“Countdown to Infinite Crisis” Written by Geoff Johns; Greg Rucka; & Judd Winick. “Countdown to Infinite Crisis” Art by Rags Morales, Michael Bair, & Moose Baumann (Chapter One); Ed Benes & Hi-Fi (Chapter Two); Jesus Saiz, Jimmy Palmiott, & Paul Mounts (Chapter Three); Ivan Reis, Marc Campos, & Guy Major (Chapter Four); Phil Jimenez, Andy Lanning, & Steve Firchlow (Chapter Five); Nick J. Napolitano [Project Letterer]; & Jim Lee and Alex Ross [Project Cover Artists].
“OMAC Project” Written by Greg Rucka. “OMAC Project” Art by Jesus Saiz; Bob Wiacek; Cliff Richards; Hi-Fi Design; Phil Balsman; & Jared K. Fletcher. Cover Artist: Ladrönn.
“Wonder Woman # 219 ” Written by Greg Rucka. “Wonder Woman # 219” Art by Rags Morales; David Lopez; Tom Derenick; Georges Jeanty; Karl Kerschl; Mark Propst; Bit; Dexter Vines; Bob Petrecca; ‘Nelson;’ Richard Horie; Tonya Horie; & Todd Klein. Cover Artists: Ladrönn & J.G. Jones.
Collection Cover Art by Ladrönn
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics in 2005, this 256-page paperback assembles the Countdown to Infinite Crisis one-shot; the complete OMAC Project # 1-6; and the corresponding Wonder Woman # 219 (all from 2005) The 80-page Countdown is divided into five chapters, jumping back and forth from present-time to the recent past few days.
Feeling rejected by his allies, Ted Kord’s doomed Blue Beetle investigates alone the shadowy culprit that has been plundering his company’s resources. With some help from Wonder Woman and an injured Booster Gold, Blue Beetle uncovers a Checkmate organization that has ruthlessly seized command of Batman’s vast Brother I (Brother Eye) satellite surveillance system. At the Batcave, Batman ominously realizes that an unknown adversary has locked him out of accessing Brother I.
Tipped off by an insider re: Blue Beetle’s brutal homicide, Batman and the Justice League are startled by Checkmate’s ultimate A.I. weapon deciding to rid Earth of all metahuman interference. Despite simmering dissension, it’s up to DC’s greatest heroes to thwart an army of seemingly unstoppable and armored OMAC drones manned primarily by innocent ‘sleeper cell’ civilians.
Worse yet, a battered Wonder Woman takes drastic action to save a mind-controlled Superman from Checkmate’s nefarious Black King. Fallout from all tiers of this complex storyline will subsequently play into Infinite Crisis # 1.
REVIEW:
Fans of DC’s controversial Infinite Crisis era will likely find The OMAC Project’s sophisticated storytelling a welcome read. All creative facets are consistently high-caliber, including the storyline’s dark plot twists. Still, depictions of sadistic, cold-blooded violence and occasional profanities makes The OMAC Project inappropriate for a potential pre-teen audience. That’s the caveat: DC Comics deceptively doesn’t offer a parental advisory re: this adult-oriented plot that plays off kid-friendly, spoofy Justice League International tales from the 80’s and 90’s.
Ultimately, The OMAC Project is recommended for those seeking out the complete Infinite Crisis saga.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The cover for Wonder Woman # 219 is sized to a half-page, but the other cover reprints appear in a full-page format.
Entitled “Crisis Counseling,” a full page summarizes the build-up leading into Countdown to Infinite Crisis. Later, including half-page cover images, there’s a two-page summary of Superman # 218, Action Comics, # 829, and Adventures of Superman # 642 (which comprise Parts 1-3 of the “Sacrifice” storyline), which concludes in the Wonder Woman # 219 crossover. Lastly, there’s also a nine-page “Designing the OMAC Project” gallery consisting of imagery (in color and black-and-white) from artists Jesus Saiz & Ladrönn.
Note: Additional cover artists are: Ed Benes & Rod Reis (Superman # 219); Tony S. Daniel, Dexter Vines, & Guy Major (Action Comics # 829); and Karl Kerschl & Dave McCaig (Adventures of Superman # 642).
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
