COUNTING DOWN WITH MIKE MARTS: COUNTDOWN #48

[MattBrady]

The mysteries around Jimmy Olsen continued to deepen, Mary Bromfield is desperately trying to change her last name back to “Marvel,” and as such, is talking to the biggest mass-murderer in the current DC Universe, Black Adam; Karate Kid, still in a holding cel; and in Metropolis, New Gods are falling from the sky – and dying, apparently.

So what’s going on in Countdown #48? We spoke with Editor Mike Marts.

Newsarama: Let's start with Mary's issues here - take us inside her head a little. Why's she so eager to get back into the game of super-heroing? There seems to be a desperation...towards an addiction going on here…

Mike Marts: See, that’s the thing...Mary’s desperation isn’t necessarily about getting back into super-heroing....it’s more about feeling the painful loss of her powers. She had her super powers for so long—trusted them, relied on them, perhaps even took them for granted...and now they’re gone, seemingly forever. And Mary’s finding this extremely difficult to live with. She’s lost her sense of purpose, her sense of self. She feels backed into a corner. And now—who knows—she might try anything to get her powers back.

NRAMA: Anything?

MM: Anything.

NRAMA: On that front, and time-wise, when's Countdown taking place compared to Trials of Shazam?

MM: The events of Countdown and Trials of Shazam may not line up perfectly...but for the most part Trials happens before Countdown and then concurrently - at least, according to Trials editor Mike Carlin. And he knows everything, so he must be right!

NRAMA: So - Billy's changing of Black Adam's magic word at the end of 52 - worked for about what, just over a year...or less? Will Adam's discovery be seen in the Black Adam mini?

MM: Without giving too much away, Black Adam editor Michael Siglain tells me that all will be revealed in Teth-Adam’s upcoming six issue mini-series which connects the end of 52 to the beginning of Countdown - everything about his magic word, his powers, etc. Black Adam is written by Peter Tomasi with art by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy.

NRAMA: Okay – over to Jimmy...Perry now knows that Jason Todd is Red Hood, so, by default, the entire Daily Planet now knows?

MM: No, not necessarily...as hinted last week, there is a story behind the connection between Jimmy Olsen and Jason Todd. A story that will be told within the pages of Countdown.

NRAMA: Keeping our changeups fast and furious…up in orbit with Starman and Karate Kid. A nugget of possible truth from Starman - Doctor Impossible? Is she real, or a figment of Starman's imagination?

MM: Perhaps a bit of both? There are still a few questions left unanswered about the Legion of Super Heroes’ appearance in the 21st Century...why was Karate Kid in the Trident costume? Starman may hold some of the answers. But getting those answers out of him may be another story.

NRAMA: And back down to earth - just so we're clear on the effect - Jimmy showed super-speed?

MM: Yes...so for those of you who are keeping track, Jimmy has now exhibited elasticity against Killer Croc in Countdown #49 and super-speed in Metropolis in #48.

NRAMA: Any more powers coming in the near future?

MM: The “near future’s” less than a week away, so just keep reading.

NRAMA: Fair enough. Okay - Lightray - once again to you, new DC guy - who's Lightray?

MM: First and foremost Lightray is a New God from New Genesis. His powers involve traveling at the speed of light as well as manipulating photons into blasts of light, lasers, heat and more. If there’s any one New God who is the nicest and most friendly and kindest and most jovial—Lightray is it. Or was it, to be more precise. Lightray was even a member of the Justice League once upon a time.

NRAMA: That was during the Giffen/DeMatteis run…hmmm…what, was he a loose end?

MM: Hey – you have another question coming other than that one?

NRAMA: Well then, let's touch upon the impact of Lightray's death - what does that mean for those in the know in the DCU?

MM: Well, if Lightray is indeed truly dead (and we have no reason to believe otherwise), then the impact of his death is of enormous proportions. Lightray’s a member of a race of gods who are supposedly immortal...so how can a god die? And if a god can die, what does this mean for the rest of the DC Universe? Plus, there are so many other questions that stem from his death: Who—or what—killed him? Is there a specific reason why it was Lightray that died? Will he be the only New God to die?

NRAMA: Back to Jimmy and powers - any hints at what happened to Jimmy at Lightray's death?

MM: Hints, huh? Well...does anyone else besides me think it seemed strange that Jimmy was right there at ground zero where Lightray died...? You know, with all that light shooting up from the crater and everything? Didn’t that seem odd? Anyone else? Anyone?

NRAMA: That should do it for us this week - over to you for the tease...what's coming up in #47?

MM: Issue #47 is a significant for several reasons...Jimmy has a strange dream with hints of the future...the Monitors reach a lethal decision...Trickster and Piper have a heart-to-heart...and Mary...well, it’s truly Mary as we’ve never seen her before. Paul Dini, Sean McKeever and Tom Derenick deliver the goods in one short week!

In the meantime…

[Mithel]

Liking the apparent new direction for Mary Marvel.

[thefourthman]

Jimmy in the source wall? And is that breach on the Moniters'...uh... moniter?

[rwe1138]

Wait, no New God has ever died before? Really?

[Spaz_Monkey]

I know there's people who are complaning about the slowness of this book. It's 52 freaking issues long! We're talking decomprssion on a grand scale!

That said, I'm very happily letting myself get drawn in. Week after week, I'm enjoying the littlereveals as well as the over-all story. This should prove to be a great year worth of comics!

[WynnHuntr2]

Im really looking forward to the New Gods stuff in this series. Which is actually making me look forward to the Kirby omnibus's.

[rwe1138]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

And is that breach on the Moniters'...uh... moniter?

You are correct, sir.

[noeanez]

black adam re-depowered? black mary? Super Jimmy Olsen?

wow... I´m really on it.

And I am beginning to think that Jimmy deserves the S in the chest more than Supes does

[TheMightyGeek]

Black Mary Marvel. She should go hang out with Black Alice.

[WynnHuntr2]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

Jimmy in the source wall? And is that breach on the Moniters'...uh... moniter?

Yeah thats Breach. I wonder who the chick on the slab is?

[TCJohnson]

Looks like the source wall is coming down.

[thefourthman]

Oh yeah and is that a dominator on the source wall to the right of Jimmy?

[greenflameuk]

Originally Posted by WynnHuntr2

Yeah thats Breach. I wonder who the chick on the slab is?

It's Duela Dent.

[thefourthman]

If Breach is back will he bring back the creepy monkey people? I forget what they were called, but they ruled!

[vbartilucci]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

And is that breach on the Moniters'...uh... moniter?

Keep looking...that's WONDER WOMAN on one of the Monitor's monitors...

My god, they may have an out for the past year of hell after all

Hm, on second thought, I think that's Donna Troy in the WW outfit. Damn.

Can't quite place who that is laying supine between her and to Breach, tho. Duela, sans makeup?

[KACH]

Originally Posted by Mithel

Liking the apparent new direction for Mary Marvel.

I love it when they talk dirty. Sssssllllut!

Also, Newsarama Proof-Readers- You may wanna change the blurb on the front page to say "#48" rather than "#38".

Thank you,
--J.

[Lucifer]

I want them to make a poster out of the Mary Marvel cover!

[strong guy79]

I don't think that's the Source Wall Jimmy's trapped in. It looks more like Lady Styx's ship.

[Bevbos]

Hmm. Interesting. I like the concept of Black Mary Marvel, and I don't like the concept of re-powered Black Adam. So if we're seeing a "transfer of power," I could buy that.

[Jomma]

DC is working too hard on making me fall in love with Mary.



I must say it's working.

[Banana_Oil]

Originally Posted by rwe1138

Wait, no New God has ever died before? Really?

That's not true. Highfather and Forager have died.

Most of Darkseid's Elite have died at least once, but Darkseid can just whip up a new batch of clones (although each successive copy is inferior; see Hunger Dogs). Steppenwulf, Mantis, the Deep Six, and especially Kalibak and DeSaad have all been killed and resurrected at various times.

[rwe1138]

Originally Posted by Banana_Oil

That's not true. Highfather and Forager have died.

Most of Darkseid's Elite have died at least once, but Darkseid can just whip up a new batch of clones (although each successive copy is inferior; see Hunger Dogs). Steppenwulf, Mantis, the Deep Six, and especially Kalibak and DeSaad have all been killed and resurrected at various times.

See, that's what I thought. Seems a little misleading, to me...

[thefourthman]

Originally Posted by Banana_Oil

That's not true. Highfather and Forager have died.

Most of Darkseid's Elite have died at least once, but Darkseid can just whip up a new batch of clones (although each successive copy is inferior; see Hunger Dogs). Steppenwulf, Mantis, the Deep Six, and especially Kalibak and DeSaad have all been killed and resurrected at various times.

DeSaad isn't a god is he?

[Banana_Oil]

Originally Posted by thefourthman

DeSaad isn't a god is he?

The ones from Apokalips are just as much New Gods as the ones from New Genesis.

[thefourthman]

Yeah, but I always thought DeSaad was some human slave or something.