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Mild Mannered Reviews - Specials

Countdown 25

Countdown to Final Crisis 25

Scheduled to arrive in stores: November 7, 2007

Cover date: November 7, 2007

"Bedlam Below"

Writer: Paul Dini (head writer) with Adam Beechen
Penciller: Keith Giffen and Ron Lim
Inker: Jimmy Palmiotti and John Stanisci

Back-Up Story: "The Origin of Killer Frost"
Write: Scott Beatty
Penciller: Jamal Igle
Inker: Keith Champagne

Neal Bailey Reviewed by: Neal Bailey

Click to enlarge


Karate Kid and company run into Firestorm, and they in turn run into a security force watching over the ruins of Bludhaven. Predictably, a fight ensues until Firestorm turns their suit's air into ether.

Piper and Trickster are chased by Deadshot. They use their manacle to trip him, and run away, escaping a point-blank fight. With Deadshot.

Jimmy Olsen, on Apokolips, is put into slavery. He finds out, however, he is marked by Darkseid and thus is not killed.

Mary Marvel meets Darkseid, who offers to show her true darkness.

Firestorm and company break into a vault beneath the city to find Professor Stein being tortured by Desaad, who then turns on Firestorm and takes his powers.

1Story - 1: Guest starring Firestorm, for some reason irrelevant to anything save a reason to do a Killer Frost bio and show Firestorm. We have Karate Kid pursuing something below Bludhaven for no reason I can particularly fathom, with Desaad torturing Professor Stein for no reason I can particularly fathom.

Jimmy has the mark of Darkseid, but is still thrust into the slave pits. Why they let him wander around with his powers is, well, kooky ole Countdown.

Eclipso working for Darkseid all of a sudden doesn't seem to make much coherent sense to me either, but hey. It's Countdown. It's like saying Jor-El is Soap. It's a catchall for most criticisms right now.

I do find Desaad taking over Firestorm intriguing. However, given the way that dilemmas are treated in this series, per Todd's "betrayal," my guess is next issue Firestorm will be on New Genesis. Todd will turn to him and say, "Hey, Firestorm, weren't you-" and Firestorm will reply, Thumb Wars style, "I escaped somehow!"

But that's not even the worst of it.

Piper and Trickster best Deadshot in combat.

That's all I really have to say. People often ask if I will give a 0 rating. I never do, and I pretty much haven't wanted to.

'Till now.

4Art - 4: Pretty good at conveying the story, loathsome as said story is. Most of the panels are very full and strong, and the end result is a decently drawn issue. Though I am perplexed as to how the one chick in the battle armor is protected with her hair shooting up out of the top of her helmet like that.

All in all, however, great coloring, decent depiction of all involved, and a compelling flow.

3Back-Up Story - 3: I lack interest in Killer Frost, and I still lack most interest in Killer Frost. However, the origin conveyed all of the information in an expedient fashion, so I can't complain too much either.

5Back-Up Art - 5: Not much to pick at here. A decent, solid depiction of what was intended, with some beautiful panels through in, such as the reflection.

5Cover Art - 5: Actually, a very surprisingly good cover given the lack of enjoyment of the subject matter. Strong with color, great pose, and dynamic action. Quite good.

Mild Mannered Reviews

2008

Note: Month dates are from the issue covers, not the actual date when the comic went on sale.

January 2008

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