Countdown to Final Crisis #2
Countdown to Final Crisis, Vol. 2 continues the sprawling weekly series that served as a direct prelude to DC's Final Crisis event. This volume collects issues #19–30, following multiple parallel storylines as the Monitor's death sends shockwaves across the multiverse, with characters like Jimmy Olsen, the Joker's Daughter, and the Challengers of the Unknown caught in a web of cosmic conspiracies. The collection also advances the journeys of Mary Marvel, the New Gods, and the Ray as they hurtle toward the coming apocalypse, with Darkseid's influence growing ever more pervasive.
In "All Hell!", the DC Universe teeters on the edge as Oracle completes her final test on Karate Kid, Zatanna welcomes Mary Marvel to the mysterious Shadowcrest, and Atom leads his team into the enigmatic Arionite Temple to meet the Sacred Wizards. Meanwhile, Pied Piper and Trickster find themselves in a sticky situation while picking fruit, Holly and Harley share a workout, and Jimmy makes a shocking revelation about Clark Kent—just as the countdown to Final Crisis accelerates. Written by Paul Dini and Adam Beechen, with dynamic art by Keith Giffen, David López, and Mike Norton, and vibrant colors by Alex Bleyaert, this issue’s cover by Ed Benes captures the chaos in full swing.
In "All Hell!", Zatanna and Mary Marvel face an otherworldly threat that defies explanation, while Oracle races against time to outwit the Calculator. Meanwhile, the Question and Batwoman press Trickster and the Pied Piper for answers, and Mr. Action finds himself drawn into the chaos of the Teen Titans’ world—each thread pulling toward a collision that’s already begun.
In "Forbidden Fruit," a quiet moment at Shadowcrest takes a surprising turn when Zatanna welcomes Mary Marvel to the sanctuary, while elsewhere, the Sacred Wizards of the Arionite Temple test Atom and his team with ancient trials. Meanwhile, Pied Piper and Trickster’s misadventure in a forbidden grove leads to unexpected consequences, and Jo’s workout with Harley reveals more than just strength—especially when Jimmy finally lets slip Clark Kent’s secret.
In "Magical Mystery Tour," Atom and his team find themselves stranded in the surreal Palmerverse, where Poison Ivy introduces Trickster and Piper to her enigmatic partner, while Eclipso exerts a sinister influence on Mary Marvel. Amidst the chaos, Mr. Action's desperate bid to join the Justice League collides with the mysterious conflict between Karate Kid and Equus—each thread pulling deeper into the unknown.
In "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," a chaotic mix of superhero antics unfolds as Queen Belthera takes the Atom and his team hostage, Zatanna makes a surprising move by kicking Mary Marvel out of her home, and Mr. Action's ill-fated audition for the Justice League tests his limits. Meanwhile, Athena begins training her warriors, and the Karate Kid crosses paths with the enigmatic Mr. Orr—each thread weaving into a wild, unpredictable adventure.
In "Searching for Answers," Wally West presses Trickster and Piper for clues amid rising tension, while John Henry Irons puts Jimmy Olsen to the test with dangerous precision. Meanwhile, Holly and Harleen clash in a battle of wits and wills, and Mary Marvel’s path crosses with the unpredictable Klarion, the Witch Boy—each encounter a step closer to unraveling a mystery with no clear end in sight.
In "Let's Make a Deal," Wally West races against time to extract explosive devices from Trickster and Pied Piper, then secures their safety amid rising chaos. As Ryan Choi is suddenly replaced by Kyle Rayner in the search for Ray Palmer, Mary Marvel strikes a dangerous bargain with Klarion the Witch Boy, while Jimmy Olsen finds himself targeted by Cadmus—each thread pulling deeper into the unraveling mystery of Final Crisis.
In "Family Feud," Trickster and Pied Piper make a chaotic exit from Green Arrow and Black Canary’s wedding, while Jimmy’s desperate escape from Cadmus sets off a chain of unexpected encounters. Meanwhile, Karate Kid faces Brother Eye’s cold gaze, and the Challengers from Beyond crash-land on Earth-15—just as Athena begins a mysterious journey with Holly and Harleen to Themyscira.
In "Another Country Heard From," the Challengers From Beyond find themselves trapped on Earth-8 by Lord Havok and the Extremists, while the Newsboy Legion makes a desperate bid to free Jimmy from Cadmus. Eclipso's dark influence grows as he draws Mary Marvel closer to the shadows, and Brother Eye launches a relentless assault on Karate Kid—all unfolding in a fractured multiverse where every choice echoes across realities.
In "Now, Forager!", Jo faces a sudden, desperate turn when the Forager snatches Jimmy Olsen mid-scene, sending shockwaves through the chaos. As Brother Eye looms and the Shadowpact struggles to contain a wild Mary Marvel, the fractured teams of Challengers and Suicide Squad are pulled into a widening storm—where even the most unlikely alliances might not survive the next move.
In "Disasters, Great & Otherwise," a fractured team of heroes and antiheroes converges on Bludhaven, where Jason Todd’s allegiance shifts in the shadow of chaos. As Mary Marvel flees the Shadowpact and Jimmy Olsen teams up with Forager on a quest for lost New God souls, Jo and Harley begin Amazon boot camp, while Trickster and Piper uncover unsettling truths about Salvation—each thread weaving into a storm that tests loyalty, identity, and what it means to be a hero.
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↩ Reprints Countdown #45 (2007), Countdown #35 (2007), Countdown #36 (2007), Countdown #37 (2007), Countdown #38 (2007), Countdown #31 (2007), Countdown #32 (2007), Countdown #33 (2007), Countdown #34 (2007), Countdown #26 (2007), Countdown #27 (2007), Countdown #28 (2007), Countdown #29 (2007), Countdown #30 (2007)
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