Countdown #2: Review

Posted by Joshua S. Hill

April 18, 2008

This review is also seen at Major Spoilers

Though this is a week late, and the review for the next episode will soon be following, I decided that I would uphold my end of the bargain and review Countdown #3. Mainly, because I want to provide ~wyntermute~ with another review that isn’t 5/5, but also because I said I would review the last 5 issues (assuming that there is a 0 issue).

Though this issue was better than its immediate predecessor, it still wasn’t up to the quality we would want from a series about to go ‘Crisis.’

This issue is pretty much Superman versus Darkseid, which is just as well considering that Jimmy Olsen has been one of the main characters throughout Countdown, yet big red-and-blue has been mysteriously absent from his life.

For a kid who has a watch/whistle/whatever that Superman can tune in on within a heartbeat, it has always been a bit confusing why Olsen never got the sort of help he was used too. Sure, he probably wants to be a man and independent, but…

My main issue with this comic is – once again – Mary Marvel. It seems like the writers – Sean McKeever and Paul Dini headline this issue – have simply forced Mary’s hand to be evil, so that she can play whatever part in the Crisis they have set out for her. It makes no sense that Mary Marvel has gone dark, and that none of the others have come to help her – no matter how busy they are.

Speaking of Superman and Mary Marvel, there is a similar discrepancy in the art between the two, as there is in their storylines in this issue.

Superman is drawn really well by Freddie Williams II, with some nice strong lines in the face, that don’t overextend the character. Superman has always been a simple guy – he’s the corn fed boy scout of the superhero genre – and he’s drawn thusly in this comic. Detail has gone in to the costume that he’s wearing – though it is a little too reminiscent of the Batman & Robin bat-suit – with suitable touches added, such as the belt loops.

Mary Marvel on the other hand looks like my cat humanized and cartoonized. I know that doesn’t really make a lot of sense, but it is the best way I can describe the “Fair enough!” panel.

One plus is that she uses Kyle Rainer like a mallet to take out Donna Troy. Now I’m as big a fan of Donna as the next person, but Kyle … let’s just say it’s nice to see him being useful for once.

The comic ends with – as it should – some fantastic Atom involvement. I’m a big fan of Ray Palmer, and it was nice to know that he hadn’t just vamoosed again. He not only showed that he was a hero, but he also showed his smarts by realizing who would be targeted.

The comic ends on a suitably mediocre point to match the issues overall mediocrity, yet it still makes me want to read next week’s issue, which, yes, I’ll be reading and reviewing in moments.

Countdown is not something you will want to get in to right now, as it is far too late. And I have no doubt that before Final Crisis comes out there will be a book suitably summing up everything that has happened (otherwise, just check out Wikipedia). Still, for those of us reading week to week, it might get better… it has to, right?