Countdown #38 Review

COUNTDOWN #38
Story by Paul Dini
Script by Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art by Jesus Saiz

I have to admit, Countdown has seen a noticeable improvement in quality over the last two or three weeks. It has gone from a completely forgettable waste of paper to a fairly average book. It is by no means a must buy or even something I would recommend to anyone but the most die hard DC fan, but I do concede it is improving.

This issue, despite the cover, does not focus very much on Mr Action. We basically see him apply to the Teen Titans, whom he said he thought were too angsty last issue when trying to decide what team to join. When Robin "tests" Jimmy, we find out that his powers will not work unless he is threatened. As Robin held back and did not want to hurt him, Jimmy could not access his powers. This takes place over about two pages and that is all we see of Mr Olsen for this whole issue.

In other news, we see the results of the Calculator hacking Oracle's network in an attempt to steal the identities of all the known super heroes. As a Computer Science major, I find this whole storyline completely ridiculous. The jargon they use, the fact they think a single hacker could do the kinds of things these two do in seconds, the supposed reversals and counter measures they use to stop each other are simply way too off the wall and this is from someone who reads comics about super heroes. Why Mrs Gordan would keep the identities of her friends and colleagues on an unsecured computer connected to the internet in the first place is idiotic at best.

On top of this, Karate Kid mysteriously has an illness and proclaims he will die. When he found this out is another mystery. Before Lightning Saga? After? Off panel when Brainiac told him to stay in this time period? So many simple questions that should have been answered and were not. These do not add suspense or mystery or intrigue. They are simply annoying inconsistencies.

Another blunder of a plot point concerns the Rogues. Question and Batwoman have two known criminals, both connected to the murder of the Flash, and because Trickster acts like a complete retard playing with two puppets, Montoya simply lets them go because she believes they are too stupid to possibly have killed the Flash.

While funny as hell, it made absolutely no sense. When questioned by Batwoman, she simply states she was a detective in Gotham and that her instincts tell her two super powered criminals who were present at Flash's death and have prior history with attacking Flash are innocent because they are stupid. Even if they were innocent, and they are not based on my reading of Flash #13, they are still known criminals and on the run from the law. There is no reason they should have been set free.

The only story that seems to be progressing nicely these days is the one I personally do not care for and that is the corruption of Mary Marvel. I just do not agree with the need to increase her bust size, make her more edgier and antihero-like, but I do think the story is being handled as well as could be hoped with this series. Mary and Zatanna take down a character I am not familiar with, but is pointed out to be related to the New Gods. Mary displays more power and figures out she does not need Zatanna to tutor her while Eclipso watches her reckless displays of power.

In the end, we also find out that the Monitor's have been watching the events with the New Gods and that the death toll from the mysterious killer has reached the double digits. Darkseid is seen at the end of this issue and I hope it indicates a more prominent role for him in upcoming weeks after the 15 weeks off since issue 52.

Still far too many inconsistencies and down right stupid developments to recommend this book to anyone. There is also the problem that many of these storylines will be jumping ship to mini-series in the coming months, among them being Mary Marvel's, Red Hood / Donna Troy, Forerunner and several others. While I am less than impressed with this weekly requiring even more tie-in books to understand, hopefully it means that the main storyline will emerge and the many plot inconsistencies can begin to smooth out and I can actually recommend this book to someone.

Verdict - Avoid It

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