by tonydoug wright

Countdown #50 (DC Comics)

Writer: Paul Dini, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Justin Gray
Pencils: J. Calafiore
Inks: Mark McKenna

I read one issue of 52 by DC Comics and once again decided not to purchase another “can’t miss” release by one of the major publishers. As an avid reader of comic books, I am sometimes unimpressed with over-hyped blockbuster events that reshape the universe of DC Comics or Marvel Comics. Sure, they bring in the best writers and artists, but when that happens they end up with one too many cooks in the kitchen and I become irritated and make a vow to go cold turkey. Countdown #50, another epic experience for all good comic book readers, written by Paul Dini with Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, is the second issue of a series featuring “a cast of hundreds” where “anything goes”.

I decided not to be suckered in to buying anything from this series but it was the cover art by Andy Kubert that caught my attention. The Joker is holding Jimmy Olsen’s press pass, he’s wearing Olsen’s bow-tie, and he has a look on his face where you know the Joker has done (or is thinking of) some hideous deed and the sick humor of it all is about to make him explode with laughter. DC Comics placed the bait on the hook and they reeled me in yet again. There is no shame in falling off the wagon, my friends.

Issue #50 of Countdown begins with Jimmy Olsen searching for answers concerning the murder of Duela, the Joker’s daughter. Olsen seeks out the mysteriously revived Jason Todd, who has been fighting crime as the Red Hood, and questions him about Duela’s murder. Let’s take a little timeout here, folks. I’m a Batman reader and I’m still scratching my head about the return of Jason Todd. Comic books resurrect more people than the Bible and Todd’s return is another attempt to bring back a character that was killed off many years ago. Let’s return to the review before this turns into some sort of rant about why Jason Todd was brought back to life. Todd does not have time for Olsen’s Q and A session and sends him to Arkham Asylum to question the one person who could possibly know something about the murder, the Joker.

Not only does this issue follow Olsen’s investigation but it includes Mary Marvel searching for Freddie Freeman, the Karate Kid fighting Batman, and the Rogues fighting amongst themselves. I’m not a member of the comic book universe cognoscente, but the Mary Marvel and Karate Kid portions of #51 Countdown were not that interesting. Mary Marvel has a psychic soap opera situation going on while I’m still wondering why there is a guy called the Karate Kid fighting Batman. As a fan of The Flash, it was good to see some disorder in the house of The Rogues because we all love a dysfunctional family of villains.

Issue #51 of Countdown was good, and I’m willing to read a few more issues until they frustrate me or until it’s ten months from now and I notice that I completely forgot to read ten issues of Countdown. Things are going well with this arc by Paul Dini and I’m hoping for more of the Joker and the Rogues because they are definitely the “go to” villains in the DC universe. But don’t forget, Countdown features “a cast of hundreds” and this could be a potential for disaster. Overall, Countdown is going in the right direction and that’s all I can ask for right now.

The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #12 (DC Comics)

Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Penciller: Tony Daniel
Inkers: Art Thibert and Jonathan Glapion

Geoff Johns left The Flash two years ago to work on titles such as The Green Lantern and in my opinion the franchise took a tumble down the stairs. Wally West was retired, the skipper went to the bullpen, and brought in Bart Allen as the new hero for the series. Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo got the new series underway, and like a fool, I purchased the first issue with high hopes. After a few pages, I was disappointed and vowed to never again purchase a copy of The Flash.

Did you read the previous review? I can’t stay mad at certain comic books for too long because I’m a sucker with a steady paycheck. My bitterness came to an end when someone posted online that the Rogues had returned, there was a new writer named Marc Guggenheim, and The Flash was once again one of the best titles from DC Comics. I made a trip to the local comic book store and purchased issue #12 with high expectations. I swear I heard the cash register make an electric “Sucker” sound when the comic book was scanned by the clerk.

Yes, the Rogues have returned and yes, The Flash has improved thanks in part to the writing of Marc Guggenheim. The setting has moved from Central City, Missouri to Los Angeles, California where the Rogues have taken control of The Getty by surrounding the building with a force field. Captain Cold, Heatwave, Abra Kadabra, and The Mirror Master are in La-La Land looking for a fight. The Flash is ready to take on the Rogues and the end result is the beginning of what could be a fantastic battle.

The Flash #12 is truly a return to greatness because this title had a lackluster start that had me doubting if The Flash would never be great again like it was when Johns was the writer. Guggenheim has the Rogues working together but there is complete disorder among these criminals and that’s what makes these guys enjoyable. The artwork by Tony Daniel also deserves some praise because he deserves credit too for reviving The Flash. Daniel has put together some nice panels and maybe, just maybe, I’ll go back to being a regular reader of The Flash.