Blast Off

I had planned to write a scathing postmortem of DC's Countdown series tonight.

But I decided I didn't want to do that. There are a lot of things in comics that I don't like. Generally, I don't bother complaining about them (unless they involve Cassandra Cain). Doctor Polaris and Azrael do more than enough complaining (and whining in the latter's case) for the three of us.

By most objective metrics Countdown was a failure. But I'm not going to talk about that. As with all missteps, the only thing that can be done is to reflect, and then look to the future.

And so! To me the future of DC looks bright. I believe that they have learned from their recent failures (Countdown) as well as recent successes (Sinestro Corps War).

The two big coming things are of course Final Crisis and Trinity. With Final Crisis, DC has taken a cue from the successes of Sinestro Corps. They've made clear again and again that though there are tie-in miniseries, readers can pick and choose which ones they want to read. They won't be like the myriad of Infinite Crisis or Countdown tie-ins. Whatever else there is, Final Crisis can stand alone.

With Trinity, DC is taking a step back and looking at what worked and didn't work in 52 and Countdown. One problem with Countdown was that the stories seemed to jump all over with no clear goal in sight. Trinity will not suffer from that. Rather than different writers working on different issues, everything will be done by one core team.

Still, it's hard to say to what degree Trinity will tie-in to other projects. I have a feeling that like Sinestro Corps and Final Crisis, Trinity will be largely self-contained. I hope so.

For my part, I'm more excited right now about DC than I have been in a long time. The countdown is nearly ended. The next number is zero. Than all hell breaks loose.

It's going to be a grand time...

Crazy Countdown

Okay, so the preview for Countdown #4 just about made my head explode.

First, I've never seen... Just... Well hell, look at that cover. If I didn't know better I'd say that Mary's right breast is bigger than her left one. Is this some sort of allegory on the superiority of good over evil?

Also: Darkseid on a couch. Apparently the DCU's supreme embodiment of evil likes a good sit down every once in a while. Do you think he was watching TV before Mary got home? Maybe rooting around in the fridge for leftovers?

Mary: How dare you eat the last slice of cheesecake!

Darkseid: Darkseid dares all.

That Magic Man

So, what do y'all think Black Adam's been up to? I mean, we haven't seen him since the beginning of Countdown. That was what, thirty-seven weeks ago? He has to have been doing something. He's been basically powerless (as he gave all his power to Mary Marvel) the entire time. And I can't see him as the "settling down" type.

My guess is he's used the time for some sort of revenge. I mean, that's what the guy gets off on. Good old fashioned revenge. Of course, he could have been up to almost anything. We won't have a good idea of where his character was headed until the end of the Black Adam miniseries.

And here's the other thing: a couple weeks ago he got those powers back. At least, I assume he did. Mary Marvel chucked them out, and since Eclipso didn't get them I'd imagine they went back to gods for ready access by Adam. Which means he could show up again at any time.

Is there anybody out there who doesn't think he'll show up at some point near the end of Countdown?

Countown to BOOM

You know, I'm not completely certain that this whole "multiverse" thing isn't a complete fakeout. In fact, I'm starting to believe that that's exactly what it is.

When they brought the stupid thing back they talked a lot about the infinite possibilities inherent in the concept. That may be so. But what have we really seen happen with the multiverse?

Well, we've got Monarch scouring worlds and slaying dopplegangers left and right. He's conscripting all the rest into his wacky army. And on the other side of things you got Superboy -- excuse me, Superman Prime -- destroying Earths wholesale.

So here's the question I've got... How exactly can you have a multiverse if everybody who lives there has been killed or drafted into a conquering army? How can you have a multiverse if the fifty-two Earths are being destroyed by a maniac one at a time?

No, my friends. I fear that this multiverse we have been granted is merely a stopgap. It is a temporary measure. When the last page turns on Final Crisis there will be one Earth again.

It Begins

Regular posting resumes tomorrow. Be here.

Second Stage

A while back I delved into etymology and looked at the significance of Forerunner as a "Harbinger."

We've seen a lot of Forerunner since then. And it's still not clear what her role in the greater scheme of things is. Since her appearance she's traveled the multiverse, had her world destroyed, and been left adrift in space by Monarch.

But I'm not here to talk about Forerunner. Another Harbinger has appeared. Behold, the preview for Countdown #19:

The speaker is undoubtedly the Godkiller -- slayer of the Fourth World. Here, he (or she) self identifies as a "Harbinger."

I doubt this is an accident. Nothing happening in Countdown is an accident. We can only assume that we are meant to see the Godkiller as another Harbinger.

Which means we've got two -- Forerunner and the Godkiller. And seeing as we're building to a Final Crisis, I wouldn't be surprised if a few more showed up down the line...

I'm With Monarch

Big things are afoot in the DC Universe. I don't have to tell you that. And they are all laid out in Countdown to Final Crisis #26 -- the issue which I believe signals the beginning of the end. There are many, many important things that happen in that issue. But I'm only going to talk about one of them: Monarch's plans for the Multiverse.

In Countdown #26 (I'm not writing the whole name every time) the lead Monitor (which Earth is he from, anyway?) declares that Monarch plans to precipitate a Multiversewide war with the goal of collapsing the Multiverse back into one universe. That's some pretty heady stuff. It takes some serious stones to attempt something like that. And you know what? I hope he does it.

I've made no secret of my dislike of the Multiverse concept. I never liked the first one, and I've been ambivalent about the new one since its introduction. I've mostly managed to make my peace with its existence, but that doesn't mean I ever liked it.

And now I don't have to. Because there's someone out there who's trying to destroy it! Now don't get me wrong; I don't think the Multiverse will actually be destroyed. I don't think Monarch will win. And I'm not sure it would be a good thing if he did. But until this war is over, I'm with Monarch.

Let the Multiverse burn.

Sensational

Every once in a while a character appears in comics that shatters everything we thought we knew about the medium. Such characters do not go unnoticed. They are usually hailed as what they are: Sensational Character Finds.

It goes without saying that Robin, the Boy Wonder was the Sensational Character Find of 1940. There are others, of course. 1975 had a Sensational Character Find. Others rightly claim that 1984 also had a Sensational Character Find.

This brings us to the obvious question... Who's the Sensational Character Find of 2007? If you've been reading Countdown, the answer should be blindingly obvious:

HASSAN!

That's right, friends. Hassan is without a doubt the Sensational Character Find of 2007. Since his first appearance in Countdown #37 he's changed the way we look at comics. With nothing more than a few incomprehensible words and a scimitar, Hassan has reaffirmed our faith in comic books.

So let's all raise our glasses to Hassan, the mummy with a sword that stole our hearts. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of him.

The Death of Gods

I may annoy some people with what I'm about to say, but I'm going to say it anyway: I think it's time for the New Gods to die. And to stay dead.

I know that some of the New Gods -- Mister Miracle and Big Barda specifically -- are quite popular. But let's be honest... The New Gods have never really fit in that well in the DCU. To me, their presence has always seemed a little off. They're a little too Kirby for the DCU.

Now don't get me wrong; some of the things that Kirby introduced to the DCU are great (Kamandi, OMAC, the Source Wall). And the New Gods are great, too. But they just don't feel to me like they belong in the DCU. The saga of the New Gods has always felt too big and too epic. Their being shoehorned into the DCU kind of brings that down. So it's time for them to die.

Killing the New Gods is certainly controversial. But I think that DC has made the right decision in doing so. And from what little I've read by Jim Starlin, they've also chosen the right man for the job. He'll give the death of gods the epic feel it warrants. And when the last New God falls... Well, the DCU will be changed forever.

Unless they just bring them all back...

## and Counting...

It's been a long day and I have very little of note to say. So I'm just going to talk about the much maligned (unfairly, I fell) series Countdown.

One of the obvious things about Countdown is the preponderance of story arcs and characters compared to most series -- and even compared to 52. Though there is no point to this beyond organizing my own thoughts and laying them out, I will attempt to lay out the various story threads within Countdown. I have no idea how they connect or which ones are the most important. These are listed in no particular order.

1. Karate Kid and Una seek out... Something
   
2. Donna Troy, Jason Todd, and Bob the Monitor search for Ray Palmer
3. Monarch and Forerunner scheme
4. Jimmy Olsen and his amazing powers
   
5. Mary Marvel tries to find her way
   
6. The Monitors scheme more
   
7. Holly Robinson and the Amazons
8. Pied Piper and the Trickster run
   
9. Darkseid schemes the most
10. The Death of the New Gods
    

So there we have the ten storylines that I can see within Countdown. Again, I'm not sure which ones are the most important or connective. But those are the ones I see as important.

Anything I've missed?

The Last Crisis?

The big news for DC fans today is the latest Countdown teaser. It's certainly an intriguing image. I spent a lot of time today staring at it, trying to pick out clues and what they mean. But the more I looked at it, the more I felt that there was something familiar about the composition. The characters aren't holding themselves the way comic book characters usually do. There was something... Odd about it all.

I wracked my brain trying to come up with where I'd see the posing. The Trickster's stance was particularly familiar to me. It took me awhile, but finally it dawned on me. And it's both mind-boggling and potentially revealing. You see, the newest Countdown teaser shares certain similarities with Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece The Last Supper.

Yeah, I know... That's far fetched even for me. But the parallels are certainly there. And as a public service I will try to dissect exactly how these two pieces of art seem to converge.


Let us begin by examining the composition as a whole. Each picture contains thirteen figures. Of the thirteen, one is positioned in the very center of the image. That is where the viewer's attention is immediately drawn (we'll come back to those guys later). The other twelve figures are arrayed on either side of the central figure. Six on each side, clustered together in groups of three. Let's examine the various groupings, beginning on the right side where the convergence between the two images is the most obvious.


The similarities are as obvious as they are uncanny. In The Last Supper Matthew (on the left) gestures towards the central figure while the Trickster does the same in the Countdown teaser. Though Matthew holds nothing in his left hand, the Trickster is carrying the Pied Piper's flute.

In the center of The Last Supper grouping is Simon the Zealot, and his Countdown teaser counterpart is Darkseid's torturer Desaad.

On the far right of the images are Jude Thaddeus and the Penguin. Each holds their hands out towards the middle figure as if seeking counsel or the answer to a question. Matthew and the Trickster seem to be doing the same. What are they seeking from Desaad?


Moving left to the next grouping reveals considerably less in common between the two images. Nonetheless, there are some parallels. Like Thomas in The Last Supper, Kingdom Come Superman is holding up his right hand. But rather than a pointed finger, Superman's hand is a mysterious glowing fist.

The center figure of each grouping -- James the Greater and Cyborg Superman respectively -- seems detached from what is going on around him. Indeed, in both images the central figure seems to be ignoring the rightmost figure, even as that figure (be it Phillip or Black Suit Superman) requests information from the central figure.


The third group from the right is the most complex -- and possibly the most important. The rightmost figure in this grouping in The Last Supper is John, who was the youngest of the apostles. This would make it likely that the Catwoman featured in the Countdown teaser is Holly Robinson, also a young protege.

Things get trickier when it comes to the two leftmost figures. In The Last Supper, the two figures are Judas Iscariot (foreground, holding a moneybag) and Peter (background, holding a knife). Depending on whether one goes by head or body, either Judas or Peter could be considered the central figure in the grouping.

This causes considerable difficulties when we consider the grouping in the Countdown teaser. Though the Joker is posed like Peter, Martian Manhunter holds a knife like Peter. This is very important, as Judas and Peter are their leader's betrayer and right hand man, respectively. It would not be a stretch to say that the same might apply to the characters in the Countdown teaser and their central figure. The question is: which one's the traitor?


The last grouping is in some ways the hardest to pick apart. In The Last Supper we have Bartholomew, James the Lesser, and Andrew. All three men bear expressions of surprise. This is in stark contrast to Granny Goodness, Mary Marvel, and Eclipso in the Countdown teaser. Those three appear to be happy or excited about something.

There are no immediately apparent similarities between the two groupings, but some become apparent if the order in either The Last Supper or the Countdown teaser is changed. In that case, both James and Eclipso are reaching an arm around another figure in the grouping, while Andrew and Granny Goodness are both holding their hands in front of themselves.


Finally, we come to the central figure in each image. In The Last Supper, that figure is obviously Jesus. The figure in the Countdown teaser is just as obviously Lex Luthor.

In both images the central figure is arrayed in a roughly triangular shaped pattern and holds his hands out and to his sides. Both wear distressed expressions. But a major difference is that Luthor's palms are bloody. Whether that is someone else's blood or his own, it seems to be meant as a sick parallel to Jesus' crucifixion wounds.

Well, there you have it, friends. My insane compare and contrast of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper and Ethan van Sciver's Countdown teaser. Though I do not know what these similarities mean, I'm certain that they are not merely a coincidence. Only time will tell what lies behind the symbols...

More Monarch

Yeah, I'm back with another post about Monarch. But it's important. Plus, I got so caught up with the history of Monarch yesterday that I couldn't go into some of my theories about the character. So here goes...

I was reading a few of those weekly Countdown columns you see on websites like Newsarama earlier today. I found myself coming away unimpressed. They need to check their facts (Grayle Gardner? Puh-leeze). But the thing I noticed is that they all made the assumption that Monarch is a villain.

This isn't necessarily untrue, of course. Monarch may very well turn out to be a villain. He does act quite ominously, after all. But consider this: Monarch is a character assumed to be a villain who is sending his Forerunner through the Multiverse to collect people from various worlds to fight for him in a coming war.

In 1985 a character called the Monitor was widely assumed to be a villain. He sent his Harbinger through the Multiverse to collect people from various worlds to fight for him in a coming war.

So I think it's a mistake to assume that this Monarch is a villain just because the first one was. Just like it's a mistake to assume that the new Monitors are virtuous just because the original one was...

Trial of the Monarch

More happened this past week than the Sinestro Corps Special. In fact, I think that something with huge ramifications occured this week in Countdown. There were a lot of characters with a lot of stories, but the one that stands out is the tale of Forerunner... And her meeting of the Monarch.

For those of you out there who lack my nearly encyclopedic knowledge of the Post-Crisis DC Universe, I'll do a quick rundown of who the Monarch is (he is many) and why he is important.

Monarch's story begins in the early 90's with DC's Armageddon 2001 event. Running through DC's annuals in 1991, the core of the story was simple: by the year 2001 one of the heroes of the DCU will turned against the other heroes and made himself undisputed ruler of the world. He would become the Monarch.

The gimmick of the event was one of the most famous parts of Armageddon 2001. Throughout the story there were various clues left that were meant to help the reader guess for themselves which hero would become the Monarch. But when the identity of Monarch was leaked -- it was supposed to be Captain Atom -- DC presumably went into a panic.

Rather than simply continue the story as planned, DC decided to try and pull a fast one. Rather than have Captain Atom turn out to be the villainous Monarch, DC instead changed the ending so that it was Hank Hall -- Hawk of Hawk and Dove -- who would become the Monarch.

It could charitably be said that this was not a good idea. Largely because it made very little sense. For example, during the Hawk and Dove annual that was a part of the Armageddon 2001 crossover, Hawk and Dove were shown fighting the Monarch in the future. Additionally, one of the key clues to the Monarch's identity was the color of his eyes. Monarch's eyes were blue, like Captain Atom. Hawk's eyes were brown.

Nonetheless, Hawk became Monarch, killed dove, tried to take over the world, and then eventually became the time traveling Extant. As Extant, he played a role in another DC crossover, Zero Hour. He was later killed during a story arc in JSA. He's been safely dead ever since.

But the Monarch would not die. A version of Monarch claiming to be the real Nathanial Adam (Captain Atom's secret identity) made an appearance in Extreme Justice in 1995. This was likely a nod to the Armageddon 2001 controversy. But like everything else connected with Extreme Justice, that version of Monarch hasn't been seen or heard from since.

It would be a decade before the next appearance of the Monarch. The events leading up to his appearance begin with the curiously named Captain Atom: Armageddon miniseries. In that series, Captain Atom is transported to the Wildstorm Universe (now known to some as Earth-50). After a series of adventures, he is flung back into the DC Universe in the ruins of Bludhaven.

The unconscious Captain Atom -- whose containment suit has been ruptured and is leaking radiation -- is held captive by SHADE. He is then rescued by the Atomic Knights, who supply him with a suit of very familiar armor to contain his leaking radiation. No dressed in the Monarch armor, Captain Atom escapes from the Atomic Knights' facility, seemingly kills Major Force, and obliterates the city of Bludhaven.

Captain Atom -- as the Monarch -- is next seen in Ion. After doing battle with the Tangent Universe characters, Kyle Rayner is thrown into the Bleed, a space between dimensions. There he is rescued from ferocious monsters by a super-powered being in the Monarch armor. This Monarch reveals himself to be Captain Atom, and explains that he has been "traveling" (presumably the Multiverse) and avoiding the gaze of the Monitors.

Which brings us full circle to this week's Countdown, the first appearance of the Monarch since Ion. Monarch recruits Forerunner to his cause -- whatever it may be -- and ominously tells her that he will show her a war "the likes of which no god or man has ever seen." And then, with Forerunner at his side, the Monarch disappears into the darkness.

The mystery of this Monarch has just begun, but it it is clear that his goals -- whatever they are -- will play a big part of Countdown and whatever it leads to. All that we know is that Monarch (presumably Captain Atom, though not explicitly stated) is gathering an army. Forerunner's backups in the upcoming Countdown to Adventure feature her traveling the Multiverse recruiting beings for something. It is very likely she is doing this at the behest of the Monarch.

Monarch has made it clear that he is no friend of the Monitors. And it seems that he is now taking steps to strike out at them. His travels through the Multiverse seem to have made him aware of the nature of whatever is coming. And he wants to be prepared. The only question really remaining is this: is this Monarch virtuous like Captain Atom? Or is he a villain, like the original Monarch?

Time will tell...

It Begins

Okay, so here we go. Fair warning: I finally got a copy of the Sinestro Corps Special and there are going to be big spoilers ahead. Big spoilers.

Still here? Good. Let me begin by saying that although my prediction as to the fronter for the Sinestro Corps was not completely correct, I was nonetheless right. The only entity who could possibly be behind it was indeed the Anti-Monitor. Were there fifty-two Anti-Monitors like I speculated? There don't seem to be. Though the pluralization of some of the "hints" leads me to believe that we may see more down the line...

Still, I was happy to see that one of my predictions has actually turned out to be correct. Of course, that was pretty much the only thing in the Sinestro Corps special that I saw coming. I didn't think they were going to make Kyle Parallax (though how cool is that costume?) and I didn't know they were going to break out Superboy Prime and the Cyborg Superman.

So now we have an army of monsters... 7,200 of them to be exact. Led by an entity (or entities) who may or may not be the same Anti-Monitor who set off the original Crisis. Alongside him are the Cyborg Superman and his army of Manhunters. Together with them, Superboy Prime, one of the most powerful beings in the universe. And they're all backed up by a Parallax possessed Kyle Rayner.

It's clear that this is all going to play into DC's bigger event. But the scary thing? This is just the beginning. There are dozens of issues of Countdown to go. It feels like we've hit an apex, but we haven't. This is all just the tip of the iceberg... And whatever happens, it's going to get worse.

Much worse.

Something's Coming...

So next week in Countdown we have the appearance of a new character. We don't know much about her beyond the fact that she's got blue skin, purple hair, and is called Forerunner. Well, that and she's getting a backup feature in Countdown to Adventure.

It's very clear to me that this Forerunner is going to be a very important character in the DC Universe. So I knew I had to do some research. And since the only thing I know about her is that she's called Forerunner, that's where I had to start. I began by looking up "forerunner" in the dictionary:

fore·run·ner [fawr-ruhn-er, fohr-, fawr-ruhn-er, fohr-] –noun

1. predecessor; ancestor; forebear; precursor.
2. an omen, sign, or indication of something to follow; portent: The warm evenings were a forerunner of summer.
3. a person who goes or is sent in advance to announce the coming of someone or something that follows; envoy, herald.
4. the Forerunner, John the Baptist.

Hmm... Very interesting. One who "is sent in advance to announce the coming of something that follows." I wonder... Let's see what we get when we put "forerunner" into a thesaurus:

Main Entry: forerunner
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: messenger
Synonyms: advertiser, ancestor, announcer, author, envoy, forebear, forefather, foregoer, harbinger, herald, initiator, originator, pioneer, precursor, progenitor, prognostic, prototype

Wait a second! I see many interesting possible meanings here. Envoy, herald, precursor... But how about harbinger? Remember what happened last time a Harbinger showed up?

Friendship

I'd really like to be in Countdown. I think Jason and I would get along. We've never really hung out before (he was dead when I was alive) but I think we have similar interests.

We both enjoy the vigilantism with an extra dash of brutality (and in my case, fire). We are both looked upon scornfully by you-know-who, Nightwing, Robin, Oracle, and everybody else. We both have memorials in the Batca...

Well, we've got a lot in common, anyway. We could hang out and swap stories about what a domineering jerk you-know-who can be. We could beat up drug dealers, and then beat up guys who aren't drug dealers. Or both at the same time.

He could probably give me a few pointers when it comes to the ladies, as well. He seems to be getting along pretty well with Donna Troy. But then, she's dated Kyle Rayner. And she was married to that weirdo-beardo for a while. So maybe I shouldn't be going to Jason for relationship advice.

Regardless, I'm sure we could have some fun fleeing from the Monitors. I mean, I'm a Multiversal anomaly too. Right? Right?

A Long, Strange Journey

It's funny how the DC Universe changes. And I don't mean the structure of it. I mean the way in which certain characters rise and fall in prominence. Sure, some characters stay nearly constant (Batman, Superman, etc.), but others wax and wane as the years go by. Some disappear and aren't seen for years. Others burst onto the stage, either old reinvigorated or new entirely.

To me, the most fascinating rise of such a character in recent years is most definitely Black Adam. Isn't it funny how a one shot villain of Captain Marvel's from the Golden Age -- someone who turned to dust at the end of his first appearance -- has arguably become more central to the DCU than Captain Marvel himself? It's been a long, strange journey for Black Adam. But it's brought him to the forefront of the DC Universe.

Though Black Adam made a few appearances in the seventies and the early nineties, it wasn't until he showed up in the Geoff Johns/David Goyer JSA that he started to rise to prominence. As the legend goes, the writers were looking for someone with the power to take on the JSA single-handedly. They found it in Black Adam. He fit the bill perfectly, because at the time, he was little more than his powers.

But as the series went on, Black Adam popped up again and again. He started to become more than his powers. He joined the team, then turned against it. He went from being a one note bad guy to a strange -- and strangely fascinating -- character. He came to rule a country, then sided with the Society. Black Adam played a role in Infinite Crisis, then 52, and now Countdown. He's got a mini-series coming up.

Whatever you think about the character and the journey he's made, it can't be denied that his rise to fame has been nothing short of astonishing. It just goes to show that any character -- in the right hands -- can be elevated to a position of importance. Every character has potential. It just takes the right writer -- or writers -- to bring it out.

Let's hope DC doesn't forget that.

Counting Down

Just a quick, spoiler free post her about the latest issue of Countdown. I don't have much time for anything else. Things are starting to heat up a bit. Just a tad. Weekly comics, by their nature have slow build (remember the beginning of 52?), so I'm willing to wait.

That being said, the secret of Jimmy Olsen? Oh yeah, that's going to be fun. But for me, there was no bigger deal than that was surprise appearance at the end. I should have been expecting it. I shouldn't have been surprised. I shouldn't have shouted out loud. But I did.

I am so ready for next week.

I Shall Not Be Denied

DiDio! You refused my generous offers to appear in your epic year-long weekly series 52! I will brook no demurement regarding your epic year-long follow-up Countdown! I will appear, or all mankind will suffer!

A central plot point seems to be the new and improved "multi-verse." I hereby give you permission to feature not only my multiversal strongholds of Earths-32 through -35, but also their overlord and master: Doctor Polaris. That is, me.I am willing to be featured in a flashback or a throwaway "bubble" image conveniently displaying a different Earth and labeling it by its designated number.

Alternately, my appearance my be more central to the story. It is known that they-of-varied-facial-hair seek out "world-jumpers" and -- more importantly "death-cheaters." Seeing as -- despite all odds -- Polaris lives, It would make sense for the Monitors to come after me.

Perhaps a scene where I ruthlessly crushed a Monitor with sphere of metal? Or I could employ old-fashioned fisticuffs. I am partial to that manner of combat as well. But know that whatever form it takes, my tussle with the Monitor must be featured on the cover. Preferably illustrated by J. G. Jones (or failing that, a Kubert).

Know this, DiDio: I have been snubbed far too many times by your organization. With the so-called "infinite possibilities" of your "multi-verse," surely there must be room for a Master of Magnetism, or possible a Man Who Mastered Magnetism. Or maybe even a Magnetic Maestro. I am all of those and more.

And I shall not be denied. At least not this time...

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

And so it begins.

The Countdown has started, and things are just going to get crazier in the DCU from hereon out. So far, I'm loving it.

One of my biggest problems with the old Multiverse was how ridiculously porous it was. Anyone could hop to another Earth without any difficulty for a barbeque or just to hang out. It was, quite frankly, ridiculous.

And when 52 revealed the new Multiverse, I was was worried. DC has been on quite the nostalgia trip lately. And an old school Multiverse would just make scream in rage. Because I quite honestly couldn't stand the way it worked.

But the end of 52 was soothing. Establishing a certain number of universes -- the fifty-two -- sets limits. Though there are still infinite possibilities as Geoff Johns said, they will still be structured. So new Earths won't be popping out of the ether randomly. For example, there won't be any of this stuff: "Great Krypton! Wonder Woman is blonde! That means this is Earth-8,542!" So that's one problem licked.

But more than that was what I mentioned before: the Multiverse was full of holes. It was easy to get from one place to another. Luckily, it looks like that won't be a problem any more. Because we've got the Monitors watching out for things.

The Monitors are DC's new continuity cops. Nobody is going to just randomly reestablish themselves on another Earth. Nobody is going to be hopping around willy nilly. Because inter-dimensional has consequences. The Monitors -- who clearly have power in spades -- aren't going to sit idly by while people screw with the Multiverse.

You go where you don't belong, you get capped. Or worse. And I for one am very pleased with that turn of events. Because these Monitors do more than simply monitor. They are border guards. They are the watchmen of the multiverse.

But that doesn't mean someone isn't watching them...