Countdown: Thirty-One
I’m at a loss as to how this series can tread more water, mark more time, and accomplish so little. This is supposed to be a story about superheroes battling supervillains and unseen forces, yet the only long-term threat they’ve established is that Monarch is gathering some sort of army to fight the Monitors, who, in turn, are trying to stop people from disrupting the order of the Multiverse, whatever that means. There has yet to be established a reason for either of these two build-ups, though, so both ring hollow. I mean, the Monitors have been complaining about death cheaters and universe jumpers and anomalies and the like since the first issue, but they still haven’t explained WHY any of these things could possibly threaten the order of the Multiverse, so there’s no clear threat coming from them, and, therefore, no reason to give one good goddamn shit about any of it. The only thing that I don’t understand about this particular issue, though, is why us Americans are spending $2.99 on it and, yet, the Canadians are forking over $3.65. I mean, look at the cover of the New York Times about a week and a half ago. Thanks to our illegal, pointless, fruitless war in Iraq, our dollar is now equivalent to the Canadian dollar. Maybe DC hasn’t realized that yet. Either way, thanks for the price break, guys. If I had to spend $3.65 per nonsensical issue, I’d be right out the door. (more…)