Broken Frontier

Before we begin our roundup of hebdomadal happenings across the DCU, just a quick pointer in the direction of the recently-released Jack Kirby’s Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1. All those references to Jimmy Olsen and the New Gods in the pages of Countdown can be satisfied by picking up these deluxe reprint editions of some of Kirby’s greatest work. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a re-read of these tales sheds light on some of the mysteries of Countdown and even if it doesn’t, you’re unlikely make a better comics-related investment this year.

For those at the back of the class who haven’t been paying attention these last few weeks then here’s your

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 #46: Jimmy Olsen gets a lead into Lightray’s demise that culminates in a literal dead end while a darker Mary Marvel finds herself going head to head with a demon from the depths of Hell. Donna Troy and Jason Todd find themselves targeted by a new threat as the Monitors finally make a move. And the Flash’s Rogues prove the truth of that old saying about never chatting about religion or politics after a few beers…

The Players
(this week’s principal cast)

Jimmy Olsen and Sleez: Jimmy receives a communication from the Apokoliptian Sleez promising insights into Lightray’s death if he meets him in Suicide Slum. But just as Sleez is about to divulge to Jimmy the secrets of how Darkseid can be destroyed he’s murdered by a mystery presence.

Holly Robinson: Little more than a cameo for Holly this week, but one that could have greater consequences. Holly briefly bumps into Jimmy but, more significantly, she saves an old man from falling rubble after the building Jimmy and Sleez are in collapses. Will this homeless stranger have a bigger role to play in Holly’s story in the months to come?

The Monitors and the Forerunner: Members of the Rogue Monitor’s faction finally take some decisive action by setting their secret weapon, the Forerunner, onto Jason Todd and Donna Troy. There are also rumblings of dissatisfaction about the Rogue Monitor’s direct involvement with the anomalies.

Mary Marvel: Empowered with Black Adam’s magic Mary almost immediately discovers a small group of pregnant women summoning a demon called Pharyngula, the Harvester of Souls. As she battles the creature she exhibits a harsher and colder personality than we’ve seen before, with no compunction about killing if she has to. Her descent towards the dark side escalates…

The Flash’s Rogues: Still arguing, still engaging in in-fighting and still knocking back the beers! Inertia’s plans for the Rogues look set to lead straight into next week’s The Flash #13.

Jason Todd and Donna Troy: Their sequence this issue was preluded in Amazons Attack! #2. Jason is still trying to convince Donna of the danger they’re in from the Monitors.

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

It’s a quieter week for direct Countdown tie-ins but the following books have some interesting clues and teasers:

As we gear up for another possible Crisis, the Omac Project from Infinite Crisis rears its ugly head again as Braniac and the Metal Men guest in Superman/Batman #36 .

There’s more fallout from the DCU entering the 10 Age of Magic in The Trials of Shazam! #7 . I’d be amazed if the new status of magic in the DC Universe doesn’t play into the pages of Countdown at some point in the future.

Gen 13 #9 has a hugely significant sequence as the team discover they’re a "reboot" and that their reality has recently been restarted.

And in Stormwatch:PHD #8 there’s a brief mention of parallel Earths. That one’s a little more tenuous but it’s such a good book it’s worth checking out regardless.

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

Who’s targeting the New Gods? – Two issues in a row where members of the Fourth World cast have been terminated. Our clues to the identity of the killer (presuming the two events are, indeed, related) consist primarily of Lightray’s last word "Infinity" and Sleez’s assailant calling out "So begins the end" before putting a hole through his chest with some form of energy blast. Sleez was a minor Apokoliptian bad guy first introduced in Action Comics #592 (Sep 1987) with, unsurprisingly, given his nomenclature, a penchant for schemes on the sleazy side of criminality.

The Forerunner – Apparently a super-speedster and a member of an alien race bred for a purpose by the Monitors. The Rogue Monitor’s faction feel she should have been set on Duela Dent instead of one of their own number doing the deed. She takes down Jason Todd and Donna Troy this issue. For more on the Forerunner check out her backup feature in the upcoming Countdown to Adventure miniseries. And "Forerunner" as a name has echoes of "Harbinger" doesn’t it? (Harbinger was the character that worked for the original Monitor). Hmmm…

It’s worth noting that the pseudo-Anti-Monitor in last week’s Supergirl #18 spoke of the Monitors’ use of agents to test anomalous beings when he was employing Dark Angel against Kara Zor-El. Presumably Dark Angel and the Forerunner hold similar positions in the Monitors’ ranks.

The Pied Piper’s politics – The Piper’s fight with Mirror Master in the bar, and preceding argument about worker’s rights, underlines his established characterization as politically a socialist and a defender of society’s less privileged. This aspect of the character was perhaps best illustrated in Bill Messner-Loebs’ run on Flash in the late Eighties and early Nineties.

History of the Multiverse – This issue’s JLA/JSA team-ups include late 1960s stories from Justice League of America #s 55-56, 64-65, and 73-74 amongst others.

That’s it for another seven days. Don’t forget there’s an Out for the Count thread on the Lowdown forum for anyone wanting to discuss the finer points of Multiversal minutiae. Come back next time when, shipping date changes notwithstanding, we should all have plenty to talk about in regards to a certain Scarlet Speedster…