Countdown #41 (DC) w. Paul Dini, Adam Beechen; a. Dennis Caleao
DC tries to bottle weekly lightning twice, by turning 52 into Countdown. But the writer, the plot, and the characters aren’t nearly as compelling, and using the series as a cross-over bridge rather than telling a story itself makes it even worse.. Piper and Trickster, Flash Rogues on the run from both the law (as they’re implicated in Bart Allen’s death) and their fellow Rogues, nearly fall to their deaths. Jimmy Olson plays with costume designs for his new powers, and realizes what a pain secret identities are. Mary Marvel is all angsty about having Black Adams Angry Lightning Powers. A Monitor is accompanying time anomolies Donna Troy and Jason Todd along with the new Atom to find the old Atom. Amazon Attacks! is still brewing, endangering the odd Athenean women’s shelter Holly Robinson is at. And the Legion of Super-Heroes (an odd flavor thereof) is finally leaving Earth, but leaving Karate Kid behind. Whatever.
Dynamo 5 #5 (Image) w. Jay Faerber; a. Mahmud A. Asrar
Great concept — Captain Dynamo is dead, but his powers have been singly inherited by his many illegitimate offspring, covertly organized by his widow into a new super-team. But can this inexperienced team actually pull itself together? Will government agency who used to authorize Capt. Dynamo support them or throw them in jail? And why is there someone who looks just like Captain Dynamo showing up again, and will Cap’s widow go off with him?? This is actually a very good series, well-drawn and decently written. A lot of promise.
Exiles #96 (Marvel) w. Chris Claremont, a. Clayton Henry
Betty deals with beings who tell her creation is unravelling. The rest of the team is on an earth with a Victor Doom-led FF going up against some bad guys who kidnap Blink. But are they really the Bad Guys, and is Vic and Company actually the right horse to back? Claremont breathes some life into this creaking title, albeit melodramatic life, but it’s still a bit sketchy.