DC Countdown: #41-38

There are going to be some minor spoilers here, but generally the covers of the books seem to give away at least one ‘surprise’ in that particular issue.

Jimmy Olsen finally decides to create a costume and become MR. ACTION. As one other character says, ‘all the good names must have been taken.’ Still it is fun seeing Jimmy trying to do something positive with his new found powers, even if is he still a little unsure about them. He also discovers that his abilities only work when he is in danger of serious harm. For instance, he can be hit with a fist, but if threatened by a weapon his new powers will protect him. There are some fun scenes with him in action and trying to convince Robin that he should be a Teen Titan. I’m hoping that this doesn’t end tragically and Jimmy gets a real chance to prove himself. (A link from the headline above will take you to the Wikipedia entry on Olsen.)

It should not come as a surprise to see that Darkseid is going to be a major player in the series, especially considering that at least one of the New Gods, Lightray, has been offed. Considering the ill treatment Jack Kirby’s Fourth World creations have been given it might be time to remove them from the DCU at least for a while, if not permanently.

I have to admit that, at least as he has been portrayed in COUNTDOWN, Jason Todd is not as unlikable as I had come to expect. It would not surprise me to find that he will not be surviving into the next event, but in these books he comes off with a sense of humor. That in itself is something his mentor, BATMAN, hasn’t displayed in years. I mean, coming up with the nickname ‘Bob’ for the Monitor who accompanies he and Donna is pretty funny!

This was my first look at the new incarnations of BATWOMAN and THE QUESTION, at least in costume. I don’t know how others feel about it, but I don’t see why a female QUESTION couldn’t work. As she herself says at one point, Renee Montoya was a good detective and police officer in her own right, before following in the footsteps of the late Vic Sage. I read at some point that she and the new Batwoman (Katherine Kane) had beenlovers at some point, something which some fans seem upset about. I don’t think they have a problem with either character being gay (although there are some folks I’m sure not thrilled by the idea) but that they have gone back and retroactively made the existing Montoya into a lesbian.

I’m not reading the current LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, but it was mentioned previously that several Legionaires will be left behind in the 21st century. We see Karate Kid and one of Triplicate Girl’s personas is left behind, while the rest of the Legion returns home. I remember in old continuity that when one of her bodies was killed, she became Duo Damsel, but it caused her some emotional trauma. Here she seems to be okay with being separated and is going by the name Una. I expect the two of them to be reunited (no pun intended) with the equally time-stranded Starboy/man pretty soon.

Overall COUNTDOWN isn’t a great series, but it continues to hold my interest. Unfortunately, I know full well that it is not going to actually end, but eventually morph into the next event, FINAL CRISIS at some point. Whether I’m still around for that remains to be seen.