Broken Frontier

Welcome to another Out for the Count where we’re in semi-mourning for a fallen hero. It’s an interesting halfway house that said character is metaphorically inhabiting. Another unwanted "duplicate" is removed from the picture and, to all intents and purposes, is dead. But the possibility remains that he could return somewhere down the line. Let’s hope common sense prevails and that happens. In a Multiverse of at least 52 versions of every hero, this determined purge of New Earth characters over the last few years who just happen to have used the same codenames at one time or another, is looking more than a little ridiculous now. Anyway, moan over, here’s our...

Spoiler Warning: Read no further if you’ve not had your DC fix this week and don’t want to read about key story elements.

Events this week…

In Countdown to Final Crisis #16: Paradise is lost as Monarch’s attack on the Monitors devastates Earth-51. Ray Palmer loses everything... again. Jimmy Olsen gets to know Mantis a little better. Two villains make significant returns. And Jason Todd has some serious father issues...

Elsewhere in the DCU
(stories this week that may, or may not, tie into the Bigger Picture)

It’s the epic conclusion in 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #6. Can the Trinity and the Doom Patrol end the menace of the Apokoliptian Demigods?

They may have escaped Granny Goodness and her new Amazons but tragedy strikes for Ollie and Dinah in Green Arrow and Black Canary #4.

More fallout from the war with the Sinestro Corps in Green Lantern Corps #20.

Talia stops by as the ramifications of Ra’s Al Ghul’s resurrection continue to affect the Batman Family in Nightwing #140.

Twists and turns and a major surprise as the villains divide into factions in Salvation Run #3.

See what the most expendable villains in the DCU get up to when they’re not involved in the Salvation Run conspiracy in Suicide Squad #5.

Continuity Corner
(interesting tidbits from this week’s issues! )

The Broken Green Arrow – Connor Hawke is left braindead after being shot last month. The bullet was poisoned and despite his body being saved, his mind is gone. After a certain degree of misdirection, this appears to finally answer the significance of that snapped arrow in one of the first Countdown house ads. (Green Arrow and Black Canary #4)

The Anomalies – It’s been a long time in coming but finally we see that Red Robin costume in the Earth-51 Batman’s Batcave, shortly before he captures Jason Todd. Jason was seen in that garb in one of the very earliest Countdown-style DC house ads. (Countdown to Final Crisis #16)

Salvation Run – Just when I was about to question Blockbuster’s appearances here and label him a "death-cheater" (both Blockbusters are well and truly deceased), an explanation is given when we learn he’s the Martian Manhunter in disguise, keeping tabs on the situation. Quite why, when you want to remain inconspicuous, you’d take on the identity of a villain everyone saw burnt to a crisp by Brimstone in Legends #3 is beyond me though.

The exiled villains split into two camps this week. One faction is led by Luthor and the other by the Joker. Iron Cross, part of the Nazi group the Aryan Brigade (first appearance Justice League Task Force #10 in 1994) is the latest bad guy to die on the prison planet after being shot in the head by the Joker. (Salvation Run #3)

The Transformations of Jimmy Olsen/The Death of the New Gods  – Jimmy Olsen is, according to Mantis, a "soul-catcher". Speculation time: Is Jimmy the repository for the souls of the dead New Gods? Is that where he’s getting his powers from? (Countdown to Final Crisis #16)

The Sinestro Corps War – Mongul continues to act as Sinestro’s spiritual successor as he comes to terms with becoming a yellow ring-bearer. (Green Lantern Corps #20)

The Search for Ray Palmer – Could the Challengers have been chasing the wrong Ray Palmer? New Earth’s Ray reveals that Earth-51’s Atom was the one supposed to stop the Great Disaster. Was that the Atom who had been travelling through the Multiverse recruiting operatives on different Earths and giving them the Atom tattoo? (Countdown to Final Crisis #16)

Queen Belthera makes a return this week maintaining an interest in Donna Troy. This would-be Multiversal conqueror was encountered by the Challengers from Beyond back in Countdown #s 36-33 in the Nanoversal Sorcerer’s World. (Countdown to Final Crisis #16)

The Monitors – There’s further confirmation from Solomon that the new Multiverse has changed the individual Monitors too much for them to ever recombine again. Solomon also keeps mentioning a mysterious enemy. Apparently Monarch should have been his pawn rather than his foe. And just to make his existence even more miserable, Superman-Prime enters his life wanting his aid in finding something (presumably Earth-Prime). (Countdown to Final Crisis #16)

Join us next week for Blue and Gold reunited, Catwoman exiled and a look at the Tenth Age of Magic...