Countdown #29 - DC

Ok, here's what's going on this week. First, we're re-introduced to Lord Havok and the Extremists, as our group of Challengers ends up on Earth 8. Since this is a planet engaged in war and defense at all times, our 4 heroes really don't last to long against them. Plus, Lord Havok sees them as a threat, and that's never tolerated. Bob eventually frees them, but it's really kind of coincidental, because Monarch and ForeRunner come to enlist the Extremists in to their army. Bob uses the melee of another intrusions, to cover the extraction of his people. But they do end up losing the Jokester. He's killed in the cross-fire. We see Jimmy Olsen, who upon his escape from Cadmus, is roaming around in the sewers of Metropolis. It's there that he runs in to the Newsboy Legion. Holly Robinson, who at the end of last issue, jumped in to the Aegean Sea with sharks and sea-monsters, has ended up on the shores of Themyscria triumphant. However, I really doubt if that's her last "test". Oh yeah, Harley made it to. The guy that Trickster & Piper had in their car was Double-Down. An inconsequential character, but he's there when they're all being watched by the members of the Suicide Squad. Mary Marvel has fallen in league with Eclipso. Eclipso hasn't taken her over, but she seems to be leading her actions. Which, right now, are very chaotic, to say the least. And finally, Buddy Blank has taken Karate Kid and Una, and also his grandson, to see Brother Eye. But, Brother Eye isn't very happy to see them, and puts them all inside a containment field. There's a whole lot of stuff going on for a weekly book. It's definitely worth the $3. Plus, as frosting on the cake, we get a beautiful Ian Chuchill / Norm Rapmund cover. Right now I can see 2 different books coming out of this series. First, as with 52, it'll be a book of covers. 51 pages of beautiful. Then I can see a dictionary, of sorts, giving us a quick recap, text and visual, of each of the 52 worlds. I like that they're putting the world numbers on the front of the book. But, without a reference, it's going to be hard for anyone to remember which is which. Overall, I think this is a fantastic series. I look forward to it every week.