About this Collection
Countdown: Arena is a 2008 DC Comics miniseries that pits alternate-reality versions of DC heroes and villains against each other in a tournament-style conflict. Written by Keith Champagne, the story features characters from across the Multiverse, including various iterations of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, battling for survival in a cosmic arena overseen by the Monitor. This collected edition compiles the four-issue series, serving as a tie-in to the larger Countdown event that explored the DC Multiverse before the Final Crisis storyline.
In "All Fall Down," the final clash between the Supermen reaches a fever pitch as Monarch forces them to channel their combined energy into Christopher Kent—only for Monarch to withstand the assault. Meanwhile, in the Bleed, Captain Atom (Earth-38), Quantum-Storm, and Batman (JSA: The Liberty File) confront Monarch, who reveals the shocking truth: Blue Beetle (Earth-33) and Breach have been working with him all along. With Breach arriving at the Arena leading the "Captain Atom Brigade," Monarch absorbs their power and prepares to face the Monitors, now fully empowered and unstoppable. Written by Keith Champagne and illustrated by Scott McDaniel, with inks by Andy Owens, colors by Guy Major, and letters by John J. Hill, the cover by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens captures the moment of ultimate confrontation.
Contains 4 stories
Untitled Superhero story
38 pp · Superhero
Batman (from Gotham by Gaslight: An Alternate History of the Batman/Earth-19)Wonder Woman (from DC: The New Frontier/Earth-21)Steve Trevor (from Earth-21)Firestorm (from Earth-12)Green Lantern [Hal Jordan] (from Earth-12)Superman (from Batman: The Dark Knight/Earth-31)Brainiac (from Earth-31)MonarchGreen Lantern (from Earth-5)Green Lantern (from Batman: In Darkest Knight/Earth-32)Superman (from Superman: Red Son/Earth-30)Superman [Christopher Kent] (from Earth-12)Starman (from the Earth-48 universe)Starman (from Earth-17)Starwoman [Courtney Whitmore] (from Earth-7)Ray (from Earth-10)Ray [Ray Palmer] (from Earth-6)Apollo (from the Wildstorm Universe/Earth-50)Teen Titans [ChangelingWildebeestRavenCyborg] (from ?)Batman (from JSA: The Liberty File)Batman (from Batman & Dracula: Red Rain)Justice League of America [AtomAquamanMartian ManhuterHawkwoman] (from JLA: The Nail)L.E.G.I.O.N. 90210 [LoboStrataVril DoxPhaseStealthGarryn BekTelepath] (from L.E.G.I.O.N. '94 Annual #5)Robin (from Thrillkiller)Batgirl (from Thrillkiller)Robin (from Earth-2?)Breach [Tim Zanetti] (from Earth-8)Quantum-Storm [Ronnie Raymond & Nathaniel Adam] (from Earth-37)Captain Atom (from Earth-38)Ultraa (from ?)Blue Beetle [Danny] (from Earth-39)Blue Beetle [Ted Kord] (from Earth-33)Scarab (from Earth-21)Wonder Woman (from Wonder Woman: Amazonia/Earth-34)Wonder Woman (from Justice Riders)Flash (from Earth-2)Johnny Quick (from the Crime Society/Earth-3)Flash (from Tangent Comics / The Flash/Earth 9)Justice Society of America [Dr. Mid-NiteMr. TerrificBlack CanaryHourman] (from JSA: The Liberty File?)Nightshade (from ?)Shade (from ?)Eve of Shadows (from ?)Brigadier Atom (from ?)
In "null," Monarch gathers heroes from across the multiverse, forcing doppelgängers to battle one another in a deadly trial of strength. After Nightshade, Eve of Shadows, the Shade, and three Batmen clash, Superman from the Dark Knight universe rallies the survivors to strike back against their captor.
Untitled Superhero story
38 pp · Superhero
MonarchSuperman (from Batman: The Dark Knight/Earth-31)Apollo (from the Wildstorm Universe/Earth-50)Breach [Tim Zanetti] (from Earth-8)Wonder Woman (from Wonder Woman: Amazonia/Earth-34)Wonder Woman (from Justice Riders)Flash (from Tangent Comics / The Flash/Earth 9)Ray (from Earth-10)Johnny Quick (from the Crime Society/Earth-3)Flash (from Earth-2)Quantum-Storm [Ronnie Raymond & Nathaniel Adam] (from Earth-37)Captain Atom (from Earth-38)Ray [Ray Palmer] (from Earth-6)Green Lantern (from Batman: In Darkest Knight/Earth-32)Starwoman [Courtney Whitmore] (from Earth-7)Green Lantern (from Earth-5)Green Lantern [Hal Jordan] (from Earth-12)Blue Beetle [Ted Kord] (from Earth-33)Wonder Woman (from DC: The New Frontier/Earth-21)Starman (from the Earth-48 universe)Superman [Christopher Kent] (from Earth-12)Blue Beetle [Danny] (from Earth-39)Scarab (from Earth-21)Starman (from Earth-17)Superman (from Superman: Red Son/Earth-30)Batman (from JSA: The Liberty File)
In "null," the fate of multiple heroes hangs in the balance as Monarch manipulates trios from across the multiverse, pitting them against one another in brutal tests of loyalty and will. While the Ray Palmer Ray, Apollo, and the Ray of Earth-10 face off in a desperate clash, and the Blue Beetles and Scarab are drawn into another deadly game, the heroes trapped in the Bleed find themselves unexpectedly challenged by a force neither expected.
Untitled Superhero story
38 pp · Superhero
Batman (from Gotham by Gaslight: An Alternate History of the Batman/Earth-19)Batman (from JSA: The Liberty File)Apollo (from the Wildstorm Universe/Earth-50)Wonder Woman (from Wonder Woman: Amazonia/Earth-34)Wonder Woman (from Justice Riders)Wonder Woman (from DC: The New Frontier/Earth-21)Superman (from Batman: The Dark Knight/Earth-31)Superman [Christopher Kent] (from Earth-12)Superman (from Superman: Red Son/Earth-30)Quantum-Storm [Ronnie Raymond & Nathaniel Adam] (from Earth-37)Captain Atom (from Earth-38)Flash (from Earth-2)MonarchJohnny Quick (from the Crime Society/Earth-3)Breach [Tim Zanetti] (from Earth-8)Starwoman [Courtney Whitmore] (from Earth-7)Starman (from Earth-17)Starman (from the Earth-48 universe)Flash (from Tangent Comics / The Flash/Earth 9)Captain Atom (from Earth-4?)Attum (from ?)Captain Atom (from Kingdom Come?)Captain Atom? (from ?)Brigadier Atom (from ?)
In the Bleed, Jo and the Blue Beetle of Earth-33 are drawn into a deadly game orchestrated by Monarch, who forces star-heroes to battle one another, then speedsters, then the Wonder Women—while Breach holds the key to their fate in the form of the Blue Beetle’s harness.
All Fall Down
38 pp · Superhero
MonarchSuperman [Christopher Kent] (from Earth-12)Superman (from Batman: The Dark Knight/Earth-31)Superman (from Superman: Red Son/Earth-30)Batman (from Gotham by Gaslight: An Alternate History of the Batman/Earth-19)Apollo (from the Wildstorm Universe/Earth-50)Green Lantern (from Batman: In Darkest Knight/Earth-32)Flash (from Tangent Comics / The Flash/Earth 9)Flash (from Earth-2)Wonder Woman (from DC: The New Frontier/Earth-21)Captain Atom (from Earth-38)Quantum-Storm [Ronnie Raymond & Nathaniel Adam] (from Earth-37)Batman (from JSA: The Liberty File)Breach [Tim Zanetti] (from Earth-8)Brigadier Atom (from ?)AtummQuantum MechanixPresident AtomQuantum BoyCaptain AdammaBatman (from Batman & Dracula: Red Rain)Ray [Ray Palmer] (from Earth-6)Green Lantern [Hal Jordan] (from Earth-12)Eve of Shadows (from ?)Wonder Woman (from Wonder Woman: Amazonia/Earth-34)Scarab (from Earth-21)Starwoman [Courtney Whitmore] (from Earth-7)Johnny Quick (from the Crime Society/Earth-3)
In "All Fall Down," the Supermen unite to strike at Monarch in the Arena, but their combined force is no match for his resolve. Meanwhile, in the Bleed, Captain Atom (Earth-38), Quantum-Storm, and Batman (JSA: The Liberty File) face off against Monarch, who reveals the shocking truth: Blue Beetle (Earth-33) and Breach have been working with him all along. As the battle escalates, Breach arrives with the "Captain Atom Brigade," only to be overwhelmed—Monarch absorbs their power and prepares to face the Monitors with his new strength.
![Countdown: Arena #[nn] cover](https://cdn.comicbooks.com/covers/isbndb/9781401218225.jpg)