tremendously disappointed here.
Story: B/B+ There are some cool things here and some great concepts are being set up, but unfortunately, it feels rushed and the characterizations are not always as strong as I would like. In the end, this just doesn't feel like the first issue of an event comic.
Art: B This is proof that art is best done as a team, with pencilers, inkers, and colorists that compliment one another.
Cover: C The concept is clichéd and the execution is disappointing. You know who does look cool on this cover, though? Aquaman. I think that says something right there.