On the panel were Dan Didio - Executive Editor, Paul Dini –“Master of Countdown Ceremonies”, Tony Bedard, Adam Beechen (Countdown, Mystery in Space), Sean Mckeever, Mike Martz, Dan Jurgens, Jim Califiore, Justin Gray (creator of Forerunner), and Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex).
HERE ARE SOME RANDOM NOTES FROM THE PANEL
The Big Announcement: “What are we counting down to?” was that with Issue # 26, the story will be called "Countdown to Final Crisis."
DAN DIDIO: With Countdown’s format as a weekly, “we want to do something that takes advantage of periodical comics.” Comparing them to movies, DD said that 52 was the drama that built up to a climax, while Countdown is the summer blockbuster with non-stop excitement.
PAUL DINI: “The weekly format is exciting.” Day-to-day work is Fun, “but daunting.”
MIKE MARTZ: “Good crash course learning everything at once.” Jurgens on backups (History of Multiverse): the hardest part is “deciding what to leave out.”
TONY BEDARD: Countdown is a “cakewalk compared to Who’s Who.”
JIMMY PALMIOTTI: Met Dan at a local comic shop in NJ. Dan DiDio used to say: “If I was doing this book I would change this or that”, and look at him now!
Questions: (from DD): “There is a reason why Jimmy Olsen knows Jason Todd’s secret identity.”
Does Mary Marvel look better in black? The crowd thinks she looks better in black.
There is concern from audience about having to read every book to “get” Countdown. Didio says that Countdown is the key to the major characters in books, so you don’t need to read every book at DC. They want Countdown to “show the richness of the DC Universe.”
Will they ever explain the Villains poster?
Didio joked that it was “self-explanatory.”
When will they explain what's going on in Legion?
MIKE MARTZ: “there are several versions of the LSH out there” right now.
Bedard said, "See Supergirl #21 & #22 for some answers."
How involved is Amanda Waller in the Suicide Squad?
DAN DIDIO: Waller will play a role in the Suicide Squad.
Panel members were asked about any “mistake” in DC storylines they would take back?
There was consensus that they shouldn’t have taken Superboy out of the LSH and created the pocket universe.
Will there be a Kingdom Come tie in?
DAN DIDIO: Yes-into JLA.
When will Red Hood become Red Robin?
DAN DIDIO: “Soon.”
Will the Vertigo line ever tie into the DCU?
The Vertigo line will never tie into DC Universe, because they don’t want them to confuse potential all-ages readers into thinking it is for younger readers.
Will the All-Star Squadron ever continue?
DAN DIDIO: “Yes, there is a project in the works.” It will not tie into Countdown, however.
Beechen asked a guy dressed as Batman why he’s in Holly Robinson’s phone? Why does everyone know Jason is Red Hood?
Didio: “Stick with us. We’ll explain everything.”
There will be “closure” about Trickster & Pied Piper.
Will this be Crisis the way you wanted it to be originally?
Didio: Come back tomorrow for DC Nation panel.
Will Booster get involved in Countdown?
Answer: “Time is still broken! Booster is trying to fix that.” (With Rip Hunter’s help.)
Will Batwoman will appear again?
Answer: (Finally) in countdown next week. Earth 4 will also appear Soon.
“Darkseid’s presence is prevalent everywhere in the DCU.”
The classic Deadman will not be getting his own book.
Dan Jurgens said New Earth is the old Earth-1 collapsed together with the old Earth-2 Universe
The Smallville universe will play into DC Universe eventually.
Beechen: “Thing are safe for Tim Drake now.” They are “trying to introduce some stability into his life” after all he has gone through.
Swamp Thing will not appear in DC proper “at this time.”
They will not have any list of the 52 Universes any time soon.
Barbara Gordon Batgirl will appear in flashback scenes in Birds of Prey.
There is a death of a major character soon. The current internet guess that it will be the Batman got a general “No comment” – but the panel’s reaction indicated that it is probably not going to be Batman who dies.
Wally’s identity is not publicly known, even though Jay blurted out this name at Bat’s death.
Teen Titans #50 leads into “Titans of Tomorrow” storyline.
Static Shock will not appear soon.
DC One Million with Grant Morrison writing will appear again.
Multiplex will now be in Suicide Squad (not secret Six.)
Posts: 20780 | From: PA | Registered: Aug 2002
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I'm guessing nobody had the nerve to ask, "Are you at all concerned - and possibly doing something about - the general feeling among fans that Countdown is pretty bad?"
-------------------- With one magic word... KIMOTA! Posts: 14 | Registered: Oct 2002
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I just saw the poster for "Final Crisis" at my local shop. The poster says it'll be out May 2008.
Posts: 657 | Registered: Jan 2002
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kimota94 said, "I'm guessing nobody had the nerve to ask, "Are you at all concerned - and possibly doing something about - the general feeling among fans that Countdown is pretty bad?"
BruceInColorado says: "I think those fans would enjoy and understand Countdown more if they would read my weekly article, Who Counts In Countdown? here on the Pulse.
Paul Dini, however, did indicate that he was aware of the mutterings that the book was building too slowly for some fans' tastes, and they are taking steps to pick up the pace immediately.
abelp said, "I just saw the poster for 'Final Crisis' at my local shop. The poster says it'll be out May 2008."
BruceInColorado says: "Yes - that will be the culmination of the year-long Countdown (now CTFC) series, which started in May 2007 and ends in May 2008. The creators and editors have tried to make it clear that the story is building up to a climactic finish - similar to who all the storylines in 52 built to a climax and wrapped up the storylines in the last month or so.
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