Month: February 2021

Lead Feature Written by Adam Beechen. Lead Feature Art by Allan Goldman; Julio Ferreira; Jay Leisten; Tanya and Richard Horie; & Steve Wands.

Back-Up Tale Written by Justin Gray. Back-Up Tale Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino; Adam DeKraker; Tanya and Richard Horie; & Sal Cipriano.

Cover Art by Eddy Barrows; Oclair Albert; & Rod Reis.

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for March 2008, this 48-page issue of the eight-part mini-series continues its split Countdown-related storylines.  The 29-page lead feature is entitled “The Home Front: Rescue Parts,” as Adam Strange, Starfire, & Animal Man star in a direct sequel to their 52 adventure. 

On Rann, with their young daughter in tow, Adam Strange’s wife, Alanna, saves her unconscious husband from a death squad. She then teleports their family to Earth seeking the Justice League.  In San Diego, a powerless Starfire and Buddy Baker/Animal Man’s wife, Ellen, set aside their strife to focus on somehow rescuing Buddy from dissection by the alien healers. 

Joined by the Strange family, their makeshift assault-and-rescue team boards the healers’ vessel to save Buddy.  Earth’s best hope of saving it from the Lady Styx virus is for Starfire to sufficiently recharge under Rann’s three suns to mass-release a solar-powered cure.

Entitled “Part Six: Love and War,” the 18-page back-up story has Viza Aziv (aka Forerunner) facing off vs. Thanagarian space cop, Golden Eagle, in hand-to-hand combat for her freedom.  Emerging victorious, Forerunner claims her foe as an unwitting sex slave.  Aboard her starship, she may have also drawn closer to Monarch to wreak lethal vengeance.             

REVIEW:

Remaining consistent, both art squads deliver commendable efforts.  As stated in other issue reviews for this series, DC doesn’t skimp on Countdown to Adventure’s visuals.  However, writer Adam Beechen stumbles this time.  Aside from the desperate, it-happens-only-in-comic-books illogic of the heroes’ commando strike (including the Stranges’ young daughter & Animal Man’s wife), Beechen’s plot twists become awfully convenient.  Clearly, his storyline’s loose threads are meant to quickly converge prior to the series’ last two installments. 

In a stunt similar to colleague Justin Gray’s Forerunner series, Beechen even throws in a profanity and cuts off young Aleea Strange repeating it verbatim at her mommy’s encouragement.  It’s meant to be a cute gag for adults, but this joke could easily be construed as offensive.      

As for Forerunner’s sixth installment, writer Justin Gray wastes his talents on this ‘sexy’ sci-fi/fantasy tripe that aims to please die-hard male fans only.  Once again, DC doesn’t bother with a parental advisory; otherwise, the less said the better.  Due to its contrived plotting, Countdown to Adventure # 6’s main feature loses momentum, but it’s still a far better read than Forerunner’s trashy story.        

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In the “DC Nation” column, Senior Coordinating Editor Jann Jones shares her creative passion for Ambush Bug.   Thumbnail cover reveals are for the penultimate Countdown to Adventure # 7; Action Comics # 861; Trials of Shazam # 11; and Batman # 673.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            4 Stars

Lead Feature Written by Adam Beechen. Lead Feature Art by Allan Goldman; Julio Ferreira; Tanya and Richard Horie; & Steve Wands.

Back-Up Tale Written by Justin Gray. Back-Up Tale Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino; Adam DeKraker; Tanya and Richard Horie; & Travis Lanham.

Cover Art by Eddy Barrows; Oclair Albert; & Rod Reis.

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for February 2008, this 48-page issue of the eight-part mini-series continues its split Countdown-related storylines.  The 29-page lead feature is entitled “The Home Front: Patient Zero,” as Adam Strange, Starfire, & Animal Man star in a direct sequel to their 52 adventure. 

In San Diego, Animal Man (Buddy Baker) & a powerless Starfire (Koriand’r) realize there’s a solar-powered cure for the mass virus turning innocent people into Lady Styx’s disciples, including Buddy’s young son.  Researching their own possible cure, the two alien healers abduct Earth’s virus carrier for an evidently grisly fate amidst their medical research.  On Rann, a fugitive Strange is running out of time to thwart the virus there before his psychotic successor, Champ, and his renegade soldiers can kill him.       

Entitled “Part Five: Lost in Space,” the 18-page back-up story has Viza Aziv (aka Forerunner) rescued from certain death in deep space, only to face a bloodthirsty alien army of smugglers.  At stake is Viza Aziv assembling her new resources to launch a lethal payback campaign.           

REVIEW:

Remaining consistent, both art squads deliver top-flight visuals; it’s definitely a welcome asset for this series.  Writer Adam Beechen also continues an entertaining lead feature with good plotting.  The platonic chemistry between Animal Man & Starfire is well-played, as is Adam Strange’s ongoing predicament (which reinvigorates his character).  While this shared storyline might not inspire multiple reads for casual fans, it’s still worth catching.

The same doesn’t apply to Forerunner’s nasty back-up series.  Writer Justin Gray is clearly a talented writer, but, as far as readable entertainment goes, his scripting this time is debatable.  Packed with gruesome space alien deaths (including multiple decapitations), it’s disappointing that DC Comics didn’t see fit to slap a parental advisory on this issue.  “Lost in Space” frankly isn’t worth revisiting.  Suffice to say, the Forerunner saga should have been allotted its own mini-series clearly advertised for adult die-hards only. 

Countdown to Adventure # 5’s star attraction definitely makes a worthwhile read, but Forerunner’s excuse for grisly mayhem, unfortunately, just takes up time.        

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In the “DC Nation” column, Senior Coordinating Editor Jann Jones shares a Christmas glimpse of three DC couples: Barry & Iris; Hal & Carol; and Wally & Linda.  Thumbnail cover reveals are for Countdown to Adventure # 6; Green Lantern {Hal Jordan} # 26 (in black-and-white); Death of the New Gods # 4; and Countdown # 18.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       5½ Stars

Lead Feature Written by Adam Beechen. Lead Feature Art by Allan Goldman; Julio Ferreira; Tanya and Richard Horie; & Rob Leigh.

Back-Up Tale Written by Justin Gray. Back-Up Tale Art by Fabrizio Fiorentino; Adam DeKraker; Tanya and Richard Horie; & Rob Leigh.

Cover Art by Eddy Barrows; Oclair Albert; & Rod Reis.

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for January 2008, this 48-page issue of the eight-part mini-series continues its split Countdown-related storylines.  The 29-page lead feature is entitled “The Home Front: First, Do No Harm,” as Adam Strange, Starfire, & Animal Man star in a direct sequel to their 52 adventure. 

On planet Rann, a fugitive Strange desperately evades his psychotic successor dubbed ‘Champ,’ and Rann’s soldiers, all infected in blind allegiance to Lady Styx.  On Earth, friction occurs between Animal Man and a powerless Starfire, as they contend with this same mind-control virus claiming victims among San Diego’s public.  The Teen Titans make a cameo appearance.

Entitled “Part Four: Friends and Foes,” the 18-page back-up story has Viza Aziv (aka Forerunner) on Earth-33 challenging her evil successor: Dark Angel.  Encountering this world’s magical counterparts to some of DC’s heroes, Forerunner & Monarch experience a falling out.  Forerunner’s training session with an armored back-up squad is observed by another reality’s Nazi Batman.  The tale ends on a cliffhanger, as Monarch seemingly disposes of his top field agent.         

REVIEW:

Both art squads are on their game, as the visuals deliver this issue’s best asset.  However, the storytelling is undeniably geared towards DC’s die-hards.  The lead feature pivoting between Strange’s thinking-man action hero predicament and Starfire & Animal Man’s escape from Lady Styx’s army of human pawns is well-played for what it is.  Still, multiple reads probably aren’t necessary. 

Forerunner’s Countdown: Arena-related serial holds far less appeal.  Trying to decipher the various DC counterparts seen on this Earth-33 (plus a Nazi Batman seen later) is distracting enough, but there frankly isn’t one likable character to be found.  If anything, DC is pushing too much screen time for Forerunner (and this incarnation of Monarch).  Another turn-off in Justin Gray’s script is the unnecessary use of a five-letter profanity — suffice to say, it adds nothing to an overindulgent sub-plot.  Parental Note: Gray resorts to this same word a few times throughout Forerunner’s mini-series. 

Countdown to Adventure # 4’s feature story is a good read, but Forerunner’s tale falls well short on entertainment value.        

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In his “DC Nation” column, Dan DiDio catalogs half of the known Earths in DC’s new 52-world multiverse (mostly various Elseworlds alternate realities).  Thumbnail cover reveals are for Countdown to Adventure # 5; Green Lantern {Hal Jordan} # 25; Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Ion # 1; and Countdown Presents: Red Rain # 1.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      6 Stars