DAN DIDIO COMES CLEAN ON THE COUNTDOWN TEASER IMAGE

**MattBrady** · 06-29-2007, 02:08 PM

It was the image that spawned thousands of comments – DC’s teaser image for Countdown, which showed Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Black canary, Green Arrow, Mr. Miracle, Big Barda, Flash, and other heroes (and objects) in…curious poses and positions.

Everything in the image, it was said, had meaning. Nothing was accidental.

Yeah – you could almost hear DC Universe Executive Editor Dan DiDio, who masterminded the teaser giggling with somewhat maniacal glee as DC fans pondered and speculated about what the characters meant, why the specific objects were shown, and how it all related to what was coming up in Countdown.

Well now, we’re into Countdown’s run, and DiDio has decided it’s time to come clean – to let some fans know they’re right, to let others know that, while their guess may have been meticulously researched, they were slightly off base, and to drop a couple of major teases about what’s to come.

Just for a refresher, the full image looked like this (click for a larger version, and over here for a ridiculously large version, split up).

Newsarama: First off Dan, let’s talk about the overall setting. As you’ve said before, nothing in this image was accidental or left to chance, so – why New York?

Dan DiDio: Because much of the larger story that will be taking place in the DCU will be taking place in New York, or there will be events taking place there that effect changes in the landscape. Also, New York plays two roles in the image – it hearkens back to the image of Kamandi #1 with the broken Statue of Liberty, but it also has ties to the Sinestro Corps War, which will be playing out later this year. Turns out that Sinestro wants to visit New York City.

Okay – but going deeper…the ground that they stand on is important, too. We put dead DCU characters in the foreground, and basically, anybody who was standing on the ground that the dead characters were laying in – that made them very vulnerable, with the idea being that they might not see the end of the year.

NRAMA: So the ground is the “dead zone?”

DD: Right. Anybody that was in the proximity of the dead zone is also in jeopardy.

NRAMA: So…Mary Marvel is going to die?

DD: No – Mary’s actually sitting on the Statue’s head, so it’s a safe bet that she’ll survive whatever’s coming up for her. If you look under the feet of Superman and Wonder Woman, it’s green, so they’re okay, Canary’s okay. Big Barda and Mr. Miracle…they’re in jeopardy.

NRAMA: Really?

DD: Where they are in that image…I’d say it spells out something like The Death of the New Gods…but that’s just me.

And then we also did one other bit, which may have been too subtle for the picture, and that was Flash having one foot on the statue and one foot off the statue, which meant that particular Flash, at that moment, had one foot in the grave.

NRAMA: And “that particular Flash” was Bart…

DD: That was Bart. It was Barry’s costume, which we meant to be indicative of the fact that Barry was our last dead Flash, so it was a symbolic moment. There was some symbolism in the image as well – it wasn’t all as clear cut as where characters were standing.

NRAMA: What was the importance of showing the dead characters in the first place, when this was a Countdown teaser image, and some of the characters died…what…over a year ago at this point…?

DD: Exactly. It was to show and remind people that characters that they have known and loved aren’t safe. No character in that picture should feel comfortable either.

NRAMA: The device between Jade and Maxwell Lord – what is that? It’s been a point of speculation among fans, given it’s Kirby-esque look…

DD: Yeah – I saw some folks saying that it looks to be a “Kirby device” or at least Kirby in origin, and that’s correct. More importantly, that device appears in our next teaser image as well…about which I can say more in a little bit.

NRAMA: Okay then, moving on – the Legion flight ring up by Blue Beetle’s hand…that was a pointer to “The Lightning Saga?”

DD: It was a little bit of that, but again, where is the ring, physically, in the image?

NRAMA: On the ground.

DD: Right. That’s important.

NRAMA: So the entire Legion is in danger, or the individual Legionnaire that the ring belongs to is?

DD: Whoever owns that ring is going to be in a world of danger that they just might not survive.

NRAMA: So the characters who are dead are on the ground, or have some contact with the ground, yet there’s a little red hand pointed the opposite direction from the ground…

DD: Coming back from the dead, so to speak…and that would be Ray Palmer.

NRAMA: Moving around the image – Kyle and Donna…

DD: The couple – a natural couple to be together…of course, Kyle has a conspicuous yellow ring on, which shows that he, as Parallax has joined the Sinestro Corps.

NRAMA: And Donna in her old costume…

DD: We wanted to give her the look that most people recognize, and identify her with. Also, the color is significant based upon where she’s looking, and another character there, who’s looking at her. Even though she’s standing side-by-side with Kyle, her color signifies that her allegiance might be towards a different character than Kyle.

NRAMA: She’s wearing Red…so, Red Robin?

DD: Right.

NRAMA: But both Donna and Kyle looking off into…

DD: One is looking to the sky; the other is looking toward Red Robin. A lot of them are looking to the skies, though – as if something is coming.

NRAMA: Okay – moving on to Red Robin then…is it safe to assume that’s Jason Todd?

DD: Not only is it safe to assume that, I’ll tell you that. It’s Jason.

NRAMA: And his looking at Donna is playing off the interaction we’ve already seen, and are seeing show up in Countdown?

DD: Absolutely.

NRAMA: Okay – Black Canary. She’s looking off to the sky a bit…why’s she there in the first place?

DD: One of the key beats that we were touching on when this was being worked on was the relationship between Green Arrow and Black Canary, and the fact that Green Arrow is looking towards her, but is apart from her, physically, and her not paying attention to him was our way of showing that Allie would be working hard to win her back over to him.

NRAMA: Batman – is that his son, is that a Batman from another world…who is that?

DD: It’s a very symbolic costume, and that’s a storyline that we haven’t announced yet that’s coming out at the end of the year. The scimitar he’s holding is key to what that costume represents, and who he’ll be confronting.

NRAMA: Would that be Ra’s al Ghul?

DD: I didn’t say that.

NRAMA: But Ra’s has a scimitar thing going on now and again…

DD: All I’ll say is that scimitar is from a very famous cover of a Batman comic book.

NRAMA: You want to make a bet – I’ll say someone will post that cover by the twentieth response…you want higher or lower?

DD: I’ll take lower – I have faith in Batman fans.

NRAMA: Okay – continuing, then…Mary Marvel, looking troubled, and up to the sky…

DD: And half of her is cast in shadow. We’ve had the promotional pieces out, and I don’t think it’s any surprise that she’s coming in contact with Eclipso shortly, and that shadow is a harbinger of that.

NRAMA: Moving to Wonder Woman and Superman…Superman crying…you’ve probably heard enough jokes about that…

DD: [laughing] Well, I think I have, but I’m sure I’ll hear some more.

NRAMA: But what’s the crying suggesting or hinting at? He’s barely appeared in Countdown to date, and he hasn’t seen major tragedy in either Action or Superman…

DD: There’s something key that’s going on in that Superman/Wonder Woman image and I can’t give away the story beat there. Superman’s crying, and it’s for a good reason, and looking for comfort from Wonder Woman. The position they’re in, how they’re seated…it all gives away bits of the clues as to the pain that Superman is feeling.

NRAMA: There have been those who’ve said it’s reminiscent of Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is Mary cradling the body of Jesus…a parent mourning over a lost child…

DD: There might be some familiarity with that positioning.

NRAMA: And the shield behind Wonder Woman – a sign of the (the) coming attack by the Amazons?

DD: That’s actually Hippolyta’s shield, and signified the return of Wonder Woman’s mother.

NRAMA: Okay – anything we missed…?

DD: Um…hm…let’s go through it…looks matter, body positions matter…Jason as Red Robin will drive a wedge between the Challengers from Beyond…Batman’s sword, someone’s coming…a Legionnaire is marked for death…Superman and Wonder Woman discuss parent issues…is that a Boom Tube up there…?

NRAMA: “Parent issues?”

DD: Who said that?

NRAMA: You did.

DD: Oh, yes I did.

NRAMA: And?

DD: And I said, “parent issues.”

NRAMA: That’s all you’re saying?

DD: [laughs] for now.

NRAMA: Just to wrap up then – in the end, were you happy with how this teaser image worked?

DD: It was a lot of fun to put together – and yeah, sometimes we felt too clever for our own good, but what amazed us was just how that every piece was figured out, more or less – not all of them were figured out at the same time, by the same readers, or on the same site, but everything was identified, and everything was there. It was something that people who know and love DC were able to have fun with and play along with, and that’s what prompted us to do the second one.

Newsarama Note: Check back Monday for the world debut of DC’s second Countdown teaser image only here at Newsarama.

Punchy · 06-29-2007, 02:16 PM

Boo to the idea of killing Mister Miracle!

Boo to Jason Todd in Red Robin costume!

Yay for... Phil Jiminez...for drawing all these bad things, in a good way.

James Asia · 06-29-2007, 02:16 PM

man, I hope Barda and Mr. Miracle die, that will definitely make me buy more comics. Hot tie-ins like Amazons Attack are so funky fresh, it's dope how hot they mack it.

Skinshark · 06-29-2007, 02:16 PM

Wow, cool. I dig that cover too.

=s=

ziza9 · 06-29-2007, 02:20 PM

I have been very excited about DC and really enjoying their books over the last two - three years. THis just keeps that excitement level up for me. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Tony Lee · 06-29-2007, 02:22 PM

Is this the Scimitar? It's the one that I first thought of...

Iron Monkey · 06-29-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Asia

man, I hope Barda and Mr. Miracle die, that will definitely make me buy more comics. Hot tie-ins like Amazons Attack are so funky fresh, it's dope how hot they mack it.

I sense sarcasm in your voice sir, atleast I really, really hope I do. There aren't many happy couples left in the DCU and so far AA hasn't lived up to anything.

GohanWinner · 06-29-2007, 02:24 PM

Ugh. I've never been a big fan of bashing Didio, but this interview annoyed me, a lot. So, the only way to get decent stories is to kill or threaten to kill a bunch of characters?

I don't like Jason Todd as Red Robin, it doesn't fit the character.

I don't like Donna Troy falling for Jason Todd.

I do however love that image.

And given Didio's attitude to the entire image...Superman's crying because they're gonna kill Lois Lane.

willyd · 06-29-2007, 02:24 PM

If you look closely, VERY closely, right by the Legion flight ring, in Blue Beetle's hand...he's clutching a stack of One Year Later titles, including the All-New Aquaman, the All-New Firestorm, Wonder Woman's chances of becoming an important title, the All-New Flash, and the timeliness of Morrison's Batman, Busiek's Superman and Johns'/Donner's Action!

Was it all planned from the start?? Kudos Didio!

vbartilucci · 06-29-2007, 02:25 PM

That Kirby device (which looks a lot like the Killamajig from Futurama) showed up in Hawkgirl a few months back, I believe.

And judging from the location of the majority of the Statue of Liberty, and the NY skyline, the heroes are standing in New Jersey.

So anyone who sets foot on New Jersey soil will die.

Hell, New Yorkers have known that for YEARS...

ziza9 · 06-29-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

That Kirby device (which looks a lot like the Killamajig from Futurama) showed up in Hawkgirl a few months back, I believe.

And judging from the location of the majority of the Statue of Liberty, and the NY skyline, the heroes are standing in New Jersey.

So anyone who sets foot on New Jersey soil will die.

Hell, New Yorkers have known that for YEARS...

Hahahaha...so true.

chap22 · 06-29-2007, 02:27 PM

my new guess as to this year's Death #4 is now Martha Kent. Wondy and Supes' "parent issues", Wondy lost her mom in a big event, i think Supes will lose his. and i'll be pissed.

and putting Donna with either Kyle OR JT will also seriously piss me off.

but NONE of that will make me as mad as if they kill Barda and/or Scott. leave the JLI alone, Didio!!!!!!!!!!!

TCJohnson · 06-29-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

NRAMA: So…Mary Marvel is going to die?

DD: No – Mary’s actually sitting on the Statue’s head, so it’s a safe bet that she’ll survive whatever’s coming up for her. If you look under the feet of Superman and Wonder Woman, it’s green, so they’re okay, Canary’s okay. Big Barda and Mr. Miracle…they’re in jeopardy.

Really, why does Didio get so excited about killing off characters?

mike101 · 06-29-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willyd

If you look closely, VERY closely, right by the Legion flight ring, in Blue Beetle's hand...he's clutching a stack of One Year Later titles, including the All-New Aquaman, the All-New Firestorm, Wonder Woman's chances of becoming an important title, the All-New Flash, and the timeliness of Morrison's Batman, Busiek's Superman and Johns'/Donner's Action!

Was it all planned from the start?? Kudos Didio!

What are you smoking? And where can I get some?

Haterade · 06-29-2007, 02:28 PM

I can't tell a decent STORY to save my life-- witness ONE YEAR LATER, AMAZONS ATTACK, and COUNTDOWN, but KILLING CHARACTERS in horrific fashion never gets MIND-NUMBINGLY TIRED!

holtom2000 · 06-29-2007, 02:28 PM

dc teases just enough these days to keep me interested

pilapz · 06-29-2007, 02:28 PM

why is supes crying to wonder woman? i think something is going to happen to bats.....

holtom2000 · 06-29-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haterade

I can't tell a decent STORY to save my life-- witness ONE YEAR LATER, AMAZONS ATTACK, and COUNTDOWN, but KILLING CHARACTERS in horrific fashion never gets MIND-NUMBINGLY TIRED!

oh that's funny. but true. DC can't tell a good story these days without a high body count. They're incapable of it.

TerryX · 06-29-2007, 02:29 PM

Of course Mr. Miracle will die. He was part of the Giffen Justice League.

Carter101 · 06-29-2007, 02:31 PM

Red Robin, yes!

CMadness · 06-29-2007, 02:32 PM

Let's not forget that Booster Gold has a Legion flight ring.

MisterE · 06-29-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Asia

man, I hope Barda and Mr. Miracle die, that will definitely make me buy more comics. Hot tie-ins like Amazons Attack are so funky fresh, it's dope how hot they mack it.

BEST. SARCASTIC, QUOTE. EVER.