All right, I take back everything I said about IDENTITY CRISIS. DC has shown that they're willing to allow the events of the much-lauded-and-later-maligned miniseries resonate throughout the DC Universe. This is no more evident than in the pages of DC COUNTDOWN #1 when Batman makes it clear to his butler, Alfred, that he is quite aware that the Justice League took his memories of the night Dr. Light raped Sue Dibney and was mind-wiped (and made stupid) by some members of the JLA. That's really only the beginning. What we have here is the beginning of a series of events that may well shatter our very notion of the DC Universe for years to come (I should really be writing copy for WIZARD, shouldn't I?). To start with, Ted Kord the Blue Beetle uncovers a conspiracy to not only destroy the Justice League from the inside, but to wrest control of the entire planet from the grip of those metahumans (you know, superheroes) that protect it (or control it, if you believe said conspiracy's perpetrator). Along the way, he dodges several attempts on his own life (including one that nearly kills his fellow B-lister, Booster Gold), is rebuked and disbelieved by nearly every other member of the JLA, and ultimately makes an unfathomable sacrifice in his quest for the truth. You've probably already read the spoiler online, but I won't give it up here. It's done right and believe me, it stings.
DC has made it clear that they aren't playing around and there's virtually no turning back at this point. The sequel to CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS is coming. The miniseries that will spring from DC COUNTDOWN will lead into something cataclysmic. You're probably thinking that this reads like another WIZARD hype piece for the usual yearly crossover that's supposed to rock whichever universe to its foundation, only to have things return more or less to normal after a few months (though I am so glad that Spoiler's dead...God am I glad). But, DC COUNTDOWN is the real deal. It's well-written, well-drawn and a great pleasure to read unto itself. Considering the sheer volume of talent on this book, it's really amazing that it comes together so seamlessly. I really did like this book that much.
Here, I'll make one complaint to satisfy the cynics among you: if you aren't at least somewhat familiar with the Justice League (and I barely qualify as such), some of the characters herein aren't instantly recognizable. I'm still kind of in the dark about who Maxwell Lord is and what the hell Checkmate is, although both are touched on briefly for the uninformed (me), so you can kind of get the gist of what's going on. But, it's still less satisfying than if either the reader already has experience with the characters or if said characters were better explained. But regardless, the book's still enjoyable. And for a whole freakin' dollar, what do you have to lose? Pick this one up.
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